I'm a titch late with this post...
Last Sunday we had a farewell party for the deHaan family who is repatriating. Most likely to Canada. So of course there were speeches, thankfully only two, and there was some singing, very nice, and then food and then the requisit photo's were taken. We sure will miss them here in Sentani. Our kids especially as they often went to eachothers houses after church...
In the first photo of the group singing, you can see a younger girl at the front. This girl was adopted by the Naphtali family from our church when she was just little. She was very sick when the Naphtali family found her. They had gone back to their hometown and saw this little girl (I think she was the child of family members). She was near death and her family was not taking care of her. I'm not sure if they knew that she was mentally handicapped or if her being so sick caused that. What often happens here, especially in the villages interior, is when a handicapped child is born they will just let the child die. It's very sad, but the reality is that they just don't know how to help them or what to do with them. The Naphtali family took this girl home and nursed her back to health and she considers them her parents. She is actually talking now, I'm not sure how much. I wonder what the future holds for her especially if Mr. and Mrs. Naphtali were to pass away.
1 comment:
Hi H&E&M&C&A&M&B:
Just in case you were wondering, we do keep up with your blog.....just don't always have time to respond. Yes, sad about the handicapped there, makes us thankful for what we have here in Vernon for Marsha. Well, we are home from Holland and France, still trying to adapt to time change...waking up in the middle of the night ready to roll...Kids kept the fort here reasonably well, Chico still alive which is a good sign. Anyway, love you all and will send photos! dad
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