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| MissionFinder Home Page Orphanages home page |
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To add a link to other sections of the web site click here
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http://orphanage.org/orphanage2.htm or http://www.myorphanage.org/ |
| Excerpts from emails from a person who made a
short term visit to an orphanage in the middle East.
October 6 Well I made my first trip out to the orphanage [for children with disabilities] yesterday. It's really a terrible place and I'm amazed that the children go on living. Really, many of them don't. The disabilities of the kids are less severe than many I've seen because frankly, the most needy just don't live. It seems they may even be encouraged to die with an even higher level of neglect than the others receive. I'm working in the creche ward. There are 33 kids in 32 cribs who never leave those cribs if one of the volunteers doesn't take them out. They receive 5 bottles a day. Feeding them solid food would be too much work for the state staff to bother with. I visited 4 tiny little ones in an infirmary. They are being fed through tubes in their noses because they are starving to death. They have learned to induce vomiting on themselves and are starving to death. The workers weren't alarmed. In fact, it was the volunteers who intervened. Even the infirmary is terrible. There was blood and formula spattered on the wall, no one had made an effort to clean it up. Our team leader, the volunteers and the three local believers she has hired are doing amazing things. They need more help, both volunteers and funding. I've been singing and cuddling until I'm sore and hoarse and it still seems so little. Please pray for us all and especially for the children. There is a small community of believers here. In fact, almost everyone knows everybody else. We meet regularly for prayer and fellowship. I feel something like a first century Christian. We speak in code. The word missionary is dangerous and so we use worker. . . . Our meetings move from house to house and not just to ease the burden of hosting. I'm working with amazing people and feel very blessed that the Lord is using me here. I'm going to take a break this weekend and go
on a sight seeing jaunt.
October 24 Dear family and friends,
The last few weeks have gone very quickly. My time here is almost done. Tomorrow I'll be going to the orphanage for perhaps the last time. I've grown very attached to some of these kids. They so desperately need love. My heart breaks a little each time one of them snuggles into my shoulder and giggles with the joy of being loved. Fatma is 5 years old. She has the most wonderful giggle. I discovered this week that she can feed herself if the food is in small pieces and she is given the time and support to sit up. The orphanage feeds her 5 bottles of Ensure a day. The apple sauce and dry cereal (for her to pick up) were probably the first solid foods she had had in a long time, perhaps ever. Gursel may be discharged from the infirmary soon. He's six and has been fed through a tube in his nose. He was wasting away to nothing until the volunteers interfered and insisted he be treated medically. He now weighs 8 kilos! Can you imagine! Six years old! More than any toys or clothes these children need good food that people will lovingly feed them. They need to have a real home. Friday I leave here and go to visit family in England. Please pray about all the circumstances that I have told you about here. We are so blessed and I feel that we must have some response here. Perhaps a team to come and hug and feed kids, perhaps money so the team can begin to build homes. I am confident that God will show us what he wants from us. Don't know what my internet access will be like in Britain but I'll email if I can. Love to you all. See you soon! Lydia |
FAQS about helping in an orphanage (from an orphanage that accepts short term volunteers (El Sauzal Orphanage, Mexico) Ladies and Gentlemen:
El Sauzal Orphanage welcomes anyone who has an interest to come to our home for needy children and help us with the operation and maintenance of our facility.
Several people have recently inquired about volunteering some time this year. We have limited space where volunteers can stay with us. Therefore we must try to schedule all those would have a desire to serve our children. We also have a responsibility to protect the children from anyone wanting to do harm to them and therefore must screen anyone who would desire to stay with us for an extended period. If you have an applicant that would want to serve at El Sauzal Orphanage, we would appreciate your asking the person to complete the attached Volunteer Form and return it to us for further consideration at our USA address: P.O. Box 6426, Chula Vista, CA. 91909-6426.
Anyone may come and visit us for a day without prior notice or the need to go
through our screening process.I am including below some frequently asked questions and our responses:
What can I do while at the Orphanage?
There is a considerable amount of maintenance that needs to be done involving
plumbing repairs, door renewals, sheet rock repair, replacing kitchen tile. The kitchen tile project is badly needed. Usually there is painting that can be done, however, this is the task that most groups that have young people do.You would need to bring tools and materials to accomplish these projects. Some materials can be purchased locally. San Diego home centers are about an hour and one half away.
They can always use help with the laundry, in the kitchen and with the children. You can also do arts and crafts with the kids.
There will be opportunities for some volunteers to relieve some of the nannies in caring for the children day and night involving bathing, grooming and sleeping with them.
The most important task is to interact with the children. You will forever remember your stay at the Orphanage if you do this.
Teach the children English.
What are the eating accommodations?
There is a very good restaurant in the community. You may also join the children and eat what they would eat.Where can we stay?
You can stay at the orphanage. You will need to bring all of your personal items. Most people bring sleeping bags.Is the water safe to drink?
I live in California and personally drink the water at the Orphanage without any problems, however, most visitors bring purified water with them. Purified water can also be purchased in Baja.What is the Cost of Volunteering?
The only cost to you while you stay with us is the cost of what you will require for your for your personal needs.Additional Information:
El Sauzal Orphanage is a Christian home for children and they are actively involved with the local Spanish Assembly of God Church. There are services on Friday evening and on Sunday with other special activities scheduled during the year.The Orphanage Home Page has additional information on specific projects and
needs as well as a map showing how to get to the Orphanage for the San Diego
area. Click here: El Sauzal OrphanagePlease contact me or Josue Espinoza, the Orphanage's Director, if you have any additional questions, of if you would like a copy of our Volunteer Form.
In El Nombre de Nuestro Salvador,
Roy V. Ketring III Roy.Ketring@elsauzal.org
| From
a visitor to Christian Haitian Outreach in Haiti, March 19
Greetings
in Christ!
We met some genuinely GOOD people, taking care of sweet, precious children. I've been back six times since then, and plan to move there for long-term. (In the meantime, I try to help them from here, doing fund-raising, connecting with other charities I find on the Internet, etc.)
I would recommend this mission (to groups or individuals, for long-term
or short-term) for several reasons:
Any drawbacks? Of course ... it is VERY hot down there (I recommend
going during the winter, which feels like our summer).
Some of the best friends I've ever had are Haitians - I'm amazed what sunshiny
personalities they have, after all their years of poverty and frustration.
The Christians there are strong and serious: even though they are
out numbered, they selflessly sacrifice to win the rest of their nation
to Christ.
P.S.
~
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