Sibajane

It was Sunday, March 10, 2008, and we had just had finished up a great time at the local church in Silembe. I was truly blessed to have shared with the people there, and they seemed so happy to have us visit. We were wrapping up our time in the bush, as we would depart the next day for Livingstone.

Word came to us from the Head Man that his relatives at a nearby village would like to see us about a child that they could no longer care for. The orphanage was almost ready, but we hadn’t started receiving children as of yet. Elizabeth would be our first house-mom, and she was prepared to start living at the orphanage when we needed her to. Several of us decided to make the trip that afternoon to meet this child who might come to live at House of Faith Orphanage.

Of course it was a bumpy ride to their location, but many us were so tense with expectation we hardly noticed. What would this child be like? A boy or a girl? I always thought our first child would be a girl; maybe because of our baby Faith of 2005 for some reason.

As the vehicle pulled up to the little compound, most of family was gathered around in an outside area. We met his caretakers, and we were then able to meet Sibajane. What a beautiful boy! He was a little shy, and I think a little taken back by all the attention. We talked with him and his family about his situation. The family was encouraged that he would be well taken care of, and that he would be living in the area.

Jo Anne, our orphanage Director, went through a myriad of questions with the family. I could tell that she is a collector of data. She is perfect for our operation in Zambia, and I was impressed with the way she went about putting the family at ease, but also in the way that she was able to gain their cooperation and engage them in the conversation about Sibajane. I was also observing the boy wondering what was going through his mind. Was he sad about potentially leaving his family? What of his older brother? Was he close with him? What kind of life would we be taking him from, and how would his new life be different?

Before leaving we took some snaps of Sibajane and offered some hugs. I felt sad to know that it would be so long before I would see him again, but he’d be in good hands with Elizabeth and Jo Anne at the orphanage.

FACT: Sibajane was approximately 7 years old when he moved into the House of Faith Orphanage on March 14, 2008. Sibajane’s mother and father are both deceased. Sibajane’s name means, “I have not found him.” We believe that the meaning of his name is that his father did not see him before he died and he did not see the father. He has one older brother who is fourteen years old, who tends cattle for the family and goes to the same school as Sibajane. Sibajane lived one and a half hours walking-distance from school, which caused him to miss a lot of school. Now he is attending school regularly, also being taught numbers and ABC’s at home.

As of September 3, 2008, we now host 18 children at House of Faith Orphanage, and many remain in the need of sponsors. For more information see www.globalorphanrelief.org.

Peace, Scott N.