We’ve been at the orphanage only a week, but after being away from the kids all weekend, I went to bed last night genuinely missing each one dearly and looking longingly forward to this morning when I could see their smiling faces again.

After hearing the life stories of a few of the children here, I can only help but think that they all have every reason in the world to be untrusting of anyone around them. However, we’re often greeted with big smiles, arms wide open, and requests to be held, hugged, and taken to activities. And even through frustrated tears and noses ending up in corners, when a child runs up to you with their arms up looking for love, it feels like the whole world stops and I want nothing more than for that moment to last forever.