Right after returning from our last visit my sister Margrit took on the sponsorship for Asjath. Roy helped his Mother to open an account in her name. 

It is very important for us that the money goes directly into the hands of the respective families and since the Bank CIC covers the transfer fees each and every dime arrives in Sri Lanka.  Our thanks go to Margrit and the Bank CIC.

Asjath had also changed a lot.  He was not breathing heavily anymore and was in a much better general state of health.  The money enables his Mother to buy his medicine regularly and she also can replace the asthma pump every quarter year, as required.

We got a very warm welcome from the boy and he started right away to open his present. He took the toy car out of the box, handed it to a girl his size and played with the box. J

His Mother told us that the girl was Asjath’s cousin and they attended the same kindergarten.  She takes care of him in a heartwarming way and they spend most of the time together.  Sadly, his Mother has to keep Asjath home at the slightest sign of an infection.

 After a while Asjath stretched his hand out for the car and the girl gave it to him willingly. Within no time he figured out how to make the car roll on its own by pulling it back and when he ran after it, he accidentally knocked Roy`s glasses case from the table.  The boy looked back and forth, from the case on the floor to the car in the corner, repeatedly.  Finally, he went for the case and after several corrections it was back on the table in the exact same position as before!  After that, he went for his car.

At about the same time I spotted in the opposite corner of the room a spider the size of the palm of a hand – a very big hand, with a body the size of a flattened ping pong ball.  My whispered, “Is this a plastic toy?” made Roy look in that direction and he calmly shook his head, no!  Thank heaven the spider did not move during our stay!

Asjath can’t speak but he makes his way around with sounds and gestures and he is such an amiable little boy.  His Mother takes him to a speech therapist at the local hospital and it would be great if this would improve his situation.

Opposite to our first visit, the garden in front of the house (the size of a bath towel) was full of children within minutes of our arrival.  The reason was that we had visited Asjath during school hours last year!  We felt so miserable sitting there and not having anything for those children watching with big eyes as Asjath unwrapped his presents.  Michel and Roy went out and returned to the enthusiasm of the children with two bags full of sweets.

In this cramped living space it won’t be possible to visit Asjath unrecognized and we will bring some small things for the other children in the future.  But Asjath has to cope with the fact of being a special child;  so the other children will have to cope with the fact that he will get our special attention.