The meeting at Senkobo

At Senkobo with Rozina's dad and granny

Greetings all!
Richard and I returned to Zambia almost 2 weeks ago. We are 'back in the saddle'. Other board members, Doreen and Wes and Joan have been covering. In about a month Favour and Fiona Simoongwe and their 3 children, Shane, Matiala and Rayna will join us. We will orientate them to their one year job here at Kasensa!

A few months back Rozina was "discharged" from Kasensa and taken to another orphan home. Apparently, this happens sometimes. This is strong evidence that change happens very slowly. It is "the culture" now for many to believe that the child must remain in orphan care until a magic age - i.e. 2 years old. Or as the father, Joseph was telling us yesterday - 4 or 5 years! They express the belief that the child is too fragile...they cannot care for her/him. Yet, as we sat and met we were blessed by the cheerful presence of several healthy and happy children running around us. Uncovering what the real reasons for why a family won't take Rozina is tricky but one of the ways to assist families in doing what is best for the child is to visit with the family at their home.

Senkobe - is about an hours drive on tarmack and then about 45 minutes in the bush once off the tarmack. Fuel is expensive. It takes time to pick up relatives to show the way down the bushroad. It takes much effort and carefully chosen words to broach the topic and it takes eyes to  observe the unspoken messages and to discern the meaning of this all. 

After about 30 minutes with the family pictured above it was evident that the polygamous marriage was a factor in Rozina not being able to return to family. Wife #1 sat off to the side (the sitting version of being "standoffish") You may remember in past blogging that Rozina's mom died almost one year ago, she was wife #2. Wife clearly does not want Rozina. I also observed wife # 1 being harsh and cold with her 2 1/2 year old son.

We explained that nowadays there is much evidence to say that children grow BEST in family and it is evident that children here in this family can grow - they are healthy, strong and happy. But...family must be willing and work hard on behalf of Rozina so she develop a strong foundation -  unlike what can happen in an orphan home where there are paid caregivers who come and go, day in and day out. Even with quality orphan care with good - staff to baby ratios, babies miss out.

At the end of the meeting after Richard spoke "father to father" with Joseph, it was agreed that family members would meet in Kalomo to do more planning. The granny said she understood more now with this meeting and that she'd be able to help her son Joseph. So...today, we'll set up a meeting with interested parties and pray that the deep interest in Rozina will be at the heart of the meeting.

Rozina has been hospitalized recently and sick for approximately 2 weeks - vomiting....I believe a factor is that since she's been uprooted she is a depressed baby with no way to express it verbally, but her body is crying out for someone to listen. Let's listen. Let's pray for Rozina.