This month, my team is living next door to an orphanage in Maun, Botswana. It’s only been a week but already we’ve developed such genuine bonds with the sweet kiddos. However, living right beside a bunch of mischievous children has also been a pretty wild and funny experience. The kids love to unexpectedly barge into our living space (we are literally all sleeping in one big room that also has a kitchen in it). Sometimes we may be napping, getting dressed, eating dinner, etc. and are caught completely off-guard by a bunch of laughing children coming through our front door. No matter how many times we tell them no and that we will play with them outside, they keep on coming. We had to resort to locking our door at all times! So now, the children like to stand outside our door and knock, knock, knock while yelling hellooooo!
Another funny instance living next to the orphanage was when we were getting our laundry out of the dryers. The little ones were watching us pile all the clean clothes into our arms and walked with us back to our room. Along the way, I noticed some of them holding and waving things in the air. It was our underwear! Hahaha, somehow the kids had gotten hold of them and were jumping around flashing our undies. Yelling to my team, “The orphans stole our underwear!” is a phrase I never thought I’d hear myself say.
All jokes aside though, the children in the Lorato House (which is the name of the orphanage) have completely stolen my heart. The horrible backgrounds that these sweet kids come from and the terrible things they’ve had to endure at such a young age are heart-wrenching. For the sake of the kids’ privacy and safety, we are not allowed to post any photos or videos of them. I’m also going to change their names in this post, for their protection as well.
John* is the oldest one at the Lorato House, being 8 years old and is playful, naughty, but sweet. He’s always the first one running outside to greet us with a huge smile on his face. When I heard his story of where he came from, my stomach twisted up in knots and I was speechless. When John was 3 years old, he was found living with his mom who had some sort of severe mental disability. She was so hungry from lack of food that she had been resorting to eating flesh off John’s little arms. John was taken out of that situation and into the safety of the Lorato House, where he received skin grafts and was able to heal. Today, 5 years later, John exhibits so much JOY, is constantly laughing, giving out hugs, and wants to play.
Luke*, like 4 other children at the orphanage, has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk. Now I know you’re not supposed to have favorites when it comes to kids, but I can’t help it – Luke is my favorite! From the first day that I saw him maneuvering around out on the playground by using his arms to propel himself and drag his bent legs, I was amazed. Luke is one of those children who, despite his disability, won’t let anything stop him from participating in whatever is going on. He lights up with giddiness and squeals with joy whenever I approach him. He laughs uncontrollably when tickled, hoots with happiness when we play peek-a-boo, and loves to curiously examine my white, freckled arms. I’m not sure what Luke’s backstory is like but knowing that most of the kids with disabilities here were either neglected or abused breaks my heart. The fact that these precious children experienced incredible trauma at a young age yet carry such genuine joy astounds me.
Almost every evening, my team and I go over to the Lorato House next door to us. With my ukulele, I lead us in a few praise songs, such as “Jesus Loves Me” and “This Little Light of Mine.” The first night that we did this, Luke got so excited and moved himself right up in front of me. He bobbed along to the music, gleefully clapping his hands, and beaming the entire time. And right there, in that moment, it all made sense to me. Why I randomly wanted to teach myself how to play the ukulele at the beginning of the year before the Race. Why the Lord has given me a compassionately huge heart for children. Why I’ve always enjoyed singing. It was for this moment, that I got to share with this sweet child of God. Yes, Botswana is swarming with annoying mosquitos. The 115 degree sweltering heat feels unbearable daily. Cramming into one room with 5 other girls is not my ideal living situation. BUT it was all worth it, just to form relationships with these orphans at the Lorato House and love them the way Christ does. Please pray that they get fostered or adopted by caring families, or else don’t be surprised if I come home with 15 kiddos after the Race.
* = Name has been changed
