Revolving Door

There is a brand-spanking-new bank in town.  It has a revolving door—the first of its kind in Mzuzu.  So locals are understandably a bit intimidated upon their initial entrance and exit through this contraption.

I imagine the Crisis Nursery is like that revolving door.  It must seem a bit intimidating for the babies who make their initial entrance and exit through this, their temporary home.   Of course, when they first arrive, our little ones are barely aware of their surroundings.  Nevertheless, my guess is that they know they are being held, and fed, and talked to, and played with in a way they have not experienced before.  (Not to mention the strange sight of those 2 ghost-like people with no color in their skin.) 

When it is time for a baby to leave the Nursery, they sense that something is up.  Most become very contemplative.  Are they wondering what their life will be like on the other side of that revolving door?

Today we are actually having two babies in the door at the same time—one on the way in and one on the way out.  Smart, (pictured here), is our oldest-19 months, and has a quiet smile that would melt the coldest heart.  He is on his way to Rafiki Village and we are thrilled.  Growing up at Rafiki is a bit like winning the lottery for orphans.  It is a well built, well run, well funded American orphanage that cares for their children up to and including a college education at the Malawi University of their choice.  It is certainly not the answer for the huge number of Malawi orphans but it is a piece of the puzzle of quality orphan care.

13 month old Sibongile arrived at our door in the same Rafiki vehicle that took Smart away.  She is scheduled to be admitted to Rafiki but they are not equipped to care for babies under 18 months old.  At her age, coming through our revolving door was definitely intimidating.  (She has not stopped crying since her arrival over two hours ago.)  I suspect that 5 months from now her exit will be far less traumatic for her, if not for us.