Meet Don!
Don is a brave and sweet boy, after having his teeth removed he never once
complained! His one toothed smile lights up the room and his sweet laughter
brings so much joy! He loves playing with toy cars – zooming and vrooming
around the house and compound! He loves playing with the other children, quick
to offer comfort to anyone who is in pain and coax a smile out of them. Don is a little cuddle bug, crawling up
into your lap or giving big sloppy kisses. He loves listening to Aunties
reading books and shading (drawing). Curious and intelligent, he is a quick
learner and likes learning new things like his numbers, shapes, colors and
letters from the Aunties at home!
History
Don’s mother died while giving birth to him. His father is disabled, having
lost both arms and so was unable to care for him. Before he came to us he was
living in hunger and poverty at another orphanage – it was over maximum
capacity and so he had gone for days without eating. At 2 ½ years old, Don’s teeth were rooting and decaying
from malnutrition – he had to have 16 of his 20 teeth pulled to prevent severe
infection. He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the
streets and slums of Uganda. But Don is
NO longer one of these children
because he is now part of our Rafiki Family where he receives all the love and
care he needs!
Funky Facts!
Favorite things…
Color: Green Animal: Lion
Color: Green Animal: Lion
Food: Chicken and Rice
Game: Tag Activity: Playing with toy trucks
Volunteer Corner
The other night I was on the upstairs balcony going to my
bedroom. It was dark outside and if it weren’t for his bright red Thomas the
Train pajamas, little Don would have been nearly impossible to spot. I looked
over the edge of the railing and whispered his name and he looked up at me
suddenly with his adorable, toothless grin. He whispered back at me, “Auntie
Stephan, come down and see me!”. I couldn’t resist his sweet request and I
walked down the stairs and sat with him on the very bottom step in complete
darkness. He sat there telling me about his day while sitting on the bottom
step. I guess “sitting” isn’t the best way to describe it. Don doesn’t sit. He
was most definitely chillin’- as if he were a 20 year old surfer. It was
getting late and he needed to be going to bed. He wouldn’t go. Not out of stubbornness,
but because he wanted to hang out with me. He told me we should stay down there
all night and talk. I would have loved to stay with him longer but he’s only 4
and isn’t quite at the right age to be pulling all-nighters. With some
convincing, he finally gave me a hug and a kiss and scrambled off to bed. Don
is precious. I love him dearly. And I really hope that it’s a long time before
I wake up and he really is a 20 year old surfer!
Childcare Worker
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For the next few weeks we will be posting stories of all the
kids here at Rafiki Africa Ministries (RAM). We want to give these kids a
voice. There are more struggling kids here in Uganda than anyone is able to
count. Here are the stories of 13 kids who's lives were changed by God through
the work of RAM. We want to make you a part of this work, there is so much love
and joy overflowing out of the Rafiki Home and we want you to experience this
through these stories. We hope you can get to know the kids through these
updates and we pray that you will fall in love with them just as we have.
Be a
part of the changes God continues to make in the lives of these kids.
Make a
difference.
Spread the word.
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