Talofa and South Pacific greetings to all

I come here disturbed and sadden with heavy thoughts.

Working in youth ministry for practically half of my life I thought I would try something different - more of an extension of that ministry. So I took up a job as a babysitter at a home for troubled youth - one day a week, 8 hrs - sweet, don't really need the money but I thought to myself I've got some skills why not use it - so I took up the job. I have dealt with so many youth but never so much as troubled youth, youth that have been abused - mentally and physically, youth that have come from broken homes, youth that left home becos they have discovered they are adopted, youth that have fallen in with gangs, substance and alcohol abuse, youth that have been rejected by their parents and the list goes on and on.

In this house they call 'family home', the caregiver - a wonderful but firm social worker, does her best to reassure the kids that they are needed, that they are loved and that they are somebody. Many have succeeded and moved on, some have been bput into family homes, some have returned to their families and others sometimes just don't want it and return to a life of crime.

In the home we have a five year old resident, a native, smart child, vibrant and active as any five year old - sadly exposed to such horrific acts of physical and mental abuse from a deraged step father and