Fiwagoh is located in one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. You would never expect and orphanage to sit on the edge of a beautiful lake, surrounded by mountains. The beauty of the place contrasted by how meagerly these 180 children live is staggering. They frequently can't afford food, they wear the same clothes day after day, they have almost no toys, and very little adult supervision. With all those things being said, these are some amazingly blessed and rich kids. What they lack in material possessions, they make up for in Godly love.
Fiwagoh is run by Pastor Benson and his wife. They are amazing, Godly, humble individuals who pour themselves out daily for 180 kids. I am so in awe of the people I met that live sacrificially for "the least of these."
"My girls" at Fiwagoh were Poline, Teresa, and Virginia. If you've never been to a 3rd world country, kids just attach themselves to you and they are yours for as long as you are there. They sing with you, beg you to take pictures of them, and stand outside your door every time you go to your room. One thing I loved about Fiwagoh was them singing hymns. When they sing, they do so with all that is within them. It's a staggering sound when you hear them all together. And for the first half of the song I would swear that they were singing in Swahili some song I had never heard, and then I would realize they were singing an old hymn I'd known all my life, AND IN ENGLISH! It's astounding.
It is such a sweet place, full of sweet and honest children. Days are spent playing 'what time is it Mr. Fox?' and soccer. I miss this sweet place...
until all have heard,
lauren michelle gross
