The first time I met Leiton, he had the biggest grin on his face. He came running into the orphanage in Ecuador in his school uniform, and promptly showed me that he knew how to undo and do up his blue tie. I couldn’t speak Spanish, he couldn’t speak English. It didn’t really seem to matter though, he was just proud to show someone his skill. I smiled big and high fived him before he headed to his room to get changed.
At lunchtime, Leiton made every effort he could to talk to me. I finally figured out he was asking which country I was from. When I replied Canada, that trademark Leiton grin came back to his face. He had obviously heard of this country before and was pleased to have met someone from so far away.
He jabbered away over lunch, figuring I’d catch on I suppose.

Later that day, I got a chance to interview him through a translator. Leiton  told me he’s eight years old and wants to be a doctor when he grows up because, he said “it helps people.” The smile did not leave his face the whole time we chatted. I asked him why he smiles. “Because of the family I have here,” he replies.

The director of the Montanita Verde Children’s Home tells us that 8-year-old Leiton and his 18-month old brother Justin arrived at the orphanage just over two months ago.

You’d never guess the backstory of this seemingly happy child. (more…)

In Ecuador, in the tiny town of San Lorenzo, there sits an unassuming property. You’d never know how special it is unless you turn off the paved road at the top of the hill, up the dirt driveway and through the gate. On the gate post hangs a painted turtle shell announcing the name: Montanita Verde Children’s Home. Inside you’ll find a home for children who have nowhere else to go. It is a place filled with compassion for children in need of a place to grow and learn and be loved.

Siblings Carlos, Eugene, Tanya and Justine were abandoned by their father when Justine was just a young child. Their mother was mentally unstable and had tried to kill herself numerous times. The Christians who run the children’s home were called to take care of the children as there was nowhere safe for them to live.

Montanita Verde Children’s Home opened its doors to the brothers and sisters. There, they got to attend school, they were fed and loved, told about Jesus Christ and in that time the three older siblings became Christians.

But the story gets better. Their mother Sarah began counselling with the local pastor and his wife. She became stable mentally and started hearing of God’s love. She too became a Christian. The courts deemed her fit to take care of her children again and after two and a half years of living at Montanita Verde, the family was reunited.

Sarah was baptized this last Mother’s Day at the church where her children attended, where the pastor has been counselling her and where their family was transformed. She praises God for bringing her children and her back together, and thanks the Montanita Verde people for helping her family in their time of need.