LEX

abuse, neglect, abandonment, and outrage

last friday, while in santiago, we went with Teresa White to a home for handicapped children to help the workers feed lunch to the kids. this is actually one of the very few of these in the whole country. many third world countries, including the DR, don't like to take the time, money and effort that it requires to give these kids a comfortable life, despite their handicaps. it was amazing what i saw.

it was more than just seeing handicapped kids lying on beds on a warehouse and being fed bean juice for a meal. it was the stories that Teresa told me about why they were handicapped. one boy was beaten by his father. another was left on the side of the road with ants eating up his body. many others were abused, neglected, malnourished and abandoned. none of the stories that i heard were stories of being born like they are. all of theses children, at one point in their life, had the opportunity to grow up healthy and lead "normal" lives. i saw first hand how important a loving home and family can be.

it also hit me that our little Ian could have been one of these children. he was malnourished for a year or more, and at the age of appx. 18 months, is the size of a 3 month old. but by the grace of God (and with proper nutrition and exercise) he now has the opportunity to grow up healthy, and opportunity of which these other children were deprived.

posted by Alexia & Jeffrey @ 6:29 AM