Strength Based Orphan Care: HOPE
The other day I pulled into the orphanage with my little twin babies, Hanna and Sophia. I was promptly greeted by a few of the boys who were playing basketball in the court. They helped me get the girls out of their car seats and politely escorted them to the basketball court while strategically defending them from the incoming soccer balls. I sat and observed as one of the older boys held Hanna close to him, gave her a big kiss on the cheek and just stared into her eyes with a goofy smile on his face. Although they are not the majority, this boy in particular is a double orphan who has no ties to his biological family. But that afternoon, I saw tenderness and selflessness from a boy who was once horribly abused when he was Hanna's age. And it dawned on me right then and there. Taking care of orphans shouldn't exclusively be about detecting hurts, assessing pain and elaborating recovery plans. Taking care of orphans shouldn't look like boot camp where adults are large and ...