Hospital Visits

For the last several weeks, the director has prevented us from visiting the orphanage. Its a frustrating time for us (read previous blog), but it does give us different ministry opportunities. One of these opportunities is hospital visits. There is a small town near Komarivka where all the kids go when they get sick. It being flu season and all that, we have been able to see several kids from the orphanage. They are always so excited when we come. For one, hospitals are generally very boring, and this particular hospital is no exception. The kids can be there for several days to several weeks; they have nothing to do and rarely have visitors. Another reason the kids are glad to see us is because Daniel has one of those faces that generates excitement (and giggles among the girls).
The hospital visit I would like to share with you occurred several weeks ago. Our team that day consisted of Meisha (our fearless driver), Galya and Oksana (two friends from Safe Haven), Victor (stuck in the car with 4 other girls, poor soul), and me.
I knew beforehand that a pair of sisters from the orphanage, Yanna and Deanna, would be there, and I was looking forward to seeing them. However, I was in for a happy surprise, because another pair of siblings, Masha and Taras, were also there.  I’m not celebrating that these kids were sick, but anytime I get to see Masha and Taras is an extra blessing. I love those kids!

When we arrived, our team split up. Meisha and Victor went to go see a family that was in the hospital, and I went to hang out with Masha and Taras. Galya and Oksana went back and forth between the two rooms, trying to show the maximum amount of love in our short amount of time.

I know exactly why Oksana spent more time with the family than with us!

Once I deposited all my stuff on an empty bed, Masha and I became inseparable. I was told she had a fever and a cough, and I think she was just craving “Mom.” I got to be her substitute for a little bit, and she held my hand and snuggled up next to me.

Why I love my job.

 Taras, on the other hand, displayed no symptoms except vast amounts of energy. He split his time between jumping on the bed, spinning around, hiding, and running around the room. I was informed later that he had a temperature. I wonder about the medical system here sometimes.

Taras "hiding" between the bed and nightstand. He also enjoyed posing with his pet pen.

Curious little boy examines pen

At some point Masha wanted to give me a gift (we were quite the chums by then), and so she ran over to her nightstand across the room and returned with a piece of candy. Rule of thumb number one: always accept gifts from kids and say thank you. I proceeded to thank her, and so she ran over and got me another piece of candy. This was followed by a cookie. Taras, not to be outdone, zipped over to his nightstand and brought me an apple, then another one (note the individual trips).  Pretty soon after that, dinner was called and so Masha left for a minute and came back with her food. What does she do? Gives me her cookie! Maybe I should have said something, but I was so tickled pink I just wanted to cry. I love the generosity of kids. Its so sincere and pure.
I had brought some photo albums of trips Daniel and I taken in Europe, and so we spent some time looking through them. I also brought flash cards for learning English. Both kids sat down with me and I said each word in English. They both repeated the word, and I was surprised at how well they did. I hope they retain the desire to learn, because at the orphanage we see a lot of kids who are apathetic. 

Masha learning English

Taras preferred to pose with the flashcards rather than study them!

Next I broke out the camera, and we had fun taking different pictures. Masha loved the group photos, while Taras preferred to be goofy. He’s five.  He’s a boy. Give him a break!

Galya can be goofy, too. Give her a break! She's twenty-six or something like that. She's a girl!

Galya hanging out with the older kiddos.

Pet pen has split into two

Fun times at the hospital!

The kids are back at the orphanage, but I will always be grateful for the time we spent with them at the hospital. I hope we can continue to be a light and show them love, because most of these kids don't have visitors, not even their parents. I remember from my own childhood how much I needed mom when I wasn't feeling well. Chicken noodle soup helped, but having mom there to cuddle with and soothe me me was far better. She had the secret touch, and my heart goes out to these kids who don't have that.