Best. Day. Ever.

Well. Today I got to experience the long periods of uneventful waiting punctuated by incredible excitement and yelling that can only be described as......a track meet that your child is participating in. Gave me an interesting new perspective, as I always assumed it was my parents one and only wish/commitment/interest to wait and watch me run in the first and last event of every track meet ;). They had the same events I am used to, but the biggest difference was the kids ran barefoot on grass, and sometimes even in dresses. My absolute favorite was an event that was new to me, and that kept us laughing the entirety of its 6 laps. The kids lined up on the start line, leaning forward, waiting for the wood blocks to be clapped together. Then they were off, in a race of very intense, focused, pocket-to-eye speed walking. If you've ever seen children trying to move as fast as they can without running (it often happens on pool decks), it can be quite a funny site. They assume a stiff-legged swagger that is only accentuated by a look of fierce determination and the pumping of arms to move you forward faster. Every once in a while they would break into a gallop or full-on run, but the teachers were all over that and quickly set them straight.

(Eddah and her girlfriends. She was shy and embarrassed when Dad and I were there taking pics. Embarrassed?! Of me?! Is this what parents feel like?! #loveheranyway :)

As some of you know, I have been waffling back and forth on the name for the children's home, and I am happy to say we have officially settled on Jemo House. It's named after a dear friend of mine, Jim "Jemo" Nowak, because I am quite certain I would not be doing this work today if it wasn't for him. He taught me to really see Kenya; to understand its beauty and its suffering. He showed me the how to serve people well, and how to maintain joy despite frustrations and sorrow. I would have given up long ago if it wasn't for him, so in his honor this home will be filled with happy, healthy, deeply loved and laughing children.

The house is now all finished, and I am so pleased with how it looks. Below is the reading corner (comfy chair to come). Anthony and Caroline free-handed both the world map and the map of Kenya, which turned out perfectly. The tree above is on one of the living room walls, and it has all the names of our little family written on the branches.

After we left Maseno we went to my friend Isaac's home, and visited his extended family. They made us and amazing meal, and gave us such generous gifts of traditional Maasai wraps. We walked all over their property and they taught us about all the things they were growing, and the stories of their family. It was fascinating. The little girls did not leave our sides, and picked us bouquet and bouquet of wildflowers. When we came back to the house Sarah didn't come inside, so I eventually went outside to hunt he down. She was sitting in the ground, with a circle of little girls around her, and they were weaving the flowers from her bouquets into her hair. I've seen few things so lovely. When she stood up in that little ring of sweet girls, with shining eyes, she just whispered, "Best. Day. Ever." And I quite agree.

Maasai girls :)

As always, its getting to be time to go back to the US, and it feels like I just got here. Time moves a little too fast for most people's liking, and having what feels like two lives just speeds up that process even more. There are some days when this makes me incredibly weary, and I even find myself wishing for simpler, slower days sometimes. But then there are days like today that remind me how wildly blessed I am, and make me so grateful for these wonderful lives I have gotten to live so far. And for work that feels worth doing. And for family and friends that would travel across the ocean and back to support and help me. Actually..... I would have it no other way.

 

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