Upendo
Today I started working at Upendo Orphange. I have visited before, in the afternoons, but today I got a better feel for the daily routine for the kids. They are adorable, and it is completely heart breaking to accept the reality of their lives. At the same time though, they are so loving and run up to you and give you the biggest hugs and smiles in the world. We work with kids who are 1 year to 7 years old. The infants are in special rooms where mzungu's (white people) can't go, because they don't want the babies to get strange bacteria. After 7, the children have no where to go and become street kids.
Some of them have mental disabilities, and a few have physical ones as well. There are 2 children in particular who are terrors. They spend the entire day throwing rocks and shoes at the other kids heads. But most of the kids are sweet and just want some attention. Today Barracka sat on my lap all day. I think he's 5 or 6, and he has some sort of mental disibility, and he drools literally all the time, but he is the sweetest child in the world.
When we get to the orphange all the kids and caretakers (who are 15 year old girls who were orphans themselves) line up and we go for a walk holding hands. Then we stand in a circle and sing songs. The best song is when one kid goes in the middle and sings "sina dada, sina dada" (which means, "I have no sister, I have no sister") and then she calls someone's name and they step forward and they dance together and sing "Will you be my sister?". I will video tape it so you can see it.
Everything else is going well here, I still love it, and I know I will miss it so much when I come home. Hakuna Shida (No problems)
Love, Maggie
posted by Maggie @ 7:45 AM
6 Comments:
Hi Maggie,
What a wonderful thing you are doing. It must be so difficult but so rewarding. Those little ones need so much love. You are the loving hands of Christ to them. I wish I could be there to help. My prayers are with you. I can't wait until you get home. Love, Aunt Pat
hey mags!
I am glad that you are having such a great time, but i miss you so much! i left you a facebook message, if you ever have time check that out. I can't wait to see you! It's really been to long. love you gobs and gobs.
~Hannah
maggie!
i'm glad you are having fun with all the kids! My brother just got his wisdom teeth out so i'm being his helper person. He;s doing alright though. I miss you lots!
-megan c
I like the "I have no sister" song. It sounds sweet. It reminds me of the elephant song, do you know that one? "One elephant; went out to play; on a spider's web one day; He had such; amazing fun; that he called for another elephant to come; and then they keep adding elephants to the center. =-)
Maggie, I've been trying to think of what to say to you after these amazing entries, and I finally have it. I've found three quotes that I think you'll like. The first applies to the personalities with which we've been genetically blessed. The second is from one of my heroes-Buddha. And the third I think describes you wonderfully...
Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
-Jack Kerouac
Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
-Buddha
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Maggie,
Your Father mailed the care package to you yesterday afternoon. Let us know when you get it.
It must be difficult in your new placement. Dodging shoes and rocks is hard work. However, knowing that the children are so young when they leave Upendo with no support system is something I find hard to embrace.
Bill finished finals yesterday. He is quite happy about that.
Megan has a graduation party on Saturday and Shawn has a bridal shower on Sunday. I am going to miss both events. I have some weird virus and need to make sure I am good to go back to work. Plus, I don't want to spread this.
Would you provide a bit more detail on how you are doing? It has been 6 weeks now. I am half way to getting you back home!
I love you -- Mom
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