A new definition of Love.

Yesterday we spent the day at a tent city across the street. It seemed like any other day in Port au Prince, hot sun, a cold coke, and pasta for lunch. After returning from the tent city a second time I took my bi-daily shower and brushed out my hair. Not more then 15 minutes later some team members were going to an orphanage to play soccer and wanted me to join them. Since feeling clean is a rare thing I had no intention of sitting on the back of a truck again that day, but for some reason I was talked into it soon after sitting on a container of dried peaches in the truck on my way to this new orphanage. Eight of us sat in the truck as we were stuck in traffic and the sun was setting. It had been a good day so far, and I was enjoying going back out again. We slowly pulled up to a large gate with a giant children's painting on the front. There inside were 3 dogs to greet us as we washed our hands and walked in. It was a huge courtyard with 4 buildings around it. Sitting under a tree, were 12 or 13 special needs children anywhere from ages 12months to 14 years. We walked straight to them, holding hands and saying hello. One girl, probably 14 laying in a crib, smiled as I told her in english how beautiful her eyes were. My heart ached for these children, and I felt nothing but God's love for them. Minutes later after meeting each one, we rolled them in their wheelchairs into one building. Young children and workers helped direct us where to bring them. We came to a room at the end of the hall where the other special needs children were sitting watching a fuzzy television. We left them there, and continued to another room with some toddlers all watching another television. This orphanage was different, so much different then any other one in Haiti. They had large cement fish tanks, bunnies, kittens, goats, and even had a farm and two parrots. The man and wife who run it seemed to have a genuine love for the kids, as they told us there are 99 children living with them. I scooped up a toddler and caught up with the other girls, we walked under mango tree's and sat under a small gazebo. Although the mosquito's would not let up, I couldn't help but smile as I saw the children playing and heard the worship music in the back round. As it got darker I went back into the first building, I tried to set down the girl I was carrying but she wouldn't have it, she started to cry and curl up on the floor. I knew she didn't have parents, I knew with 99 children in one place she wouldn't have anyone to just sit and hold her. So that's what I did. I walked back and forth through the faded pink and green watermelon walls to the room on the end. I walked in and a lady asked me to sit in creole and I responded "wi". I sat with on the edge of a bed, in the room with the children and fuzzy tv. The little girl, smelling of baby powder rested her head on my chest and fell asleep. I silently prayed for each child and the one on my lap as they watched the tv or stared at me. Often in Haiti I can't help but wonder what am I doing here. But not yesterday. Yesterday was the type of day that makes me realize that everything I do and work hard for is worth it. Just to hold a baby who doesn't have a family, or pray in my thought's, is all I can do. Hearing her cry as I walked out only made my heart break more. We left the orphanage that night in the back of our truck as always, but it was different. I was reminded yesterday why I do what I do. And why Haiti has so much potential. Why people are worth more than anything in the world. Although my heart is a little more broken, my life is that much more full.
Love, Haiti, Love