The Bush, Dinner and Orphans

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Village kids along the roadside

 After one of the hardest rainstorms of the week, Andrew and I set out with Pastor Dickens into the bush to find and interview some of the children who have applied to come to Otino Waa. When we turned off the main road and onto the red dirt path I thought we were really in for something, bouncing along and falling into potholes. But it wasn’t until we made it through a 2ft deep pit of mud that I realized we were experiencing miracles in that Toyota. We traveled for about 45 minutes when we came to a primary school on the left, from there we followed a new “road” for another 15 minutes. This road was actually a narrow walking path, less then a tire track wide. Somehow Dicken’s expert driving and some favor from God got us through.

Primary school children in Kole District

We came to the place were three orphans were being cared for by their grandmother. Their uncle was there with a few of his ragged children as well. The youngest boy, Atyam Tony, age 4, was at home as he is too young to go to school. He lay on the ground whimpering, until his uncle picked him up. They told us he is sick with something. The grandmother showed us the place where the three children slept, it was dark, dirty and there was no ventilation. Surprisingly the two older children, Ejang Juliet, 8 years, and Odur Daniel Douglas, age 7, were at the primary school we had passed along with way. So with the uncle along with us, we headed back to the school to speak to the children and the headmaster. While there the headmaster explained that for the 1,134 children at the school, there were only 16 teachers. On a daily basis about 200 children will be missing from school because either they don’t have the money to pay for school fees, they don’t understand the importance of education and cut class, or often times their parents keep them home to work, cook, clean and dig in the gardens.

Dickens (right) talking with Juliet, Daniel & Tony's uncle

The place where the orphans stay

 

The children’s father had died of HIV in 2010. When he was on his deathbed their mother abandoned the children, saying she would be back, but it’s been two years now and no one has ever seen her. That is how they came to stay with their grandmother who is about 85 or 86 years old.

The grave sites for their father and grandfather

Nancy, 85 or 86 years old, the children's caretaker

the room where they sleep

Odur Daniel Douglas, age 7

Ejang Juliet age 8

Daniel's only "school book"

Heading home from the gardens

The same day I visited the Clinical Officer, Charles at Otino Waa’s medical clinic. He was redressing a patient’s ear who had had a growth removed a few days earlier.

Clinical officer Charles with patient

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Kerry, LeAnn and Anna have been leading a Bible study with the mothers at Otino Waa. It’s a joy to hear them singing during this hour, they have such beautiful voices and intricate harmony. After the Bible study I had the opportunity to take portraits for each mother which was really fun. I’m excited to have them printed and sent to them.

 I must confess, I’ve fallen in love with a little boy named Emmanuel. He’s one of the newest children admitted to Otino Waa. His application said he was 5 years old, but in reality he’s closer to 4. He is very serious, doesn’t talk or smile and is so thin you can feel each of his ribs and shoulder bones. The minute I saw him I thought he was one of those kids who just need some extra love and attention. At first he hardly acknowledged me and kept to himself. But slowly he’s been warming up. I showed him how to take photos with my large camera – well, I showed him how to look through the viewfinder and how to push the button. Now he’s loves the camera and seems to be fascinated by it. I’m hoping he starts smiling soon.

Emmanuel

 One of the most fun things has been to see Betty, my little girl, again this year. She’s so much taller and more confident and friendly. Last year she didn’t play with many of the kids and this year she is starting games of tag and running around laughing and talking. She’s just precious. Andrew got to meet her for the first time too which is super cool.

Betty and Andrew

Betty and I

Andrew, Emmanuel and I

Right before we left Otino Waa on Wednesday night we had the great privilege to hand out the packages and letters that sponsors had sent with us. The entire village assembled and each kid waited in anticipation to see if they had been sent something. They were so shy but thrilled when their name was called. This really made me want to write a letter everyday so that my sponsor child would have something each week and know she’s loved and thought of.

Throughout the last couple days I’ve had countless children ask if I knew their sponsor. They are so interested in who is caring for them and want to find out as much information as possible. So sponsors out there, I want to encourage you to write to your kids – tell them to work hard in school, to read their Bibles and go to prayer meetings, tell them you are thinking of them and love them. It does not fall on deaf ears.

Handing out sponsor packages

Thursday, September 13, 2012

This morning Andrew and I went with Dickens out to the village again. This time we had to ask for a lot of directions as we wound through tiny paths and around gardens. We were looking for a boy named Antoni, but when we arrived we found that he was out fishing and his sister, age 15, who cares for him was working in the garden. Dickens explained that if Antoni was fishing, they must be really desperate as it’s dangerous because of snakes and for 10 fish you will get paid only 45 cents. While we waited we talked to a girl around the age of 8 or 9 and came to find out that she was Antoni’s little sister Sandra.

Their story is this: Before Antoni was born, his father died suddenly, complaining of a headache. The father’s brother then took on Antoni’s mother and they had a child – Sandra. In 2010 both the mother and the father died of HIV, leaving the 15 year old girl to care for Antoni and Sandra. They have on older brother who is now married and we were able to talk with her today.

They showed us where they all slept in a small hut, they eat sweet potatoes from the garden and beans, they don’t wear shoes and their clothes are torn and dirty. When we asked how life was for them they said “Life is good.” Dickens explained they answered this way because they didn’t know any better. He then asked an older man from that village how life was, his response was that it is difficult because so many people are getting sick.

Orphans Antoni and Sandra

Sandra and Patricia, Sandra's neice

Walking to the hut where the 3 children live.

Sandra age 9

Antoni, age 11

 It’s hard to leave these children, wondering if there will be enough room and support at Otino Waa to care for them. I just wanted to take them with us. As we left, their older brother’s wife came to the van window and gave us a huge pumpkin, saying that if we hadn’t come so abruptly she would have given us a chicken. Again, I am amazed at these people’s generosity. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Our gift of a pumpkin

Tonight we were invited to Pastor Douglas’s house for dinner. His wife, Grace, had spent the entire day, since 7am cooking for us over a charcoal stove. We were served generously and it was delicious! The dishes included sweet potatoes, irish (white potatoes) moly quang (a mixture of greens in a g-nut sauce) pineapple, fried chicken, boiled chicken, beef, avocado, cabbage, chipote, and I’m sure I’m forgetting some. Everyone agreed it was amazing food and such a privilege to eat out in the villages.

Village children on the way to Pastor Douglas's home in the bush.

Traditional Ugandan food