Six New Orphans from Last Year

Last year, ODO went on a survey trip to villages around Kisii (where LDO is located) to see orphans who were waiting for someone, anyone to come and call them their own children.  We met seven orphans that day and six of them are now in LDO.  

All 6 Orphans when they first arrived at LDO last year.  In our survey trip, we met with seven orphans, but we were only able to bring in six more.  The seventh one had Down's Syndrome and the orphanage is not properly equipped or prepared to meet the unique mental/health needs.  All six above are deaf without any other disabilities - except for the fact that they had zero language knowledge.  They were only able to look at us and make a few expressions.  

Meet SHEILA, 4

With her grandmother.  Her facial expression was the same all the way.

Now.  She is always smiling, always being curious.  She is clearly strong-willed, and  loves to come to us and sit on our laps.  She knows her sign name and is picking up signs very fast.  

Sheila with a huge smile.  It is amazing to see the difference in her attitude from the first time we met her to now.

Meet NICHOLAS, 7

Before.  

Now.

Nicholas is very smart and rapidly picking up words and signs.  This morning, he was able to memorize Matthew 7:7 after Alex taught it for devotion.  He will go as far as you push him.  

Meet MAURINE, 14

Before.  Very tall for her age, physically strong - but no facial expressions and extremely shy.

Now - she is bubbly, always laughing.  She is still learning words and signs and is a bit slower than Nicholas and the other new orphans.  She knows how to do chores such as washing dishes, getting water from the river, and helping the little girls change clothes.  

Meet LUCY, 4

Before.  She had this expression all the way.  

Now.  She is extremely cute with dimples, loves to say her name "Lucy" as this picture shows, and has a sassy attitude.

Lucy has a future ahead of her with the education and the home that LDO provides.  Your dollars in support goes towards changed lives such as Lucy.  

Meet EPHY, 4

Before.  She was very afraid of us and clingy to her caretaker.

Now she is always smiling and laughing.

Ephy is still very clingy and needs constant love and attention, but this is in a wonderful way.  The ODO team takes turns having her on our lap.  She is picking up signs and words as well.

Meet ALPHONCE, 6

Before.  He had charisma even though he had no language.  

After.  He is a comedian by nature, and he has an amazing ability to mimic staff members or the ODO team.  He always makes us laugh.  

He is also very good at soccer and pretty much anything else.  Rapidly picking up signs.  

Without a doubt, LDO and ODO is making a difference.  There is one more new orphan, Stephen, that came to LDO only a few months ago because his mother, a widow, recently died.  Stephen had good education growing up and now he is easily one of the most mature orphans.  

ODO needs your help in donations so we can continue to pay the LDO staff and to help the children have clothes, to eat daily, and to have a future.  

God bless!