Helping at the Orphanage 7/20/09

I started my first day today at the orphanage.The kids aren't really paid ANY attention to. literally besides feeding and cleaning them, the house mothers dont pay attention much. If I walk away to play with other kids I'll hear a baby baby crying, when I look or walk over I'll see a baby, LITTLE baby, face down in the dirt with no adult in sight.., even if they didn't play with them I could understand. I guess cooking and cleaning and what not, is a lot of work but... not even being in a near vacinity...its very sad but I don't dwell on that and I try to just make them smile and provide new things to keep them entertained. Its crazy the stories behind the children.. most lost their mothers to HIV and others lost their mother in the war. Literally there are a few children whose mothers were shot by rebels (kinda like Hotel Rwanda..) and the babies were on their back and people found them and brought them to the orphanage.. its SHOCKING. The baby's don't wear diapers and have very holey clothes so when I hold the babies most of the the time their clothes are urine soaked and if they're not ,I just pray to God that they won't pee or poop on me... lol I'm sure I'll get my share before the week is up though. its so crazy you guys.. the kids are really SO GOOD, its like all you have to do is be holding them because normally they just sit on the ground (outside in the dirt mind you) alone... just SITTING there. No toys... 22 kids and 7 beds... but I mean thats not shocking because NO one sleeps in beds here anyway but.. still. --- Katie