Village Blog

The team gathered in a place located outside where we found a huge pile urine soaked bedding and clothing. It wasn't the greatest smelling task I'd every completed but I was up for it. The tubs or buckets were placed on the ground and we'd be using 6 different make shift washing machines. The machine power would be us. We washed and washed and washed. I thought to myself how could these women who work here do this each and every day? How could you ever feel the task is ever completed? Once you complete the washing there's another huge pile waiting behind. The task continued. Wash, scrub, rinse, carry water back and forth, find places on a fence bush or clothesline to hang. It was with teamwork(including the ABIDE team) we were able to complete the task in an hour and a half. There were approximately 12 of us who had become washer and dryers.

Now we were able to visit the children. They didn't want us to visit the infant room but the toddler room was open to us. Upon entering I was surprised to see toddlers in urine soaked clothing and bedding. Oh my! They needed help in more ways than any one person could handle. These children need love and attention but with only one worker to 12 or more toddlers this task is overwhelming. The team held and played with the children.

We gathered in a classroom where there were preschool age children to present to the teachers a message of love and offer them prayer. The children and teachers were very quiet and watched us expressionless.

I watched the facial expressions change on the teachers as we opened the suitcase full of formula and clothing. They were smiling, excited and pleased with our gift of love. They now were allowing us to come to hold the babies.

The further we entered the more challenging the task became the smell of urine was overpowering. Babies lie in urine soaked clothing and bedding. I was challenged and my heart was broken. I prayed over a tiny baby who looked like a 6 week old but was actually 3 months and another baby who was coughing and being held up by one of the workers. I prayed for both the baby and worker.

It was a challenging experience for me but God is there. The children are being cared for to the best of their ability and resources. Please pray for the health of the children and the workers. Please pray for the love of God to permeate each life and they come to know Him in a personal way.

Serving a local baby orphanage - by washing the cloth diapers from the 72 babies!

-Cheryl Yates