Orphanage

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Another volunteer and I went to Nazareth Children's Home (the orphanage affiliated with URF) for a few hours to help out and play with the kids.

When we first got there, one of the wardens, Josephine, told us that one of the baby twins had died the night before. We had a small funeral for her. There were about 6 of us there, some women said some prayers in Luganda, and then they buried her in a cloth blanket in about a two foot hole. It was extremely sad. When we saw the other twin later, it was no wonder the other one had died. The one still living is TINY and extremely malnourished (like the pictures you see on tv when their limbs are like sticks and their skin is hanging off their body). The people of Uganda are generally pretty thin, but I hadn't seen any children or people who looked this malnourished. Supposedly they bought some high calorie baby formula but it was too late for the one twin. Hopefully the other twin and other baby will be nourished back to health.

There were only 6 kids at the orphanage when we were there (4 under primary school age and 2 who are older but weren't at school for the day). We bathed and dressed the 4 little ones - they were surprisingly really calm and actually help wash themselves. Probably about 5 minutes after bathing the last one, he had diarrhea (they don't usually wear diapers) and it got all over his pants, shirt, and Jen's (the other volunteer) foot. We had a good laugh 😊

Then we washed dishes, sorted beans, and washed laundry. I don't know how the two wardens do it every single day. It's hard work! Luckily, they've got some adorable kids who help out a lot and make the work more fun.

Josephine has a shop with baskets and other trinkets that she makes to earn money for the orphanage so I bought some cool souveniers. Her English is pretty good and she told us lots of stories about her life (she was previously a nun and then felt a calling to care for orphans) and about how she started the orphanage. She and Carol (the other warden who was actually an orphan there herself and decided to stay and help Josephine after finishing school) are two of the hardest working, kind, and loving women I've met in Uganda.

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Photos

Josephine
Such a sweet little girl

Josephine's Shop
baskets, wallets, purses, table mats, etc.

Sorting Beans
The girls were eager to help up pick out the bad beans and leabves

Twin
big tummy is from protein deficiency and little limbs is caloric deficiency

Family
Josephine is on left and Carol in right

James
the one who pooped everywhere haha

Bath time
Jen bathing Joseph