I’m going to try to start blogging more than I have been, but if it’s any excuse we’ve been keeping really busy at Esther’s House!
We've been working on finding more orphans that live in our village of Madzanje to participate in our non-residential program. We've also recently started to implement a type of "early childhood development program" for our younger children; on a recent trip to Blantyre we were able to get some second-hand children's books and start a small library at Esther's House. The kids are really enjoying having books to read outside of school, and reading with them has been a fun way to work with them on their English!
We now have 8 residential orphans, with our newest additions being 4-year-old Patuma, 4-year-old Enelesi and her 5-year-old brother Nedson, and 5-year-old Peter. Peter and Patuma definitely have a mischievous side to them, and they're so playful all the time! I think you can really see that on Peter’s face when he smiles. :)
Nedson is seriously the most easy-going child I’ve ever met! He’s the sweetest kid.
His sister Enelesi is just as sweet, but definitely strong willed. She knows what she wants, and because she so cute she usually gets it!
Elford, one of our newest residential children, has changed so much over the past month. He was a shy, malnourished, introverted child when we first received him. It’s been so incredible watching him transform into this completely different person. He loves to sing and he loves to do the traditional Angoni tribal dances with the older boys. He has this tiny little voice, and I can’t help but smile every time I hear his high-pitched squealing laugh!
It is getting SERIOUSLY hot here--we try to stay in the shade most of the time, but the kids (and us as well!) are still sweating bullets all day. We took the kids to a barber today and had them all cueballed. Hopefully that will help keep them cool for the next month!
One of the kids that I’ve gotten the chance to know a little better is Dennes Simbani!
He a 13-year-old boy that participates in our non-residential program. The other day I made some flashcards with pictures on them, and I was quizzing the kids on the English words. Dennes was so enthusiastic about getting the right words--he’s so enthusiastic about learning in general! We read books aloud together, and he just so smart. I think he would make a great teacher; he helped me a lot with teaching the younger kids their numbers. He really is a genuinely kind person.
(He isn’t sponsored…yet! :) )
Someone mentioned something the other day about what a blessing we’re being to the children at this orphanage, and I couldn’t help thinking that the opposite is really closer to the truth. These children are amazing people, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to spend time with them. I think I’ve mentioned that before but I need to say it again because it’s so true!
After growing up in America, I can’t say that getting used to living in Malawi was the easiest thing. This being the dry season, we don’t always have running water. For the past month we’ve been taking bucket baths, which consists of collecting water from the outside spigot, warming it up on the stove, and then using a cup to bathe yourself with. Fun! And I can now say that, as long as there’s a can of bug spray handy, I (almost) don’t panic when I see enormous spiders inside the house! We’re definitely facing our fair share of challenges, but I can honestly say that it’s worth it. Being able to live here for 6 months to learn from and love these kids is the biggest blessing. I really hope that everyone reading this will have the same opportunity at some point in their life!
♥ S
