Everybody who knows me, knows that I have a strong tendency towards two things in life – life stories and love stories. Usually, the unusual ones get me the most.
So, when I see brave people doing brave things to help children in need, I know that there’s a love story. And I know that love is unusual. And I know that love comes from the biggest hearts on the planet.
As you also know, I work here during the day. Some people still battle with that fact but, that’s not my point. I deal, on a daily basis, with stories of pain. With stories of heartache, hopelessness and fear. I’m not afraid of those stories or the people whose lives are lived within that pain.
So, when my friend, Justin, told me about Oasis Haven, I wanted to write something. Maybe something to help. Maybe something to just tell a little bit of the story of Oasis Haven. Maybe something to just capture, and acknowledge, as best I could, the love that the staff of Oasis Haven have for the children they care for.
I cannot bear the thought of a child feeling unloved, unwanted. It is my heart’s greatest soreness. And yet, globally, it happens every day and more than you would like to think about.
Oasis Haven is no ordinary children’s home. The staff and volunteers at Oasis Haven seek to give abandoned and HIV-positive children a loving home within a family environment, whilst attempting to aid in the adoption of these wonderful children.
Oasis Haven doesn’t deal with happiness at first. They deal with pain. They deal with pain with love. By helping to place abandoned children into happy homes, they are able to help a child feel love. By homing and caring for children within their Family Homes, they give the family love. They create families. They are families. Each family home is limited in size to ten children, ensuring that the children within them are able to live a family life. One of love.
In terms of placing abandoned children into homes through adoption…I have to stop. The mere thought of the hearts of these children, left unloved, kills me. All I ever want is for my daughter to know that she is loved, cared for and celebrated. I can never understand how anyone could not love, care for and celebrate their child. But, that’s not the point here…It happens…
Oasis Haven helps these children find the homes they long for.
I take my hat off to this team and every caregiver at Oasis Haven. They don’t just deserve awards, they deserve so much more. It’s those big hearts that make the space for children who feel unloved, for ill children, for children who are children, plain and simple.
I just wanted to stop for a moment today, and pay homage to Oasis Haven. You can help them here or get in touch with them here.
Oasis Haven, I salute you, and your big, big hearts.