Kwathu Orphanage

Seriously... these kids have stolen my heart. Can I take them home? I am getting really attached to these little ones at the Kwathu orphanage. I love the fact that there is only 12 of them because I have been able to start getting close to each one of them and know them individually by name.

I am so exhausted when I wake up in the morning and when I start thinking about the hour walk I have to take to get to the orphanage, I sometimes dread the idea of getting up to be honest with you. But once I reach the gate of the orphanage after that hot, lonely walk..I immediately smile when I hear those children laughing and shouting. I walk inside and they exclaim, “AUNTIE NUSLY!”, but then they try to give me the gum that was in their mouth as a gift, hahaha. 

The children washing their clothes

What I do at the orphanage may not seem like a big deal to people. Mainly, I play with them! These kids have house mothers, but they are always busy planning, cleaning and cooking.. there is a lot to do for 12 children and it seems to never end. Due to this, the children do not get much individual attention. I interact with the children and help them keep on track with their chores or help them with their chores, teach some who have gotten behind in school (like with their reading), play games with them… it is that nourishing and love parents would be giving them if they had some. Through this experience, I have come to understand how important having loving family around for the development of a child. No, these children situations are not ideal – but it is definitely better than them being on their own or remaining in an abusive/neglectful circumstances.  They come from either abusive families and are considered vulnerable and that is why they are at this children’s home or both parents have passed away.

Rozaria & Purity and my "cake" 

haha

I LOVE these kids… what do we all do for fun? When I first got here, I thought, “Man.. there really isn’t much for them to do.” They live in what I would consider just a dirt field. They do not have very many toys or supplies. However, they have been teaching me how much fun DIRT can be, haha! Well to give you an idea, yesterday we played tic-tac-toe and hangman in the mud and then Rozaria, Purity, and I played with the mud and they made me a “cake” and I “paid” them in the form of leaves haha. With the boys, they have a traditional African game that they play with a hole in the ground with nuts and rocks and.. yeah I always come in last place but I am getting better and better at this game! Let's just say, I'm SO bad that Peter gives me 4 chances per round and I end up getting 0-2 nuts per round while he gets around 10-15, hahaha...BUT I am determined to beat Peter before I leave Africa! (Peter NEVER loses…but he WILL, haha just kidding) and then I remember on my first day, Marantha and I found a lizard and we ran around all over the dirt compound to catch it – “we”, ok no sorry I really should give ALL the credit to little Marantha!!! I gave up after 5 minutes, she finally caught it! That lizard was so dang FAST, haha!

On my first day in Zambia, I was sitting on the steps outside where I stay and I looked down because something kept brushing up against my ankle. I looked down and it happened to be 50 kwacha (around 8-10 USD). I looked around and there was no one in site. I put the bill in my pocket and thought of who in need I could give it to. As I was laying in bed that same night, the kids kept coming into my head and I think I'm going to go to the local market and try and get a few things for them with that money I found... maybe like a couple of jump ropes, balls, maybe even supplies that we can practice English and math with. (If any of you can think of great group activities, please let me know!)  

I am humbled. For these kids, this is their reality.. I do not know what is going on in their hearts - the loss they have experienced regarding their families but they are strong. It really puts things into perspective, doesn't it? I go on my knees every night and here, it is easier to count my blessings. I need to take this home with me: to be continually aware of my blessings, the tender mercies, and miracles that God puts in my life. I still cannot believe I am in Zambia... my dad pointed something out to me from my patriarchal blessing: the blessing of enjoying the beauties of this earth. He said, "Nusly, you have experienced the beauties of this earth." I never thought of it that way before and it is so true. I have been blessed and so far, in my short time-span of 23 years, I truly have seen and met the people who make this world turn. They are the "true beauties" of this earth and have caused my soul to stretch in magnitudes of love and charity. My spirit keeps getting edified in my journey and I know that is just the beginning of it all. I cannot even imagine what else will come and who else will come into my life. I do know that I feel the still, small voice of the Spirit telling me that much is expected of me. I do not know all that will come to pass in my life, but I will say this: without my Heavenly Father, I will fail. With Him, I will succeed in everything and I am determined to do the will of God. As this is true for you, it is true for me that GREAT things are to come...as long as I follow Christ, I have nothing to fear.