Publication....

For the last few weeks we have been putting together a publication for the orphaned and abandoned children of Panama. This Friday, we send it to the printers. We sent out a detailed email about the time we have had here since our last post, if you did not receive it, let me know, and I will add your email to the campaign. During the tedious publication process, we have been forced to stare at the pictures of these children whom we are trying to help. Things stir in our minds.

These children are growing up without any love. They are locked in their rooms with twenty other kids…physically LOCKED in their rooms. Gates, bars, the whole 9 yards. The problem isn’t necessarily the government. It’s not the officials, or the care mothers. It is an overall sense of irresponsibility sweeping through the masses of society. We don’t dare claim Panama unique in this aspect. We do, however, see a problem….and it is not a small one. Every life deserves a chance. These children are not being given a chance. Why?

The hardest thing for me(Ryan) has been realization. Realization that the difference between me, and these orphaned and abandoned children is nothing but circumstance of birth. The difference between you and them, is circumstance of birth. Some would call it chance, the children might call it bad luck, we may call it grace… on our part at least. I find the more I see, the more injustice I encounter, the greater the weight grace is on my shoulders. I have a responsibility. You have a responsibility. As people who are free from the chains of oppression, we have a responsibility to fight for others rights. Do we have a righteous anger? Are we outraged? Or are we content? Would you be content if your situation was switched? If fate, grace, bad luck, or chance happened to be reversed in your case? Is the weight of God’s grace heavy yet? I admit, I (Ryan) haven’t even begun to delve into what all of this means…but I know it means something. I know it is something I can’t deny, and it is something no one should be able to shrug off. We are only a breath away from any other person and their situation. Life happens…we can’t stop it. It happens.

Often times we are concerned about our own rights. We are concerned about rights that are being threatened or trampled on. The problem I see with this is it does not take into account those without any rights at all. Who are we if we speak only for ourselves? Why do we not speak for others?

Scientifically, it is proven that children who grow up in an institution are at a huge disadvantage. These kids are suffering from disorders of WAR. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder sets in by the age of ten. Emotional detachment is one of the most common side effects of institutionalization. They aren’t held as infants, they do not develop the right brain receptors and pathways to feel love and attach to other humans. It is the foundation for a life of crime and horrible circumstances. On top of all the things these children experience in orphanages is the reason they are there in the first place. They all come out of horrible life circumstances…rape, abuse, servitude, drug abuse in their homes. They then are removed for their own safety and placed into a institution created for SHORT TERM living quarters…and they never leave. They turn 18 and are let loose, told to be a contributing member of society. The expectation is ridiculous.

I have learned so much from my times with the “children deprived of their rights” in Panama. I have learned about grace, love, humility, despair, but most importantly: HOPE. There is hope for these children, and that is the most beautiful thing at all. The hope is here because there is a way out. This publication will hopefully be a catalyst for that change. The day is quickly approaching where justice comes to the little abandoned ones of Panama…and we can’t wait to see it.

We want to challenge you to step out. If we all do not raise our voice for truth and justice, our single voices will be drowned out in the midst of life. As people privileged enough to have the choice to stand up against injustice today, you also have a duty. The responsibility is not mine, the governments, or some other far away scapegoat. The responsibility lies in ALL of our hands. What do we do? The call is not for everyone to pack up their lives and move to the horn in Africa…or to move to Thailand and single handedly try and stop sex tourism… the call is to work together. The call is to help where we can…to stand up when the opportunity arises. Many times I feel like standing up for social issues is such a “revolutionary process” or something of the sorts. The truth is, it should just be an extension of our everyday lives.

Everywhere in the world people are hurting. “Every soul has the same need. The need to be valued and loved.” Let’s change the hurt in peoples lives.

We will be holding a benefit concert in Lynchburg, and Jeanette and I will be presenting some photos and literature also. We will be discussing ways in which you can get involved in fighting global injustices. 

We will also be holding a discussion on global injustices in Grand Haven. Please come out and see what we are doing and have done already. We hope to see you all there!