Missionaries of charity visit

This morning before my evening shift I visited a home run by a group of wonderful nuns. It is part of 'Mercy Ministries' a none Mercy Ship organisation but that is supported in some way by Mercy Ships. In tis case a weekly visit to the home.
They are an amazing group of women who's purpose is to look after people needing hospice care, as well as caring for people who have a short lived period of sickness where family cannot cope. Largely the people are HIV positive, and in many cases because of the stigma are brought to the ladies and abandoned. This includes children and adults. there are 3 sections to the hospice, women, men and children. Depending on the number and mix of the Mercy Ships team who go each Wednesday morning, we will try and go to each area in the hospice.
A small group of ladies spent time asking the ladies to share their stories, sing songs (it was amazing to here the wonderful African voices and drums from where I was with the children!) The team were then able to spend time one on one just talking, painting nails, doing crafts and generally pampering and ministering to them.
I spent the morning with the 40 or so children from 2 months to 12. They were such an amazing bunch of tiny tots. Many were bouncy and obviously well nourished, but there were many little ones who were visibly skinny, very subdued and looked so helpless. We layed with balloons, painted the older girls nails, gave LOTs of cuddles, played with blocks and toys that we took with us. There were quite a few characters that need a firm word, but mostly the kids were just excited to have some one to one attention. I particularly looked after a little boy who must have been 10 or 12 months old. He looked so forlorn! We had lots of cuddles, but I was struck by the poor tone in his body, He needed help to sit up properly and seemed most comfortable over my shoulder.
One of the main focuses for all the people there is to make sure they are well nourished, and there was one particular sister who I am told really spends lot of time ensuring particularly the babies are fed adequately. It is hard to believe that these wonderful children could be abandoned.
One of the particular issues the nuns face, is the issue of when people in their care pass away. Because many are abandoned by their families they often find that no one claims their bodies, they have a hard time affording to pay for an appropriate burial. This is a harsh reality, but I am so thankful they have taken care of these people so well, and it was a privelege to send time with them. I am hoping that I may make a regular thing of going to share in this amazing ministry.