I just talked to Steve and the kids as they were going to bed. Ben scored a goal at soccer tonight. They went to a children's museum. They seem to live on another plane, one where mothers don't leave their children on a bus because they were born with a small birth defect. One where people don't have sex on average 50 times a month. One where the government doesn't sweep up street children because Hilary Clinton is coming to visit - where they are put into prison until they are 18. Even the little 1 1/2 and 2 year olds. Even the girl whose scalp looks like it was burned by boiling water or oil. One where the director of a childrens village of 200 kids - built an developed by well meaning Mzungus (outsiders) -isnt found to be sexually abusing the kids. And when he is found out- the place is shut down and the children are released to the street. With nothing.
I have been here one day and I have already heard so many stories. Every person holds so much tragedy in their hearts. The 2 1/2 year old twins who just came to the orphanage. Their parents are alive but their mother is dying or dead. They have been from their father's care, to a foster family that decided they didn't like them, back to their father - who one day didn't pick them up from daycare. He has moved out & they can't find him. Then they'd went to an overcrowded government home before finally making it to the Home with Fort. I met them today. The 2 girls, Emily and Maria, are as sweet as you could wish. How have they made it this far? And every day so many stories.
Sad little stories inside these resilient kids. Who somehow still smile.
It is tough to be here. We are more lucky than we know.
It is tough to be here. We are more lucky than we know.
We are more lucky than we know. Love Jennifer
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear the kids have to go through all that out there. And yes we all take our lives out here for granted. It is because most of us never have had to live any different that what we do now. A lot of people haven't had to see what it truely is like to live without and go through the hell these kids go through everyday. I've even commented to my family and friends before that our poor is even rich compared to countries like Uganda. It does help others though to hear stories from you and from others that have gone there and to other countries about what is going on so that we learn as well as hopefully get others to get out there and try to help. Getting people involved can hopefully open the doors to getting the help that is needed weather it be with money or supplies to getting more people start monitoring and stopping the abuse. I love reading your blogs you write very well and I can see how much you care and how big your heart is by the way you talk about your exsperiances out there. You are a very strong woman as well. I don't know if I could keep it together seeing first hand what is going on there. I am so excited though for you and your family I know that you guys will make a huge differance in Forts life as well as others over there.
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