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March 13-21st...Addis Ababa here we come!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
A story from Kelly
It is a million stories, all similar, all heartbreaking, all totally unbelievable... but today it was only one story told to me (kelly) by a beautiful 14 year old girl, Meg (not her real name).
As we sat on the steps by the playground she began to open up to me. I’m not sure why, maybe because it was our last day, maybe she felt safe with me, maybe she just needed to talk. The story begins with all of the children receiving mail from their “new” families. Meg did not have a letter, but we all know she has a family... which she has been oddly shy about... almost mad or bitter. She has only been at the orphanage for 3 or 4 weeks. She has a family waiting for her in America...here is her story. Her mother is dying of AIDS. Her brother is grown and gone. For as long as she can remember it has been Meg and her mom. I’m not sure how long her mom has been sick, but here is what she told me:
“it has been my business, and only my business to care for my mother. I love my mother. When she is thirsty I give her drink. When she needs food I give her food. I am the only one. When she needs I give her medicine. Who will care for her now? Who? When I was nine, I was on street to find birr. This is my only business. This is how I work for my mother. This is all I do. When I was nine I was hit by a car while I was begging for birr (she has a large scar on her ankle). I never knew of my father. My grandfather wanted my mother to take me out of her stomach, or to leave me in the garbage. She would not! I hate my grandfather. I do not talk to him. Who will care for my mother now? I am the only one. I am the only one.”
So, Meg is going to the United States to be with her new family within a year... and she is heart broken. Her Mother has given her away, and she doesn't want a “new” family. I think I just assumed that is all these kids wanted... a new family, a good life, but there is so much more... the picture is so much bigger than I thought. My heart is broken. All of our hearts should be broken for these children... a “new” mom and an ipod is not going to make things, better is it?
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Day 5 Thursday - Carnival Day!
** Disclaimer** Long day, short blog!!!!
In a nutshell, the day was absolutely fantastic!!! We held a carnival for the kids, and to give you an idea, here’s what we did:
Kelly & Rocky-face painting
Mardi-Lollipop tree
Joey-punch balloon station
Hannah & Natalie: bowling (a kickball knocking over water bottles!)
Grace-football toss in a basket
Cheryl-Basketball station-shooting hoops
Laurie-Ring toss
Delora-Noah’s Ark duck pond
We brought all the supplies over we needed for the carnival and more than 2000 prizes for the kids! The classes were brought in (no more than 30 at a time) and even the kids from Opportunity House (the special needs section) got to take part in this fun event. It went so well, we were shocked-the kids were well behaved and respectful, and even the caregivers and workers took part!
Here are a few quotes:
"What a day, what a carnival!"--caregiver
“Today is a happy day for everyone”--Jamal, teacher and driver
"Is this a holiday??" -- child
Everyone had a smile on their face, the sun was shining and God is good. Everyone had a ball and we are all absolutely exhausted to the BONE.
Just a sidenote: Laurie and I (Joey) were able to travel to an orphanage where both us sponsor a child. The adoption coordinator for Layla was able to "talk" us in the door of the agency, which is run by the government and “closed” to outsiders.
We were able to go in and meet our boys--Laurie’s, who is 11, and my boy, who is 8 were shy at first, but then they clung to us when they heard we sponsored them. We brought some soccer balls, crayons and coloring books, watercolors and toys for the kids--which they readily shared with the mass of children that surrounded us.
This orphanage is by far much poorer than Layla, with dusty play areas, 30 kids to a room with only 2 caregivers, and cramped quarters. My precious boy inched his way towards me slowly, then put his arm around my waist and snuggled in. I could feel his heart beating and prayed over him-a privilege that I will never forget.
The rest of the group for the afternoon played with babies, tutored the kids, and then headed back to our hotel. We are tired, hot and dusty, but you’ve never seen a group with bigger smiles on their faces--except, maybe, for the kids at Layla today.
In a nutshell, the day was absolutely fantastic!!! We held a carnival for the kids, and to give you an idea, here’s what we did:
Kelly & Rocky-face painting
Mardi-Lollipop tree
Joey-punch balloon station
Hannah & Natalie: bowling (a kickball knocking over water bottles!)
Grace-football toss in a basket
Cheryl-Basketball station-shooting hoops
Laurie-Ring toss
Delora-Noah’s Ark duck pond
We brought all the supplies over we needed for the carnival and more than 2000 prizes for the kids! The classes were brought in (no more than 30 at a time) and even the kids from Opportunity House (the special needs section) got to take part in this fun event. It went so well, we were shocked-the kids were well behaved and respectful, and even the caregivers and workers took part!
Here are a few quotes:
"What a day, what a carnival!"--caregiver
“Today is a happy day for everyone”--Jamal, teacher and driver
"Is this a holiday??" -- child
Everyone had a smile on their face, the sun was shining and God is good. Everyone had a ball and we are all absolutely exhausted to the BONE.
Just a sidenote: Laurie and I (Joey) were able to travel to an orphanage where both us sponsor a child. The adoption coordinator for Layla was able to "talk" us in the door of the agency, which is run by the government and “closed” to outsiders.
We were able to go in and meet our boys--Laurie’s, who is 11, and my boy, who is 8 were shy at first, but then they clung to us when they heard we sponsored them. We brought some soccer balls, crayons and coloring books, watercolors and toys for the kids--which they readily shared with the mass of children that surrounded us.
This orphanage is by far much poorer than Layla, with dusty play areas, 30 kids to a room with only 2 caregivers, and cramped quarters. My precious boy inched his way towards me slowly, then put his arm around my waist and snuggled in. I could feel his heart beating and prayed over him-a privilege that I will never forget.
The rest of the group for the afternoon played with babies, tutored the kids, and then headed back to our hotel. We are tired, hot and dusty, but you’ve never seen a group with bigger smiles on their faces--except, maybe, for the kids at Layla today.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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