There was only second and third class available so we ‘went posh’ and paid the equivalent of £2 each for the 5-hour train journey. The train was packed but we managed to get a seat. There’s no windows and all doors are wide open and people sit at the open doorway. The ‘House of Joy’, the orphanage where we are staying is in a tiny town in the country. We went out on the main street earlier and being ‘white’, we attract a lot of attention. Everyone is very friendly and everyone smiles at us and waves. Children are very curious! It is very hot and humid here and today it rained. The earth is very red and it soon turns to mud and makes a real mess. The flies and insects are everywhere and there’s no escape. We are being well looked after and we have mosquito nets above our beds. Having mosquito bites is a new experience for me and I have quite a few!

 

The food here is very basic and the expectation is that everything is eaten with your right hand. We are eating a lot of rice and meat is only eaten on special occasions. We were very privileged upon our arrival and were given chicken. There are now 21 girls who live at the orphanage and they are very excited to have us here and they call us ‘Aunty’. They consider themselves to be very lucky to live at the orphanage because they are well treated, they get three meals a day AND they get to drink clean water!

Tomorrow I am being taken out to meet someone who was brought up at the orphanage. I’m hoping to meet several ‘ex-girls’ over the next few days. I’ve been asked to speak in Church next Sunday about our trip and why we are here.

An English couple, Alf and Christine have been spending time at the House of Joy for the past three months. They have another three months left and have been sponsored by US (USPG). They’re doing a great job here and they are teaching the children English. They’re also looking after Steph and myself and ‘showing us the ropes’. We’ll be mucking in and helping to paint the utility area, so watch this space! They’ve already done an amazing job with the dining room and have lots of plans for the next three months.  They’ve also been sharing their tea and coffee with us but alas – no milk!