MELODY TIENYUN

On Sunday July 10, Jia Sheng drove David, Stella, Scarlet, and I to Maejo, a suburb across town to visit an orphanage called, Home of Zion. Director Ni oversees this place, which houses about 50 to 60 children ranging from ages 5 up to 11.

Slowly the younger kids walked towards us as they awakened from their afternoon nap. It was about 3:00 PM. They were quite shy in the beginning as we began to pass out the stickers and chocolates. As seen above, the girls still sport the short haircut right below the ears. Traditionally, all girls would have to have their hair like this, but nowadays most can grow it out as long as it is tied up or braided. Here, many of the kids have just come from the mountains, so they must abide by this rule because some carry lice. Stella can tell when the kids have them, but to David and my untrained eyes, we could only trust her judgement to exercise caution when playing with the kids.

Stella, being the outgoing girl that she is, asked them their names and how old they were and from that act of kindness the young girls already loved her and grew very attached. We called her, “Mama Sa.”

The boys and girls were all very polite upon receiving their gifts. They are trained to clasp their hands and bow their heads when those older than them address or give them something.

There are smaller dorm like houses that the girls and boys are separated into here. They each have their own bunk, and share the outdoor bathroom facilities. Per house, there is a caretaker, but not a mother figure-she or he merely chaperones.

The children were much so open and joyful when they saw that there were older brothers and sisters to play with. All of them lined up to be carried by David- this was his workout for the day. This little one was too excited to show me anything that was hers, or simply point to objects around her home. We couldn’t communicate but it didn’t bother her at all.

Although they have many friends to play with, many have been abandoned by their families either because the parents did not expect to provide for them or do not have the means. Most of them are not actually orphans, and parents sometimes send their child here and come back for them when they are older.

Many blessings to the little bundles of joy. May they have a more hopeful future.