Sister's of Charity Mission

I sat in the center of a small room, five blue metal cribs lined the wall to my right, on my left stood a counter top, a few empty shelves, and a sink. The noise in the room was increasing as another beautiful African baby rounded the corner, followed by a toddler with a runny nose, and a chubby little boy coughing loudly. The number in the room had now reached 11, but more children kept appearing. Some came crawling across the dirty floor, they should be walking by now, but their development is delayed, others toddled in. In my right arm was a frail infant, possibly suffering from Tuberculosis, or HIV, either way, it didn't matter. A bright-eyed girl named Princess, sat on my lap at straddled my waist, resting her weary head on my left shoulder. Behind her, on top of my knee caps sat another boy. He bounced up and down and scooted closer to be within the reach of my touch. The chubby child, Ben, jumped on my back attempting to gain my attention. The words to the childhood song, "head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.. rang throughout the room." I sang aloud as the other children joined in and giggled. Their hopeful eyes and smiles could melt the hardest of hearts. The children all yearned for my attention. The normal attachment response and refusal to be held by a stranger did not exist in these children. They have never been held long enough to develop an attachment with anyone. The children living at Sister's of Charity Mission are orphans. Some ill and suffering from Tuberculosis, some dying of HIV/AIDS, others orphaned. Beautiful is the word that comes to my mind when I think of these children. The time spent with them was not enough, but incredible. We colored, played with toys, painted nails (now there are little African boys with orange toenails), sang, and cuddled. My lap and arms were never empty. We were sitting on the floor when one child started to take off his shirt, another one followed his lead, and the next thing I knew, I was surround by shirtless African babies and children. The noise level started to rise and the children spread out around the room in an oddly,orderly fashion, making a big square around the parameter of the room. I soon understood the reason for this ritual. The Sisters brought in round metal dishes one by one and gave each child his or her own dish. The noise level soon ceased and a gentle clanking of metal on metal resounded around the room as the hungry little children spooned piles of rice into their mouths. Some of the smaller children used their hands with the majority of their rice landing on their bellies. Experience has taught the Sisters that it is easier to mop one floor than wash 25 shirts. I wish you could have seen this site. The picture is locked in my memory and heart. I continued to feed the infant I was holding as I scanned the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I noted Ben, the chubby one, sitting with his arms crossed, he refused to touch his rice. He is plump for an African child, so it is obvious he normally eats. He looked at me and the other white girls in the room. We were all helping feed babies. I soon understood his position. Although he is fully capable of getting the rice on his spoon and into his mouth, he wanted held and the attention we were giving the infants. Bless his heart! His hunger soon increased and he inhaled his rice without our assistance, but we made sure to praise him for his "big boy" behavior. I want to take all these children home with me and love them for the rest of their lives, until their illnesses take them home. As the children were eating, I slipped away into another room filled with cribs. In the corner lay a little boy crying and coughing. He looked at me with heavy eyes. I rubbed his back and softly sang "Jesus loves me this I know...." I heard an echo across the room and looked up to see one of the Sisters folding laundry and singing with me. We spoke no words but understood that we have the same heart. The little one relaxed under my touch and soon fell asleep. I kissed all the babies I could, knowing they may have fungus, lice, or scabies all over their skin, but I pray that God will honor my heart and grant me health as I have "done unto one of the least of these..." I hope to go back to the Sister's of Charity Mission every chance I get. My heart is in that small room with five blue cribs lining the wall.