One Big Happy Family

It's quite a wonderful thing when management operates on the same page as I do.  Our askari (watchman) failed to wake up one night when two men were heard roaming the property around us, at midnight.  When I was told this, I said to Tony: "Fire him.  There are no second chances when it comes to security."  The woman who washes clothes and tends to the little ones during the night has been continually slacking off.  "Tony, she needs to go.  Everyone pulls equal weight around here."  I also expressed to Tony and Pauline that I do not want anyone within a 50km radius to WWC, hired.  They must be strangers to this area.  While our community is vast in size, everyone knows everyone else and their business; this is where trouble can begin.  I found myself also nixing anyone from one particular tribe.  This may seem harsh, but the reality of the situation is: it is imperative.  

Eunice replaced Demarais today.  She does all the clothes washing, dishwashing and tends to the smallest children in the middle of the night, if any situation arises. 

Faith is our cook.  She is just so lovely, such a joy to talk to and gets great pleasure from cooking delicious and well balanced meals for the children.  She has two daughters, 20 and 17.  Pauline cracks the whip when it comes to the structure of mealtime; Faith makes it her mission to make sure the children are never hungry.  I am so grateful to each of them for putting so much thought into nutrition.  Their diet is never boring or repetitive.

Today was simply wonderful.  I arranged for my friend Anne to come so that she could begin teaching the children the art of beading, and even the little ones participated, until I started prying open their mouths to remove shanga.  Devils.  When the shanga were removed, they found styrofoam from the solar panel boxes.. I destroyed that little picnic, too.  I have to admit it. I have forgotten what it is like to have 3 and 4 year olds.  We happen to have 5 of them, and they are saavy enough to gang up on me in unison.  More than once I retreated to the office so that I could think straight and focus on the older children.  Thomas wrote me a list of 'commands' as he put it, to keep the children in line.  I can't remember what he said that was so funny, but clearly, we were amused.  

Joshua is my stand in photographer when I am too busy.  He really loves the camera, and respects the equipment.  I took a ton of pictures today, which I will put into a little slide show for the kids tomorrow.  Most have never seen themselves on camera.

Here, I caught Njeri kicking Tiff.  When I scowled at Njeri, she burst into tears.  It was all I could do not to laugh.  She is a crier, this one.  Tony will gather all the kids around her, and ask them to 'help Njeri cry'.  This is a common thing done here, despite the fact that it sounds so mean.  Njeri is crying less and less each day.  Except when she gets caught acting naughty and inappropriately.

This is Denis, 5.  Denis is very wise.  He came to us because his mother left him at home for 5 days ~ alone~ while she tended to her daughter in the hospital.  Denis' sister was severely burned by falling into hot water.  At WWC?  The children are not permitted to enter the kitchen, for this very reason.  When I am in the kitchen, the smallest will give it a try, but their attempts are always met with a frown and a stern: "Hakuna HAPA. Toka", which means:

There is nothing in here. Go out.

Anyway, Denis is a lot of fun.  At 5, he takes his studies very seriously, and is currently # 1 in his Kindergarten class.  Placement in class is a very serious matter to these children.  On the next trip?  I can hardly wait to bring Legos for Denis.  I imagine he will build a city in a day.  He's that good with his hands, and clever to boot.  He is carrying his precious coloring book and "colors", because he knows the second he puts his colors down, the little girls will swipe them and yes, eat them.

'Pastor' Peter is a hoot.  He insists on saying Grace before every meal, and makes a bee-line to church before anyone else is even out of the gate.  

Peter is a great kid...he speaks English fluently, and helps around the home as if he has lived here forever.  His serious looks defy his personality.  Almost everything out of his mouth is hilarious.  

Mary is Peter's sister.  She has the best sense of humor and a sense of responsibility that belies her age.  I really enjoy her, we all do.  She is extremely smart, compassionate and helpful around the home.  She loves to translate what the smallest kids are trying to say to me.  Thankfully, she doesn't hesitate to give them a piece of her mind when they misbehave.

Eunice is 12.  She is quiet, sensitive and sweet.  I am concerned about her adjustment to the home and have asked Pauline to keep a close eye on her.  Pauline, always steps ahead of me, agrees, and is careful to watch over Eunice and her brother Eric.

Eric is 9.  We are all concerned about what appears to be hearing loss in one ear.  He will be attending the hearing clinic on November 6th, right here in Kiserian.  After having been placed on antibiotics last week, I am optimistic, because I do sense an improvement in his hearing.  He does not appear to be struggling as hard as he was prior to taking his medicine.

Ritah, with her new earrings that she just made.  

Esther, Ritah's sister.  These two girls are living dolls.  So nice, responsible and thoughtful.  Gentle souls, they are.

Thomas is 11.  He likes to take control, and thrives on being given responsibilities.  

Thomas and Joshua, brothers.

Kevin and Eric

This is Kevin's little sister, Njeri.  She rules the roost, that's for sure.  I have found myself pulling her off Kevin when she doesn't get her way.  GAI! 

                                                         
                                         Kevin, Eric and Peter

It was such a fun day here in Kenya. The children loved learning how to bead and made a pile of stuff, which of course they gave away. It was wonderful to see them active, engaged and happy.  Considering how new they all are to WWC, they have adjusted beautifully.  This is home. I have such respect for each of them, and have fallen in love, once again.  

We are all blessed.

A very good night from Kenya.  Tuonane kesho.

Lala Salama to all!

With love,

Simmie, Catherine, Esther, Ritah and Eunice