It's the end of May and I have a sweatshirt on. I thought I was in Africa, but am beginning to think I might be in Oregon or Washington :-). My guess is that it is in the mid-60s. Quite cool for here. I'm not complaining, though, just enjoying this respite from the heat.
This week has been an emotional roller coaster - we had to take one of our boys (Ben) home to his family on Wednesday. It was necessary, but very difficult to see him go after being with him for the past year and a half. This, too, is part of raising these children, but not the part I enjoy. Here's the skinny: we found out that Ben's father is alive...and living with the family. He is the pastor of a church we went to for orphans. He deceived us to get us to take Ben...said he was an orphan. Then we started having trouble with Ben stealing, lying, being a bully to the other kids, talking and acting in sexually inappropriate ways to the girls. After several warnings, we gave one last chance and told him if even 1 thing happened, we would have to take him home. Then, last week we found a school book in his possession - he had stolen it from one of the classrooms. I have to tell you, I have really loved this boy, so it was heart-wrenching to drive him home.
On Thursday, Rogers came in the evening to tell me that Rachel (she was our "mom" till December) had "lost someone." That's the Ugandan way to say someone has died. One of her older daughters died of TB that day. We went to console her and, as is usual here, there were many people from the community at the house. I sat with Rachel for a few minutes and then one of the women came and said, "Do you want to see the dead body now?". First time in my life someone has asked me that question. Anyway, I went in and saw her daughter. Later found out she was 19. She left 2 children, a 6-year-old and a 3-week-old. They brought me the baby to hold. She is quite fragile - looked to be less than 4 pounds. I just held her and prayed...and cried for this little one (Babirye is her name) and the difficulties of this situation...wondering what God has for her...wished we could take her at the orphanage (we can't - not set up or licensed for babies)...cried for a woman who died at 19 of TB in a world where it could have been treated...cried for a 13-year-old girl who had a baby and now, 6 years later, is dead.
Okay, enough of the down side of the emotional roller coaster. On Saturday, we got 6 new children at the orphanage, as I wrote last week. I have included 2 of their pictures and will send more emails with the others and their names. Rogers and I went to Kabuna (his home village) Saturday morning. We had contacted his dad to find orphans for us. The first place we went was so deep in the village - I have seen lots of poverty here, but not like this! The father had died some months ago, leaving his wife with 11 children. She is illiterate and does not have enough land to grow crops to feed them. The first picture you have is of 2 of our new ones from there - Lisa and Magdalene. Lisa is in the front in the "white" dress. Magdalene is the one crying on the right. Lisa is about 5 or 6 and Magdalene about 3. 2 of her other children are at an uncle's house being raised. The other 3 who aren't in the picture are out in the field working on the crops. The girl in back on the left is her oldest daughter, who is 15. What you can't see in this picture is that no one has shoes. I also sent you a picture of the other children in the area who came to see the car and the white person...note there are also adults in the background. Not one person had shoes. You can see what their clothing is like - out this far, these would be their only clothes, according to Rogers.
We went from Lisa and Magdalene's house to 3 other homes and got 4 more children. All had very similar stories - I will send their pictures, but here are their names: Joel (about 6), Beatrice (6), Brenda - yes, now we have 2 Brendas! - (5) and Darlene (3).
Our kids were so excited about getting new kids - Abby had them singing as the new ones came (in Lugwere, of course, so these kids would understand). Then, they attached themselves to one of the new ones and showed them the ropes. First thing was lunch - more food than they've seen before at a meal! Natasha called me at one point - she was helping Darlene - and said "Pastor Laurie, Darlene needs to poop, but she's fearing the latrine!" Sure enough, she had never used one before and was afraid of the hole that went down so far. So, Auntie Monicah came and helped get her to actually poop in the right place. (Sorry for all of you for whom that is too graphic!) Having these new kids reminds me SO much of when our first 20 came and couldn't speak English, didn't know how to eat in a "civilized" way, how to bathe, etc, etc!
We are all having a great time together - Magdalene is having the hardest time, but with everyone helping she will make it. She has been standing next to a wall, facing out and "holding" the wall with her hands out at her sides.
Okay, now you've heard my roller coaster of the week. Will send some more pictures in a few minutes. Thank you to all of you who make it possible for us to take more kids, to reach more families in Budaka (the District) with help for orphans. Please know that we are praying for you as we know all of you have emotional weeks also.
May God bless you!
Laurie
No comments:
Post a Comment