One of the challenges we were handed when we arrived here was, as a housemother put it, "these children are just too lazy." The missionaries here echoed the same feelings. The term "Orphan Syndrome" was coined. We thought there would be an easy fix to that with the gardening season opening up and all! Let's just say it was a challenge for all of us and also for the children. The last week or so finally we are seeing the proper attitudes when it comes to doing a few chores. Gratitude and an understanding of the help these kids get from their supporters is finally getting through to them. I would be afraid to count the number of conversations Brian, Bob and Louis have had with these kids individually as well as in a group, but it was many. A prayer request is that these children would see the value in working hard and reaping a harvest or reward! That one principle is very sadly lacking in the culture they came from. Today they weeded and pick some produce from the garden:
Lerato anticipating the joy of eating the first cucumber of the garden!
Paulina with the Okra plants...almost ready to produce. Fried Okra will be a new treat for these people!
Komohalo wanting to eat these freshly picked potatoes...raw with salt! Yes, he is a ham, always a ham and he loves to help Uncle Brian, Uncle Louis and Grampa Bob! Really!
At 3 PM today Monica (6 and perhaps the laziest of all) came to me and asked me for a job (no photo to protect the guilty). Sorry, I about fell over and then decided to ignore her due to past experience. Then she asked again with earnestness. So, I wondered what she wanted...and gave her a job sanding the rust on the steel that I had just finished welding. She stayed with the job until the end without complaining and did not ask for anything! Folks, God has worked in this girl's life...I am absolutely convinced of that! Now I don't suppose I owe her an apology but probably a big hug!
