Preface

It with much love and concern from my heart that I write this book to pass on my emotions and strong feelings about the suffering of orphans. I have faced the same experiences in my life and I dedicate this book to my best friends around the world and the entire public.

Do not dodge the feelings and tears of others. A time may come when you feel the same in your heart. It is hurtful when no one hears your cries. Nothing is more potent than helping someone to have hope and courage in life.

Much love and care I send to you all my friends.

Listen to the cries of others and help them to have hope. Like you, orphans and hopes and dreams of success in the global village.

Hold the hands of those ones who are weak in mind and disabled and the entire world will love as one. This is not an easy thing to believe in a real sense. But anything is possible for someone who has faith.

Yours faithfully
Charles Mugarura

Chapter 1

Who is an orphan? An orphan is a person who has lost one of his biological parents. Most orphans at times have different attitudes towards their lives. Some think that is is not worth living anymore after the death of their parents. It is not easy for them to believe that they can continue living happily.

Most of orphans have deep sorrow and sadness about their lost beloved ones, especially their biological parents or guardians. And the loss of parents and/or guardians affects them mentally and physically might affect their lives. They have to adjust their dreams and hopes in terms of education and their social life.

Death is part of God's plan. Who knows why God makes people die. Life truly is a great gift God gave to man. While you are still alive, prepare yourself for heaven. Change and give your heart to god. Help the needy ones with your resources so that they can enjoy life and have a good life.

Most people think that all orphans are needy. That is not true! Some orphans are rich and others are poor. But most are poor. There are also needy people who are not orphans in places around the world.

Rather than neglecting someone because of their appearance and background, always remember that different people have had different chances in life. Sometimes people surprise us when they do things that we did not think they could do. There are many such surprises in life.

With faith, nothing is impossible. If you have wealth but your neighbour is suffering as you spend your resources (money) in luxurious useless stuff, then your life has no meaning.

Even the young children who are totally needy, skinny because of hunger, diseased because of no care - they too have hopes and dreams of a better life and of finding someone to love them. Remember that if you die, one of them may be one to hold your grandson or daughter in their care.

Share your life with others especially the young or old needy people who have lost the potential to have success in life. If you successful, don’t share your wealth with only the rich or your family. Many other people may need your advice and love. Your good deeds will not be forgotten, even though some people might not think they are worthwhile due to their believes and understandings.

Chapter 2

The rapid increase of orphans in communities is not advantageous as it causes suffering. However, if there was no death then there would not be enough land and food for the fast increasing living population of people in the entire world to survive.
Believe it or not, it is a constant natural problem in the world that can't be stopped unless we control a few of its risks.

No one wants to die. And yet there are people who end other people's lives before they themselves decide. Why do people kill others? Believe me when I say that men are only here for a short time on this planet. If you make someone else suffer, remember that one day, onetime you will pay for it. Also, if your good deeds will be rewarded. No one can tell when he/she will get their karma. But always remember that what you do will come back to you, even before you yourself know.

Some people suffer naturally but that is not the end of life. Since God has everyone’s plan for their time on earth. People believe that God created man to save him. How? Everyone serves God in a different way, whether or not they understand. No one understands the real reasons why God calls people to die and takes their souls back to heaven.

But why do others live longer and more abundantly than others? Such blessings does God offer to his people! No one can discover these reasons before they reach the end of life. Believe always that miracles can happen, but they are not easy for man to discover.

Your chances in life are your chances to prepare for a future life due to your deeds. But some people will not be happy as you reach riper fruit. They have developed jealousy, which is the key to failure among people. Always be happy with the success of others, not jealous.

God offers equality to each in the entire world, but always remember that other than the gift of life, the rest comes of your deeds in the world: the way you serve Him.
Your faith in One whom you believe created you is one of your blessings in life.
Why do people in the world have different cultures and languages? The differences, persisting from generation to generation, are such a curse. It will continue because people enjoy and believe in what they are!

Some people act evilly towards each other because of their differences, such as differences in tribes, culture, beliefs, and colour. But it is also ignorance.
No wise man can think of harming another. Such is the power of love and spirit for others. The power of love and care among true friends makes people wish good things for each other.

Nothing brings peach and love like respecting each other and caring for each other. Always treat your servant, step-child as your biological child. Believe that a time will come when your love will be repaid, even if not in your lifetime.
Some people judge others by their physical appearance. Do not judge a book by its cover. Many people do not take enough time to think of the effect of their words and actions. I will tell you the truth and will judge your actions truthfully, meaning that if they are good I will appreciate you. If they are wrong, I will tell you to change. Always be keen and good listeners to your friends.

God’s love for his children means he has given each one different gifts. Never try to be 100% the same as your brother, sister, mother or father. Believe in yourself and your ability to be successful without harming others. Light the way for others by holding their hands. How? By advising them, donating to the needy and counselling.
Always try to understand how other people feel. Remember, don’t think of yourself as the best. You did not create yourself. Try not to mind people who put you down or call you a fool because you speak your mind. The capacity to act independently and think independently is welcome. Thank those who give you advice, but always remember in the end to decide for yourself. Make decisions wisely. If you hurt someone, and make them suffer and cry, remember that you will pay for those tears in the same measure as they have suffered.

If you wash away someone’s tears, blessings will come upon you. Give not so that others may see, but from your heart and with real, natural love for others.
Your good deeds will stand for you in your absence, giving you glory in eternal life. Your spirit will attach to God’s heart and be blessed and loved. The dead remember us though their voices cannot be heard as they have lost their physical bodies and abilitiees of speaking. “I will not give up until I receive a call from heaven that my purpose is accomplished and I will not lose hope”.
Some people make small issues complicated and they become confused. No matter how big the problem is, try your level best to make it simple. Try to get advice before you make any decisions.

People who make decisions without consulting often regret the actions they have taken. Always be calm and kind. Control the problem – don’t let it control you.
I see that being an orphan is a big problem but I make it simple by making good friends in my life and they are good because they treat me as their biological brother. Do you believe that your friend can be closer to you than biological sisters or brothers?

Friends are not true friends if they only want to be with you in times of happiness but leave you lonely in times of danger. Danger is a constant and cannot be avoided since different people have different natures and behaviours and actions.

Hope for orphans
There are billions of orphans in the world. If you dig deep into the life any one of them you will see that there is a reason why they are an orphan.

Many people in the world who are wealthy, healthy and happy wonder why they feel bad when other people reach their status. This is because their hearts are wrongly taken up with money and wealth. They forget others and their friends.

Money has led many people to go crazy, causing unecessary problems such as disease, and superstition. People become blind to the consequences of their actions.
People put themselves in danger when they search for wealth alone. It has led to the suffering and living in scandal for a lot of people around the globe

Chapter 3: Hope for an orphan

It was very dark that night. We were all gathered around the fire outside. Mom was serving tea with leftovers from lunch and was telling a story of long ago. Everyone was quiet and interested in the story.

But before she could go any further, my young brother Aaron asked a shocking question. "Dad, why do diseases like AIDS spread so fast now when it was not like that long ago?".

Everyone's attention shifted to Dad who looked at Aaron in silence for a long time. Dad then said "OK, off to sleep everyone. That's it for today." He looked at me. "You too Salome, you must be up in time for school tomorrow. You are always running late".

He stood up and went inside the hut and everyone followed. Inside, it was dark, with only one lamp on. Richard, the older brother that Aaron follows around all the time asked for a lamp from Mom so he could arrange his rugs for sleeping.

Mom was coughing severley. While she coughed often, it became worse near the lamp. Mom told Richard to wait as she was also arranging her bed and dad's. Dad was sitting on the stool nearby. Mom eventually gave Richard the lamp. Aaron and Richard said goodnight to Mom and Dad, and went to sleep.

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I woke up and walked to the corner where Mom and Dad slept. To my surprise, I couldn't see either of them. I went to the kitchen but saw that no smoke was there. I was confused. Where were Mom and Dad?

I went to get my two brothers up. Aaron swept the compound and Richard went to fetch water from the wwell. I collected firewood from the nearby forest. We then sat down to enjoy fruit collected by Richard and ate cooked cassava left over from tea for breakfast.

I was glad that Aaron did not ask me about Mom and Dad, but after breakfast we were all glum and felt weak from lack of food. We sat around not speaking, just staring at each other.

At around 6pm, Richard and Aaaron went out into the neighbourhood to play with other children. I cooked lunch. Dad came home and seemed in a rush. Before I could ask him where Mom was he told me to put the cleanest mat we had in the house. I turned to see a group of people approaching the house crying loudly. I knew something was wrong and though immediately of Mom, of her constant coughing, of how thin and frail she had been, of her endless visits to the hospital. "She's died", I though to myself.

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I stood beside the hut for a long time, thinking. Then I rushed to the neighbourhood, calling Richard and Aaron.

Aaron was not playing. He was sitting by himself, and looked like he was thinking hard. He took a long time to respond to me. He asked me "Where is Mom and Dad. Why haven't we seen them since last night?"

Before I could answer, a neighbour rushed up and blurted it out to Aaron! "Aaron, you are only six years old, but now you must be a man. Your mother has died. I have been at the dispensary with your Dad since 2am. The doctor really tried to save her but perhaps it was just her time. She fought hard and said that she did not want to leave her children to suffer. So stand up, and go and help your dad with burial arrangements. Maybe when he gets over this he will tell you everything."

By the time the neighbour had finished, a crowd had gathered, and we were all crying. Except for Richard. He had gone home to see what was taking place. Uncle Sam, another neighbour, told us to stop crying and led the way home.

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The burial took place on that same day in the evening. After the burial, I looked at Dad. It seemed to me that he too was becoming sick. Uncle Sam went with him to the dispensary for a check up.

A week later, Dad went to to get the results. He was HIV positive.

That evening we gathered around the fire. We told some jokes. Aaron laughed a little, but not with the real laughter he used to have when Mom was alive.

Dad lost his job and had to try to feed us from our small piece of land around the house.

Richard was forced to leave school because Dad couldn't afford the fees. Eventually Aaron and I also had to quit school and work with Dad in the field.

Eventually, Richard spent extended periods of time away from home.

Dad grew sicker and sicker, and became very weak. He developed the same cough that Mom used to have.

Uncle Sam and his family stopped visiting and when Aaron went to visit them Uncle Sam's children chased him away, telling him that we were not allowed to visit any more because we were all HIV positive.

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One evening we were around the fire and Dad began to tell a story about Mr Hare and Mr Hyena. "They began their friendship", he said, "on great terms. But eventually they fought and became worst enemies". After this story we were all quiet for a long time.

Dad said "My children, you must understand that even though Richard is not around any more he is looking for work and maybe one day he will return and we will be a family again.".

Before he could continue, Aaron asked him "Dad, why are you telling this to us?". Dad ignored him and continued. "Love one another", Dad said. "And respect your elders Aaron. I am very weak and cannot look after your properly any more but it is important to me that you respect each other."

I knew what was coming next, and I did not want to hear it, so I said "Dad, you must be very tired. Let's all go to bed and I will bring you a nice hot cup of tea to help you sleep." I thought this would make him stop, but he kept going. "Try to keep up hope because your situation will soon change. Remember, that God said that he never promised day without night, laughter without tears, and sorrow without happiness. I pray that you will have a happy life."

As Dad was speaking, Aaron began to cry. Dad got up and went into the hut. We didn't speak much. Dad had his tea and went to sleep.

In the middle of the night Dad woke up, calling my name in a weak voice. I was up in a flash, rushing to him . He was very hot so I soaked a cloth in cold water and wiped his face, hands and legs. He said, "My daughter, I do not want to disturb Aaron but I would like you to know that I love you so much and I did not intend for this to happen. I am going to die. Take care of your brothers, be honest. There is no more I can do for you, but I want you to always pray for me. I am the one who caused all this pain and suffering. I had an affair with another women while I was with your mother. I did not know she had AIDS. I only discovered when you Mom started getting sick, and then I heard rumours that the woman was sick with AIDS too. I told your mother and she was angry but I ask the same thing of you as I asked of your mother: forgive me. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me."

I was crying very hard by the time he stopped talking. He began to breathe heavily and deeply. He asked me to leave him alone, but I could not bring myself to leave his side. He died that night with me beside him.

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In the morning, neighbours and relatives gathered for the burial. The priest said last workds and Dad was buried. It seemed to me that the look on Dad's face as he was buried was peaceful.

Home was no longer home for Aaron and I, with Mum, Dad and Richard gone. Dad's relatives said that we had to leave the land after 5 months and told us that we should go and make our way in the world on our own!

Our uncle came to the house a few months after Dad had died. An old man was with him who looked like he was very wealthy. Our uncle told me that I had to marry this old man. I told my uncle that I would not, that I could not. My uncle was furious. He slapped me and told me that I did not know how much money he would lose if I refused!

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One day I came in from the field very tired to find Aaron with a group of people. They greeted me and told me they had some good news. I apologised to them for having no food or drink in the house. They looked at me in pity and gave me money from their own pockets, telling me it was all they had.

These people told Aaron and I to join a club such as 'Orphan units' where we could learn how to make art and crafts. We became hopeful, wondering if we could still live a good life. We joined this club with the help of these people.

We thanked God that these people had come into our lives, saving us from the neglect and cruelty of our relatives. We marvelled at God's blessing and the nature of his plans.

From working with the club, Aaron and I were able to purchase the necessities of life: rice, sugar and so on.

Eventually we met some of the sponsors of the club, who live overseas in the West. One of them, a young lady from England, became a good friend. She visited our village and aksed to see the place where Aaron and I lived.

I asked Aaron to clean the house and prepare some food for our guest. When she arrived, she was surprised to find that we were living alone without parents. We told her how our Mom and Dad had died of AIDS. I struggled with my grief as I told her.

As we told our story to her, she cried. She told us that it was time for us to raise our heads from out of the deep waters of sorrow and pain.

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A month or so later, the club found Richard and brought him home. He was suprised to see us alive and well, and told us that he thought we might have died from starvation.

The lady who visited Aaron and I became our sponsor. We returned to school and became an important part of her family's life.

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Although this story is fictional, it is the story of many children orphaned by AIDS. In particular, the cruelty and neglect of relatives and guardians can be shocking.

How is it that so many Ugandan children become orphans? It is because of these circumstances in the story.

But I have told this story because I do not want Ugandan orphans to give up hope. Many don't believe they will survive and prosper but I say to them that there are people out there who care and who can help. It is possible for orphans to make something of their lives. And to those of you who have not heard these kinds of tragic stories before, I urge you to think of helping others.

Chapter 4: Letter to all Ugandan parents

Dear Father and Mother, guardians and relatives.

We know that in your lives you meet many hardships, and especially in marriages. But we ask you to step back when you begin to feel that you are annoyed or angry with one another. Do not harbour resentment and grudges. Do not become jealous of each other. Before you think of divorcing, think of your children, of the young generations and what you are throwing us into.

Us children need you and love you. Many people in our lives do not care for us, but we know that you do, which is why we need you.

Love
the children of Uganda

Chapter 5: What causes disease?

Disease is often spread by bad habits and by not following healthy living practices.

Some people catch disease because they are careless and ignorant. Many habits cause poor health.

Just as motor cars cannot run without petrol, our bodies cannot go without food or water. If a person does not eat properly, then he or she is more likely to become sick and die.

Our food should be chosen not only to satisfy hunger and allow us to work for a living, but also to build healthy bodies and help us to study hard.

If a growing child lacks protein, they will be stunted in their development. Kwashiorkor is a disease that comes with lack of protein and it affects mental health and other body functions. A protein-rich diet is essential for healthy growing bodies.

Get to know how your body works and how it reacts to nature and to the foods you eat. Avoid the risk of disease from malnutrition.

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Chapter 6: Parents unite

Mom was standing on the stairway that led to our room, calling us for supper. " Viany, Sarah, come to tea. Your Dad is already here".

I closed the book I was reading and Viany put her pen down on her homework book. We both hurried down the stairs to the dining room.

Mom had set the table and Viany helped her get tea. We all sat down.

There was a silent moment. Dad was looking at Viany and I. "Sarah and Viany", he said, "Have you had a fight?". Mom, who never usually noticed our moods, looked up at us too.

After what seemed like a long time, Viany responded. "Mom, I would love to have my own room. Why can't I? We have lots of spare rooms in this house".

Dad said "Viany, what is the problem with sleeping in the room we gave you and your sister?"

Viany said "Dad, I'm fed up with living with Sarah. She doesn't make her bed. She doesn't clean the room. She leaves all her things on the floor".

Mom looked at me, surprised. "Sarah, is this true?". I looked at the ground. "Maybe". I said.

Mom said, "OK Sarah, you will have the visitor's room. I will get it ready. But, you can only keep it if you look after it, and if you go to school on time and keep your room clean, OK?"

"OK", I said. "And Viany", I said, looking at her. "I'm sorry for everything. I hope you can forgive me."

"Sarah", Viany said. "I have forgiven you already. I hope we stay good friends.

Mom said "Thank you girls for sorting this out. I am grateful to your help. We are a good team".

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To the parents of Uganda, I say: It is possible to work together with children to sort out family problems. Do not think that you must do everything alone. Families should work together as a team.

Parents should think about how to equip children with good life skills, so that they can become strong and wise in life. The reward will be good family relationships and love, and the care of their children in old age.

This applies to guardians too. Just because you are looking after children who are not your biological children does not mean you should not love and care for them well, and with respect.