Visiting the Egyam Orphanage

It's been a very emotional day for me.
Earlier, I attended the opening of the Egyam Orphanage in the village of Egyam.
It's very bittersweet to attend the opening of an orphanage.
I try to focus on the happiness.
Behind me was a 13 year old boy named Emmanual.
He was ecstatic to have a new home.
Emmanuel's father drowned while fishing, and his mother died of an unnamed disease.
He's been without parents or any extended family since 2003.

The Mavericks (our soccer team) brought along a supply of food staples for the orphanage, as well as books, clothes, and a few toys and soccer balls. The founder of the home, a woman from Denmark, was moved to tears, as were we all.

Later, watching the long speeches, a tiny 2-year old girl climbed into my lap.
She immediately melded her tiny form to mine.
I could tell that she was very rarely held.
She totally received it, laying motionless against me.
Later, we shifted postitions so she was chest to chest looking over my shoulder.
She quietly stroked by back.
I don't know her name, but I will never forget how she received all I had to offer, a warm body to hug, will all of herself.

She is only one of millions of children on this continent who need to be held.