Pisingos Forever in our Hearts

Today we spent a few hours at Los Pisingos. It was a time to give our gifts (thank you family and friends who gave donations-very much needed and appreciated), play with the kids, talk with the new Director and Founder of "Friends of Pisingos," Carlos and Andres. In Bogota, Pisingos is known as an "institution" doing "charity" work for the under privileged kids...to us, it is the place that formed our family, therefore, always a part of our family and will be forever in our hearts!! Below our family with Carlos and Andres...2 amazing men, doing "God's" work as they call it, loving on, overseeing the care of over a hundred children currently in this institution.

Caroline was very happy to learn we were going to visit there today. When we arrived she was full of smiles and hugs for all her "Tias/Tios!" The children on the other hand, she ignored. She did not want anything to do with them. Many would come running up to me and say "Mami?." And Caroline very firmly would say, "No, es mi Mama!"

Right when we arrived I recognized 2 girls. I could not believe it...John and I looked at a sibling group of 4 sisters a year ago, reading through their file, we really prayed over whether or not we should adopt them. We realized after much thought and prayer that it would be to much for Isabel and Silas to handle, interrupting the birth order, we thought could have been traumatic for Isabel...so, we decided not to pursue them, but, in that process God opened our hearts to requesting a sibling group instead of a healthy baby...I had a really hard time letting these 4 girls go, and would wake up at night praying for them...Below in the picture are 2 of the sisters with Caroline, Marta, and Tia Laura. If it wasn't for the 2 older girls in the picture, our family would not be what it is today...and even better, we discovered that these 4 sisters now have a forever family waiting to meet them from Minnesota!!! God does hear our prayers on behalf of the orphan!!


Many of the older kids wanted to hold Marta. It was a little much for her...she was constantly making sure she saw myself or John out of the corner of her eyes...she didn't cry, but, it tired her out, and was a bit overwhelming for her...


The caretakers "Tias" could not believe how "gordita" little Marta became. It cracked me up...a lot of mouths wide open when they saw her...

Seeing the children of Pisingos today was very difficult for me on one hand, on the other, being near them felt like I was near to the heart of God, as His heart is for the orphan...it was unbelievable to interact, hold them, give them kisses, touch them on their faces, learn their names...honestly, it was painfully beautiful...

This little guy survived an abortion...

...this little girl suffered severe neglect...

...this most precious girl all battered and bruised...

...every child has a name...this little guy, Jesus, one of 3 brothers going to meet his forever family on Monday, and will be coming to WI...Ernie and Christy, I had no idea this was your son...he is such a love. I had tears in my eyes when I gave him a kiss...come quickly!!!

...all a difficult story behind their name...

It' s amazing to see what it takes to run this institution. 500 bottles per day (no exaggeration)...

Caroline was happy to show us her "dormitoro" where she slept...

And one of the highlights was meeting this most precious little girl, Maria...

I was able to give her a hug and kiss from her Daddy and Mommy, and big brother waiting to meet her from Grand Rapids, MI. Silas very happy to meet another Colombiana Amiga coming to MI! She is so tender and sweet...and needs her family very badly!

Ahh...and Isabel very excited to see where she slept as a baby, "played" as a baby...she really took it in. Silas really didn't pay attention...I was very overwhelmed by the number of babies...very sad. Because there are so many, you can see that their just isn't enough arms to go around to give them the nurture that they need...it was very clear that Marta's delays are most likely just "institutional" delays...the longer the babies are their, the more delayed they become...we saw many 12-24 month year olds just laying around doing "tummy time."
(A side note to waiting families...Carlos expects infant adoption to be up this year, due to the amount of infants that they currently house.) It is maxed out, and some of them are moved to another home it is so full.

With the amount of children, I am still amazed by the caretakers care, love, and concern for these precious children!

Carlos is such an amazing man. We enjoyed having an hour with him...learning more about the heart of the institution, the vision, and just simply seeing him engage and love on our kids...everyone loves Tio Carlos. As different at it is with Tia Rosita gone, Carlos is a wonderful man...

After about 2 hours of being there, the kids were playing outside...Caroline came running in looking very disturbed. Carlos said she's had enough, that we should probably take her back to the hotel. He thought that maybe one of the kids said something to her....and sure enough, she let it spill in the taxi. A little girl told her that we came to "return" her and that we were never coming back. Oh how she quietly clinged to me the whole taxi ride home!

It is very evident after our experience today that Pisingos remains a very wonderful foundation...but, with that being said...it is not a family...and seeing the looks on the children's faces today said it all...they all just want a Daddy and Mommy to love them...and the sad reality is, that there are over 143 million orphans in this world...a lot of lifeless sad faces crying for a daddy and mommy tonight! It is such a painful reality...and we saw the faces of this reality today. It was more sobering than the last time. My prayer for those following our journey, that you in some small or big way pray for or consider a way that you can be the hands and feet of Jesus to the crying orphan...

As we were walking up the hill, I took one last look at the place that has loved on, cared for, protected all 4 of our kids for a period of over 3 years...I had to say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for using this place as a "stepping stone" for them into our family...and with Caroline squeezing my hand tight, she looked up at me and smiled and said "Mi Mami!" (that is "My Mommy!")...a year and a half ago she cried over her "mami" not coming to visit her...and today she could proudly say she has a mommy! She was very happy to get back into the taxi and leave Pisingos behind!