Over 1,000 people were in attendance at the Dedication Ceremony for the Orphan Welcome Center Jan 19th. Half of them were kids in our program, all dressed in PHC t-shirts and matching uniforms. The high school boys had long pants, the little boys had uniforms with short pants, and the girls wore jumpers. All the uniforms were made of the same purple material.
In addition to the children, PH&C staff, and GBIM leaders, there was a good number of American guests present. Also in attendance were two C.A.R. government officials: the Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Tourism, and the American Ambassador and his wife.
Four speeches were given: one from Julienne, a gal who specializes in micro-enterprise and has given a seminar to PHC widows. Next came Madame Alexandrine Zokoe, PHC’s Africa-based Director. After that, Barb Wooler spoke, the USA-Based PHC Director, then, Frank Puhl, the GBIM Africa-Area Director. At the last minute I asked Dr. Hibaile Augustine to translate my talk into English for our American guests. This was weird: me speaking in Sango and me being translated by a Central African speaking English! Weird, but I think it was good for our invited guests from America to at least understand one of the speeches.
My speech told children that this building fitted them because it is a building that says “excellence” to everyone who sees it. It fits them because we are working hard and praying so that they each become people who pursue excellence in all their ways. Then I said that the building also represented love, because more than 2000 people gave and worked to build it, because they also believe that these children can become people of excellence. But their hope is not to be in a building made of brick and stones, but in the Lord. So that one day, when they arrive at the center, and they are full of sadness for their loss, or worried, or angry, or whatever their pain might be, they should look up not at this building, but behind the building, to the mountain in front of which it is built, because the mountains are a reminder of the Eternel One. I closed by reading Psalm 121:2-3 “I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord…”
After the speeches, the kids performed some songs and dances. It was really touching to see these kids sing and dance; it brought a tear to my eye. I thought it was just me, but I’ve had two Central Africans and at least that many Americans who said the same thing. The children also did a skit where a group of Fulani (Muslim) orphans came to “Mama Zokoe” (played by a little girl wearing fake glasses) saying they need help, that they came from the savanna, everyone in their family was dead so they had no one to care for them. “Mama Zokoe” asked them how they prayed to God. So they demonstrated how they bow down and rise up and call out to Allah. Madame Zokoe said, “That’s not how you pray to God.” Then she preaches to them. They all get saved, and change their names to Christian names and become part of PHC.” Not exactly politically correct, but TIA (This Is Africa).
Then we proceeded to the end of the program – when the Minister of Social Affairs got up and gave one more speech, and then walked with her delegation and body guard over to the ribbon at the center, and cut the ribbon. Then everyone pushed back into the offices to see things, then worked their way up to the second floor where they were to see the classrooms and then move over to the assembly room where VIPs were to eat.
The whole ceremony was over by 2:00 and we were very pleased by the events of the day. Many thanks to Alexandrine, Ginger, and the team for their organization and hard work in putting it all together.