Lotus Center

Yesterday, Friday, we went to visit a place I am interested in volunteering at. It is called the Lotus Center, and is a home and school for street kids. We went to see their New Year Concert, and get an idea of what they are all about. It was an interesting time, sad and happy together. The center gives a home to about 130 children, from babies to 21 years old. Didi, the woman who started the center, told us many of them come from the police, who have picked them up on the streets. She said they are homeless for different reasons. Abuse and alcohol trouble in the family, divorce and neither parent wants the child, some she said they haven't been able to learn anything about where they came from or why. Some are developmentally disabled.

The concert was great and cute, lots of little ones running around in various costumes, and even a guy dressed up like santa - a mongolian santa! It was nice to see they were all having fun - i think about little kids being abandoned and having such a hard time in their short lives so far, and it makes me amazed at how they smile and laugh and grab your hand even though you're just a stranger visiting. Everyone was dancing at the end and a little boy grabbed my hand and led me to the cirlce to be included with everyone else. Some little tiny ones threw their arms around our legs in a hug as they passed by us. One of the older girls introduced herself in english and handed me the tiniest cutest little baby I've seen in a long time. It was adorable, like a petite little mongolian gerber baby, the kind that melts your heart and (almost) makes you want to start a family asap. :) She was 3 months old, the girl told me, and pointed out her mother. It was such a good baby, and just looked up and clayt and I and blinked, drooled, smiled a little, and fell asleep in my arms. I gave her back to her mother, all compliments on such a perfectly beautiful baby.

As we had lunch with Didi and some of the other workers, Didi told us that the mother of the baby was one of the street children. She also told us that the baby has a hole in her heart. She said they will have to take her out of the country for an operation. Didi said that most people can't afford that, and so their children die. And now I can't stop thinking about that little baby and worrying about her. Clayt says he understood that they were going to take care of her. So I feel relieved, but sad to know that there are more like that.

In general its a pretty nice facility with a large staff and a good amount of resources. So, we're undecided about volunteering there, if our help might stretch further at another, smaller place. we'll keep you posted.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!