(Note: Kathryn woke up sick this morning and was unable to go to Casa Jackson with us today. She stayed behind at the motel, took some medicine, rested, and is feeling much better this evening. That is why she is not in today’s photos. Please pray for her continued healing.)
Our team spent today at Casa Jackson, a home for malnourished children. We gave baths, feedings and some much needed love and attention to these precious little ones. Each member of the team bonded with at least one special child, and each of them had difficulty saying goodbye. And none of them will forget the faces and experiences of the day.
Pastor Jeff fell for a little boy named Gerson (pronounced Hairson). This little guy bonded with Jeff as he fed him, played with him, and followed him all over the 2nd floor. When Jeff placed him back in his crib he wailed, and those cries were heard as we walked away from the facilities until we turned the corner at the end of the block.
Mara connected with a beautiful little girl named Ellsa. Elsa has beautiful curly hair and big brown eyes that seem to see right into your heart. By the end of the day Mara was trying to figure out how she could smuggle little Ellsa back to the US with her. (That was just a joke for any immigration officials who may be following this blog!)
Tim bonded with a little girl named Madara (sp?). As I looked into this little princess’ eyes I could see the suffering of a lifetime. I don’t know what she has had to endure in her short life to this point, but as Tim began to spend time with her I saw a smile break out that seemed to wipe away the bad memories. I think Tim left a part of himself there when he walked away today.
I connected with a boy named Emmanuel. He is blind and you can see the cloudiness in his eyes when you look into them. He slept much of the day, but he still has a wonderful smile and a desire for cuddling when he’s awake.
I could continue to list the group members and their children, but it would take too long. So I will simply place some pictures at the end for you to enjoy.
If you have never worked with people suffering from malnutrition, you may not be aware of the early symptoms. Usually, the first sign of malnutrition is a pallor of the skin followed by pealing which leaves the person red, raw, and bleeding. This is quickly followed by the loss of hair. Many of the children at Casa Jackson have suffered or are suffering from these conditions. And while it is difficult to see these signs of hunger, it is actually a part of God’s wonderful design. The Master Architect of the human body designed us to protect our vital organs, even in the face of incredible hardship. So, as the body suffers a shortage of needed supplies, it begins to delegate those resources to the most needed systems while allowing the less important systems to struggle. In the event of malnutrition, the heart, lungs, and brain are the last systems impacted.
As I fed, held, and played with these children today, my heart was broken by their suffering. It hurts me deeply to know how much hunger and pain they have had to experience. I choked up as I touched pealing and raw skin and stroked thinning hair. But at the same time, I gave praise to our awesome God for his incredible love and design that kept these little ones alive until help could come. And I prayed that next time help would come sooner.
Good evening from Guatemala!
