Subj: The face of a child.
Date: 3/7/03
The face of a child.
Imagine gazing upon the soft features of a child's face and basking in the glow of their tender, young skin.
Delighting in their easy accepting smile and feel their anticipation.To have the light of their innocent eyes dance before you and sense their potential.
Cradling the beautiful gem of a child's face in the palm of one's hands, beholding its value.
Kiss their soft cheek, tasting the sweetness of their soul.
Then to be shocked by the harsh reality of the neglect, abuse, disease, and oppression of their environment.
To have this cruel reality come crashing down, wave after wave,
as face after face looks up to you;
exposing their vulnerability and need for love, acceptance, escape, answers, help, hope.
The impressions haunt all who would visit such a world. This is the world we visited on our trip.
What we have seen, smelt, tasted, tried to grasp with our mind, and felt with our hearts;
may we never forget, may we never forsake them.
The fate of a child.
Pliskave children's home is such a place. Children are brought here as young as 4 and usually live their entire lives in this facility. This is their fate and this has been my burden for the last year, how to change the lives of at least a few of the children. It seems an impossible task, yet the door of opportunity was opened this last week and I just stand amazed at what God can do. Under the shadow of a large statue of Lennon, where over 90 children live in an understaffed, under supported, inhumane environment God's love is breaking through. Beginning the first of March two women will visit this school 4 days a week. The director has given them a room in which they will create a home like environment. 3 days a week they will give 16 children 4 lessons. First will be a hygiene lesson such as brushing teeth, what toilet paper is for, washing and fixing their hair in a special way. Next will be music and story time where they can learn academic and social skills. Snack time will provide the opportunity for learning how to set a table, make tea, occasionally celebrate a birthday, as well as supplement their diet with fresh fruit. Last will be an activity time where puzzles, games and crafts will be provided so their talents and potential will be able to bloom.
It is just a small start, but the groundwork for something new and exciting. Please join me in prayer for this project to go smoothly, for the children it will touch, for the ladies as they minister, and for the staff at Pliskave as they see the changes God's love can make.
Embrace the face of a distant child, pray for the fate of an unfortunate one such as those living in Pliskave.
Lynnise