The Heavens Declare

As much as possible, Watoto tries to contact any living relatives or parents of the abandoned children brought to them. Sometimes they find both parents have died and there are no relatives present, other times the remaining family members sign the right of the child to Watoto. If any way, the organization will try and integrate a child back with their families. In some cases, this may happen years later.

Ray came to Watoto as a pre-mature baby, her father long gone and her mother suffering from severe mental illness. She is now around 8 years old, and her mother has contacted Watoto and wants her to come back. Although this is the only life she has known, the situation has been investigated by social workers, and she is leaving Friday. Therefore, today Mardi, Kelly and I went down to her house to say goodbye.

“She thinks she is going on holidays.” Barbra, her village sister told me.

“You haven't informed her?”

“We have, but she sees other kids going places for Christmas (some visit family members who want to see them, but can't care for them), and she thinks she is like one of them.”

The sisters were sitting in a circle on the dining room floor, eating there beans and rice. We had been blessed in eating with this family, twice now, and they held a special place in our hearts. We bid the girl goodbye, and I sincerely hope that it goes well for her.

Towards evening, Mardi, Kyra and I stood at the top of Suubi hill, catching another sunset over the valley. Jess and Anika had run off into the bushes, and seconds later, came back – something squirming under Jess's fingers. I jumped back, as it looked like she was dangling a rat, then quickly realized it was a baby kitten. It was matted, all of it's bones were imprinting his layer of fur, it's eyes were blue and open and it was meowing. He was tiny - not more than two weeks old.

“We just heard something meowing and found him tangled in a bush...” Jess was saying.

Thinking there must be more where that came from, we headed back. No noise. I glanced five feet to the left of where they had found the kitten. A cardboard box...and some sort of burlap brown sack...

I figured I knew what had happened and my suspicions were confirmed. The securely tied sack had a nasty hole on the end, and stiff white paws were poking out. However, the hole was not big enough and it was clear the mother had died while trying to stick her head out. Somehow, her baby had escaped – who knows how much time had passed.

Kevin took the kitten back to his home, while Anika got milk and a syringe to feed it with. The concern is small in comparison to many things that happen around us here, everyday. I can't help but think that God is Someone who also cares for detail, and considers the smallest of things. At the Grand Global Hotel, where I first stayed, the manager had found a pigeon on the roof with a split in it's abdomen, sewed it shut and cared for it, until it could fly. Rare, but sweet acts of compassion.

As night came, we hulled our mattresses onto the roof of the Baby Home. There are staircases on either side going all the way to a levelled out deck on the roof, running across to the middle and into the centre that widens into an open and flat area. The clear visibility of the stars shone directly above, and were a reminder of our Cell study with the security guards, the previous night...

“The heavens declare the glory of God...”

We had met with the security guards for study and the Cell leader, one of the guards, had talked long and passionately about God's glory in creation. He and the others are hired through their company, and their company is hired by Watoto. They make under 100$ a month, yet once again I saw them show an excitement for a God of goodness, a God of provision and proclaim a God of absolute glory. There did not seem to be a doubt that a God who proclaimed His glory and power in creation, cared about the everyday details of life.

“The heavens declare the glory of God...”

Looking up, I know that If this is only a demonstration in declaration, I cannot even begin to imagine the true essence of His glory.

Cell group with the Security Guards