GUATAMALAN ORPHANAGE

WE VISITED THE TOWN. THERE WAS ANOTHER ORPHANAGE (ACTUALLY IT WAS MY 1ST ORPHANAGE - THERE WERE MEMBERS OF MY GROUP WHO HAD VISITED ORPHANAGES EVERY DAY) WHOSE SPONSORS WERE AN AMERICAN FAMILY FROM VIRGINIA WITH 10 KIDS ( MORMONS).
THERE WERE 37 CHILDREN FROM A FEW MONTHS OLD TO YOUNG TEENAGERS WHO WERE ORPHANS, WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED, HAD DISABILITIES, OR HAD PARENTS THAT WERE INCAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF THEM.
THIS ORPHANAGE RECEIVED NO SUPPORT FROM THE GUATAMALAN GOVERNMENT. IN FACT, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEND OFFICIALS, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT "THEY" SHOULD HAVE A PIECE OF THE RICH "MILLIONS" THAT THE OPERATION WAS GETTING FROM THE AMERICAN FAMILY. THEY WOULD REFER KIDS TO THE ORPHANAGE, BUT WOULDN'T GIVE ANY SUPPORT, OR EVEN COME TO ASSIST WITH THE KIDS AT ALL. THE PLACE WAS ALL CEMENT - NO GRASS FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY ON, WITH NO WATER SOURCE. LUCKILY, THEY WERE COLLECTING THE RAIN EVERY DAY (IT IS THE RAINY SEASON) SO THE KIDS COULD HAVE BATHS. WE BROUGHT THEM TOYS, CANDY, BLANKETS, AND THE BOOKS THAT LORRAINE CALBOW HAD DONATED. LORRAINE HAD HOPED THAT I WOULD GET A PICTURE OR TWO WITH THE KIDS HOLDING THE BOOKS, BUT I WAS UNABLE TO. THE DIRECTOR WANTED UP TO GIVE THEM ONLY ONE THING TO AVOID "CHRISTMAS MORNING SYNDROME." HE ASKED THAT WE HAVE THEIR TEACHER GIVE THEM THE BOOKS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING. I'M SURE LORRAINE WILL UNDERSTAND.
THE VOLUNTEERS GAVE EACH CHILD SOMETHING, AND THE CHILDREN WERE ASTONISHED. THEY WALKED AROUND WITH GLAZED EYES......
I WON'T EVER FORGET THE TWIN BABIES....I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVING FAMILY IN VIRGINIA. WHAT A DIFFERECE THEY ARE MAKING IN THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES......
to be continued