What People are saying

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 After a many hour drive through the green countryside of South Africa past farms and ranches, small villages and beautiful landscapes, we arrive at the Lesotho border. The lineup of cars waiting to cross the border isn't too long, but long enough to give us a chance to take in the changed scenery. Gone are the green fields and flat terrain, we are now in rolling hill country and small shrub height trees spread out on either side of the highway. In and amongst the trees, dust paths wind their way from the highway and disappear into the low bush. The side of the highway is dusty, the trees are dusty, the road is dusty, the many vendor huts and Vodacom booths that line the highway, one after the other, stretching on for a few hundred meters, are dusty. The security at the border is tight. Everyone needs to get off the bus, walk through multiple security checkpoints, vet the identity of the children and parents traveling with the group, cross the bridge over the Mohokare River to the Lesotho side of the border crossing, more security checks, and then find our bus and reload after wading through a dizzying mix of cars, bicycles, motorized scooters, motorbikes, and pedestrians. The road to BG is not long anymore and on the way we pass by a mix of neighbourhoods with a mix of housing ranging from tiny 10' by 10' flats without internal plumbing to wealthy red brick multistory, tiled roofed homes with more than one BMW parked in the driveway. Many times a makeshift, sheet metal lean-to sits on a dusty lot right next to a fenced-in compound housing a modern, multistory home with green trees, and watered green lawn in the yard. The disparity between poor and wealthy is striking. After what feels like a short, 20 minute drive past these neighbourhoods, past many roadside shacks, past children, teenagers and others selling fruit on the side of the highway and on the median we turn off the main, paved road, onto the bumpy, dirt road that will bring us to the gates of the BG compound. After days of travel, it's good to see the place that will become our home for the next 10 days.

Compared to the dusty road, dusty school yard across the street, and dusty empty lots dotting the neighbourhood, the BG compound stands out as a beacon of life in a dark place. The green roofs match the green grass in the children's outdoor play area and speak to the mission of the orphanage. To bring a new life to children who would otherwise suffer in poverty or simply not survive otherwise. To be a family to children who have no other earthly family. To care for some of the most vulnerable people in the world. To provide them with the necessities of life; food, shelter, love, and community while trying to find family with whom to reunite the children or trying to find them an adoptive family who become their forever family.

Our first day with the children is a day I will never forget. 70+ children ranging in age from zero to 10 years old, each with their own personality and character. Some outgoing, some shy, pretty much all of then energetic, some super smiley, some more serious, some mischievous, some with physical or mental challenges, some very bright and intelligent, some interested in reading books, some interested in leafing through the pages of books as quickly as possible, some interested in our phones and cameras, many wanting their photos taken, nearly all clamouring for our affection and attention. We were sat on, climbed on, hugged, pinched, led around by the hand, asked to play, pick-pocketed, asked to pose for photos, asked to take photos, chased, and slept on. We read to children, pushed children on swings, chatted with them, did crafts with them - imagine paint everywhere, on their hands, on their faces, on each other's shirts -  we fed them, we helped them get ready for school, we helped them learn to take steps, we sang with them, we helped prepare their lunches and dinners, we played games with them, and we had snack with them. Each of us has memories that will last a lifetime.

BG is a very special place. The house moms are very special people.  A lot is required of them and they give a lot to the children. They love them, care for them, and care about them. The rest of the orphanage staff, leadership, and volunteers are very special people as well and take the responsibility of taking care of the over 70 children that they have in their care at any one time very seriously. They love God and they love the children and this shows in the way that they care for the children. One note of caution. If you find yourself at BG, keep close watch of your phone and wallet. If they go missing from your back pocket, you may just find them in the hands of a little, mischievous two year old boy.

John

My heart is with Beautiful Gate. It is impossible to give words to the gratitude, love, and connection that I have to that wonderful place. To the people who have raised my son.

In December 2019, we were matched with a four-year-old boy: Pokane. Thrilled, overjoyed, and desperate to meet him…our adoption was finalized on March 19th, 2020. We planned on all of us going to Lesotho for the month of April - his mama (Michelle, my wife), his brother (our son, Ethan, who is thirteen years old), and me.

But…the South African border was shut on the 15th of March due to COVID 19. And we waited.

And waited. And waited. For seven excruciating months.

Finally, on October 1st, South Africa and Lesotho opened their borders to foreign travellers. On October 2nd, I was on a flight to Johannesburg. I left Michelle and Ethan in Canada and headed to meet our boy. Drove from Johannesburg to Maseru over the Lesotho border. And on the morning of the 5th of October, I entered the doors of Beautiful Gate to meet my son.

Lindiwe and several of her staff sat with me to answer the many many questions that I had. They were patient. Kind. Helpful and loving. Any and all anxiety that I may have had was lifted. This was clearly a beautifully run facility - and these were clearly professionals who cared profoundly for the children they raised.

Then came the moment.

Pokane was walked into the main room. He shrieked in delight at seeing me and raced full throttle into my arms. We spent the next moments exploring each other’s faces and laughing. And…perhaps…Papa shed a few tears of joy. We were instantly in love. Papa and Pokane. In no time, we were running in circles and laughing, already making up silly games.

We spent the next five days in Lesotho, getting to know each other, bonding, playing, and being inseparable. Pokane, was an energetic, curious, intelligent, joyful, full-of-beans, delight of a boy. Healthy.

Travelling in the time of a pandemic is difficult. And yet…it has some advantages. I may have been the only foreign visitor to Lesotho in seven months! Everywhere we went we were greeted with “Lumela!” And at the Trading Post in Roma, where we stayed, we had free run of the picaresque place. The staff became friends and helped Pokane and I develop our distinct new language: Sesothenglish (Sesotho + English).

At the end of our five days, we returned to Beautiful Gate for our goodbye ceremony. We were again greeted as family, and surrounded by smiles. Pokane was all dressed up in his best shirt and sweater and proudly walked me through the grounds. He was especially happy to show me Pula 1 and the bed he had slept in. He hugged and kissed and thanked each of the Mamas, the Nurse, Lindiwe and Peter saying to everyone: “Kea leboha!!!”

At one point, Pokane ran through a door, and before Lindiwe could stop me, I followed…and walked right into a room of young faces all looking up at me. Instantly there were screams and
squeals of joy, and each and every child ran up to me to greet me. I picked one little girl up to say “Lumela!” And suddenly had twenty or thirty little ones all shrieking “N’kuke!!!” (Lift me up!) And so I did. Each and every one. By the end of it, I was lying on the floor surrounded by children, all of us laughing…and my heart bursting through my chest.

One gentle, sweet little boy struck me the most. He has huge kind eyes…deep in intelligence. It was hard to finally leave to head to the ceremony.

The “GoodBye Ceremony” may be intended for Pokane, but it was also a right of passage for all of us. Outside, under the gazebo, we sang, heard the mamas talk, prayed, and lifted Pokane up to God and over to this new chapter in his life. A theme developed in the speeches from the wonderful, selfless, and loving women who raised Pokane, that: (1) he was very special to them; (2) that he’s a rambunctious little guy; and (3) that it looks like he’s been given a perfect match with his Daddy, who is also energetic! I have never in my life laughed so hard through tears.

And I have never felt so blessed, so warm, so comforted and so a part of something rich and whole as I did that day. And I realized a few things: how hard all these people work for these children. And how hard it must be to let them go, even when they know that they are joining their forever families. I also realized that not only have we been blessed with the gift of a son… and we have also inherited a family: Beautiful Gate.

Now we are united: Pokane with his Mama, Papa, and Abuti. And we are bonding beautifully. Our home is filled with laughter, energy, bath times, games, reading, music, dancing, and saying grace in Sesotho at mealtime.

And as I watch my son and his curiosity, his huge heart, his intelligence and voracious desire to learn and explore … with each moment I raise my eyes to God and thank Him for the women who raised him, the care he was given, and for each and every person at Beautiful Gate.

Postscript:  Our relationship to BG isn’t over. It’s just starting:

Profoundly touched by the faces in the windows of the Pula, and all the little voices crying out “pick me up” to me - I have made a pledge to help out in a specific way.

When I think of the diligent and compassionate care that those kids receive, it breaks my heart knowing many won’t be matched with a forever family, and won’t be able to remain at BG.

When Peter described the plans for the “Peka Project”…I knew I was being called to action. Knowing that I could help in some way to aid in building a facility for kids six to eighteen years of age, giving them a home in the countryside where they could grow up loved, safe, and learn the skills that would give them a better adult life, I knew I had to help.

I pledge to do my best to raise funds for the project. As a thank you to BG. And for all those beautiful faces that grew up as Pokane’s Beautiful Gate brothers and sisters.

Help us raise funds by organizing a fundraising event or campaign. We will provide you with all the necessary resources and support.