Earlier this afternoon, as I was sitting here, trying to get some work done I was enjoyably distracted by the sounds of the children outside, singing one of their clapping and dancing games. I stopped to think how instead of being out on the streets they are happily playing, waiting for their dinner to be ready.
I've heard the stories about what life could be like for these children if it were not for a group like His Promise. I've heard stories about how life WAS like for some of the 60 children who are part of this ministry. Of how life IS like for those children whose parents have abandoned them, despite still being under the same roof. Or, for those children whose caregivers are a mockery.
Still I wonder, where would these particular children, the nine that were right outside my window, be right now, this very minute? What would they be doing? Would they be laughing and playing... or afraid and crying; trying to avoid any sexual or physical abuse? Would they be friendly and gracious... or hardened and contemptuous? Would they be waiting for their dinner... or hungry and searching for food?
One of the six children we have is a thirteen year old girl who, prior to the efforts of Steve and Karrie Graham, was living in a household of ten siblings without any adults. The other five, all related, I'm told spent a good part of their lives in a 'volunteer home'. Where the caregivers came and went.
I'm praying that a set of good foster parents can be found before we leave.
As you all know, we arrived on Friday. What you do not know is that [unfortunately] we arrived into a critical situation here at the ministry. Not wishing to get into any of the details surrounding the situation, Jackie and I have six of the ministry children (3 boys and 3 girls) staying with us. We will be caring for them while we are here, at the Graham's home, or until such time that another foster mommie can be found, prior to our departure April 2nd.
It was with open hearts that we agreed to take on this responsibility. Both having the sense that our appearance here, now, at this time, under these circumstances, is a story that not just anybody could have scripted or planned.
We have had the children here since our first night. With the exception of the oldest girl, we are quite familiar with the other five. We have with us: Angelika, Riaan, Queen, Memory, Ishmael and Smithley. Riaan and Ishmael are brothers, Queen and Memory are sisters, and with the exception of Angelika, all are cousins. The youngest is 10 (Smithley and Memory) and the oldest is 13 (Angelika). The five youngest ones attend Talitha Kumi Christian Academy and Angelika attends the public middle school. [Incidentally, either Jackie or I will need to attend our first parent's night on Thursday at Talitha Kumi!]
Our new family will definitely make this trip to Namibia a different one. One of our challenges will be to live a Namibian lifestyle that would be within the budget of what this family would typically have been provided for their monthly stipend. Most of the 'monthly shopping' had already been done and any food purchased has been brought here from the house they had been living at.
However, there will still be bread, milk, maybe some juice, or other things not typically purchased in advance for an entire month, that will need to be purchased. We do have some of the remaining stipend available to us. However, for two Americans, who are used to planning and providing for well balanced and seemingly sufficient meals for themselves and their own children, who must now plan for the more modest and seemingly insufficient meals that most of the children and families have here in Arandis, will be culturally challenging.
The food stipend for what was once a family of eight was $2,800 per month, oh, that's Namibian dollars. The U.S dollar equivalent is somewhere around $375 per month.
Yes, one warm meal per day is typical. Some porridge in the morning and some bread or rolls at night. Milk? Maybe one glass per day, if there is any. Water with cereal is not uncommon here. Meat is typically not included on a daily basis. Fruit, juices, both peanut butter AND jelly on the same slice of bread, all a luxury.
Though we might have the means to provide for more, what justice would that be to these children to seem to 'have more' for a month, then have to settle for less once again. So, we will be trying to give them consistency in what their daily lives have been.
This actually has been a personal struggle for me to think about; to not be able to make things better for these children, even for such a short time. That I need to be ever aware of the culture here. That I need to, as best I can, help maintain this culture since it is what they have been used to, and what they will return to once we are gone.
---------------------------
As I sit here writing this, it is about 9PM, on a school night. I can still here young / school aged children on the streets, who knows if they even attend school or have a home to go to. But, such is Arandis. 'Our kids' have been in bed since 7:30 PM. It was an early night for them since they took so long to get to sleep last night... with all the talking and fooling around, we told them they obviously needed an earlier bedtime, in order to accommodate all of the fooling around time.
Still, even after only two days / nights of having Namibian children to care for, I'm seeing that these kids are kids. The same as kids that might be found anywhere in this world. But as I look around this place, what is different is that not all kids have someone to watch over them, who care enough about them to make rules and boundaries.
I should be much more afraid of being mistaken and then finding out that Christianity is true than of being
mistaken in believing it to be true. (Pascal)
We all want to get to heaven but nobody wants to die. (Unknown...still looking)
God hasn't given you the events of your life to hold in your own hands. He is allowing you to watch them
unfold in His. (Shannon Kubiak, "God Called a Girl")
")
