All Things New

It wasn't my first time and yet, I still felt a little uncomfortable. As we zig-zagged our way through the orphanage's hallways, I felt my heartbeat accelerate. I knew what was waiting upstairs.

A big room with white walls. Mattresses scattered about the floor. Baby chairs lining the walls. Special needs children everywhere you turned.

You could hear the moaning and the crying way before entering. The hair on the back of my neck was on end... and upon entering, I struggled to breathe easily. My eyes took in the sight and my heart broke.

Dozens of children lay on mattresses or sat in chairs. They couldn't speak and few could make any significant movements. Some had obvious physical deformities and all had special needs.

The nurses soon gave us jobs. For the most part, we just fed kids. Feeding one child could take up to an hour, because spooning liquid into their mouths was a tedious process. Those who weren't feeding simply sat next to other children and comforted them. It was incredible to see how though these kids couldn't speak, they could sense a tender presence. Their sobbing quickly turned into quiet moans.

I was impressed with how the GEBC team responded to these children. Though I'm sure many have had contact with special needs children in the past, I don't think anything could have fully prepared them for this orphanage. And still, many without hesitation, stooped down and cuddled children, singing softly or simply rubbing a child's hand. It was beautiful to see the love of God penetrating this seemingly forgotten orphanage.

After feeding one child I went over to Juan David, an older child who also happened to be blind. He was curled up in the fetal position, rocking back and forth to the rhythm of his moans. I gently touched his shoulder and he instantly sat up and reached up to grab me. He pulled himself up and climbed up onto me. Once he was comfortable he nestled his head into my neck and kept rocking back and forth. He couldn't keep still and for an hour, we kept moving around trying to find the most comfortable position for the two of us. As I hugged him, I prayed for him.

It was easy to get discouraged and wonder where his life fit into God's greater purpose. And for a while, I was discouraged. My heart broke realizing that Juan David's entire life would be spent in this orphanage, because adoption was highly improbable. And yet, I felt God's comforting whisper, reassuring me that his sovereignty and love were compatible.

My mind drifted back to the Adam and Eve. And the fall of man. And the curse that followed. All of creation was cursed. Genetics were cursed. These children were born with these illnesses and disabilities because they were born into a cursed world.

My heart throbbed and yet I was comforted, knowing that my beautiful savior, was at work redeeming humanity... Christ didn't just come to save us from our sin, but also from our pain, our sickness and our shame. Not one of these precious children were unknown to God. I joyfully imagined the day that they would sing and leap in heaven, running into the arms of the One who had made all things new.