Update / October 12, 2026
They Called Us “Mom” and “Dad”—And Everything Changed.
Read the storyNow we know their names.
There are moments in ministry that stay with you long after you leave. This was one of them.
As we spent time at the orphanage, something happened that Sandro and I were not prepared for. The children began calling us “Mom” and “Dad.”
Those words carried a weight I don’t know how to explain.
Because for a child without a mom or dad beside them, those aren’t just names. They represent belonging. Safety. Someone who sees them. Someone who comes back.
And standing there, we felt the weight of the responsibility God has given us.
Before, they were children in an orphanage. Children we prayed for. Children we wanted to help.
But now we know their names.
We’ve held their hands.
We’ve heard their laughs.
We’ve looked into their eyes.
They know our names, and we know theirs.
And I can’t help but think that one day, when we stand before God, we will give an account for what we did with the people He placed in front of us.
It’s easy to care about “orphans” when they are a group of people somewhere far away.
It’s different when you know their names.
Jesus said, “I was a stranger, and ye took me in.” Matthew 25:35
We cannot be everything these children need. We cannot replace everything they have lost. But we can show up. We can love them. We can remember them. We can advocate for them. We can keep coming back.
Because now we know their names.
And knowing their names changes everything.
