GO NEAR: To Save Sometimes

I was in the office talking to the American nurse, Tina, when she got a phone call about a baby that just died. It certainly puts things in perspective. After a day of being worn out by children climbing over me, fighting me for my camera, begging to be picked up and carried around like a potato sack, and such, this is what it comes down to. Many of these children look healthy. Why, Justin & Benjamin are the picture of health, other than a slight bluish tint to Justin’s lips and of course the large scar down his chest. They are two of the roughest, toughest boys you’ll meet who push, shove, tumble, and plow each other down…but they are still special needs boys. Benjamin still awaits having his exposed bladder repaired. It can all change in an instant.

This baby brought to mind Hope’s motto, “to comfort always, to relieve often, to save sometimes.” Their unofficial motto in the special care units is that no child should die alone. Yet while they are loved and cared for, it still breaks my heart to think of a child dying without a mother and father to grieve them. Who will prepare for the funeral? Who would attend? Who will bury this child and put a flower on its grave from time to time? My first niece passed away when she was a month old. It grieves me to this day that I was unable to go to her funeral. But I know there were many their who loved her and grieved her short life. My brother and sister-in-law saw an outpouring of love as they had to let their daughter go to be with the Lord. I remember her as I continue to work with the Ronald McDonald House, and now as strive to help orphans. Her short life meant much to many people. What of this little orphan baby? Who will remember this little life a year from now? Ten years?

I have been relieved that the pictures on various websites prepared me for the first hand viewing of some of these children’s special needs. A school group came through today for a tour and to hand out stuffed animals. I assume it was an ex-pat school as there were a mixture of Caucasian and Asian teens, but all spoke American English. I was in the Nemo Room at that time playing with my new pal, Jamie (who is soon to be adopted!) when they came in.

Jamie

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One teenaged boy looked at this precious little girl, then at me – “what’s wrong with her?” – in the nose-wrinkling, rude kind of way.

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I simply told him that she had a tumor that needed to be removed…and was so glad that God has been teaching me to look beyond the physical deformity. This little girl is His precious creation. Yes, it is a bit disturbing at first sight, but she is still a beautiful girl just the same. I pray she will not have to go through life with questions and comments such as that one. That she won’t have to feel self-conscious or ashamed for being different when she had no say in the matter. (As a note, she still needs funding for her surgery.)

There were so many new faces today, new friends to meet. And I continue to wonder how long they will have to wait for a family. How long must they be labeled “orphan”? And it leads me to think how lucky I am that my Father adopted me. God did not need me. He did not need to let this sinning, beggarly, needy orphan enter His household and disturb it. But He wanted me.

He wanted me.

He wanted me.

How deep the Father’s love for us…

I will leave you with some more pictures of the day. I haven’t really been in any as it’s hard to take pictures myself with me in them. But you don’t need to see me anyway. These guys are the reason I’m here. Please help me show the Father’s love to them. If you would like information on sponsoring any of these children, you can email me at goneartoorphans@gmail.com or visit Hope Healing Home.

Timmy