New Faces, Old Faces

Me and Kato

So we’ve had some new additions to our family here! Last week we brought not one but THREE boys home :) Two of them are returning, and the third was a first timer.

The first boy is Kato Charles. Kato, now 14, had been in the home in Kivulu when it first opened. He was totally not ready to stay- he was so broken and unruly. He didn’t even last one night because he had to leave so he could get more drugs. But over the past few years, Kato’s transformation can only be called a miracle. Its hard for a boy who has been on the streets as long as Kato (I think his total was coming to 7 years) to really make a transformation. Usually, by that time the streets have hardened whatever soft, vulnerable places a boy has left. These kids go from trauma to more trauma, so the fact that Kato became instead more loving and open is amazing! He was the cleanest street kid ever, always trying to polish his shoes and wash his clothes. He devoted himself to our lessons, always paying attention and answering questions. Watching him over the past few months has broken my heart; I was watching the light of hope go out of his eyes (I blogged about him earlier this summer). I wanted so badly for him to come home, and I felt God assuring me he was going to be in an API home again. But knowing that, I was totally unsure of how or when. Sure enough, Abby called me last week and told me her and David had heard God telling them Kato was to come home. Honestly, my heart hurts with the joy I feel every time I see his beaming face at our home. He LOVES it, and he really deserved it.

The second boy was Enoch, who is one of the most broken kids I’ve ever worked with. I first fell in love with Enoch this past December. He came to programs one day sick with fever, and I spent the next few hours with him at the hospital as he was treated for malaria. He was so tiny, so breakable in my arms. Weak and sick, he just wanted someone to love him. But it became clear as soon as he began gaining his strength that he was tougher than he appeared. That is the word I would use to describe Enoch- tough. He is probably only 9, and skinny as a pole, but Lord does that child have fight in him! When I said goodbye to him in Dec, I knew he was not ready to come into the home. But my prayers were answered soon after, when Abby and David got back to Uganda in Feb. They heard that most of the boys in our programs had been brought by Enoch- he had spread the word! He was coming regularly, and participating and had great behavior. Looking hopeful, he was brought home.

Enoch in Dec, sick with Malari

Unfortunately, the adjustment was to much for him. He crashed and burned pretty quickly, and soon he was back on the streets. It broke my heart to see him back in the same place I found him in December. He was high a lot, filthy, and always fighting. He didn’t come to programs most days, being busy in the other slum (the worse slum) Kisenyi. It says a lot about the state of a boy, where he is living. There are “good” and “bad” places to live as a street kid. Wandegyre is the best place. The cleaner, gentler boys live there. Kivulu is the next level. There are tougher crowds there, but still most of the boys who live in the slum come to our programs, and we know them. Its still a much harder neighborhood than Wandegyre, but a lot nicer then Kisenyi. Now Kisenyi is the worst, and the most dangerous. Its where the boys who want nothing to do with us live. The boys who are content doing drugs all day, and fighting all night. Its to dangerous for us to even work in most of the time (even with escorts, its hard to do ministry there). Most new boys go to Kisenyi, but the ones who want help move into Kivulu or Wandegyre eventually. Its rare to backslide from Wandegyre to Kisenyi (like Enoch did). Praise Jesus though, because Enoch has shown vast improvement over the past few weeks. We decided he was doing well enough to come home again, and now he is safe and back in Bombo. Please continue to pray for Enoch, that he would be able to stay in our homes, and would not run again.

The last boy we took was Bob. I love this child a lot. Like Kato, God told me that Bob was going to come home, and sure enough he placed the same thing on Abby and David’s hearts. Bob is about 9, and the sweetest kid. He had been in our programs for some time, and was working really hard. He was always helping with organizing things, or doing dishes or serving food. We noticed Bob, and his good heart, and so did God. Now sweet little Bob is in Bombo. He looked so happy when he first showed up! He couldn’t wait to show me all the new shoes and clothes he had, and he made sure they were super clean.

I am so content these days. I am in love with our children. I am so joyful that our family is growing every day. I thank God for providing for these boys, and for bringing them to us. Even as we rejoicing here in Uganda, I know Heaven is also rejoicing. God’s precious children are safe and they are home.