Orphanage on the Edge of the Jungle

Last week I was so blessed to join a team from Oakwood Baptist for a week in a small little town called Shell, located right on the edge of the jungle.  Some of you may remember the 5 missionaries that were killed by the Waorani Indians in the 1950's... this is the town in which Nate Saint lived and from which he and the others began the ministry to the Indians.  God is doing great things in this town and I was blessed to have a small part in it.

The new facility

     The children touched my heart beyond words.  I felt so much joy while working in the new house that the kids will live in, but I was brought to tears when I had such sweet interactions with the children there.  After spending two days hanging base boards and painting, I decided to go hang out with the kids and do whatever they needed me to do.  My first assignment was to take the shoes that had been donated and find a pair that would fit the kids that didn't have any.

     The first little boy sat down on the floor and waited patiently as I tried different shoes on.  Finally, we found a pair that fit and I asked him to stand up to make sure they fit okay.  He stood up, looked at his new shoes and then looked at me with a big smile.  He then leaned close and wrapped his little arms around my neck and laid his head on my chest and just hugged me for the longest time.  It was good that it lasted for more than a second because by this time I had tears flowing down my face that I could not stop.  I picked him up and walked downstairs trying to stop crying before I got the next child.  I just stood there with him before bringing him back and hugged him tightly.  He was so grateful for a pair of "new shoes" that to us are "hand-me downs."

At the current facility

     I didn't buy the shoes, nor did I bring them, someone else had.  However, God gave me the joy of seeing these little faces light up.  I was reminded of how important it is to share our faith.  Maybe we won't see the joy of them accepting Jesus, but we have the hope that maybe someday... someone will have that joy just like I experienced.   Whether we are planting the seeds or reaping the harvest the command is the same,  



 "Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations."  "For anyone who gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."  Matthew 28: 19 & 10:42

      "Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true.  I sent you to reap what you have not worked for.  Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."  John 4:37


Please check out this website if you would like more information about this orphanage, how it was started, and how you can play a part in their lives:  lacasadefe.org