Scott and Jenni, a married couple from Colorado, along with Tina Augustina, a Balinese woman, run a home caring for about 20 children in Bali at the Yayasan Permata Bali Home.  This orphanage was founded in 2000 by Tina, who grew up with poverty, abuse and a dysfunctional family. Tina has been able to relate to street children enduring similar conditions. This Bali orphanage cares for the needs of these children by supplying them with shelter, food, medical treatment and a loving family-home environment. All of the children are in school Monday through Saturday but Sundays are always a fun day which is usually spent at the beach.

Sherri, my mom, Eliana and I got to spend a very special Sunday with the kids.  Once a year, if they get someone to sponsor it, the children get to spend the day at Waterbomb, a huge water park located in Kuta.  This is a real special treat for the kids and this year another orphanage went to the park on the same day so there were over 80 people including the kids and staff!  It was awesome seeing all these adorable children running around the water park.  We floated down the lazy river with them and went on some of the bigger slides with the older children. We sat at the bottom of the kiddie slides and watched the younger kids as they just went over and over again down the little waterslides…each time they were so stoked. And then they’d come over and splash water at us or give you the thumbs up. As we sat there watching the kids we talked to Scott and Jenni, who told us more about each of the children and what their background story was.  It was heartbreaking…each child has a unique story and are very fortunate to now be in such a loving and caring environment where they are getting the opportunity to get a good education as well.  The youngest one was 3 1/2 and he was so loving.  He kept coming over and hugging us and jumping in Sherri’s lap. He was rescued by the home about a year ago.  He had been living in the streets surviving on whatever he could find. His mother died shortly after childbirth and his father abandoned him. When they first brought him to the home he couldn’t talk at all, he just barely made noises…now he is slowly learning a few words. There were many stories like this…it’s just good to know that there are people out there that are trying to help and make a difference.  We ended the day in Nusa Dua at church with the kids, Jenni and Scott.  It was an amazing and eye opening experience.