“Please meet Annie…and her songs.”

They say we have to volunteer to make a difference in their life but not on my case. I volunteered to be changed. My life was changed when I meet Annie on an orphanage. So she is an ordinary 6 years old child who sung lullabies for younger children. Her voice would fill the place with love. Annie is a very smart and intelligent six years old child. I learned my first Russian from her. She would guide younger orphaned children and teach them how to read and write and sing lullabies while the other attendants are busy with chores in the house.

When I volunteered, we used to sing lullabies together. I taught her nursery songs from my English country and she taught me her Russian songs. We are a partner- Annie and I. I even wrote to my mom and suggested to adopt Annie. I want to bring Annie home.

Looking for this orphanage is not easy. It seems that Europe has lost all these orphanage centers. Yet an organization helped me and I land on an orphanage in Eastern Europe. That is where I meet Annie. How I wish you could meet Annie!

And then one day the orphanage halls and hallways seem so quite without the echoes of Annie’s songs. She is sick. She is in the hospital. Annie is a cancer victim. She has not known her parents for she was left by her parents in the town hospital.

She died in my arms while I am singing lullabies. She died hearing my songs. I volunteered to change lives. Annie changed mine. I never regretted I volunteered abroad.
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