More About My Orphanage Experience

Hello everyone, Well, yesterday I had my hardest day yet at the orphanage. Before I tell you about it, let me explain a few things I learned by being on safari with the other volunteers. It seems, as I’ve said before in previous messages to you, that each orphanage is different…very, very different. I’ve learned that my orphanage, Terry’s, wants me very involved in many of the aspects of the program (as they call it “the project”). Other volunteers have not been so lucky. Some have said they have not had any contact with program administrators or adults. Some say they are even treated meanly or ignored by the teachers and adults! Many volunteers do not get the privilege of learning the backgrounds of the children, why they are orphaned or any of the kids’ history. I have been very blessed to be involved in much of this. I have learned that YOU have helped make a direct difference in children’s lives helping me raise money. I mentioned that “we” bought beds, right? Well, I met the recipient of one of the new children occupying residence at Terry’s. It was heart-wrenching. Her name is Purity (not her Kamba name and I don’t think I’m giving anything away by telling you her beautiful first name). She is a gorgeous 14 year child that lived with her grandmother under very difficult decisions. She was unwanted by her mother and father and also her grandmother. I’m not exposing many details. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about her and about the sadness I felt when she and the kids arrived back from the holiday. She didn’t leave my side yesterday. Tears flooded her eyes for most of the day. I didn’t know what else to do other than hold her with me and hug her and tell her “I” was happy she was here. You see, unlike other orphanages, I’m learning, Leah (the owner of the project) has started this orphanage because many of the caretakers are not able to provide for the children. They need food, shelter, accommodations for school (the gov. pays for teachers and a space, but the kids need to come with a desk, uniforms and other school necessities like the school backpacks that YOU have also bought for them for x-mas). Leah believes it is best for the children to not forget their roots so she makes arrangements for the kids to spend the holidays with their caretakers/family/extended family. When they returned from holiday yesterday, I was able to see many smiling faces. But I also saw many sad faces and many tears. This broke my heart. Of course I wanted to know why? Were their experiences w/their caretakers a good ones? Was it hard for them to be at their home? What was going on in their little minds, I wanted to know. Of course, I’ll probably never find this out. So I did the only thing I knew how to do…I greeted each one with a smile, a hug, (candy of course! ;) ) and told them how much I missed them and that I was happy they were back. This week I will get to go to the children’s caretaker’s homes. I will get to see first hand WHY they are at Terry’s Orphanage. I will get to see what environment brought them to “the project.” After hearing about many of the volunteer’s experiences, I continually feel lucky to work in such a wonderful environment. Leah is great. I feel I am very well taken cared of by Elizabeth for my own needs. I like the case manager, James. He’s given me so much information and I feel I am really able to help him with things like the computer, typing, and “office work.” And the nurturing that happens at this home is unexplainable. The kids are so well disciplined and they are kind and caring. They are very loving and respectful children. It is Leah and all that help at the project that makes for this good environment. I will travel to Nairobe tomorrow with the hopes having pictures. Hope everyone is well. Love, Renee