Day 3

This is the e-mail that my mom sends out the the family members who are here, board membersIAOM, and friends. I was too tired to type it myself so I just stole hers. =)

Again …I am very tired – please overlook any typos!

Today we went to the Special Needs Orphanage. It was rough day for some of the team members – but we could definitely feel God’s presence. When we arrived I think that it was hard for some of the team to get off of the bus because they didn’t know what to expect. Another team of 6-7 American college students came in the gate. We talked with them a little and found out that they were with a humanitarian group that wasn’t faith based - that has been working in El Salvador for 4 months. They were painting murals on the walls of the Dining Hall. Before they left we were able to pray for them.

We danced and played ball with the children first. We then sang songs and then shared the gospel with them in a very simple way – using the colors. We made them the bracelets. We saw that they were in desperate need of undergarments. We left for lunch and then came back and handed out the bracelets and gave the Director the undergarments that we purchased – so that she could pass them out. We were afraid that they might want to try them on in front of us!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

The children are mentally or physically disabled…but what is even worse than that is that they also have horrid living conditions. I do realize that they do not know any difference…but it really hurts my heart. They truly have nothing! The cottages that they are living in have bed frames with mattresses that are in very bad shape…some without mattresses…and some mattresses that are on the floor. There is no bedding on most of the beds.

When we talked with the Director about purchasing the mattresses we found out that she had gotten another quote with was cheaper. If you purchase 12 tables (instead of the 10 we were going to purchase) they are $255 instead of $278. This will give them room for the 106 children and for the workers to all have a seat – for just a little more money.

She also told us that she had found a different company that she could use to purchase the mattresses. This place gave her a quote of $55 a mattress instead of the $78 she originally gave us. She asked us if we could purchase only 50 mattresses instead of the 100 they originally asked for…when we asked her why she explained that they need 25 more bed frames. She said that there are children are sleeping on the floor. We are going to get a quote on the frames – we would like to buy the 25 frames and as many mattresses as we can. We are counting on it being all 100. We think the cheaper price for the mattresses will probably cover the cost.

One of the residents fell in love with Alyson…she as so good with him. Another would perform for us…and clap for himself…he was too cute! Another told us that he could speak Chinese. He said that he taught himself. He started talking and then asked our translator what he said. She told him that she didn’t know because she didn’t speak Chinese…he said that he could speak it he just couldn’t understand it and didn’t know what he was saying. It was too cute. We left the orphanage a little early. It was very tiring. You really couldn’t relax because there were a few residents that would have “fits” and it was scary for the girls. Since we had a little time we drove up to the top of the mountain and took some photos.

We got back to the hotel at 5:00. We all relaxed and then had supper and our devotion time. Tomorrow is our day off…we will be recharging to complete the last 2 days. Please pray that God would continue to guide us and that hearts would be turned to the Lord.