HOME OF HOPE ORPHANS ON SAFARI 2010

          Thirty-one Home of Hope orphans enjoyed an African experience in early August 2010 they will never forget.  Accompanied by their caregivers, administrators, and the August Nyadire Connection Mission Team, the children piled on to the Nyadire High School bus, their mattresses strapped atop the bus and luggage loaded in the rear.  For many of the children, ages 6 – 16, this was their first time away from Nyadire and the Orphanage and for most, their first vacation. Most of them sat three to a seat, when they were not standing and staring at the landscape as they passed from the mission to Harare, the capitol, and then on to Imire Game Park.

          Although the weather was unseasonably cold, Imire  offered special programs for the children – treks on foot to learn how to track animals and conservation and environmental practices.  To be able to see live animals they had only seen pictures of were possible by taking game rides in the flat beds of pick up trucks to view the animals, 600 of whom live within the park. The animals they saw included lions, hyenas, impala, baboons, zebras, giraffes, jackals, elephants, crocodiles, hippo, and rhino, maybe with a few snakes and creepy crawlies thrown in.  The Park has a successful black rhino breeding program focused on returning rhinos back into the wild successfully.  Three adults and four young rhinos now live at Imire, are hand fed and penned at night.

          Of course, the elephant rides were a highlight for the children and the adults as well.  Even Sister Rut, a 75 year old  icon in Nyadire, and one of the founders of the orphanage, climbed aboard an elephant, savoring her view from the top.  When a caregiver alerted the guide that a child’s shoe had fallen to the ground, it was just moments before the elephant scooped it up in its trunk and swung it around to its owner.

          The caregivers tried to help clean up after meals, but were quickly told they were guests and were treated to special treatment also.

          In a recent email from Alina Nyabote, assistant to the administrator to the Home of Hope to Kathy Surma, commented,  “My heart is singing because I see you on an elephant.”  It is not hard to imagine how many hearts are still singing thinking about this special experience.  Many thanks to all those who made this special trip possible.