Betty and Jonah...

Betty and Jonah are the nicest, kindest, most gentle-souled people I've met - maybe ever.  They look to be in their 70s, which in and of itself is a huge feat here (average lifespan is late 40s).  And about 30 years ago they started taking in children.  Jonah says "it has always been our ministry... God has called us to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves."  When the wars began in the 1990s parents just started bringing their children to the miner turned minister and his wife.  "We just had this small house," he said motioning to the oldest cement structure on the grounds, "but we had gotten a reputation... mothers who died in childbirth, the fathers brought the babies..."  then Ma Betty jumped into the story, "around 2003 when the war really affected this area here, there were just children... with nobody, no father, no mother, nobody! wandering around... so we took them too!"

The story is a complex one of many people being moved to action by this elderly couple doing everything they could for the war-ravaged youth.  A son's girlfriend (American) who raised money to get it declared as an official orphanage, registered and all in 2004.  A coincidental meeting of an American pastor by that same son on an airplane (who has personally and through his congregation funded two more buildings, and a pig farm for the orphanage).  A missionary's son who grew up less than an hour away from the orphanage reconnecting and bringing teams to come do construction work.  It's amazing really.  I can't explain what it is about this couple, but you just look at their toothy smiles and into their eyes and you believe there couldn't be more honest, Godly people in the entire world (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but to be in their presence felt amazing).  I imagine people had a similar feeling when they met people like Mother Teresa!

Anyway, how did I get there?  It was the coolest thing... a guy named Cooper works in the office here in Sanniquellie and he had mentioned to me that since I was a teacher, maybe I would like to visit an orphanage... YES! How did he know?!  So see, work here is different and somehow he justified us going there during the work day yesterday.  Now, DRC doesn't have any direct connection to the orphanage as only a very few of the children are refugees... BUT Cooper is Baptist and knows the couple from years and years ago... I came to find out it's kind of his mission to introduce foreigners to what they are doing there.  He even managed to take the wife of the Prime Minister of Denmark for a visit when they were here! Anyway, part of me felt like it was kind of a pitch to see if I could raise some funds or at least spread the word... but then again that's ok by me... why not?!  The orphanage receives NO government funding, and other than what the old couple manages to raise in selling pigs, etc. their funding comes from "Amazing Americans" as they put it.  Each of the 50 some children is sponsored through the minister guy, and once in a while funds are donated for specific construction projects etc.
I asked if I could come back and play with the kids on the weekends... Ma Betty was thrilled and you could see in her eyes that she would love that.  I told them I was a student and didn't really have any money etc. but that I would be more than willing to help anyway I could while I'm here.  She smiled with that twinkle in her eye (much like the one my grandmother has!) and said "Oh girl, that doesn't matter... you are here, you see the children, they are happy and healthy!"  I asked her if she was proud of her work... she replied "YES!  God has blessed me 50 times!  You go and tell the world that!"  So tell you I am!

The conditions in the orphanage are not great... maybe slightly better than those of the orphanage where I volunteered in India... but the kids are most definitely happy.  They have a small church, schoolhouse, two "dormitories," the old couple's house (where they have photos of everyone who has ever helped them with their project), a newly built health clinic and guesthouse.  Although the health clinic cannot begin operating until they find a nurse who is willing to take it on. The biggest problem they face right now is what to do with the kids when they reach 20 etc. There is no set plan and it has become a great difficulty.
You could tell Cooper stops by as often as he can, not necessarily in an official capacity, but in an advisory, friendly capacity that is very much appreciated. I couldn't have thanked him more for thinking to take me there... he was surprised at how I interacted with the kids... we were playing handclap games, they were feeling my hair, and they were asking me a million questions!  He just smiled and laughed and said "I think you need to come back!"  To which I responded simply and emphatically, "Me too!"

A plaque in the entryway to the main building

Lunchtime!

The crowd asking me a bazillion questions! 

Joyce - 14 yrs old with amazing English and a very bright attitude!

Everyone very much wanted their photo with the autocar! :)

Possibly my favorite pic of the day!

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Betty and Jonah yesterday, but I will in the future I'm sure!

Thanks Sofia for the most encouraging comment: "Be safe, be brilliant, be inspiring and be inspired."
I am and I will!

Gotta get to my real work now!

Blessings, Kate