The Greatest of These is Love

Five years ago, and again 2 1/2 years later in 2010, my life changed when I stepped through the doors at the orphanage/failure-to-thrive clinic in Tutova, Romania. 48 children, tiny hands, scampering feet, giggles--they showed me what God meant when He called His followers to defend the fatherless, the orphan, the abandoned and innocent in this world.

I miss them every single day.

Adrien, Stefan, and Alexandru, you boys are six years old now! How does time escape? In my heart, you three will always be one-year olds learning to walk. Adrien, you were my little drama king, and such a charmer! Your sweet grin melted my heart every time. Stefan, you loved musical toys and were the friendliest baby I had ever met. Alexandru, you were the observant, serious one of the crew. You loved to snuggle.

Daria, your laugh cracked everyone up! You were my bright-eyed, happy baby. Andreaa and Roxana, y'all were affectionately referred to as "the twins". Mirror images of each other, the team rejoiced when you both learned to crawl.

I don't know how you all are doing. I wish I knew. You are prayed for each night. There are hundreds of people around the world who volunteered at the orphanage throughout the years and fell in love with each and every one of you.

Wherever you find yourselves, I pray you are tucked into bed each night. I pray you are treated with kindness and understanding. I hope you get to laugh and play in the sunshine, no longer confined to a crib. I hope you have found families where you can grow and form life-long bonds.

Thank you for teaching me what life is all about.

♥ Te iubesc! ♥

Two of my precious boys--Stefan and Alexandru.

December 2007

The best Christmas ever--December 2007.

Daria's laughter brightened the entire orphanage/clinic. :)

June 2010

Caroline and Alina

Joy in the sunshine

June 2010

We were tremendously excited when one of the twins learned to crawl!

June 2010

Mid-afternoon was usually the most peaceful time of day. We would rock babies and listen to the soundtrack from The Sound of Music.
June 2010

Andreaa and Daniela loved applesauce.
June 2010





Alina absolutely loved playing with Caroline! :)

The kids would get excited in the morning when volunteers arrived because they knew they would be taken out of their cribs.



Daria found everything to be hilarious--a girl after my own heart. :)

This is an example of the self-soothing rocking motion that is common among children who spend the majority of their early years in cribs without steady human interaction and affection.

 

Walking away from the orphanage that cold, snowy day in January 2008, and again on a rainy day in June 2010 were the hardest steps I've ever walked in my life. I can't really describe it. Your heart physically aches. You cry. You miss the children the second you walk away from the building. You realize that you probably won't ever see them again. The tears are a mixture of sadness at the injustice in this world that leaves 147 million children orphaned, and joy from a love so soul-widening, it overwhelms you.

http://globalvolunteers.org/

They always need more volunteers!