I have been in Kenya for a week and a half now. As usual I am struck by how different things
become familiar so quickly. Like solar
lanterns instead of electric bulbs.
Bathing from a bucket in place of a shower. Ugali-eaten with your hands-with every meal. But other things feel remarkably foreign;
most notably the feeling of running this organization without Lynet. It has been a slightly discombobulating week,
happy and sad, bittersweet and lonely, yet never having a minute to myself (an
occupational hazard when you stay with 16 children).
But it has been wonderful staying here at the house with them
instead of my usual guest house down the road.
I get to see what dinner and evenings are like. I get to participate in nighttime prayers and songs. I’ve had more time to learn
more deeply their unique little personalities and quirks.
I am teaching Sellah to sew and she’s loving it. Her first endeavor produced a little lopsided
purse and she was delighted. Colian has absolutely no interest in sewing,
but cannot be dragged away from a craft project. Arnold and Brian have been teaching me
Kiswahili in the evenings and like to pop around corners randomly during the
day and ask me the meaning of words and phrases. Teddy and Easton, my almost-grown boys, have
been accompanying me on errands to Kisumu and Luanda so I don't have to travel around alone. They are just as stir crazy as the kids back
in US, waiting for schools to open again. Naomi can really dance, and sings to herself when she thinks no one is paying attention.
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| Sellah shows off her sewing creation |
For only the second time in my life, I got to spend my birthday in Kenya. It was a lovely day and the kids gave me a pedicure on the front steps. Bright blue with sparkles was the color that best suited me, they said. We had cookies and sweets as an after dinner treat to celebrate and my walls are COVERED in the Happy Birthday art they all drew. It was a petty darn good day to mark another passing year of life.
A sampling of the Happy Birthday art 
Front porch pedicure
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| A birthday bouquet from my big boys :) |
My favorite part of the day though, was when I gave them their first yearbook. I just started making yearbooks a few months ago when I realized the first pics I had of my kiddos were already from 10 years ago. And just like any children, they love seeing pictures of themselves, especially from a time they don't remember well. I used God's gift that is Snapfish to make the book and gave them the 2010 edition on my birthday. Their reaction was epic. They crowded around it, heads pressed together so tightly there was no way sufficient light or air could enter, and howled with laughter as they pointed to the baby versions of themselves. When they finished they turned the book over and immediately started again, over and over and over. This went on for over an hour. It was delightful to watch. Even now, two weeks later, I will see one of them pick it up and slowly turn through each page. It was my joy to watch them.
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| The 8th viewing of the 2010 yearbook |
Much love,
Jessie
