What a whirlwind the last two days have been, I’ve been busy and tired and not able to do up my blog, so I am doing them three days in one. Sunday and Monday were very draining days, physically and emotionally. Sunday started out as a normal Sunday in Kabale for me would. Kathryn & I played at Jackson’s Church and I lead the meeting. Phil, Quinton, Erica and Amelia went to Pastor Frank’s church, because Phil had been invited to preach. I believe that yet again he did a great job, Frank was very happy with him. After this we headed to Akanyijuka to meet the Matrons, who started today, settling them in. We moved everything that we had purchased for Akanyijuka to the building, about four or so trips, and moved all the beds into the rooms, ready for the Matrons and children on Monday. We also did some more running around for food and other things we had forgotten. After arriving home after seven I was reading to crash.
Monday was the day I went with Prossy, Edward and the Matrons to pick up the children. This in itself was a big task, just driving everywhere and the logistics, as well as the emotional side of things; I feel that the handful of children we have started with is just the tip of the iceberg. Phil was running around all day with Lawrence buying more things needed. We also went to the markets in the afternoon to buy the children some more clothes, as most came with not more than they had on. We also hired a night watchman to watch the home at night; we will get a day gatekeeper after the workers have totally finished with the site.
It was so great to finally have our first six children settled. I was thinking that we will see changes after a few weeks or so, but it was great to see changes even after a few hours. It was the best experience to play with the children, even though we could not communicate. I thought to myself, that I will have to make a big effort now to learn the local language, I had been picking up a few things here and there, but it is now time to get serious I think. Today I stayed away from Akanyijuka as I needed a break to recover and prepare my drums for a practice tonight. I knew if I went down today I will undoubtedly get involved with doing this or that, right now however I am thinking I would like to see the children, but it is best to recoup for the rest of the week. I may need to have a day off during the weeks as I am always busy on the weekends it seems.
I didn’t take any photos as I thought the children would need a bit of time to settle in before being bombarded by my camera, but here are a few that I took last week when we were verifying:
Alex:
Ngabirano Alex is 3 years old. Both of Alex’s parents have died and he is currently living with his 65+ year old grandmother, along with 6 other siblings. The grandmother has nothing to offer him, and is also looking after her own disabled son in a two bedroom home. Alex’s other brothers and sisters have received not education and are roaming on the streets as street children.
Emannuel:
Akampurira Emmanuel is 4 years old. His mother had become pregnant some how and had come to live with some people. These people were not relatives, but even thought they were poor were willing to take her in to help her. After Emmanuel was born the mother disappeared. Emmanuel has stayed with the family ever since, but they are unable to provide adequate food, clothes and schooling for him.
Jonus:
Niwagaba Jonus is 4 ½ years old. Both of his parents have died and he currently lives with his aunty, together with his elder sister Agnus. His Aunty currently lives with her own five children, the eldest of which (16 years) has just had a child of her own. It is obvious that neither Jonus or Agnus have received no education and are not receiving the same care as the Aunties own children, both show signs of malnutrition.
Agnus:
Agnus (Jonus’ brother) we are not sure of her exact age, but we thought that even though Agnus was above the age we initially said for taking in she was in such need, she actually looked a lot worse than Jonus. Also the fact that she had not yet received any education and that she was a sister to Jonus (not wanting to separate siblings) it was decided to take her in also.
Joan:
Ayehemukama Joan is 5 years old. Joan lives with her mother and her younger brother, her older siblings have run away onto the streets in hope of a better life. Currently her mother is sick with AIDS and when we returned to verify had traveled away over hills (I would not like to even try to walk where she had gone), leaving her children at home by themselves in search of food to provide for her remaining children. Later on we will also take Joan’s younger brother, but at this stage did not yet have the mothers consent to take him.
Joyce:
Mujungu Joyce is 5 years old. When we first heard about Joyce she was living with her grandmother and both parents had died. The grandmother had nothing to provide for Joyce. When we came back to verify, the grandmother had given her over to some people to do baby-sitting, in hope she may get a better life than the grandmother could provide for herself. Even though she appears to be looked after and is going to school (but only when the grandmother, who has not much, supplies the required money) the people who took her on are running a bar, which is the environment that Joyce is now living.
