Today I went to Harmony House, started by the family who wrote the book, Saving Levi. It is a home for special needs orphans. Most have heart problems or cleft palates. There were about 25 kids (four or so in hospital), nannies were very friendly, most are Christians, they really interact with the kids there, more so than at PHF. I went in and right away was introduced to a little girl named Ming Ming (American name is Blossom). She is two but very small for her age. She was laying on the couch and kids were playing like crazy all around her. She looked absolutely miserable and like she had a headache. Her arms and legs were very small and she had these greenish circles all around her eyes. I found out later she has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and just had meningitis. I don’t know her prognosis, but it seemed like she could easily die soon. Her eyes kept rolling back in her head. She was wet and hungry so I took her upstairs and changed her and soon after she got lunch. We got a smile or two out of her and she didn’t seem quite as miserable as when we first arrived. I could hardly keep from crying as I held her. I wished she could run and play like the other kids. It was time to go outside and pull weeds, so I reluctantly put her down. Later, when we came in we helped feed the children. I got to feed soup to one little girl. Next I sat at the table next to a little boy named Josiah. He was a little monkey! With no use of his arms, he uses his feet for everything, including eating. He kept looking at me all mischievous like, and then would use his foot to scoot his bowl of dumplings close to the edge of the table where it would teeter for a second until I pushed it back to safety. Then he would do it again and again, and each time I would rescue it. Finally, I decided he had too much of an audience, so I left the table. I looked back a minute later, just in time to see the bowl and dumplings go flying! After lunch, I sat in the living room and played with the kids. Josiah kept jumping on my lap. Another little girl around 4 or 5 (I can’t remember her name) was completely taken by my camera. Against my better judgment, I let her take some pictures. Only later, did I realize she took over 50 pictures! The cook had some leftover dumplings, so she shared them with us…mmmmm!
We came back to PHF in time for lunch and then set up for Kids Day – a carnival type of event, complete with carnival type games, water activities, face-painting (my job), jumping castle, and fireworks. We had a dinner catered for the nannies and kids – a real treat for them – to say thanks for letting us play with the children. It was really great to watch them pile up their plates. We served the food, helped with the children, and cleaned up the dining hall. No dinner tonight for the team, but I think we’re all too hot and sweaty to care!