Meet Jerom!

Meet Jerom!

Jerom is so  excited to be back together with his older brother, Joel (who is also at Rafiki with us!).  Jerom is bright and inquisitive little boy - curious about everything! He likes going each morning to Little Rina (the local school) and is learning his letters, numbers, colors and shapes. Jerom has a gentle heart and is a cuddler, he cares for the other kids and is always comforting anyone who is sick or hurt! Full of energy and love, he brings so much joy to our home!

 History

Jerom was abandoned and abused by his parents. When we found him, he had been locked in a one room shack behind a local bar, he was hungry and in desperate need of love and care. He had spent the previous days scrounging around the community looking for food; a local government official found him then came and notified us of his situation. He came home with us, and now him and his brother, Joel, are able to be together at Rafiki, receiving the love and care they both need! He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Jerom 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: Monkey Food:Meat&Rice   Game: Tag      Activity: Nature  Walks

 

Volunteer Corner  

I love how Jerom is so genuinely happy. Seriously, I've NEVER seen such a happy little boy. Everything is a joke and something to laugh about. I love how he wrinkles his nose when he smiles. Sometimes he just wrinkles his nose for fun because he knows it makes me laugh. Sometimes I wonder if he will ever take life seriously, or if he’s just content being happy and laughing all day long. Personally, I hope that reality never hits him (at least in a cruel and harsh way). He’s content. He loves life. I don’t want that to change. I want him to grow up knowing that life can be great! I want him to know that after a season of hardship, there is going to be a time of laughing and dancing and smiling just because he feels like it. He is filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s the only explanation for why he is always exploding with joy. I love it. I pray he keeps that joy all the days of his life!

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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  

Meet Oscar!

Meet Oscar!

Oscar has a huge personality and is a very intelligent, active little boy with a radiant smile that captures every gaze. He likes helping fold laundry, playing with toy cars and airplanes and making artwork to give to Aunties! He speaks English very well and loves to teach others Luganda, the local language. Extremely bright and inquisitive, he is doing really well at Little Rina, the local school that he attends and comes home wanting to share about everything that he’s learned each day!His sweet smile and joy brings much life to our Rafiki family!

 

 History

Oscar was abandoned by his parents and left in the care of his grandmother who wasn't able to care for him. He was living in poverty and in desperate need of a loving family and home. A local orphanage that was already over maximum capacity let us know that Oscar was in need of a family; he came to us hungry and in desperate need of help. He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Oscar 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 Color: yellow 

 Animal: Zebra

Food: Meat and Rice

Game: Tag 

 Activity: Drawing & Reading

 

Volunteer Corner 

Just a few days ago, sweet Oscar ran up to me and kissed me on my hand. He threw back his head and gave me one of the hugest smiles I have ever been blessed to see on a child’s face. He lit up and was completely happy in that moment. Before I had the chance to say anything to him, he ran away laughing; completely filled with joy. He is precious. Nothing was said about what had happened that day. The next day he ran up to me when I came down to help the kids get ready for church. His arms were stretched out and he was ready for me to pick him up and cuddle for just a little while before he had to get out of his pajamas for the day. When I picked him up he wrapped his arms around me and snuggled in as if he had no other plans for the day. Then he whispered in my ear, “Do you remember yesterday?” of course I did, but he decided to remind me again anywys. He grabbed my hand and kissed it before squirming out of my arms with a big smile on his face to go get dressed for the day. This is a daily routine for Oscar and me. I look forward to it every morning when I wake up. I know he does, too. It’s amazing for me to see how he can love so deeply. I’m honored that he has chosen to love me. Oscar is such a sweet boy. 

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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  

 

Meet Brenda!

Brenda

 Brenda has a big personality and is very much a leader in the home! She loves to walk around our home singing at the top of her lungs and teaching our visitors how to dance traditional Ugandan dances! Always excited to learn new things and very curious about life, she wants to be a doctor when she grows up andvworks hard to learn her lessons at Little Rina, our local school. She’s a tomboy at heart, wanting to wrestle and compete with the boys in races and games. Brenda makes friends wherever she goes and brings joy and life to our Rafiki home! 

 History

Brenda was abandoned by her mother when she was young, and her father could no longer care for both her & her younger sister, Esther (who is also here at Rafiki). Brenda’s father was an alcoholic & although he loved both of his the girls, he knew that he could no longer care for them. She was neglected, severely malnourished, living in poverty & taking care of her younger sister at just 5 years old when she came to us. When we first met Brenda we could see the weight of the world on her shoulders. She was acting as a mother to her younger sister, Esther & at only 5 years old, she could not be a kid. She was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Brenda is NO longer one of these children because she is now part of our Rafiki Family where she receives all the love and care she needs!

 Funky Facts!

Favorite things…    Color: Pink     Animal: Cow

Food: Chicken and Rice

Game: Jump Rope      Activity: Drawing with chalk

Volunteer Corner

Brenda is the actress in the house. Every day, she never fails to make me laugh especially when she tries to act like an American. Many Muzungus (anyone who is not a Ugandan) have come through the Rafiki home, so Brenda has learned a lot. She tries to say words in an American accent, but the words come out sounding out of place with her little Ugandan accent. She loves to dance, and she often tries to teach me to dance in the traditional Ugandan way, which requires an insane amount of hip movement and overall body coordination that I didn’t know such a small girl could be capable of. For the past few weeks she has taken to acting like a monkey. I’m not sure what inspired her to do this, but it’s stuck for a couple weeks now. I just remember her jumping on me one day and clinging to me as if she were a monkey on its Mama’s back. She proceeded to shout rather loudly in my ear that she was a baby monkey and I had to carry her around as my baby. So I guess this means I’m a monkey, too? Nevertheless, we are having a great time being monkeys together. I know it probably sounds cheesy and cliché, but seeing Brenda and the rest of the kids smile and laugh- having a good time- it’s why we are here.

By : Stephanie Madrid 

Child Care 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  

Meet Joel!

Meet Joel!

Joel is very excited to be re-united with his younger brother, they are protective of each other and are each others best friends! Joel is a quiet, lovable, intelligent, funny and very sweet boy. He enjoys going to our local school, wanting to come back and do homework! He works hard on his lessons and loves sharing with us what he is learning – asking for homework almost every day! He loves reading books, telling stories and shading (drawing) and break dancing, Joel is very creative! Pizza and cake are his favorite things to make, Joel wants to be a chef when he grows up. Always wanting to help with chores or with the younger children, his compassion and quirky sense of humor bring so much to our home!

               

 History

Joel was abandoned by both his parents. A local government official let us know that he was in need of a home. He was hungry and in desperate need of help when he arrived at Rafiki. Shortly after he came to us, we found out that he had a younger brother, Jerom - now Joel and Jerom are able to be together here at Rafiki, receiving the love and care that they both need! He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Joel 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… Color: Blue Animal: Dinosaur

Food: Chicken and Rice

Game: Tag  Activity: Drawing/Dancing

Volunteer Corner

 Joel is such a sweet boy. There are many times when I look at him while he plays or does chores and he is your typical 6 year old- feisty and mischievous, playful and energetic- but there are times when I look at him and see something different that I have never seen in a boy his age. Joel was abandoned by his family a few years ago and though he’s so young, it will affect him for many years. I tried connecting with Joel. I played with him, yes, and we had fun together, but I never really connected with him.

   It wasn’t long ago that we took the kids on a nature walk. Joel walked straight up to me before we left, grabbed my hand, and didn’t let go one single time for the entire hour long walk. It was such a special time. We didn’t have to talk much. He only held my hand and squeezed tighter with every step. I feel like from that moment on he has really let me get to know him. His favorite animal is a giraffe and he gets a huge smile on his face when he sees a picture of one or when someone talks about them. He told me that he would do ridiculous things to get out of naptime (not in those exact words, of course)! Suddenly at naptime he loves doing dishes or has to go to the bathroom for over an hour. I’m pretty sure that if he knew who he was, Nat King Cole would be his favorite singer. He loves drawing power rangers and always makes sure to give them the world’s largest biceps! Joel makes me laugh every day! He has a sweet spirit and loves having quiet moments with those he loves. I love watching him grow. He is a blessing in the home and I’m so glad he is in my life!

                                                                     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