The Orphanage
Leaving the village was a bittersweet experience. It was so peaceful and beautiful there, despite the hardships faced by the people just trying to survive with the basics. However, I was excited to visit the orphanage. This children's home was quite different from the orphanages I have visited in the past. Usually, I feel an overwhelming desire to adopt all the children right away, but this time, I didn't feel that way.
The orphanage houses 34 Tanzanian children, and it's the only one in the region that takes in infants. The school-age children attend regular school during the day, while the younger ones have a dedicated teacher who prepares them for school for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. They have the advantage of learning English at a young age, as Tanzanian education switches from Swahili to English as the students progress. Most importantly, the children are taught about Christ every day, and it's heartwarming to know that four kids have recently accepted Christ! Praise the Lord! The children affectionately call the missionaries "Bibi" and "Babu" (Grandma and Grandpa). This home truly operates as a loving family unit, which is why I didn't feel the usual desire to adopt all the kids out of the orphanage.
However, the orphanage does face its share of challenges. Some difficulties arise from staff and education. The staff consists of local Tanzanian mamas, which is beneficial for the children to know Swahili and their country's culture. However, there have been instances of staff being caught stealing clothes and items for their own children. Moreover, Tanzanians have a different way of interacting with babies compared to Americans. They often do not understand that babies are conscious of their surroundings until they are older.
Additionally, the education system in public schools is not accommodating to students with special needs, and private schools require boarding, which the missionaries are uncomfortable with due to the potential mistreatment of the children by others for being orphans. However, there is hope for the future, as the missionaries plan to build a private school on the property to address these challenges. They are seeking God-fearing teachers and are hopeful for the positive changes it will bring in the next few years. Furthermore, the missionaries are nearing retirement age, so they are praying for God to bring along someone else to be trained to continue the work. Please join us in prayer for the children during this transition and for God to raise up people to support these needs.
Spending time with the children at the orphanage was a joyous experience. I made friends with a girl who is the same age as my niece. While I was sitting with her as she did her homework, the teacher and the four- and five-year-olds entered the little classroom. The teacher approached me and asked me to teach the lesson. At first, I felt a bit embarrassed, but she insisted, and I eventually got up and taught the little ones the "oo" sound. They were so smart for their age, and I was impressed with their handwriting! They had fun with a guest "mgeni" teacher, and I had a blast teaching them!
On an unrelated note, I want to ask for continued prayers for my family member who is in the hospital. I mentioned this in an earlier blog post, and they are still in the hospital in Bismarck with organ issues. The family has been traveling back and forth to keep them company. They are in a lot of pain. Please pray that the Lord would heal them and they would be able to go home soon.
You all have been such a blessing, and I am grateful to have shared this journey with you so far! Thank you all for your support.