6 days with 68 orphans

Spending 6 days with 68 children who live in an orphanage will change one's life forever. Last week on Orbie for Orphan's first mission trip we traveled to Leogane, Haiti to work at the Greta Home and Academy. This is the first orphanage run by Samaritan's Purse, and boy are they doing an amazing job! These children were living in tents when Samaritan's Purse took over last November. Here we are in front of the construction of the orphanage they are building for these children.

We can honestly say that our team fell in love with 68 kids that week. The children were constantly holding our hands, hugging our necks, smiling at us, laughing and playing with us. They couldn't get enough affection. Imagine what they've been through. They don't understand why they are separated from their families, but most are grateful to be in a place where they are given 3 great meals a day and love from the staff. Most are here because of the crippling poverty in Haiti.

We were so grateful to have a week to love on them and share God's truth in a fun way through our animated discipleship material. We had so many amazing moments and photos that I will be sharing in the next few days. But certainly the hardest part was leaving them. Even the best of orphanages cannot replace what is lost when a child loses their family. Their lives have been devastated. They are sad and lonely. We ache for them. We miss them. We are more determined than ever to do whatever it takes to develop animated Bible study just for them. As the psalmist said in Psalm 119, "If it had not been for your Word, I would have perished in my affliction."