Sanyu Babies Home

This morning (Thursday morning) the team set off to one of their weekly projects, Sanyu's Babies Home.  Babies are dropped off here by parents or family members who can't afford to keep them.  Or people will drop off babies they have found left in the road or in the trash.  Sanyu takes babies anywhere from new born infants up to about age 5.  They do their best to have the babies adopted, but if they reach the age limit the child will be sent to an orphanage.

Pictures are challenging to take at Sanyu.  You first have to ask for permission, so for now there are no pictures (sorry).  I will do my best to describe what we did there today though...

When we arrived the women workers (or "teachers") were a little behind schedule and just getting the babies bathed.  When they finished bathing them they brought them into another room where we would dry, lotion, put diapers and clothing on them.  It was a bit chaotic, but we did our best to jump right in. The babies were easy going and didn't fuss or cry.  Once they all were dressed the teachers brought out baby bottles full of formula.  I was shocked when I picked the first bottle up.  It was boiling hot.  I asked if it needed to cool down, but they said no.  The babies ate it up.  I am learning that Ugandans like their drinks very VERY hot!

When every baby was fed and taken to their "class" Brett and the boys went off to chop up wood.  Brett has a lot of blisters on his hands, but it doesn't seem to bother him too much. :)  The boys also helped the staff sort beans for lunch.  Beans need to be sorted through to pick out bad beans or even small stones.  So while the boys were cutting wood and sorting the beans, the girls and I changed bed sheets (they do this every day) and hung laundry out to dry.  After "working" we got to hang out with the babies in their class and love on them.  These babies are so desperate for love and attention.  As soon as you walk into the classroom the babies come crawling.  They all want held and played with.  Needless to say, we came home covered in snot and pee.  But it was worth it.

While I have enjoyed the other projects we've been on, this has been my favorite.