Noel Orphanage



Our second day in Rwanda began after a much needed night's sleep due to the length of travel and the fact that we are six hours ahead of all of you back in the states. We arose at different times, some to the birds and some to our roomates nevertheless we began the day early in hopes and anticipation of God doing a work. As we stirred around the house in the morning everyone seemed to be in slow motion and doing their own thing while Tina had worship music playing in the background. Pastor Wade led us in morning devotions. He once again encouraged us to focus on Gratitude and we gave a time of thanks to the Lord as a group. We then looked at Luke 19:41-44 where it begins by stating, "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes." We know that Jesus provides true peace, but many Jews were blinded of this fact. Pastor Wade encouraged us to see the brokeness and to not be afraid to allow God to break our hearts. He asked us if we were broken or will we be broken as we look into faces at Noel Orphanage as Jesus did when he looked upon Jerusalem.

Following devotions we set out for a basic familiarization and orientation of the Noel Orphanage for the morning hours before we returned to Tina's for lunch. As we exited Tina's gated house we walked onto the roadway and within two minutes we were there. Who would have known that the orphanage was so close. What a blessing that Tina was able to find a house to rent so close to the orphanage. This extends great flexibility for her to minister to the orphans and to return home as needed. Upon reaching the orphanage for the morning hours we toured the children's/women's portion of the orphanage. We first went to the infant room where there were a number of infants lying in cribs with a few older ladies to take care of all of them and schedule feed them. This was the time where our four ladies shined and held those babies as if they were there own. The guy's helped too, but there really isn't anything compared to a mother's love. All of the babies were audibly congested as we held them and as Heather held a feeble and frail baby with HIV reality was there. Dr. VanGorder began speaking to the ladies the best he could through an interpreter to assist in healthcare and make recommendations as he could. One of the ladies stated that all of the babies in the baby room just got over having colds. This is because they all lay next to each other all day long in the same room with very poor venitlation. As one goes down, so do all the others. At one point, in a different case, Dr. VanGorder recommended they separate one of the children out (quarentine) them to assist in the recovery process and the lady simply stated that it was not possible (due to the way the orphanage is set up). Very sad, we take things such as this for granted.

After leaving the baby room we moved on to rooms that ascended in age group with each room we entered. At this point we were receiving initial shy reactions as as we are white, extended hands from some, and extended arms wanting to be hugged and picked up by others. Largely, those at least a few years of age were skeptical of a group of white people at first but after a short acclimation that group of white people became human jungle gyms with children hugging them and crawling all over them. As Pastor Wade played "cool dude" with his sunglasses with some of the small children others hugged, extended hands, and walked hand in hand with others. It was real, we were there, kids desperate, and I cannot over exaggerate desperate to be loved. The Lord says that, "Love never fails." It bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things. There is certainly so much to be said about love and the power it has both experientally today and from the Word.

As noted above Dr. VanGorder spent a large portion of the day "visiting patients" and examining children with the medical equipment he brought with him. He gave Noel staff many hints and things to do and we hope that over the next two weeks he will be able to keep on pushing. However, in a reality the resources needed simply are not here. As he said, there are many sick kids, with not the things needed. The sicker kids suffer from malnourishment. Our hopes is that he continues to be an advocate and resource at the orphange (he is also lending assistance with some sick individuals at Tina's house). Currently, Dr. VanGorder is in the process of making an aero chamber out of a bottle for younger kids to be able to effectively inhale an inhaler.

For a large portion of the afternoon Elaine, Cali, Fred, and Cindy all worked with the kids in small groups using fingernail polish and coloring. Elaine, Cali, and Cindy helped the kids paint their finger and toe nails while Fred took charge with coloring. It should be noted Fred came back with half the crayons. The kids loved it. In fact, "the purple girl" as Elaine called her, painted both her finger and toe nails purple and had all purple clothing on. Not only was there a purple girl, but there was a yellow girl who did the same thing. The kids loved the polish and along with the polish they loved being able to sing with Cali and crawl all over the Elaine, Cali, Fred, and Cindy. Cali had music with her and sang with the kids and the kids even sang "Jesus Loves Me" in Kinyarwanda. At the end of the day during our group worship/meeting Cali let it be known that today was the "best day of her life."

Our time here has just begun, however it will go by quickly. We received heart wrenching news today while at lunch. The orphanage is completely without water. Their water bill is overdue and they owe about 3 million Franks. Please be praying about this. The babies bottles are being filled with rain water which is being boiled. To have this many kids in such an area with no running water only enhances the chance of illness and works against all hopes of bettering those who are currently suffering.

Please keep us in prayer and after seeing what we saw today, we do live as ungrateful human beings in an ungrateful country especially compared to what the kids at Noel have. It was encouraging to see today when we got to the orphanage that a young male named Everest was walking about with an old Oswego sports uniform that had the number 6 with Oswego on the back of it. When I told him what Oswego was he and his friends repeatedly asked how you say Oswego, I think they finally got it. A few of the things the orphans asked and told me today that struck some cords within were, "How many orphans are there in America?" and as we talked about money they told me, after being amazed that my KinyaRwandan Phrasebook cost $20 as that is REALLY EXPENSIVE, they stated that when they get money they give it to help family and their friends. To the orphan question, I could only reply that there are not many.