Alay Orphanage
His name is Cristian and he is 4 years old. For the past two years he has lived at Alay, a shelter for homeless street children. He came from a home with an alcoholic mother and an abusive stepfather.
After several days of heavy drinking by his mother, his stepfather in a rash of violence broke Cristian's head with a rock causing him severe injury. He was only two years old at the time. Due to his injury, Cristian had to undergo therapy and spent quite a bit of time at the hospital.
Upon his recovery, the state decided to send Cristian to Alalay due to this mother's alcoholism. Upon his arrival it was clear that he was suffering from malnutrition and his health was unstable. The first thing we noticed was that his teeth were rotten. This was due greatly in part to poor nutrition and lack of good hygiene. In turn, this made it impossible for him to chew his food and eat correctly. We requested assistance from a volunteer dentist who agreed to do the necessary work on Cristian's teeth. Because his teeth were in such bad shape, the dentist suggested that Cristian be put under during the procedure, instead of the local anesthetic. This would require approval from a cardiologist. We were shocked when we heard that the cardiologist found a big hold in Cristian's heart. He advised us to operate on him as soon as possible because his life was in jeopardy. God miraculously provided the means and resources necessary to carry out the delicate operation, which turned out to be a great success. Since his recovery, the dentist was also able to provide the treatment needed for his teeth, and today Cristian has a strong heart, healthy teeth, and has put on some much needed weight! Cristian’s mom died several months ago due to her alcoholism, but the story of this child is far from over. It shows us that God cares for him in and is actively involved in raising him up to accomplish the purpose for which he was created. Every child we care for at Alalay has a special purpose in Christ and a future to grow in to. What has happened in Cristian’s life is visible proof of the existence of the invisible hand of God that carries on, regardless of great adversity in the life of these children.
