One Day Remaining
Between me and HIM
By: Vincent S Johan
Advisor of KRIS
August 7, 2026
Nestled at the foot of the Sindanglaya mountains lies a humble home that many of us may never have visited.
It is called the Saint Joseph Orphanage (Panti Asuhan Santo Yusup).
Its walls are not high, its paint is beginning to fade, and its front yard is often filled with laughter—laughter that sounds light, yet carries heavy stories within it.
There, children learn about life far earlier than their age would suggest.
There is a boy named Raka, ten years old. He always wears a smile whenever he welcomes guests, as if the world has never hurt him.
But nighttime is different. When the lights are turned off and silence settles in, Raka often stares at the ceiling of his room, whispering softly,
“Mom, I ate well today.” No one answers.
Only the cold wind slipping through the window cracks seems to listen to his unfinished longing.
In another corner, there is little Maria, who loves to sing. Her voice is melodious, flowing gently like a prayer. She says she wants to become a singer so that one day, her mother might hear her from afar.
No one knows where her mother is now.
But Maria believes that a sincere voice will surely reach its destination. Every time she sings, her eyes well up—not out of sadness, but because of the hope she holds onto so tightly.
And then there is Andi, the child who speaks the least. He often sits alone on the stairs, watching other children play. When asked why he does not join them, he simply replies, “I am used to being alone.”
Those simple words feel heavy, as if he has already made peace with a loneliness that no child should ever know at such a young age.
Days at the orphanage pass simply. Wake up early, pray, study, help with chores, and then play with whatever is available.
There are no expensive toys, no sophisticated gadgets. Only a worn-out ball, jump ropes, and laughter created just to make things feel real.
Yet behind all of this, there is something they never fully possess:
the embrace they long for.
When guests arrive, their eyes sparkle. Not because of gifts, not because of food. But because of attention.
Because there is someone willing to sit down, listen, and call their names with love. It is that simple. And yet, for them, it is so difficult to have every single day.
As evening arrives and guests begin to leave, they wave their hands with the best smiles they can muster.
But once the gate closes, those smiles slowly fade.
Silence envelops them once again. A small sense of loss repeats itself.
Then night falls.
The lights are turned off one by one.
Inside their simple rooms, the children lie down, hugging their pillows as if they were someone they once had.
And amidst the silence, small prayers are whispered softly:
“God, please send people who care about us again tomorrow…”
Tears may not always be visible. But at the Saint Joseph Orphanage, every corner holds stories that quietly weep.
And perhaps… what they need is not everything.
Just one simple thing:
To no longer feel alone.
me and HIM
Who cares for me
As a child of God
Rekening KRIS
BCA
6383648888
Atas nama
Perkumpulan KRIS
www.kris.or.id I www.adharta.com
Call Center
08119620888
