The four children that joined us yesterday are just too sweet.  Four year old Nompilo came into my office for a visit in the afternoon.  She can't speak a word of English and my Ndebele is very limited but we just chatted away anyway.  It didn't seem to be too important that we understood each other.  She is a lovely happy little girl.  There is no doubt that these children have been well loved.  Their father phoned Fleur last night to see how they were doing.  He must be really missing his kids.  The three old is called Thandi (which means "love").  She is also very sweet but is shyer than her older sister.  The twins are a boy and a girl.  The boy is called Sipho and the girl is called Siboninkosi.   Unfortunately their father is not well which means the children could be with us for a long time.  Whilst we can give them all the love and care they need it is never the same as being with your family.

Siboninkosi, Nompilo, Thandi, and Sipho

Sera is back with us.  The family that took her had second thoughts and returned her for a weekend.  However they decided after that, that they did indeed want her.  I was furious and refused to give her back to them.  I feel that if they have had second thoughts in the past they could have them again.  Fortunately I had social welfare's support on my decision.  I am still very upset.  This has never happened before and we must be more diligent to make sure it never happens again.  Sera is a little girl that seems to adjust well to whatever situation she is in but that is beside the point.  It has to be confusing for her!!  My heart aches for her.

It's been sometime since I last wrote on my blog.  Over a week in fact!!  Where have the days gone?

This afternoon four children from the same family joined us.  There are 5 month old twins, and three and four year old girls.  Their mother died about a month ago and their elderly father is unemployed and unable to care for the children.  All the children look healthy and well looked after.  There is also a five year old boy but I believe he is staying with his maternal grandparents.  I can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be for the father of these children to have to hand them over, particularly after losing his wife so recently.

Little Lisa whose photo I posted recently is doing much better.  She was a very unhappy little girl for a long time but seems to have come to terms with the fact that she has to stay with us until she well.  Now she is smiling and much happier.

We were supposed to fast as an organisation last week but so many of my staff, including myself ,were hit hard by a terrible flu that has been going around Bulawayo so we decided to delay the fast until this week hoping that everyone would be feeling much better. If anyone would like to join us in our fast for the Hotel Rio please feel free to do so.