Kate and I arrived at the Joy Home as 17 children were returning from a day at school. Faces, names and personalities are beginning to become more familiar. Moses is a spokesman, David is the silent charmer and Naomi is a mature young lady. Naomi, an 11 year old, has recently entered the Joy Home. Currently we are having a difficult time finding her a school. She is HIV+ and as with many children, she is suffering with the stigma of the disease.
As the children arrived home they quickly changed from their school uniforms into play clothes. The Moms were ready for them with a cup of porridge and a banana for each child. Caring for and raising 20 children is a 24/7 challenge for these women……endless piles of laundry and plates of food! At 6:30 pm, just prior to dinner, the call went out “medical time”. All of the children seem to work together to encourage the 11 HIV+ children as they moved into the dining room area to receive their antiretroviral mediation. This ritual is repeated every morning at 6:30 am. I noticed Naomi moved quickly. There are no HIV stigmas at the Joy Home. Perhaps her maturity, beyond her years makes, this process a life giving reality. Naomi is one of the children on Second Line treatment due to adherence issues. Hopefully, this will successfully combat the virus.
Morning wakeup call at the Joy Home is 5:30 am. Children put on their uniforms in anticipation of the day, have breakfast and begin their walk to school by 6:30am. Naomi was outfitted today in a pretty white dress, no school uniform. She seemed anxious to begin another day of school interviews; perhaps this will be the day. Most Joy Home children have not been able to attend school on a regular basis due to their unstable family situations.
P.S. We learned late today that Naomi has been admitted to class 6 at the John Boscoe School in Ngarariga. We continue to thank God for ever victory we have been privileged to be a part of at the Joy Home.
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I have heard of the joy home and always wanted to help out with the program until I saw at my church it was doing programs to help out with raising money for it.
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