More strings to my heart

Today I was able to visit some more of the special needs children with Isabella.  All these children just pull at my heart; I want to bring them all back with me so they can get the care they need.  After visiting a few homes, Isabella and I headed back to Pangani and I showed her a few things she can do with the children.  I feel like there is so much more I can teach her and help her with, but we are so pressed for time.  I hope that the little I have been able to give will be enough to help these children and to keep them busy until I am able to return.  These children are so wonderfully created and deserve so much more than they have been given.  I know there is a special place in heaven for each of these beautiful children.

Meet the children:

Susan

Susan was 3 years old when she fell from her mother’s back (women here carry their children on their backs with a piece of fabric that is just tied in a knot in front….so scary!).  She now has very poor muscle control and has trouble focusing her eyes and walking.  Because everything is done for her, Susan is also very uncooperative and was kicked out of school because she refused to tell them when she needed to go to the bathroom.  In the little time we had, I was able to teach Isabella how to teach Susan to comply.  I was also able to talk to Mary, who leads the sewing workshop, and get her to make a harness to help Susan walk.  Hopefully I can see great progress here next time I come!

Ian

Ian is 6 years old and is one of the happiest kids I have ever met.  He would just giggle at everything…so sweet coming from a child that has no toys to entertain him.  Ian has cerebal paulsy and cannot walk or stand.  While I visited him I was able to get him to hand me different objects, a hard task for someone with poor muscle control.  But, he worked hard because he quickly learned that I would give him tickles every time he did it.  Ian will be such a great worker because he is so motivated for giggles.  I am sure he will learn so quickly…I cannot wait to see what he learns!