"Try Not To Get Too Attached" . . . Easier Said Than Done

Leaving a volunteer project is never easy for me. Perhaps it is the masochist in me, but I rarely leave with a feeling of upliftment or satisfaction in "a job well done". Instead, I generally leave in a state of frustration, knowing that there is so much more to be done. This project has been no exception. Only this time I am leaving with a huge hole in my heart as well.

After six weeks at the Baphamulele Children's Home, we have become very close to many of the children with whom we have been working. After days spent feeding, bathing, singing, dancing, and playing, you would have to have a heart of stone not to fall in love with all our kids. Yes, there were days when we were all ready to retreat up to our flat after listening to Nikita and Zam whine all day (all day) or after struggling with Lithemba to feed him his food, but most of the time I had a hard time leaving at the end of a shift.

While each child has earned a special place in my heart (even Nikita and Zam), one child has completely stolen it. His name is Litha, and even as I sit here typing his name my eyes are welling up with tears. I could go on and on for pages describing how special Litha is: how much I love his curiosity, his love of singing, his original dance moves, his intelligence (he is so bright), his kisses, and just the feeling of snuggling with him in my lap as we watched Barney at night, but I don't think that's necessary, and to be honest, I can't write too much about him without totally breaking down in tears.

Though both Jeff and I have agreed for some time (much to my mother's chagrin) that children are still a few years off for us, I would take Litha home with us in a heartbeat if I could. Unfortunately, South Africa's misguided adoption laws make it next to impossible for people from other countries to adopt any of the many, many children here that need homes. To even be considered, a person must be a resident of South Africa for at least two years. From what I have been told, this law was created with a desire to keep South African children "South African". While I have no problem with the spirit of this law, I find it to be incredibly unrealistic and downright irresponsible given the number of children that are parentless in this country. I wonder what these children would say if given a choice.

We are not permitted to publish pictures of the children in a public forum, such as a blog. We are, however, permitted to put them up in private areas, such as Facebook, so I am putting up a few of the many pictures that I have taken on Facebook, in case anyone is interested in seeing them.