Friday, February 13th.

What an incredible day.

The Shakespears took us to an orphanage run by a member of the church and his wife.

He started last year with 39 as that is all the government would allow. Now he has 96. It was heart wrenching to see these sweet children in such circumstances. Steven does as much as he can but he can only do so much. He told us the police come knocking on his door asking him to take more children and it breaks his heart to say no. When we were leaving there were two little boys, about 5 and 6 years old just standing there. Steven told us they want to be part of his orphanage but he just cannot take them. I just wanted to pick them up and bring them home with me. He already has his children sleeping 4 to a bed. I took a number of videos so will try to add one but videos do not attach too well and take forever to download. You will have to see them all when I get home.

A lady was getting lunch ready-broth and beans. He does not have much money for food for the children. They were so excited to see us. I will never forget this day..

There was a girl named Grace, who was 14. A pretty girl with a horrific story.

They put on a program for us and sang and danced. I have a video.

The church, through LDS Humanitarian Fund gave them: beds, bedding and a water tank.

                                           They were doing a dance and singing for us. I have a few other videos.                

                                                   This is the older children's classroom as there is no room inside.

Then we went to a school about an hour away.

The principal was a teacher at a school when there was an uprising, about 7 years ago. It was a tribal thing and they took all the children out of the school that were not of their tribe. The parents begged this teacher to teach their children after school so they would not fall behind. He taught at the school all day and at night taught these other children. The principal of the school found out and he was fired. He was afraid for his life and his family. Each night he would take his family to the police station to sleep and return home the next day.

He found some land to rent in the slums with a building and started his school. Last year the Humanitarian program of the church, through these Shakespears, gave them desks, small fire cooking stoves and water tanks. They are building a latrine for them now so we went to check it out.

You would not believe the classroom, how crowded they are. They are in there like sardines. The teacher, with hardly any room to teach and desks all around her. I took pictures. Each boy had a white shirt and tie on, the girls also with a white shirt. They looked so good.

They are excited to get a new latrine! 

We just do not realize how good we have it but I know the Lord is aware of these children and their needs and loves them. Hopefully we can make a bit of a difference here.

Just had dinner upstairs with two couples from the mission office. Such nice people.

Saturday, Feb. 14th.

Today we had the opportunity to visit the Giraffe Sanctuary. Giraffe’s are my favourite so it was a treat to be that close to one and actually pet and feed it.

Then we went to the elephant orphanage and that was also amazing.

Their were a few tour busses there and we were all encouraged to adopt an elephant. I thought, if only these people, when they get back on the bus, go over to any orphanage and see that the animals are fed more than the children and that they have better accommodations!! Sad.

A lovely day.

We will be leaving here on Monday and heading home. Our assessments are finished and the new projects will not be ready for a few months.

It has been a fantastic experience and look forward to returning.