Street Children

Friday afternoon we went back to Pastor Deo's. Three times a week he has street children- orphans with no home- come for a meal. He can only afford for 85 kids to come, and they learn songs and hear devotions. And I can tell you from being there and seeing it myself, those kids ADORE him and his wife. The kids are set up on benches in the back courtyard, and they sing for us. Older teens stand up and lead different songs, and we find out later these are kids who Deo saved from a bad life. The teens each stand up in front of us and speak, telling us how they were living in crime and drugs and Deo saved them. Now they come to help w the kids each week, serving as role models.

We sat there and I watched the kids. These little ones, as young as three, make it across a neighborhood by themselves, remembering when the meals are. My kids barely remember to brush their teeth. What struck me was watching the parent dynamic between the smaller kids. A little boy in a pink shirt, around five years old, was clearly the caretaker of two younger ones sitting by him. He wiped sweat out of their eyes, helped them eat, and helped Deo and the women clean up afterwards. MY HEART BROKE!!! For a five year old to be a parent, to feel pressure of taking care of himself and others killed my heart.

We served the kids their food, and all the kids waited till everyone had been served before eating. Then all they wanted was to play with us and to hold our hands. Just to be loved. What perspective.