Two New Residents

A few weeks ago, Brenda sent me to go pick up two new residents.  She said that they were at a local church, the grandfather is unable to care for them and has asked for help.

So, Dad and I set out (Dad was here visiting).  We arrived at the church but the kids were not there.  The pastor told us we had to go to their house to get them.  Ok, we can do that.

We drove about 20 minutes to the grandfather’s house.

 When we arrived, he brought out Ronald.  He was scared.  The grandfather explained that we were the first white people he had ever seen! Ronald’s father drowned in Lake Victoria and his mother ran away, leaving him with his grandfather.  However, due to poor health, the grandfather needs help and decided that the two youngest should go live elsewhere.

Ronald was comforted by Edith, she held him while we finished things up. 

[I have to say, it was overwhelming.  All these children there and Ronald has no idea what is happening.]

 We filled out paperwork on Ronald.

 I asked about the girl.  “No, she is not here.  We will go to her house to get her too.”

We loaded up and started in pursuit of the girl.  I thought it would be 5 to 10 minutes down the road.  NO!  An hour later, with the sun setting fast, we found Sharon’s house.

 She was excited to see a car pull up, but then became scared like Ronald at seeing white people.

   Her mother had died and her father was not around, so her aunt was caring for her.  However, the aunt had left and went to Lake Victoria so she and her 3 siblings were being cared for by an older (18ish) brother.

 We took both of the kids with us and drove away.  It took another hour to get home – driving through a rice field, back roads, stopping for directions numerous times, buying gas in a coke bottle “just in case” and finally arriving at 8:30 that night!

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Update:  Both children are flourishing now. They are doing great at the VOE.  Ronald loves it here.  He is friends with all the kids and loves playing all day!

 

 Sharon loves helping the housemothers with their work, really seeming to soak up that motherly figure she had been lacking.  It is great to see such a change in such a short time! God is good!