| | Mama Carmen is an extremely kind hearted old woman. She currently has over 100 children in her care from 15 days old to 18. She has very little help beside herself. She looks tired, but I am certain she never stops. She will wander the streets looking for children who are sleeping in the road or any corner they can find. These same children during the day may pickpocket, steal or sell items, such as gum, in heavy traffic going from car to car. Mama Carmen gives these children a safe environment, at least for a little while. See, Mama Carmen does not believe in adoption. The children that she finds or that the courts send to her will not be adopted by families looking for a child to love. She, herself, has adopted many of the children in her care. Her desire is that these children grow up in Guatemala. A noble effort, but what happens once they become adults? What will their future hold? It’s a bittersweet unknown.
Watching the children at Mama Carmen’s is both inspirational and sad. We took bags for them that were filled with a Jesus storybook, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Ashley also arranged for Build a Bear to donate bears for the kids. The children were told to line up, which they did automatically by age – youngest to oldest. They received their bear and bag, clung to both and went to the side so others could receive their gifts. When it came time for cake, the oldest children made sure the youngest received their cake first. Once they were served, then the oldest would eat theirs. It is clear that these children look after each other and almost have no need of an adult. One image forever burned into my memory is of a girl, maybe 9 at the oldest sitting with a younger child across her lap. The younger child was sleeping and even when the older girl wanted to get up and move, she did not disturb the younger child, she simply stood up with her in her arms.
Did we bring any hope to Mama Carmen’s? I would like to think we did. Maybe we brought them the hope that there are people out there who love them no matter what and will spend some time with them just playing with them and hugging them. More importantly, maybe we brought them the hope of Jesus Christ and His love. While we were there we witnesses one child sitting intently reading the Jesus story we had just given him. If just one child realized the love of Jesus as a result of the storybook, or us being there then hope certainly was left at Mama Carmen’s.
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| | Posted 6/19/2007 9:58 PM - 181 Views - 0 eProps - 1 Comment
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