Today, more than most days over the past year, I find myself reflecting upon my time spent in Lusaka, Zambia, at the Nyumba Yanga Orphanage. For on this day last year, (May 1st 2010), I had the privilege of travelling as an International Volunteer with Homes of Joy to visit the Orphanage. That three week visit was exciting; fear evoking, exhilarating, challenging, and ultimately life-changing.
We arrived in the early morning of May 1st after flying on and off for about 20 hours. We were welcomed by the warm faces of 4 beautiful girls (one from each of the houses at the orphanage; love house, peace house, Joy house, and truth house), and the orphanage director; Sr. Ruby. I fondly remember riding in the back of the truck on our way from the airport to the orphanage and listening to the girls shyly singing us welcome songs and introducing themselves.
While at the orphanage I got to spend time with many of the girls and became quite fond and enamoured by them. Their stories were heartbreaking; filled with loss and pain and yet here they were, so over-joyed with being alive and thankful for the home they came to know as Nyumba Yanga (“our home”). As I had imagined, these girls were beautiful inside and out
Over those three weeks I could feel my heart changing, growing, and expanding. My spirit and my mind were changing. A journey that started for me in the L’estacion (slums) of Cuernavaca, Mexico (when I was on a grade 12 poverty exposure trip) was continuing. I was truly realizing for the first time and first hand, that status, and worldly possessions don’t make up a person. It is what they choose to do with their lives as a means of ‘reaching out’ ‘giving back’ and ‘helping their neighbours (be it in their own backyard or across Nations)’ that really counts for something in the long run.
I wanted to start living for something greater than myself, something that had a bigger purpose. So, upon returning I decided to start living first and foremost for God and in turn for others. I became an avid spokesperson and supporter of Homes of Joy (even more so than I was when I embarked on this journey) and have since started to Sponsor Sarah who is a newcomer to the orphanage and is 4 years old. As much change as I have seen in the past year in myself, be it personal growth, worldly passion, or an understanding of the ‘bigger’ picture’, Homes of Joy has seen more.
In the past year, Homes of Joy has been registered as a charitable organization in Canada, and since inception in 2008, has raised over $45, 000.00 with the help and generous support of various donors and sponsors. In the past month, St. Mary Catholic High School fundraised over $5000.00 for Homes of Joy as their Lenten project. Simon Fraser University students raised over $1000.00 for Homes of Joy as part of their ‘Change for change’ fundraiser. A local family in our diocese raised $415.00 for Homes of Joy as part of a ‘ride for refuge’ fundraiser. 24 Individuals and families have decided to sponsor a child through Homes of Joy. As an organization, Homes of Joy has paid the tuition and educational fees and expenses of the girls at Nyumba Yanga, purchased new gas and electrical stoves for the house mothers to cook on, and repaired the leaky irrigation system among many other things.
This year has been marked by change, dedication, love, faith, and an outpouring of support. No one can tell what the future holds but I hope and pray that the support for Homes of Joy and the girls of Nyumba Yanga continues.
I cannot wait until this time next year (May 2012) when I hope to be embarking on another adventure to visit with these girls who have changed my life in so many indescribable and wonderful ways.
“Be the Change you wish to see in the world”
~Mahatma Gandhi
In Christ,
Amanda
