To those who had trodden this path

     I need help from those who have trodden this path before us. Before court we sat the kids down to explain the rule of our home. It is funny I was encourage to wait until court was over so I did not scare them off, but I wanted there agreement while thy had a choice. I think they thought these rule are not needed until America.  With all the other kids gone I think now is as good of time as ever.   I understand so many of these kids smoke How have you all handled it? What worked the best? When through a missionary translator I told Ilia the rule start now he threw a fit ( I have decide I love it when you kid speak another language and are mad at you can’t  understand and therefore you can stay calm or even laugh inside) Later he come to me ripping up a pack of cigarettes , saying” no smoking.” So now as I get up at 3 am (again) was I can seem to sleep after 2 am and turn on the computer to type I  knock his bag off the table and as I pick it up I feel another pack inside.. Part of me wants to let him know we have 8 days left to decide if he really wants to come and if he is really willing to pay the price.  He has wanted to come the strongest of the two. I actually do not fear he would decide to stay. On the other hand part of me wonders if they are “payment” to caregivers and the top of the food chain boy who is still here.

   Living in an Orphanage is Mind numbing boring! I love to read but with kids to build a relationship with I can’t just sit and read all day. I actually love just sitting on the front step I like the view but they have been here too long to enjoy it. I am so thankful that we get to go to Zap today for church and to visit their friends on Mon.

    I am learning about survival in an Orphanage. Like which back door is open when they lock the front at night, how to jump gates to get out when we make our daily trip to the tiny market down the road to buy little food, where the coffee pot is. The last boy has a electric warmer to stick in to boiling the water. So now I know they have ramean  noodle( Derrick is in Heaven)  I know a lot of  the hiding  places kid try to protect  their things from the others. Our room was used by one.

     Yesterday I boiled a few pot trying to clean the bathroom with some powder I bought at the market yesterday but sadly it does not look much better or even smell better But in my mind I have pour boiling  water over the toilets and tried rubbing it down with cleaner  and an old shirt I found left here ( what I need to a high pressure hose, 3 gallons of bleach,a  scrub brush and some old clothe and shoe I could throw away after and then maybe I could make a real differences. Oh ya, a word of advice don’t put soft padded toilet seats in an Orphanage bathroom you can’t really clean them especially after they start to fall apart!

On a better note the day I got to pick between two rooms I pick without knowing the only room  ( at least that I  have seen) with real mattress! They are new enough I am thinking they may have been bought with ”donation money”, In fact they are more comfortable then the last two place we stayed! Well, it is dawn so off to the shower before the cow gets to the field!