We were greeted at the orphanage with the small kids all lined up with women singing a song of greeting accompanied by drums. We entered what they called the prayer hall, but the single room is also known as the bedroom for 15 younger kids who sleep on tarps directly on the floor. Inside were 25 or so teens and young adults (and drums) enthusiastically singing songs of Karibu (or Welcome). We gave greetings and were asked to say a prayer for them.
We toured the grounds. The outhouse is up such a steep incline, we have no idea how the little kids can do it.
The kitchen was the size of a small closet, 4 feet by 6 feet. There was a wood fire and small grill to support a cooking pot.
The first bedroom with two bunkbeds each with two single beds was for older boys but sleeps 7, not 4. The second bedroom for small children had the same configuration but slept 9 plus an adult sitter. The sitter would be a local volunteer who rotated evenings. The balance of 15 at the orphanage sleep on the floor in the prayer room.
The kids were so well behaved when asked. They quietly and obediently ate their maize porridge, sharing their plate with a friend because they didn’t have enough plates for everyone. But they would also play and fool around too like any child would do.
The children come from three main sources of parental deaths: war, children of rape victims and HIV/AIDS.
The efforts of Mama Dorcas and other volunteers is so amazing when they have so little. We talked about what we could provide. The list was long. Various foods, kitchen equipment, a sheet of metal for a leaky roof: there were 25 items on her page.
Video of our welcome at the orphanage.
Video of some of the rooms at the orphanage
We will go to the market with them tomorrow to buy things. We are grateful for Richard and Joyce Lewchuk of Glencairn MB who have financially partnered with us in support of this orphanage. If you have it on your heart to make a pledge of any amount, let me know today (e-mail or Comment) and we will spend that pledge at the market tomorrow morning (7 hours ahead of Ontario) on your behalf. We have a financial cushion of about $1,000 we can dip into. (There aren’t any ATM’s around as much as I’d like more than that). Unfortunately, we can’t give out tax receipts.
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