A Report from Gentle Hands Orphanage
21 October 2015
-A Place Where the Heart of Jesus is Real and Plentiful!
Shame does not allow her to keep this child.
Culture frowns on what she has done and her family line had been unblemished.
Not to mention their religion does not practice grace but only punishment for this behavior.
Conceived out of wedlock, she was thus pressured to end the tiny life that was inside of her.
She begged them to allow her to carry the child full term and find another way.
But they refused and her life was even threatened.
She was rejected and scorned by the man who declared his love for her.
She was left alone.
So she left her family in favor of giving life to her child and travelled far away to the city.
Responsibly and carefully, she did all she knew how to keep her little one safe. She worked long hours for minimal pay; just enough extra to buy vitamins.
She wept in silence, grieving daily.
And as her belly grew, she prayed and asked the angels to carry her to the end.
With each day, she grew stronger and more self reliant. She came to believe that she could do anything just to give this child a better, easier life with another family. She worked and prayed, prayed and worked. All the while talking to her tummy and whispering her love late into the night.
By God’s grace she was brought to us just in time by someone who cared enough to ask her story.
And what we do best, we did.
With supportive arms, loving hearts, and gentle hands, we held her. We wiped her tears and listened to her story. And prayed for healing.
Now with trembling hands, all too aware of the tremendous sacrifice she is making, she surrenders this precious baby into our care.
And my own heart is stretched yet again. Knowing this woman who did everything to give life to her own flesh and blood is trusting us to care for, love and protect this child until a way is made to place him with a family, with another woman, who will become his mother through adoption.
And so we begin as we do with every child upon admission, to pray for the adoptive family that will become his forever family. We pray for his birth mother that she will be comforted. And we love, care and provide for this child as his paperwork moves forward and he is placed with a family that will do their best to raise him to be loved, happy, and successful.
Gentle Hands Inc. continues to serve the poor of Metro Manila, Philippines. Our residential center is home to 100 children, of all ages, all from various situations of crisis, trauma and abuse. Few insitutions can offer the holistic care that we provide. But that comes with a price.
Our budget comes from individuals and churches that believe in our work among the Filipino children.
Please continue to pray for our children and for our staff.
Please continue to support us financially as we are struggling to meet just our basic daily expenses. Share our vision with others and encourage them to pray, share and give.
