These are the stories of some of my kids. We don't know much about their stories or their pasts, but here is a little of what we do know.

Lydia. Fourteen years old. Both parents died of AIDS when Lydia was eight. She lived with her brother and sister-in-law, but her brother didn’t care about her because she had AIDS. He told her she was just going to die anyways- so what did it matter. Somehow Lydia managed to get transport to the city where she was able to get free food and medicine for minors. She then took the food she got for free, and sold it on the streets to pay for her transport every month to town to get her ARV meds. Budget cuts happened, and the food program was one that got cut. She went to pick up her medicine one more time and told the nurses it would be her last time there. She no longer had food to sale to get money for transport. So she told the nurses she was going to pick up her medicine one last time, and then go home and die. The nurses gave her some money for transport and were able to hook her up with our home. Her sister-in-law has come to visit her once or twice, but does not seem to really care about her well-being. Lydia is doing very well at our home now. She tends to be pretty quiet, but talks and laughs softly with the other girls and me as we talk. She is one of the older girls who now, instead of a handshake, often slips into my arms for a hug before going off to bed in the evenings.

Dan-Dire was orphaned. He was living in a village wandering around. He had one outfit. Some lady in the village was feeding him- but she left to attend a funeral, and never returned. Different people in the village took turns feeding him- sometimes. Dan-Dire is now happy and full of life at our home. We play football (soccer) almost on a daily basis. Every time I try to steal the ball from him he just starts laughing and laughing.

Gordan watched his father drown. His mother was an alcoholic. He was very depressed when he came. The security and friendship that he has found at our home has done wonders for him.

Small Daphine lived with her really old grandmother and grandfather. Her grandfather is now dead from cancer. Her grandmother was too old to take care of her, and had many other children she was attempting to take care of as well. I love watching Daphine when she doesn't know anyone is watching her. I often can catch her dancing and singing to herself in the yard. When she sees me watching she bursts into giggles, and covers her face in embarrassment. It is priceless.

Winnie and Stella’s mother had AIDS. She could not take care of them and dumped them. When Winnie and Stella came they were both very violent in their actions (scratching, biting, beating). They have both toned down a lot now. We do not know what happened to them in their past or what caused these actions. They run around happily now though. Their outbursts of anger and violence is now rare.

Laticia’s father horribly beat her and left her to die. A nurse found her and attempted to take care of her, but did not have the means to actually care for her. Laticia has only been with us for about a week now. She has adjusted so well to our family though. She is always running around with the other girls laughing, singing, dancing, and talking excitedly. It seems like she has always been with us.

Pius was dropped off at his Ja-Ja’s (Grandmother) house unexpectedly by his father. The Ja-Ja had not even known that Pius existed. She had no idea who the mother was. The mother has since come to visit him once since he has been with us. Ja-Ja had already lost 4 of her 6 children. Since finding out that Pius has AIDS, she now fears that she will soon only have one child remaining. She knows that since Pius has AIDS, his father (Ja-Ja's son) probably also has AIDS now also- and she will probably soon lose him now also. When Pius first came to us, he cried constantly. He refused to eat, and got more and more sickly. We didn't know what else to do for him, he was detirating very quickly. We checked him into the hospital here in Jinja. After 5 days in the hospital, being on a drip, and taking medicine- he began to eat again and regain his strength. Eating has now become his favorite past-time. He smiles, laughs, and eats anything you put in front of him. This past week he has just started to crawl.

Gloria’s mother dumped her in a pit-latrine. Holly says people do ridiculously horrible things when they are desperate and don't see a way out. Gloria's mother actually comes to visit and hold Gloria now from time to time.

Trophimus parents had both died of AIDS. He lived with his auntie, who had three kids of her own. His auntie had a stigma about people with AIDS. While her other children went to school and were well fed, Trophimus was kept home from school, not well fed, and not well taken care of. He is now a very happy child, loves to play football, and has the most beautiful smile I think I have ever seen. He shines his smile and softly giggles whenever we score a goal or make a good pass while playing football.

It blows my mind when I think about these children's stories. They have come out of such rough, painful backgrounds. Background where they were abandoned, abused, and unloved. They were made to feel worthless and unwanted. I start to cry as I think about this. These children have become the children I spend every day with. They have become my life. These children bring so much joy into my life. They are beautiful and precious. They have become my life.