Today we went to see Ester and Patrick. It doesn’t seem like Ester is going to leave Patrick anymore, but the situation in the home is not any better than it was before we took the twins.  There is still no food in the house and the parents are still not working. We were originally thinking that the twins would be able to go home after two months when they are healthy. They were given an opportunity to improve their situation, but unfortunately they didn’t take advantage of it. When we went today they told us to keep the twins, which is what we were thinking because after all of the improvements the girls have made, it would be heartbreaking to take them home and find them the in the same horrible condition after a few months. It’s a big financial responsibility, but God will provide.

Ester

         I love spending time at the twins house. It’s great to see Rose and Rael playing, talking and laughing with the other kids.  

Rosie

Rael, getting strong enough to learn to stand.

      I love all of the other kids living there as well. It’s great that there is a place for these kids to call home. John, Martin and Emily are siblings that are living at the home. 

Emily and John

Martin

      Their mother is HIV+ and has been bed ridden for about eight months. When the kids were found, their mother Salome, was so sick with Tuberculosis that she could not even talk. Her five children just sat around the home all day with her. Despite having been tested, Salome refuses to accept that he is HIV+. She will not take medicine, so her condition is not getting much better. Now she can talk, but she is so weak and frail that she cannot walk and could barely lift her hand out from under the blanket to shake my hand.  Her husband is responsible for all of her care and half of the time he is responsible and the other half of the time he goes into town and gets drunk. On top of that, since both parents aren't working there is little food in the home. It’s heartbreaking to see a family that is in such a desperate situation, especially knowing that there are many other like them all over the world.

Salome 

  Her oldest 2 children are still living at the home. It is not good for them to have to see their mother like this. Pray that Salome’s heart is softened and that she accepts that she is sick and gets the help that she desperately needs. 

Henry and Peter, Salome's oldest 2 children