January 6, 2014 Amy "We Are Family"

I learned something new today about the orphanage and the kids in it. Unlike orphanages in the United States where the kids are orphans, the orphanages here are closer to foster homes. The majority of these kids aren't actually orphans, but come from dysfunctional homes where they were abused. Depending on the situation the kids came from, some of their parents actually have visiting rights to come see the kids at the orphanage. However, the directors Felis and Pedro told us that even though many parents hold visiting rights they never actually come to see their kids.

The way Felis and Pedro run the orphanage is that they are all one big family. But since the majority of the kids views of family are skewed due to their own dysfunctional families, they tell the kids to treat each other as they want their future families to treat one another. The kids really watch out for one another and help each other. When new kids arrive at the orphanage, it is the responsibly of the kids who have lived here for awhile to teach the new kids the ropes. And currently Eagle’s Nest is building on to their facility so that starting in July they will have two apartments for the older kids. There will be one apartment for the older teen girls and one apartment for the older teen boys. Each apartment will have a married couple in it who will become the mom and dad of the group of older kids and they will be a family unit. The goal in doing this is to help teach the older kids what a real family is like, so that they are more prepared as they get ready to start their own families in the upcoming years.

Everybody here really is family and you can see it from the way they all interact with each other. The kids help each other out and you can tell that they all love each other. Felis and Pedro love these kids and provide for them as if they were their own flesh and blood. And as we came in to serve, we were incorporated into the family at Eagle’s Nest. For these two weeks the kids got another 17 family members who love them, care for them, and play with them. These kids have become our kids and to me it just reminds me how great it is that we are all a part of God’s family.