Dancing her own style to a new rhythm

I remember so well the evening Lutaaya and myself joined Nathan, Bethany and Jaydn to visit the Ugandan Cultural Centre.  I wrote about it here.  I loved how Lutaaya would remember this evening and the true rhythm behind her culture.  I know how she listened to the man say, ‘dance in your own style,’ when he called all the children out the front to join him. 

Six months on and we find ourselves in Wales.  The country has changed but the little girl remains with rhythm.   Dancing with her Welsh friends now. Following a new style but making it her own.  Dancing through her journey in her own unique and special way.

Looking so proud in her Welsh traditional costume

Mirror, mirror

It’s always nice to have updates from Lutaaya’s former home in Uganda.  Since adopting her we’ve stayed in touch with the country director and also friends who visit regularly from the UK.  Lutaaya loves hearing how her friends are doing.  To live with children for 7 years, you must feel like they are brothers and sisters.  I have to remember that in the great picture of things, Lutaaya’s adoption is the best possible outcome for her, but she has also suffered many great losses, losing the friendships she once had, the routine she knew and also losing the younger children who she so desperately adored, protected and cared for. 

When we heard that our dear friends, who loved Lutaaya so much during their visits (and still do), Nancy and Sara, were heading back to Uganda, we used it as an opportunity to get a gift delivered to the children.  My Mum went and bought a set of wall mirrors for the home.  Knowing that it was one thing Lutaaya had missed out on.  I mean, imagine not seeing yourself for the first 9 years of your life so much that when people give you a photograph, you don’t actually know 100% that it is indeed you!!!  This is still the case for so many children in orphanages.  They don’t know who they are!  How can they create an individual identity when they don’t even have the first step of self-recognition?

So Jjajja to the rescue and mirrors were sent to Uganda packed up and on their way with Nancy and Sara.  A few weeks ago we received an email from the country director showing us that the mirrors have made it up on the walls.  I thought you’d like to share in the joy we had in seeing the photos too.

It’s also heartbreaking to know that each time we hear from Uganda there have been new additions to the home.  So sad to think that even with all the help going into Uganda, the country is still no further forward in preventing baby/child abandonment and it’s still happening today.  This little cutie is a recent new addition. 

She’s also in the mirror picture above.  Aged at only 18 months old, she was left to fend for herself, through no fault of her own.  All this precious little girl needs is a mother’s love but yet she wakes up each morning in an orphanage.  Please keep her and all the other children at Lutaaya’s former home in your prayers.  Please pray that families can be traced and positive resettlements will happen.  Failing that, pray that these children, like Lutaaya, will find their forever families and forever homes, so they get the Mummy cuddles they need and deserve.