After devotionals we packed up the donations for the boy’s orphanage and the sugar cane village. We loaded the bus and off we went to La Romana where the orphanage was located. When we first pulled up to the orphanage, we were amazed at how small it was. It was a home that was converted into a boy’s orphanage with roughly six average sized rooms. One room was used for schooling, the other for five cribs and two others with bunk beds for the kids to sleep in. The rest were common rooms used for cooking, washing and general visits. The backyard was a court that was roughly 10’ x 15’ in size.

One of the average comments you hear from the team is how blessed we truly are in the states. The facilities that we dedicate to the less unfortunate have so many legal requirements that need to be met. But in a country that is not as blessed, the requirements are not as demanding. When you consider some of the living situation these kids came from, they truly are blessed. The orphanage is run by a Christian organization that depends on the Lord providing through various means. They are provided clean beds, clothes, education and food.

You never hear one complaint from the kids regarding what they don’t have. Their faces light up the minute they saw the bus pull up to the front gate. We spend the day with them playing cards, doing puppet skits, balloon animals, coloring, and playing basketball in a makeshift courtyard smaller than some of the average bedrooms in the states.

These kids are taken to school and church and even on field trips as the Lord provides. One kid I spoke with told me how blessed he was to have so much. It was a good reminder of a worship song my children would listen to when they were younger: “If I never am happy with what I have… I will never be happy with what I want.”

After a few hugs and some long good-byes, we left the orphanage and went back to the JUMBO to pick up some food for the sugar cane village. Some of the team shared with a shoe shine boy and he prayed to receive Christ.

The time spent with the boys and the time it took to purchase food for the village swept by quicker then we thought so we decided to head back to Score.  We will be heading out to the sugar cane village in the morning instead of rushing thru and risk not spending ample time with the people and the kids! If the Lord wills and time allows, we may head to one of the disabled children’s homes in the afternoon…as the Lord leads! Looking forward to what He has for us tomorrow.

Prayer Request

• Pray for the 25 boys in the orphanage, for the donation ofclothes, school supplies and other essentials to sustain them and for theircontinued provisions and upbringing.
  
• Pray for the continued health of the team, the heat does puta physical strain on the body and tomorrow will be a day spent outdoors.