There is always one child that just breaks my heart to say goodbye to. This is Srey Na. She is seven years old and quite a trip to be around. Everyday when I arrive at the orphanage she runs over to me with a huge grin on her face and throws her arms around me. Then she proceeds to push away and threaten all the other kids trying to hold my hand and get my attention. I always correct her and reach out to the other kids, while she tries to make me feel guilty with her sad eyes. It is the same drama everyday with this one, but I love her! 

Earlier this week Srey Na became unusually jealous of the other kids. She stood in the corner of the room with her arms crossed and a big frown on her face. She shot me a look of death whenever she could catch my eye. I was busy, tired, and not really in the mood to deal with a seven year old's attitude. I was trying so hard to make the VBS program work, and to make all the kids feel equally loved, and her little attitude was really getting to me. She knew she could always stand next to me and hold my hand, but I couldn't give her my undivided attention in a room with 30 kids. She should know that she doesn't have to fight for my attention. 

Or, maybe she does. I was so caught up in what I was doing that I forgot for a moment that this seven year old girl has to constantly fight. It's not hard to be overlooked when you are living in an orphanage that houses 90 children with AIDS.  She doesn't have a mother. I'm sure she will fight for any chance to catch a glimpse of what a mother's love feels like... to know what it feels like to have someone else look out for your needs, and to not have to fight for love and affection. 

As if that wasn't enough of a reality shock for me, yesterday was even harder to deal with. The bubbly, feisty little seven year old that I was use to was suddenly not the same child. I barely recognized her as I approached the front steps of the orphanage and saw her sitting there with her head in her hands and tears rolling down her cheeks. Her hair was chopped off, she had multiple blisters all over her body, head, and face, and her entire face was puffed out and looked infected. It was then that I realized I was completely helpless to help her. Not only is she parentless, but she has AIDS.  Any illness or infection is extremely dangerous for her. I had to fight back the tears and overwhelming emotions.... I needed to get through the next couple of hours. Only one question kept running through my mind! Why aren't we fighting for our children? How do we fight for them? Adoption, sponsorship, foster care....what are our options?  My mom always says that children are a gift from God. Ok...well, what about these children? Are they a gift that we have overlooked?  Yes, orphans in Cambodia are our children too! ....I guess I'm starting to find my calling in life.   

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27