Kenya bound

Once again, I am heading east towards the land I love, towards Africa.  I have some odd superstition ( for lack of a better word) about these trips.  I do not allow myself to think about the reality of returning to my children until I am in the air.   This way, nothing can come between us.  I am finally airborne.

This trip is going to be very, very difficult.  We are on the cusp here.  The new rescue center is complete.  The bathrooms are complete.  The kitchen was finished this week.  Tony has been a super star.  He has managed the construction like a champ. We are ready to register the home and move the children.  The guardians I have met and now know are calling Tony regularly: when is the center going to be ready?  Things are moving in the right direction.

The problem?  Yes, you guessed it: Agnes.  Last week, I received a letter from the "Board" of Nagolie.  I have officially been banned from the home.  Banned from the children.  This letter I received was sent by the chairman, Nganga.  He signed it, along with Agnes, her cousin Stanley and Magdalena, the teacher from Ereteti.  Magdalena is the one who never fails to greet me when I arrive to pick the children up at Ereteti, my first day in Kenya.  Magdalena is the first one who tells me she knows I am in Kenya, because the children are so happy.  "They carry themselves with pride and happiness", she says. This is the Magdalena who signed a letter, banning me from seeing the children.  Banning me from giving the children what they need: love, attention, food, clothing, shoes...everything.  Most of all: hope, laughter and mutual joy.  She knows full well that I am the lifeline to these children.

The problem here is complex.  Multi-problematic, if you will.  To start with, there are 11 members of the Board.  I can pretty much guarantee that the other 7 have no clue what has just happened.  Further, I secured a contract from this very board in January 2012, which gives me the right to enter the property at my leisure.  It gives me the right to direct funds where I chose.  It gives me the right to bring supplies to the children in the manner I want, at the time of my choosing.  I knew a year ago how necessary it was to secure this contract, which is why I fought tooth and nail for it.  I have always known that Agnes would attempt to throw me out of the home, because of my refusal to comply with her corruption, her bribes and lies.  I have refused to pass one shilling though her fingers.  Not one in 5 years.  This is the real issue in her mind.  In short, I absolutely knew this day was coming.  I also predicted that once she found out WatotoWorld was building a new rescue center?  She would want the very children she threw out of the home back in December.  She threw them out, leaving them to their own devices, forcing them back into the abusive situations they were originally rescued from.  She threw them out three times, not once.  Now? They are her children.  She wants them. She only wants them so that I may not have them.  

None of this sits with me.  Not at all.   I am prepared to fight for these children as if my life depended  on it.  Because, quite frankly?  It does.   Agnes is at war with me.  My war is to protect the children.  Which battle is more important? I have lost battles, but I have won them, too;  I can say with a  relative measure of confidence:  I will win this war.   It won't be easy, and it won't happen right away.  In fact, my prediction is: everything will fall into place somewhere around 5:00pm on Sunday, May 5.  Day of departure.  It's the Kenyan way, after all.

I do not minimize the difficulties that lie ahead on Friday morning.  In fact, I am not planning on seeing the children right away, as much as this pains me.  In my heart, I already know they understand what I am doing.  They KNOW I am fighting for them, fighting for their rights and their futures.  They proved this in February.  Emmanuel's words still resonate:  "Auntie Simmie, it is time for you to get what you have been fighting for, for the past five years."   Yes, Emmanuel, you are right.  

Agnes stole all the children's phones.  WatotoWorld did not provide these phones.  I did.  I bought them for 6 children, for their safety, their well being and as a tool to communicate with Cary and me, should they need to do so.  These phones belong to the children, not to Agnes.  They are not her personal property.  She has violated the law with this theft and I intend to pursue it. 

I am scheduled to meet with the DO on Friday morning - after a few hours of sleep, if at all. I am counting on Evelyne to assist. After all, Agnes is on record for violation of some 30 codes, operating an unregistered rescue center and for admitting that she "doesn't want the children" anymore.  The letter I received from the board last week grossly violates my contract.  If there is any humor to be found in this situation, it lies in the glaring contradictions of the two documents.  I will contact my attorney upon arrival;  I also have the protection of a body guard now.  Cary will be joining me on April 23. This is as much for our protection as it is for effect.  Jonathan will be with us everyday, from sun up to sunset.

WatotoWorld has built a new Rescue Center.  This is labor of love.  A necessity.  Our children deserve and require the services and love they will receive from this moment forward.  I intend to see that they are moved with the least amount of chaos possible.  We have guardians ready to sign over most of the children, but still need the remainder... The objective is to have Evelyne shut the home down.  Should this happen? Transition will be seamless.  If not, we take the long route.  The harder route.  I am prepared for the worst. And I will not give up. Ever.

We are almost there.  I can taste it.  My children know it, too.  We are about to move into the very place I have fought for: a home of peace, and love.  A home where we can finally  provide the children with the services they are entitled to; a home void of fear.  A home that offers a self sustaining environment,  one rich with education, structure,  opportunity and love.  Lots of love.  So much promise...

Asante Sana kwa msaada na kukaa nami kwa safari hii ~

With love,

Simmie