I have only been here at the Kedesh boy’s orphanage in Mozambique for a few days and I love everything about it already. John, a missionary from the States and the director of the orphanage, explained to us that he named it “Kedesh” because kedesh means “sanctuary”. This is a place of safety and rest for boys who would otherwise have no place to call home. Approximately 24 boys live here ranging from eight to eighteen years of age.
The law…Because of personal convictions that have developed as he has studied God’s Word, John leads his life, and consequently the orphanage as well, in a Torah-observant manner. The family at Kedesh observe the Sabbath and celebrate the yearly festivals including Passover and Hanukkah. Yesterday I learned that the little brick huts on the property are not just random structures that were built for the boys to sleep in, but were actually built as shelters to be slept in during their last seven-day observance of Sukkot – the Festival of Tabernacles or “shelters” which God instructed the Jews to celebrate each year to remember how their ancestors lived in shelters when He rescued them from Egypt (Leviticus 23:42)…a few of the boys loved their tabernacles so much that they have chosen to continue sleeping in them instead of in their main living area.
The land…I love the simplicity of life that is all around me. So much of what is done here is natural, pure, healthy, from the ground…In the morning we wake up at 5 a.m. and run an obstacle course around the orphanage (I have instituted “Charlene’s Core Corner” as a nice substitute to running with everyone!). The boys have individual garden plots that they tend to on a daily basis. They choose what they want to grow and the food is picked to be shared with everyone. When a certain tree drops “kapok”, we collect it, break open the husks, take out the seeds (to be used for oil), and separate the soft fluff filling (to be used as stuffing for pillows for the boys. Even the husks are kept and used as kindle for building fires. This is one of my main projects since it doesn’t require a lot of physical strain! Our water comes from a well and since we are still waiting on the rains to come the well is getting low and some nights we lose our running water. At meals, we get one scoop of rice and one scoop of beans…or one bowl of oatmeal…enough. I love learning to live simply, learning how to do things I’ve never done before, growing to appreciate where things come from and being exposed to things that challenge and stretch me.
Values…Perhaps one of the most important parts of living in a “Torah-observant” manner is living out the values of God’s law. I have appreciated watching how these boys are taught and shown responsibility, discipline, respect, fairness, consequences, and love.
I know that God smiles on this place and is honored.
