We decided that Muso, who was wearing two different shoes, should get first crack at the loot. The poor thing didn't know where to start - we had all the shoes lined up haphazardly, and he went right for the black and red 'sport' shoes (sneakers). They didn't fit, so we helped him pick out three different pair. He was ecstatic, and when I told him he needed to give me his old pair so that I could burn them, he laughed and ran out the door with his new gifts. We did this for the next hour, calling the children into the office, one by one, so that they could pick which ones they wanted: crocs, heels, 'opens' (sandals) sports shoes or slippers (flip flops), no one discriminated. Every shoe found a grateful home. It was amazing, really. The children glowed, each of them. Peresia, 17, had three pair and didn't know what to do with them. He sat there, openly contemplating which pair he would wear first, smiling and handling the shoes as if they were glass. Kanai said he would sleep with his new shoes. To see these children react with the level of gratitude they did, bought tears to our eyes. There was no fighting, no squabbling, nothing but appreciation. For those children still not back at the home, they seemed to be given priority. Margaret selected shoes for herself, only after she had picked them for Grace and Sylvia, who will return tomorrow. Moreen picked 'opens' for herself after taking a pair for Anne. As for the little ones, Cary and I really had to laugh.. actually, I was laughing and crying at the same time. They were practically hyperventilating as they tried on their selections. That they could each have two or three pair was nothing short of a miracle. Kanini, 7, squealed with delight at his shoes which lit up. I'll never forget this moment.
We spent much of the afternoon in the office with the older children and David. I was busy separating different gifts, while Cary gave all the older boys and girls fabulous watches she had purchased somewhere on line, via China. It didn't escape the children that products from China don't seem to last too long, which made me roar. As Peresia said, 'we can't get these Chinese things in Kenya, they all go to America". You can't pull anything over these kids - from 6 years old up. Some of the best times on these trips are spent in the office with the older children. It's really the only time we get without distraction, so we seize the moments as they come.
Kanai, Peresia and Cary with their watches:
After handing out watches, Cary gave the three smallest boys the onesies (sp) we bought before Christmas ~
Papa, Mturi and Jer:
Margaret, with her gift from her pen pal Brenna:
The best moment of the day came when Lucy and Richard arrived home. I ran to greet them both, but hugged Lucy closely for a long time. When she finally looked up, she exclaimed: even Caaaady?? (aka Cary) She had just caught a glimpse of Cary and had no idea she would be here. How sweet it was.
Lala Salama from Kenya! Tuanone baadaye ~
Simmie and Njoki
No comments:
Post a Comment