Visit to the Orphanage - Leah

This week we got the opportunity to visit an orphanage outside Arusha. I had really mixed feelings about going but knew I wanted to go and to take Elizabeth, but was worried about how I would feel.  Elizabeth was really apprehensive.  She thought it would be awful but I made her come.  I am glad I did.  She got a lot out of it.  She learned that people can thrive in adverse situations, she learned that Orphans are just like her, and I hope she learned how lucky we are to have each other.  And she had fun with the kids on top of it all!

As we pulled in there was a sign that said:

The kids were all still in their school uniforms.

We didn't know what to expect as we started seeing kids but they were full of smiles and very healthy looking. They were a little nervous as 12 strangers came along.

Our group with the kids. There were 21 kids there the day we were there.  They have 22 total there right now which is the most they have ever had.  

 This is Zachariah, he is the man that is in charge.  He started the orphanage and has continually grown it as finances allow. He has done some amazing things with the little he has.

We took a lot of balls with us to the orphanage.  They were very excited.  If you look close at all these pictures you will see many, many orbs.  I am one of those that believe that when you see orbs in pictures it is an angel. When I took this and looked at it in the display I started crying. These kids have a lot of angels looking out for them.

Elizabeth was entertaining some of the kids with her gymnastic skills.  The kids giggled a lot.  I don't think they had ever seen a cartwheel!  Again, look at all those orbs.

This young man was demonstrating his soccer skills.  He was pretty good!

This is Helen.  She is the Matron of the orphanage.  She is amazing!!!  You can tell by talking her her that she loves these kids.  She does all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and general care.

Water Tanks outside the dorms.

The kids had a nice play structure and a lot of land.  Just to the right in this picture behind the structure is an area with goats, cows and chickens.  Zachariah was recently able to purchase a large piece of land behind the current land.  He likes the space to grow and for the kids to play.

Bathrooms

Sinks for handwashing and teeth brushing.

Cooking with coal.

A small 2 burner gas stove, the shelves are the pantry.

Outside sink for dish washing.

'Extra' shoes as kids grow they will hopefully have a pair that work

One of the girls Dorm rooms.

The 'living' room in the Girls Dorm.  I was talking to them and asked if the older ones helped the younger ones with studies and they said yes they did.  These students routinely score very high on testing and the top student in the school is one of these kids.

Before we left we said a prayer for Zachariah and all the kids.  Amazing how much he can do for so little.  God and the Angels are definitely looking after these kids.