Meet Joshua

Joshua

   
    Joshua is our oldest child 
here at Rafiki. He is 8 years old and will be turning 9 on March 31^st. He is in second grade at Little Rina Nursery and Primary school.  Joshua is one of the top students in his class at school. He is very curious and likes asking tons of questions! He wasn’t receiving any education before he came to us and so has had to work very hard to catch up. We are so proud of him and excited to continue to watch him grow and learn!

                        
History

Joshua was abandoned after his father died and his grandmother was struggling to provide for him when a local goverment official made us aware of the situation. She could no longer provide the care he needed and we felt that he should come to Rafiki to get the love that he desperately needed!

 
He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Joshua 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 deserves!

   When Joshua came to us, he didn’t know how to be a kid. He was used to walking through the slums by himself, having a lot of responsibility and not depending on anyone. It’s taken time, patience, and love, to continue to show him that he isn’t alone and that he isn’t an adult. Though he is very helpful with all the chores (washing clothes or the dishes and with the other children), we have seen him become a kid again - laughing and having fun!

Funky Facts!  
Favorite…    Color: Red      Animal: Rabbits

Food: Chicken and Rice

Game: Tag      Activity: Nature Walks

Volunteer Corner!

The other day I was playing with Joshua. He asked if we could play tag and course, as with any kid his age, he did NOT want to be it. I accepted my position as the “chaser” when Joshua piped up in his deepest, manliest, voice, “I am the antelope. You are the lion. I am the better runner, which is why I am the antelope. You shall never catch me.” After speaking those eloquent words about himself, he took off running. I stood there laughing for quite some time before I could actually begin chasing him.

   Joshua is such a joy to have in the home. He is so full of life and he makes every day a joy. I’m excited to continue to watch him grow in the Lord and to one day become the man that God has created him to be! 

                                            By Stephanie Madrid

                                                         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.
 Rafiki Africa Ministries


Check back weekly for more stories!  

“Religion that God, our Father, accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...”  James 1:27