It all started back in 1990. Some friend
had been talking to us about Foster Parents Plan and Rik decided to join this organisation
by becoming a member as well: R.D. Muddyanselage, a boy of almost 12 became our new
Foster child. Together with some 5000 other Foster children he was living in the remote
mountains around the provincial town Badulla in the south-west.
That year in late October we made our maiden-trip to the far and strange country. It was
the first time we headed out east; all our travels so far had only been south or
westbound; so we were quite astonished during our first days here.
It turned out to be the most wonderful experience we had had so far and we lost our
hearts, probably forever.
As we came back we decided to take one more Foster child, convinced that the people there
were doing a really good job with the money we were providing. Premadasa was already 15,
his former Foster Parents had decided to stop their support.
We have been visiting them and all our other friends annually since and have had the
pleasure to see them grow into healthy young men. Both of them are now no longer with Plan
International, as they have passed the age limit of 18, but when we go we provide their
parents with financial help directly.
