This past week, having completed my second three week period in Malawi, I returned to Kenya.  I am actually on my way (over two weeks) back to the USA to the head office and to regroup before returning to consult and guide a new project through infancy in Malawi (more on that later). On my long return trip, over the course of two weeks, I was to go to Kijabe and the CURE hospital there for one week and then bus to Uganda and Mbale’s CURE hospital for my final few days there prior to flying out of Entebbe, Uganda.  While in Kijabe, I organised with Pastor Amandui, my colleague there in collecting stories, to go and see a child named David.  We had visited him once before at the New Hope Children’s Center, an orphanage in Limuru, about 13 miles from Kijabe.  He was taken in there along with his mother after some serious bouts of violence across Kenya (following the elections in 2008) that  left him without a father and two brothers.

When I met David, his mother was not there, and so we heard a rough generalisation of what happened to him from one of the social workers there.  We wanted to get the full story and talk to the mother, so our intention was to return this time around.

When I arrived in Kijabe, I was informed that David’s mother had died of tuberculosis about a month ago.  His only remaining family member, a 23-year old brother named Tito, came to the orphanage immediately so they could be together during this very difficult time.

After the elections, there was much rioting and anger.  David and his family were trapped along with many others inside a church building.  The building was set on fire, and almost all were killed.  David somehow escaped from the building when someone got him through a window.  His mother also managed to get out, although both were severely burned, and they were able to reconnect in the hospital afterwards.  David and his mother went to Limuru looking for work, and there they were taken in at the children’s home.

David underwent treatment at CURE for very serious burns he sustained on his left leg, and he is awaiting the bolts and casting to be fully removed in just two weeks from now.  His brother, Tito, who lost one eye when he was very young  playing with some dangerous toys, is taking care of him and watching over him at New Hope as they work out what to do now.   Tito was not in the area when the attack happened to his family, and all three surviving family members were devastated to lose two boys and the father of the family.

In talking to David now, a young boy of about 11 who has seen far more sadness in his life than any child should, he smiles and plays along with the other children and keeps up as much as he is able.  He is very much looking forward to removing the splint on his leg so that he can get back to running and playing football.  He is also quite excited to go back to school and really enjoys learning English.

As we were leaving David prayed for the day and thanked God for our time together.  Then he thanked us for coming, and we got talking about his age.  Tito told us that they do not know when David’s actual birthday is.  We collectively decided it is very important for him to have a birthday to call his own, so naturally we suggested months that held our own birthdays respectively.  He paused for a moment and then looked directly at me and said, “I want to share your birthday.”

This being my second time to go and see David, I was very happy to hear that he was getting better, but my heart was hurt that his mother passed away in the midst of this already difficult situation.  He was very pleased to see us when we returned to see him a few days ago, and I was very touched that he wanted to share a birthday with me.

David will now be celebrating turning 12 years old on the 22 of November.  Please remember to pray for David as he begins to walk again and moves forward with his life.