Step Back From The Edge

I have been wondering all evening how I would explain to you what we did today. Our day started by Sarah and I oversleeping-like all the way to the time we were to be picked up by our driver, Eddie. Let’s just say that I made sure tonight that I was working with the right am/pm. 

Jake arrived late last night around 2am. He was to be here a day earlier but his flight was diverted and he ended up going around the world to get here.  Jake is an unassuming easy going fellow. He shared a funny story with us this morning about falling asleep on the plane and he woke up to people disembarking-so he followed them. He noticed that he was the only “muzungu” in the airport and then asked someone where he was. He was in Sudan. Did I mention he was easy going? He promptly got back on the plane (after taking a picture with a Sudanese who asked him what in the world he was doing there) and arrived safely in Entebbe. It was nice to have his company today. Jake also plays the guitar and is an amazing singer/songwriter. The kids and adults in the village enjoyed listening to him play today.

 As I opened the computer to type I almost shut it because I couldn’t figure out how to explain today and then I read something. “It only takes one purposed moment to step back from the edge.” That sentence really spoke to me because that is exactly what happened today. We stepped back from the edge....by turning off the “world” and listening...really listening to the voices of many that have been unheard. We interviewed 8 of the 12 boys that live at The Abbey House, run by Abbey Ssentongo. If you are unclear of who he is, then read back several blogs from trips past and you will know. The interviews are for us to bring home so that we can find sponsors for each of the boys. When we make their faces and stories real then you can connect with them. We told the boys ahead of time that we would be asking them their ages, if they knew them, about their past struggles prior to coming to Abbey’s as well as what being at Abbey’s House has done for them and how it has impacted their life. I don’t think any of us in that room realized what would come next. The first interview was with a young man that was able to tell us his name and age along with the year he is in school. But as soon as we asked the question about his past struggles he became very emotional and wasn’t able to speak. This young man is 10 years old. You should never have to stare into the face of someone that young who can’t even speak when asked to describe his life experiences. I will tell you that part of his story included him telling us that he was a double orphan ( that is the term used here for kids who don’t have either of their parents) In fact, many of the boys at Abbey’s house are double orphans. Their stories ranged from a parent who murdered himself to having parents that told them to find a place to live because they couldn’t afford them. Some were passed along to aunts and grandparents when their parents died. Some were just alone. All of them recalled times in their lives when they had days with no food or very little. One of the boys raised his sleeve showing us a 6 inch scare on his forearm. With great emotion he shared the memory that continues to haunt him to this day; after surviving several days with no food he reached to grab something his Aunt was cooking.  Grabbing a machete she attempted to cut off his hand. This was the relative who was entrusted to care for this young boy following the death of his parents. 

None of the boys, prior to coming to Abbeys’, were in school consistently. The afternoon was filled with story after story of vulnerable children merely existing, with no hope of a future. However, as each story was shared with us, their facial expressions and tones would evolve.  Their sadness turned into warm smiles and  excited chatter as they shared of the time they entered “Abbey’s House”.  For the first time in their lives their were experiencing love, acceptance, a sense of belonging, and opportunities to dream of a future.  Now, not only are they dreaming of that future, but Abbey works individually with each boy to develop goals to reach their dreams!  With grate pride and thankfulness, each boy concluded saying, “This is my home...this is my family!”  

In taking notes and participating in these videos interviews, I realized that despite  the lack of biology, these boys were all brothers, an integral part of this family! It doesn’t matter if you are blood related or not.... these boys now have a place to belong; a place where someone loves them and supports them. We should all step back from the edge....stop and listen to a co-worker, a stranger or perhaps someone in your own house. There are many people in this world (yes even including our good ole USA) that feel as if they don’t belong or feel alone.  We all have a story, and regardless of the details of that story, we were created with a need to belong...a need to be accepted...a need to be loved.  

This was taken outside of Abbey's Home-boys to right are apart of his home.