Today was a day of rest and recovery for the team. We started the day with breakfast and our daily devotion. The team was given the morning off to simply rest. We gathered back together as a team for lunch and then we walked to the orphanage which is approximately 2 1/2 miles from our hotel. We went to church this evening and after the service we went and ate ice cream with three of the pastors from the church we are working with.
While I gave you a brief overview of our agenda today, I wanted to share with you about my experience at the orphanage today. Michael and I have been leading teams to Brazil since 2000 and have been blessed to established relationships with the church staff, orphanage staff, residents of Maringa, as well as the orphans. Over the years you begin to get attached to these beautiful children. Deep in my heart, I want these children to be reunited with family members or if that is not possible to be adopted into new families. However, the emotional side of me becomes very attached to these children. Simply stated, I love the children at the orphanage here. This year, I would guess that at least half if not more of the children that were at the orphanage last year are no longer there. I would be lying if I told you that I didn’t miss seeing their smiling faces today, I consider the children at the orphanage my children. It was a bittersweet day — knowing they were now with families versus me knowing that I may never get to see them again this side of heaven. However, the Lord simply reminded me today that He has new children for me to love. I am excited for the opportunity to be used by the Lord to love these new children. We do not know their individual stories yet but many of them were so happy to see us and want to get to know us.
As we are told in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” My prayer for our team as well as myself this week is that we would love these children as Christ has loved us.
In His Grip,
Marcilla
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