Rising Star Outreach

A couple of weekends ago, we took a drive 1 1/2 hours south of our home to an orphanage called "Rising Star Outreach". It is managed by several LDS people and Marriott Corporation is a major sponsor. This facility houses 120 children ages 4 to 16. There is also a school for these children. In addition, 40 children from local villages attend the school.

The parents of these children live in a leper village and cannot care for them. Once a month, the parents come to visit and the children spend the day with them and put on a show. We were there on "parent day". We didn't get a lot of pictures of the children because they were busy with their parents and we didn't want to impose. It was remarkable.

We also drove over to the leper village to visit an art school and buy some artwork created by those affected with leprosy. Unfortunately, the people were all resting when we arrived and were not able purchase anything. I didn't take pictures because I felt uncomfortable and didn't want to make a spectacle about the situation. But it was very touching - another perspective added to my list.


Entrance to the hostels at the orphanage. The children were so friendly and came right up to Eric and Paige, introducing themselves and asking what there names were in the little English they know.


One of the rooms - about 20 children per room. Most of them
sleep on the floor.

There are 4 bunk beds per room and the older children

are privileged to sleep there.

The kitchen - preparing for lunch

Checking out some of the equipment in the kitchen

There is not a cafeteria, so everyone eats outside or in their rooms wherever they can find a spot

Leftover breakfast meal

The Playground

A rice paddy - the children help take care of crops and sell

whatever they don't use

The School

A typical school room - keep in mind, no air conditioning

anywhere in the school or hostels

The library

Adding a new wing to the school - very little machinery - mostly manual labor. Where's CAT when you need them? :)

Parents ready to watch the children perform

They have practiced all month on making what they call "pyramids". Everyone clapped and cheered!

On parents day, they get to dress up. On all other days, the children wear uniforms.

Grand Finale

It was such a great day! Eric and Paige didn't want to go at first, but were surprised at how interesting it was. I'm glad they are old enough to understand the situation of these children. There is another orphanage called "Pathways" that we want to visit after spring break.