Day Four

Finally made it to the orphanage this morning with Rowland (our Village Enterprise Fund staff person helping us with the project). BTW, Rowland is incredible - and we're lucky to have his help. We spent a few hours talking to Sister Vane, one of the nuns that runs the orphanage. Sister Pias, the head of the nuns, was not available today.

Our conversation went to the heart of the matter quickly. The idea of a dairy requires the purchasing of land to grow Napier Grass (food for the cows). While you can buy Napier Grass, it's expensive and the supply is not guaranteed. The cost of land in the last year has sky-rocketed ever since they announced the University will be opening a campus here. It may not be possible to acquire the land with our current budget. We suggested that she and the other nuns think about alternative businesses that they may want to start. She agreed and we're to meet tomorrow morning to discuss further.

While Rowland had to leave, I opted to stay and play with the babies. Two of the babies we played with in previous visits were still there - and five more. I'll give profiles on each in the coming days, but save it say, that it was a wonderful day filled with lots of cuddles, messes, and moments of so many babies crying at the same time you wish you had 10 arms.

Judy, Matthew and Lali may remember two babies that are still there - Kelly and baby Matthew. Kelly's legs were bound in a cast when we saw him in 2006. He is now three, and his legs are not functional, but no longer in a cast. In fact, he is a vigorous crawler, but has to drag his legs. I am not sure what the issue is, but I wish we could get him evaluated in the US. Despite his legs, Kelly is amazingly happy and very smart. The other is baby Matthew. He's grown up a bit, but has the same funny little grin. Matthew craves attention. It breaks your heart. He wants that 1:1 love so badly.

The newest addition to the nursery is a 11 month old baby girl named Monica. What an amazing child. She's incredibly alert, and very, very, very bright, as well as strong. With a smile that will win over just about anyone, Monica seems to be completely unaware of the fact that she has absolutely no one in the world that will be there for her in a big way. Sister Vane made a point that many of the kids have some distant relatives in remote villages, but Monica has no one. Yes, I know. It made me want to scoop her up and take her home.

In the nursery, most of the care during the day is provided by Mama Vinie - or Evelyn as others know her. After 6 PM, it's just the older girls that keep an eye on the babies. Needless to say, it's not enough.

With more to come later, that was just a little introduction to 3 of the 7 babies in the nursery. There are 75 other older children living at the orphanage.