Visiting the House that GEMS Built

Through a partnership with Every Orphan’s Hope, GEMS constructed a duplex-style house that has become the home of seven children and their new momma, Florence. In May of 2007 a team from GEMS was at the house to welcome the new family as they moved into their new home. Almost a full year later, the team was there again and was able to watch as the electricity was hooked up for the very first time. That wasn’t the only change that had taken place, though. Florence and the children are proud of their new home and their new family, and they have worked hard to landscape the area and are now growing some of their own food.

Here’s an update on the family…

	At fifteen, Charles is a remarkable leader. His younger brothers and sisters look to him as a role model and Charles handles this position with grace. Charles is ever-appreciative of his ability to attend school, and he is a driven student with a passion for learning. His favorite subject is social studies, and one of Charles’ greatest desires is to finish his education.
	Dixon is roughly fifteen years old. He initially came from a surrounding village and had a lot of adjustments to make, but he continues to grow and adapt to his new home. While Dixon is shy, he was not afraid to express his thankfulness for a new pair of shoes. Dixon is also a dedicated student, and he gives his best in every subject – even the ones he finds challenging.
	Even though he is only ten, Clement is very perceptive and aware of others. He loves to smile and is always ready with a hug. Clement enjoys playing different games and sports that involve balls, and he is always welcomed and encouraged by his older brothers.
	Esther is sweet, shy, and very hardworking. At fourteen, she has many responsibilities within the house and handles them all with ease. Esther helps with the cooking and cleaning as well as caring for the younger children. Esther loves school and she loves GEMS! She is very involved with her club.
	Ida is eleven years old and enjoys playing sports. Out of all the children in the house, she plays tether ball the most aggressively! Ida has a firm sense of fairness and is quick to point out when she sees any sort of injustice among her siblings. Ida is also a strong student and enjoys school.
	While Maya remains the shyest of all the children, her ability to openly express affection has grown and developed immensely, and she is always giggling about something. Maya is nine years old and loves to play games with her brothers and sisters.
	Lisa is six years old, and all of the other children love her – she gets along with everyone! Even as the ‘baby’ of the family, she always wants to be able to participate in the games and sports her siblings play. Lisa is very bright, and she loves to play with dolls.
	Florence is an amazing woman with a remarkable faith. She delegates responsibility to her children in an encouraging and affirming way. Florence values learning, and she strives to empower all the children by continuously encouraging them in their educations. She is also very generous, and uses her love of sewing, knitting, and crocheting to bless others with hand-crafted gifts. Florence sums up her parenting by saying “I am a strict momma, but I love my children!”

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