Day 4--Siku Nne
Today was the first day at Faraja orphanage. We were met by orphanage staff and lead into a rather dark, rather small room filled with about 15 toddlers facing a chalkboard and their teacher. They are so cute. Faraja, a deacon and owner of the orphanage, gave us a tour of the orphanage grounds. He tells us that there were once 200 children here. Now, another veteran volunteer tells us, there is a more manageable 70. Maybe about 30 children sleep at the orphanage, but most of them either stay with relatives or Faraja finds houses for them with something like a foster family setup. First we saw the classroom for the rest of the students, built some time ago by volunteers and a local engineer. They stand and greet us in unison. Then Faraja shows us to the pig pen. Some volunteers three months ago built then pen and bought ten pigs that the orphanage can breed and sell for profit over the years. Next we are led through the banana trees and rural houses, around and down to a deep and scenic revine with a river at the bottom and tiered land and banana trees at the top. As we climb down, I am glad that someone is holding my arm as the hill is eroded and steep. This is where they take the children to bathe. I can't imagine how they climb down safely.
Love you all!
