An orphanage.
It’s not something you can really understand or fathom until you have seen it with your own eyes.
Before I go too far, I want to be clear that our daughter’s orphanage, also known as Dorcas House in Iloilo City, has the most loving and selfless caregivers I have ever met in my entire life.
These women work 6 – 24hr shifts with one day a week off. They have families of their own yet sacrifice their entire lives to care for these kids who have been abandoned..
And you wouldn’t believe me if I told you what they get paid per month, but rest assured, it wouldn’t even last you through one trip to the grocery store.
So none of what I am about to say? Says anything about the way Janella was loved.
She was loved well.
And for that we are grateful. So very grateful.
But the resources they have to care for these children… is slim. And when I say slim, I am being generous.
So very different from they way we live here in the USA.
Below is a picture of our daughter’s old bedroom.
The wooden crib in the back was hers. She slept in the toddler room with many other children and a house parent. No blankets. No stuffed animals.
That’s how all of the children slept. And when I think about it, it’s the better option of where they could have been sleeping which would have been on the street, without parents or caregivers at all.
Thank you Jesus for the wooden cribs and the roof that protects them.
Almost all of the children (and there are a total of 15 kids) are boys. There was only 2 other girls that lived at Dorcas and one of them was an 8 year old and the other one was a 5 month old baby that was new to Dorcas House.
So to say Janella was the “queen bee” among the boys would probably be an understatement.
Let’s just say… she was prepared for brothers when she arrived at our home.
And she definitely knows how to hold her own with them. I am sure that comes from the fact that she had to fight for what she wanted when she lived in the orphanage.
The orphanage itself is very run down. The room you see above is an outdoor area where the toddler kids spend most of their days.
When we were there I never saw more than a handful of toys available and honestly, most of the time there weren’t any toys. Maybe a few balls, an old beat up ride-a-long toy and a few plastic trucks with string attached so the kids could pull them.
I want to also stress that I never saw any child crying. Not one.
They were all content and happy just being outside with each other.
Sure does make you think how we overstimulate our kids here in the United States by quite a bit.
The school aged kids would walk to school each morning. Walk back for lunch and then walk back to school. And then home for the day when school was over. Each time they walked up they would greet you with “Good afternoon” with a smile on their face.
Their joy was contagious!
There wasn’t a second that went by I didn’t think about the children who would be left behind.
The ones still waiting on forever families. The ones who are “stuck” because their mother won’t take them back, but also won’t sign over parental rights. The ones that aren’t considered “adoptable”, whether it’s due to lack of paperwork or medical reasons. The ones who have aged out of the system, meaning they are already 15.
Yes, at 15… children in the Philippines can no longer be adopted. FIFTEEN.
I can not even fathom being put on my own at age 15.
All of it. Heartbreaking.
Yet, they smiled and played and felt loved because these women truly treated them like they were their own, despite the lack of resources.
They don’t have clean water. They drink from a well. One that, they admitted to us, was contaminated.
There is no air. It’s nearly a million degrees there with ungodly humidity.
They eat mostly rice.
And like I already mentioned, they don’t have a gazillion and ninety seven superhero figurines like we do here at our house. And they sure the heck don’t have electronic devices. Or internet. Or cable.
Oh, or a shower or tub.
Yes, you read that correct. They don’t even have a working toilet.
Heck, one of the days we were there they didn’t even have electricity. 
They had been showing Janella our family photo book daily since February and you could tell that she was very attached to the book.
She carried everywhere she went.
It was so funny because she would look at Jeff’s picture and say “da-da” and then kiss the photo… yet she wanted nothing to do with him in person. Haha!
I was so thankful we had the videographer there with us. NOT because we are bloggers so let me debunk that right now (I won’t tolerate any nonsense comments on that topic – ahem), BUT BECAUSE WE NEVER WANT TO FORGET WHERE OUR DAUGHTER CAME FROM.
We never want to forget the wonderful women she called “ma” before we could get to her. We never want to forget how blessed we are to live with so many privileges.
And we want to be able to show her the video one day when she’s a young adult… When she asks me “Mom, where did I come from?”
I want her to know how much she is loved. And was loved even then.
The orphanage director gave us permission and even encouraged us that bringing a videographer would be a great idea to be able to capture the memories of her home forever.
I can’t wait to see the finished video, they even interviewed her house mommy. I’ll be crying my eyes out when I hear what she says about Janella.
They had this metal swing area in the front yard (above) and it was such a precious moment because this was the first time she let both of us sit near her.
It didn’t last long before she wanted down, but we kept thinking “This is progress!!!”
At one point she needed down from a chair and she let me pick her up and set her down. The house mommies were yelling, “Hold her! Hold her!”
But I didn’t want to break her trust. I wanted her to know that she could trust me to do what she wanted which was to get down from the chair.
That’s how I spent most of my time… just patiently waiting for her to be ready for me.
You’ll notice that I have included pictures from 2 separate days (our different outfits).
The ones when Janella is in the striped dress was day 1… literally hours after we got off the plane. And the other pictures are from day 3, the day the orphanage staff cooked us lunch and we signed the entrustment papers.
Day 3 was the day we spent almost all day there.
Day 3 also brought with it some unexpected surprises…. one that I haven’t talked about much at all. Mostly because so many parts of it are private.
I met Janella’s birth mother.
It was single handedly the most amazing experience of my entire life. I can honestly say that.
I may elaborate on our meeting in the future, but for now… I am not ready.
I had no idea how emotional day 3 would be (especially after meeting her birth mom), but it was soooo emotionally draining.
Every single piece of it. The highs, the lows, the goodbyes.
Oh my, the goodbyes.
By day 3, when we visited the orphanage, Janella had spent the night with us once. She still barely new us. She had only been away from Dorcas for less than 24 hours.
Yet when we went back with her on day 3… she wouldn’t let me put her down. I was so fearful that we would go back to the orphanage that day and it would erase any progress we had made.
But I could not have been more wrong.
She wouldn’t let the caregivers even hold her. And as much as that broke their heart… it was good. It meant she was connecting with us.
But they cried. And it broke my heart.
Of course, they would try to sneak off and cry privately, but we knew. And we knew they were hurting.
They absolutely adored our daughter and I am sure it was bittersweet for them to see her leave with us, but it didn’t take away the pain they felt when having to say goodbye.
I am still in awe of how fast Nella has attached to us. It’s something that goes right along with my adoption theme — ONLY GOD.
If you want to help us support Dorcas House, we are selling our adoption tees for 3 MORE DAYS!!! We decided to do another round since so many of you missed out last time.
Thank you for seeing the value in lives of children you’ve never met. Thank you for trusting us when we say they are in need. Thank you for opening your heart and loving us through all of this.
You all make a difference in our lives… and we are so grateful.
To read more about our journey you can check out our ADOPTION PAGE and also read about the rest of our trip…
Tears filled my eyes reading this. I pray God continues to bless other families with these beautiful children. xoxo
I have tears reading this. What an amazing experience. God is never letting us down! My heart aches for those children without a forever home. Are you buying specific things for the orphanage or just sending the money and they spend it how they wish/need? Prayers to your family of 6! I loved reading your story unfold. ??
They get the full amount in a donation and I allow them to determine what it would best be used for! They are using the first donation to fix up the facility! YAY!
God is so good!!
I love this story and you.
An amazing inspiration! I as well, read this with tears in my eyes. If I wasn’t sitting in an airport at the moment, I would be balling my eyes. Opened my eyes on adoption very much! Your family are in our prayers
An amazing inspiration! I as well, read this with tears in my eyes. If I wasn’t sitting in an airport at the moment, I would be balling my eyes. Opened my eyes on adoption very much! Your family are in our prayers
Can’t.Quit.Crying! All of it! wow! Your words always speak right to my heart!! Heading over to buy my shirt now and help in the little way that I can. Thank you for sharing your heart, your little girl, your family and your story with so many strangers! Your openness I’m convinced is what draws people to you! Blessings to your family!
This made me cry, you are such a remarkable person & For this you are blessed!!! CHILDREN do need love, some need it so bad it breaks your heart, but it’s people like you guys that give our next generation hope!!! Nella is the luckiest little girl in the world because she was brought into a family of unconditionally, genuine love, but also because You are a godly family who will teach her to grow up knowing what really love is, & there is nothing God cannot do!!!
I love this family story!! Thank you for letting us be a part of this too. God bless you all and wish your family all the best! Hopefully your story will help other couples to open their heart to a kid… So many in need of love!!
God is great and has forever changed you and your family! I am a mother of three and what I would give to add one more, all children deserve to be loved!! May I ask if you are taking donated items for orphanage?
We are not because it is too costly to send huge boxes of stuff over there. It costs over $100 just to send the cashiers check in an envelope. We send them all of the money and let them decide what is most needed.
Wow. I loved reading this story and it saddens me so much. I know I only know y’all through your blogs and Facebook, but I am so attached to your story and Nella! Really THANK YOU for sharing all of this and your lives for us to know. I am so happy for your family!!! I am coming to tears writing this! She is so blessed, so stinkin’ cute and so are you and your family! I am neighbors with a couple that has 5 and two are adopted and I just love their stories and kids. Even if we are not to adopt (I will always try to work that issue on my husband) I feel it it my heart to love and serve others that do adopt. I always help them out when they need it, always ready for babysit, have the kids over, anything. I shared your story with them and I am sure April will follow y’all. I loved the orphanage, but you are right, there is so much need. I am happy to get a tee, wish I could get 1,000. I am promptly sharing the link to the tees to help the orphanage out. Prayers to the orphans there and for your continued progress with Princess Nella!
I am so amazed with how you and your family have opened your hearts to Janella and this orphanage! What you are doing for them and for us ( by allowing us to help them) is remarkable. What a blessing you are! God is Good! I pray he continues to bless this orphanage and your family. I am so glad you shared this journey with everyone. Thanks !!!!
So touching … Im so happy that thru a t -shirt i can at least put a little seed OF Love
I just want to say thank you again for sharing this journey
The shirts are great, but I don’t need another tshirt. I would rather give you a donation to send to them. How do I do that? Is there an address I can send to? Or a GoFundMe page? Thank you for sharing your incredible story. I look forward to following your precious family and the orphanage too. God bless.
Email me mandy@houseofroseblog.com
I wish there was a way to send clothes and other needed things. I have so many boys clothes that I would love to give them. and go to walmart or a dollar store and get toothbrushes and stuff like that.
We adopted domestically and so much of your story is completely opposite of ours, but when you said “oh my, the goodbyes”, I lost it. We have an open adoption and see my sons birthmom at least twice a year and even 4.5 years into it, the goodbyes are hard. But NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING could have prepared me for the goodbyes the day we left the hospital with him when he was 48 hours old. So hard.
God is good!!! I can not imagine the strength it took to share this with the world. ??
Simply precious…..as the tears flow I cannot imagine how you felt leaving those babies. I must thank you for allowing us to be a part of what the Father is doing at the orphanage. While I know many of us…including me…would love to go and bring them home-you have allowed us to be a part of helping them by selling of the tees and bringing this to our attention. The images are forever seared on my heart and these children will be prayed for as they live their lives. God has used you guys in a mighty way, in ways you may never know. And sweet Nella, your sweet boys…you both are amazing examples of God’s love to them. Haha..saving videos for tomorrow….when I will have fresh tears. ????
Janella holding the family book = NEVER GETS OLD. Thank you, Lord, for what you’ve done!
Such an amazing story! I am currently struggling with getting pregnant and this opened my eyes to adoption because of you guys! I would love to send books and games etc to the orphanage if that’s even possible? I’m s teacher so I can definitely provide a ton of resources! Thank you for telling your journey with this sweet girl!
Thank you so much! It costs a ton to send over boxes of stuff so that is why we send them the money and let them purchase the stuff there. It costs over $100 just to send the cashiers check in an envelope.
Thank you for sharing your story. My heart is so joyful for you, but also so broken for the children around the world that will never be as lucky as Nella has been.
This is such a beautiful picture of adoption. I am on pins and needles for the story behind meeting Nella’s birth mom. This entire story is one I know exists but I have never had a front row seat. My heart pounds, I get chill bumps, and I constantly want more. Haha. God is so amazing to give your family this opportunity but also Nella this love. I wish so bad that hose other boys and girls could come to the US and be adopted too.
As a BirthMom I can’t imagine your meeting. I hope she knows how much she is loved.
Your blog of this trip is amazing. I’m crying like a baby.
This whole story is just so amazing. Thank you for sharing. I will be praying for those precious children at the orphanage.
God bless your family. That was so powerful to read. Thank you for sharing what you are comfortable with. It makes me want to adopt every child that is there. I will pray for everyone.
Wow! Just…wow!
What an incredible story! And how amazing for you to have such great documentation of your trip.
Congratulations on your daughter!
What an amazing, beautiful adoption story! Blessings to you and your family. What a lucky little girl for God to have chosen you as her parents!
I am sitting at work in tears!! Thank you for sharing your story with the world and helping us see the need. God is so good!!
This brought me to tears! What an bittersweet story! Thank you for sharing it with the world and allowing us to see into your lives and to be able to help in a small way. Adoption has always been on my heart but I have never taken any action toward that end. Your story has really pricked my heart.
I’m holding back tears as I read this because I’m at work. All those beautiful children and so many couples that are capable and wanting children. I wish they wouldn’t make adoption so difficult with all the red tape and age requirements. There are those wanting to adopt that have passed the age of requirement much like those kids who have passed the age they can be adopted. All these rules are just set by the government and makes my heart break for both parties. I’m thankful God worked through all the details in your adoption, and pray that He continues to get the glory for it.
Wow, I have loved reading about your journey and reading all about Janella came from. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful story! I’ve loved seeing through pictures how she’s attached to you all.
We’ve always been open to adoption (and highly considering it) but after reading this and following along on your journey, even more so.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
This story really touched me. What a beautiful journey. What beautiful angels your baby girl had to care for her until God made her yours. I think it is wonderful how you are helping the home. I hope they get to keep all the donations. They can sure use it. God Bless those people and may He protect them. May God Bless you and Jeff for opening your hearts to your precious little girl.
Mandy, thank you for sharing more of your adoption story. I cried when I read it. My heart broke for her wonderful caregivers. It must have been hard to see her leave with you, but I’m sure they were thankful she was going to such a wonderful new home.
This is my favorite post yet of your journey. It validates the reason we decided to adopt in the Philippines. The love and care the children get is so refreshing and exactly what we pray for our little that is out there somewhere. Thank you for sharing your story. It is such an encouragement as we wait on God’s timing for us.
What a beautiful adoption story and thank you so much for opening up about this emotional process. I’d also like to say thank God for the Dorcas House and the excellent care they provide on a limited budget. They are angels.