First day in the Orphanage

I thought I would have a more dramatic reaction leaving the orphanage this morning. But I had prepared myself for any possibility in that building.

It was hard being in the "infant" room, when the three/four month old baby flinched when I went to rub her head or when I saw the little girl's skin just hanging off her body due to lack of food. There was one little boy who just laid in his bassinet and moaned and moaned. It was a cry I have never heard before. Not a pain cry, not a hunger cry and not a cry due to being cold or wet. He was the first baby I picked up and discovered he was due to turn one in just a few days. He couldn't even hold up his flat head. I even double checked his birth date because I couldn't believe it.

In the "baby" room, I loved the smiles I got from a couple of little boys when I rubbed their heads. One of them couldn't stand it. Rubbing his back on top of his shirt elicited the same reaction as when I tickle my children full out. One of the little boys smiled the biggest smile and rolled his flat head over like a cat enjoying every instant of the rub down. They crave touch as much as they want their bottles.

I made a decision before I went. I'm going to try not to get involved in the day-to-day arguments the volunteers have with the staff. I know that the children are sometimes abused but I'm afraid that if I express too many opinions, the volunteers will be unwelcome and possibly even banned, which would be even worse. I will give these children anything I can in the short two hours I am there and hope that every little bit does, indeed, count.