The Orphanage Center

Saturday 25 May 2013
The Orphanage Center

This morning I volunteered at the orphanage for three hours with the 30 children.  In the beginning they children called me baba (father) Eric but were quickly corrected and began calling me kaka (brother) Eric.  There were three who latched onto me very quickly and would hold my hands wherever I went, one on one hand and two on the other.  Shortly after arrival, those of walking age gave me a tour of the area surrounding the compound including the gardens and the livestock areas, one of the workers joining us to keep account of everyone.  There were many acres of bananas and plantains.  Arriving back at the orphanage after walking for about an hour, the daily wash was being taken off the clothes line.  All the clothes were washed by hand every day by the workers of the orphanage and hung to dry.  I was asked if I wanted to help fold the clothes.  One of the little boys, maybe three years old, who stayed by my side holding my hand, would hand me individual pieces of clothing from the clothes pile for me to fold.  At noon, I was dismissed to return to the spiritual center.