Mercy ships has a program called mercy ministries where they come alongside other ministries during their field service in each country. Every week you can sign up to go and serve at each of these ministries in your free time. One of the ministries they have come alongside of is called baby crèche. This is a center for babies who have been abandoned, parents can't take care of them, or their mother is in jail. After driving for a ways we arrived and walked in. There are other ministries in this same place so when we walked in, there we a ton of women in beautifully bright colored Africa dresses all dancing in the open middle courtyard type area and all cheered "hheeeeyyy!!" (Or sounded like it) with excitement as we walked in. We walked along the side and into a small room where 11 or so babies were. I think they were from newborn to 1.5 or 2 years old. As soon as I walked in I locked eyes with one little one and he immediately came running up with just a smile and a diaper on and his arms out ready to be held. This one came running, but many of the babies there were not able to walk. It was hard but a blessing to get to hold them and play with them. I absolutely love hugs by my family and friends and lately I've missed being hugged since I've been here. Then I thought about these sweet little ones and how much they desire (and are worthy of) love and just want and need to be held. My first hug here was from the sweet baby who ran up to me.
It was a wonderful experience and a difficult one. They are behind in their development, many malnourished, unable to walk yet with weak legs and little back strength. Two of them were probably a year old and hadn't been named yet. I was holding one little girl and could feel her weakness and her inability to hold her back straight. She just stared up at as I held her and sang yes Jesus loves me with Marlene who held a 19 month old who looks like an infant weighing ten pounds. I wish I could just end their troubles, give them all a forever home, and a secure future. I'm not sure what to think about it all and I may not be able to fix everything that's wrong in the world, but I can love as best as I can and hold one baby (or two) at a time that needs love. I am thankful this center exists and the baby's have been put on a feeding program, gaining weight and are getting stronger. I am praying for their future, that they will come to know Jesus' love and will grow stronger and healthier. I ask that you please pray for the children here. I've posted a couple pictures that someone took while we were there.
No comments:
Post a Comment