Day One ~ Cocos~Monday

Oh, what beautiful children we had the pleasure of meeting at Cocos! It has really helped us that the team was here last week. The tias and children have been looking forward to another week of fun and fellowship. This orphanage is smaller than the one we visited yesterday and more closed in. There is a small, fenced-in playground in the back of the house and the houses in this area are mostly gated like the orphanage is. Last week's team had painted the block walls in the back and it was our job to paint a mural. The weather was NOT cooperating as it rained the majority of the day! The artist of our team, Mrs. Nolan, was a real trooper and braved the elements to draw the mural on the back wall. This was definitely a team effort because while she was drawing, other team members were holding the umbrella over her and the mural. Chino (our guide and interpretor) went to get a tarp that we rigged up to keep the rain off. After that, progress went much faster. Mrs. Nolan chose to paint a picture of Jesus and a small child to correspond with Matthew.

The rain finally let off enough to fix the swings on the swingset. Like all kids, the swings are a popular spot on the playground and they were very excited to have them fixed. Jaylen and Caleb spent many, many minutes playing with them on the swings.

The newest member of this orphange is little girl named Marilyn, who is only one month old. One of the tias told me she arrived when she was only fifteen days old. I don't know how much she weighed when she was born but she was a preemie baby and is still so small but so perfect in God's eyes. Her story, like so many others, is so sad. The good news is that her mother chose to give her life...but for some reason the mother did not feel she could take care of her so she left her at the hospital. There were also other issues that are so sad and I will just say that this little girl is a fighter. She is so beautiful and we all thought she was a doll lying in the crib! We were so impressed that she was so peaceful and slept all day but one of the tias, Maria, said she makes up for it at night. Like most children, she has her days and nights mixed up but it still amazed me that she could sleep though all of the activity and noise we made. From what I could gather from the tias, the Panis will work to reunite Marilyn with someone in her family. Until then, she will be at Cocos. Please pray for her continued health and welfare.

It is amazing how God has coordinated this team with different talents. I think we have all been stretched out of our comfort zones and realize how blessed we are! Hopefully the rain will hold off on our second day so we can get outside and play and also finish the mural. It is so hard to leave, but we rejoice in knowing that we will have one more day to share the love of Jesus!