A few months ago when Obukuumi was just getting started I wrote a blog post about a father who had to drop his little girl off at an orphanage because he couldn't care for her. Here is the ending of that story. (these stories aren't one true story, but they are a mesh of a bunch of different true stories)
Her daddy's heart hurt. He got up each day and went to work, he provided for the family he still had, he mourned his wife, but not a day went by that he didn't think of his little girl miles away. He wondered what she was like. Was she healthy? Was she a happy or cranky baby? Did she wonder about him? Did the orphanage workers love her? He tried to visit her but the transportation cost was so much that he couldn't afford it. He told himself in a few weeks, months, he would be able to afford a visit. And so he continued to wake up each day, go to work, provide for his family, mourn his wife, and think about his baby girl.
Months went by and the baby grew into a tumbling toddler. She was fat and healthy and well loved, but somehow that wasn't enough. She spent her days craving that one on one attention she never got. It was like a drug and she would use any method that worked to get it. She cried loudly. She hurt other kids. She lifted her chubby arms for visitors. She laughed and smiled for volunteers. But the visitors and volunteers always left and, although she didn't realize it, her heart ached for someone who didn't leave.
She wanted her daddy.
He wanted her.
Her white feet darkened by the red dirt, she walked towards the village home. She got to meet with the daddy and talk to him about his precious daughter. She showed him pictures of his baby girl and got to see him grin ear to ear at her healthy beautiful image. She offered the daddy money to come visit his daughter the next week and told him they could discuss getting his daughter home.
The dad came the next week and got to hold his daughter for the first time in months. "She's beautiful," he whispered. He met with an Obukuumi staff and the orphanage's social worker and they presented sponsorship to him. He loved the sound of it so he discussed with them what he would need to bring his daughter home, signed the contract, and made plans to return for his daughter next month.
This daddy started the week missing his daughter and wondering about her well-being. He ended the week planning for her return.
This little girl started the week looking for someone to parent her. She ended the week with that very someone holding and kissing her.
Kelsey and I LOVE getting the opportunity to be a part of this. Please don't misinterpret this story as me painting us to be the heroes. The real heroes are the loving moms and dads who work each and every day to bring their children home, and we are so honored to be able to help them to do that.
I want you to know that you also play a huge role in this story's happy ending. We are so grateful to all our sponsors. If you want to sponsor a child and help write their happy ending sign up through paypal on the right hand side of the page. If you would rather make a one time donation that is also an option. We are in need of some one time donations to pay for school fees for some of our kids, transportation for Kelsey, and Christmas gifts for our kids.
Thank you so much for partnering with Obukuumi! We appreciate all your support!
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