The Life of an Orphan

The life of an orphan isn't exactly the fun and games portrayed in "Little Orphan Annie." It's hard. Lonely. You have to grow up fast and fend for yourself. We are spending this week at an orphanage called Sagrada Familia, where 700 (yes, that's not a typo) children live. The story behind this home is really neat...a man lost his son and began to give things to kids on the street. One day, a kid asked him if he would take him home. So he did. Then one day, the kid disappeared...and brought back all of his friends off the street. So the man started this home and it has grown to 700!

Life here is hard...the kids cook their own food...their little noses are chapped b/c they don't have someone to wipe them....the babies have to feed themselves....four-year olds wash dishes for the house....when you are sick, you don't have a momma to come pat your back....there is one person per 40 kids, so forget many hugs and snuggles...your head is infested with lice....you learn to stuff things in your pocket b/c that's your only chance to get anything....

BUT these kids are still so happy and joyful. And they have umpteen friends/brothers/sisters to play with. One of them told me today that she would be sad to leave, that she would miss the home. Her brothers and sisters actually went home with her mom, but she chose to stay. In this home, they are so loved. And fed. And getting an education. And in reality, life in the home is often better than a life outside in abject poverty. But still, the life of an orphan is hard..so very hard.