Today we headed for Antigua for the day to see the sights, visit the market, and spend some time the girls at Manchen, the government run orphanage for girls in Antigua.   We enjoyed touring around the city of Antigua, visiting an old Catholic church, walking around the fountain, peeking in at an old hotel.  We ate lunch at the Mono Loco and enjoyed the chance to see more of Guatemala, including the market.  I met up with my old friend, Florinda, who helped me pick out a few things to take home for souvenirs and gifts.

Our visit to Manchen was overwhelming and wonderful.  We were met at the door by the special needs girls, and being kissed by complete strangers in a foreign country within 2 minutes of walking in the door was a bit of an adjustment for my friends. I quickly met Paula, who is pictured here.  She told me that she is 14 years old and has been at Manchen for a few months.  Her mother left to have eye surgery months ago and hasn’t been back to pick her up yet.  She isn’t sure when her mother will come for her.  We all settled in to do manicures for the girls, even the guys, and that was a great chance to break away from the mass of 123 girls at the orphanage and spend time one on one, getting to know as much as we could with limited Spanish.

This week I feel a bit unprepared with the supplies we’ve brought with us.  We have the usual frisbees, toys, and coloring books, but with the rain hindering the outdoor activities and having more orphans than we expected, it’s been a bit of a challenge to feel like we have the right tools with us.   Yet, I feel like God is creating baskets of leftovers from our few loaves and fishes.  Today we used 6 bottles of nail polish to interact with over 100 girls, and it was a fruitful time of showing some love in a simple way.   There is something simple, and yet meaningful, in lightly holding the dirty hand of an unwanted child, offering a touch that is tender and personal and meant to treat the other with attention and compassion.  It’s amazing how much human touch means to these girls…as we were touring the orphanage, nearly all of us were holding the hand of a girl who was merely seeking contact with another.  Several of the girls, even as young as 14, have children of their own.  It’s always a pleasure to hold the babies, but heartbreaking to know that they are born to girls who shouldn’t yet be done with childhood themselves.

Today was overwhelming in a lot of ways, but also an inspiration to continue to seek ways to serve God and the people he loves.  My life is not more valuable than these.  In fact, it is the poor, the orphan, the oppressed, the forgotten who are most near and dear to His heart.  May He continue to be near them and allow me to join Him in his passion.