How Can I Help Them?

Since childhood, it has been a dream of mine to work at an orphanage. One year ago, God made my dream a reality, and I have thoroughly enjoyed living in Mexico as a caregiver to children. While it is very rewarding, there are many struggles that occur behind the scenes. I have leaned on God’s grace more times than I can count. I’ve cried, and there have been times I didn’t know if I could keep going. It felt like I was barely surviving. As you can imagine, there are hard things we deal with on a regular basis. The kids have fits, as we attempt to help them understand why they cannot be with their parents right now. We experience bad attitudes and disrespect; as well as children lashing out at us because so much of their life is out of control. But then, God gives us a glimmer of hope when a child offers a sweet gift or gesture of kindness. We receive sweet reminders like flowers, hugs, precious prayers, smiles, laughs, etc. Many of these children have already experienced difficult and abusive situations in their short lifetimes, so it is no surprise when they react the way they do. It is because their world is spinning out of control.

I often think of their home-life in comparison to mine. Why have I been so blessed to grow up in a good Christian family surrounded by a good community? I’ve never wondered whether my parents loved me. It was evident and known by their actions. I’ve never wondered where my next meal would come from. It was always provided. It was hard as I watched my girls have a phone conversation with their mom for the first time in six months, especially knowing I never go any longer than two weeks without talking to mine.

How can I help them? I can’t. On my own, I do not have what it takes, but with God working though me, I can love them and listen to them. I can point them to Jesus who will never leave them and will always be there for them. I pray that someday they will come to know Him as their Savior and lean on Him when everything else in their world is out of control.