State of the ‘Unions’

Here in the U.S., it seems many things have returned to normal; if there is such a thing in these strange times.

Masks are tucked away in glove boxes for the rare instances in which they are still needed. Restaurants are operating at full capacity in much of the country. Sporting events, concerts and other large gatherings have begun to take on some sense of normalcy as well; with spectators attending, albeit in limited numbers.

The supply chain is slowly, but surely, recovering and most products are readily available to consumers. Even toilet paper.

All of this due to the fact that slowly, but surely, an ever-growing percentage of our population has become vaccinated and the numbers infected and ill shrink as well.

Unfortunately, such is not the case for many places in the world. Even many developed nations are experiencing spikes in numbers of cases and new variants of the COVID 19 virus continue to emerge.

In many of the countries in which we work, it is much worse than that. 

India is once again on lock-down with 50,000 new cases per day being reported. This is down from the high of well over a quarter of a million per day in April and May and experts in the United States estimate that India’s official numbers are only 3 to 5% of the actual totals. This is due to a lack of testing and poor access to the tens of thousands of unincorporated villages in India. In fact, experts estimate that more than 1 million people have died in this vast population of over 1.3 billion.

Just a little over 2 months after our children’s homes there were once again full, the government once again gave the order that the children be sent to stay with relatives or neighbors within their own neighborhood. Schools are once again closed down. Access to food and other critical items are limited to a few hours each day as the government scrambles to get more people vaccinated to slow the spread.

Orphan’s Lifeline has initiated the same plan and protocols as we did the first time this occurred. 

The directors are in constant contact with the children by phone. They are continuing their studies in the residence in which they are being temporarily housed. Directors and caregivers deliver food and other critical items to them during the hours they are allowed to travel about. 

All of the children are doing well, but they are frustrated with not being able to attend school and anxious to return to our children’s homes. 

As before, during this lockdown which they anticipate to be much shorter than before, information will be limited and we won’t have as many pictures and letters as normal because the internet cafés are closed and our directors can only use their phones to communicate information to us.

Also, once again, we have asked the directors to identify and care for additional orphans and widows during this lockdown as they are extremely vulnerable and live hand to mouth even when they are able to work. At this point in time, we plan to provide food and other critical items to 100 orphan and widow households in India.

At our Peter’s Memorial Home for Girls, the director tested positive for COVID 19 a few weeks ago. She received treatment in her home and while she did become quite ill, she is doing better and is expected to fully recover. Please keep her in your prayers.

The Philippines is also experiencing a spike in cases and the government has initiated a lockdown there as well, but is allowing the children at Amazing Grace to remain in the home because it is relatively small and these children have nowhere else safe to go. As you will see inside, this home also had the unfortunate added problem of the well going dry. We have sent funds and a new well is being dug at this time.

All is well in Pakistan at our children’s homes there. The director of the homes has just made full recovery from a battle with typhoid fever.

In Kenya and Uganda, they are also on lockdown, but the children will remain in the homes. Like India, things will be more difficult as it not easy to get to the markets within the hours that travel is allowed. Schools are closed and the children will only be able to study at the homes.

At Nantale’s Children’s Home, one of the employees at the home tested positive for COVID 19. She has been quarantined and none of the children have tested positive.

All is well at Freshfire and Life of Favor. The children are healthy and happy and have the added benefit of their own vast garden and chickens to rely on during this lockdown. This is important because it limits their exposure to COVID when deliveries of food and other supplies are made.

In Kenya, the government has closed many children’s homes; expanding on a campaign of inspect-and-close that they started about a year ago. Many homes simply couldn’t meet the strict criteria required under the new government rules that were imposed due to having little or no funding. With COVID 19 spiking once again, the government is giving no quarter to homes that were in the process of trying to comply with the new rules and children are being scattered to the wind with nowhere to go.

Our director at Home of Champions in Kenya has made many changes to comply with the new rules. We have built new buildings and made many other additional improvements and changes to be sure the children there are safe from such an unnecessary tragedy as many orphans are experiencing. It is truly sad that the government imposes these kinds of measures without any solution of their own as to the care of their orphan and vulnerable-children population. Please keep the orphan children of Kenya in your daily prayers.

There have been no new lockdowns or other such impositions in Mexico and it is “business as usual” for the orphan children at Manos d’ Amor. The orphanages and children’s hospitals in Far East Russia are also doing well and not affected by the pandemic. Please pray that it remains this way.

Yes, things are getting “back to normal” here. But for many around the world, the suffering from this pandemic is still very much a prevalent thing. 

Missions like Orphan’s Lifeline are more critical now than ever for the world’s most vulnerable populations. We are so grateful that God has blessed us with such caring and giving partners as you. It is that which makes it possible for us to respond in a way that ensures the children we care for are safe and secure. It is also that which makes it possible for us to respond and help others in dire need during times such as this. Thank you and God bless you for that!