This trip has been different than the others. We are truly a part of this family now, I treat the kids with all of the love and kindness I give to Maddie and Max, but I also speak to them like they are Maddie or Max. “Follow the rules, stay focused in school, get good grades, don’t smoke and be respectful”.  Before this year, I think I believed that my job here was to just smile, laugh and play with the kids but not to acknowledge that their life was difficult or hard, to make sure that for this week they forgot about all of that.

Now, as we have been here three times, I think our roles have evolved, and we are here to make sure the kids experience joy, but we are also here to be a part of their everyday lives, to recognize that their lives are not easy.   They are hard, and they have been given a tough spot on this earth, and they will have to work really hard to have even the most basic life outside of the orphanage one day. We are a very real and present part of these kids lives.   We write, we Skype, and the very blessed of us visit. We are a part of their home now, and they are a part of our family.

The capacity for kindness and to love here is amazing, and on this last day when I feel so tired and wonder if I can give any more, I ask myself “How I can possibly push through the next hour of good byes?"  Then someone grabs my hand.  I look down to the see Uliana, a nine year old girl with crossed eyes and the most amazing smile.  Her face fills my heart,  and she asks me for a picture together, and that is all I need.  I am full of love and grateful to her for her kindness.  How can it be that this precious child with so little in life can make me feel so loved? It is through her eyes and that beautiful smile I can see God, and I see him over and over when I look into these children’s eyes, who with one simple glance or touch, fill me up and give me the strength to continue on and give all I can on this one last day.

Patsy and Uliana at our final "talent show" event

His presence is so strong that, once a year, I am called by Him to this orphanage to meet Him at the door of this building and to give and receive His love to these orphans and by these orphans. How can I possible be ready to go?   But I must be, and as we head back down the hall we have walked a 100 times this week, my heart, mind and body are filled with God's grace and love as I am hugged by these beautiful children who have no idea of the incredible gift that they have given to me.

My life was and is forever changed by these children.  Because of them, my faith is deeper, my life is fuller, and I thank God for the gift of their kindness. I think of a line from a movie this week, “We kind of fixed each other”. Many may think we travel here to help these children, but really they help every one of us in their own special and unique way. Thank you to all of the bright, beautiful faces in this orphanage, God bless each and every one of you.