Found
When we are left alone in the world there doesn’t seem to be much hope. Chaos, anxiety, and evil circulate in order to make us feel as though we are completely alone in a world that has no meaning. During our recent return to Uganda to visit our beloved friends at the Hope Center, I got time to speak with our social worker, Moreen. She told me detailed examples of what it is like when she receives a phone call from the police or other authorities to inform her of a newly found orphaned child. And I must say to you all, that if there were no foundational hope within this process it could be concluded that there is indeed no hope to be found.
I asked Moreen what she does as first steps when she is contacted about a child that has been found alone. She must first determine what kind of situation the child is in and the possibilities could be endless.
One possible situation is that the child has been found alone. There are many children that have been found alone in various locations. For example, as an infant, Precious was found stuck in a latrine hole in the ground and had to be carefully dug out to be saved. Also, as an infant, Tendo was found wrapped in a thin white blanket lying in a trash pile next to a group of toilets. Their cries were the only way that someone was able to discover them and then bring them to the Hope Center for shelter and care. Many other infants and children have been found after they were left alone for authorities or Hope Center staff to find them. These children have been abandoned.
Where is Moreen to go, or what is she to do, for answers and solutions? As a social worker, Moreen now becomes a detective, because she is obligated to search for possible family of the child. The Hope Center exists to care for a child that has been abandoned, but if there is suitable family that is able to be found then it would be better for the child to be given care by family. But where does the search begin? The difficulty quickly presents itself, since Uganda currently lives with two realities: 1. Uganda doesn’t have a system of documentation developed enough for every single person and 2. There are so many factors that contribute to the fact that Ugandans have children at very high rates. Whether through irresponsible reproduction, prostitution and trafficking, or rape that then leaves the mother alone and unable to care for her child. In this situation the best Moreen can do is start asking people around the neighborhood if anyone knows where the child came from. Until any family is found, the child then remains with the Hope Center.
Another situation is when a child is unable to be cared for by a parent or family. Similar to what was previously mentioned, there are so many factors as to why the child is not able to be cared for by the parent or family. Several times we have encountered a mother who is unable to care for the child because the she had been taken advantage of or raped since she herself lives in a vulnerable state of life. And often, most families in Uganda struggle to provide for their children. Often families are living well below the poverty line and have no other option but to give their child to the Hope Center so that they have a chance at survival. These are heavy and heartbreaking situations. Once again, the Hope Center can provide care for the child!
The final situation described is when a child is now alone at the hospital because the parent has passed away. Heartbreaking. Just like the other situations, the child is now alone. My heart breaks when a parent passes away and the child is so young. Moreen explained that if the mother passes away, it is also most likely that the father is either deceased as well or he has run away for various reasons. Once again, the social worker must become a detective. Moreen begins the process of searching any available documentation or neighborhood friends to find the child’s remaining family. Until that family is found, the child is again brought to the Hope Center to receive shelter and care.
What do we do? Where is the hope? How do we win this fight for these children? Millions of children are in these situations in Uganda. Additional factors contribute constant obstacles to find solutions. Overwhelming poverty and illnesses plague families as they try to gain stability. Illnesses that range in severity such as aids/HIV to Ebola to Malaria and even to more preventable conditions like common sicknesses and malnutrition. Tribalism and division to this day cause great harm to Uganda. In the past the Hope Center has even taken in children that were harmed or in possible harm from tribal traditions of physical harm from family like burning and child sacrifice. And to make matters worse for children that are left alone without family, traffickers lurk throughout the country waiting to enslave them as sex and labor slaves. What are we to do? When parents or family are unable to be found, how do we keep these children safe as they enter a life as an orphan?
Chaos, anxiety, evil, where is the hope and where is the meaning? Children left alone as orphans. Abused, abandoned and with no one to comfort and care for them, what are the answers and solutions?
The answer is found in Psalm 68:5, where God is described as a, “Father of the fatherless and protector of the weak.”. How amazing is that!? From God’s Word, he claims those that have no one else to care for them! He is their father and protector! And it is amazing and hopeful to know that the Lord has sent out those on our staff at the Hope Center to care for these specific children in the specific ways they do each day!
We are able to keep hope amidst a world of evil and chaos, because we have a, “sure and steadfast anchor of hope within Jesus” (Hebrews 6:19-20). When all kinds of evil threaten children that have no one to care for them we are eager to fight for them; “learn to do good, seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17). And from the steadfast hope of Jesus, joining others to fight for these children it brings us joy; “When justice is done it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to the evil doers” (Proverbs 21:15).
Unfortunately, these questions don’t always have answers. These types of scenarios are far too common in Uganda. They are tragic, and unexplainable, but we are grateful that The Hope Center is able to change the life stories of these children. They come with nothing, into a place that provides more than shelter and food. It provides a home, a family, and a hopeful future!
Thank you for every contribution you make to the Hope Center. Your support rebuilds lives, provides the means for Moreen and the staff members to continue the efforts and the hard work they are involved in daily. We work to restore the lives of these precious children. Whether we are physically working at the Hope Center or providing prayer and financial support, it all counts towards a solution for the children.
Out of the joy and hope that Jesus offers we share an amazing opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these children! Amidst chaos and evil, we can show them the love and hope that Jesus has shown us!
-Michael Kander, Task Force Member
