This trip is all about the bore hole. However, there are always issues at hand that need immediate addressing, and one in particular, pressing: Sheila is 5, the half sister to Catherine, Josephine and Tiffany. All four girls were rescued from a very abusive father - Josephine had even attempted to run away from the situation at the tender age of 3, on two separate occasions. Josephine and Catherine were two of our original rescues - their mother had died and they were under the care of their grandmother in a remote location high in the hills of Ngong. The abusive father had disappeared, knowing he was being searched for by the police. Sheila and Tiff were my first two rescues. While I rescued other children with Tony, these two hold a special place in my heart. I will never forget the day we drove away from their grandmother (and Sheila's 16 year old mother). The grandmother was lovely and grateful that these little girls were headed to safety; the mother could have cared less. No tears, no love - just a simple wave at her little girls ( 2 1/2 and 3 years old) as she held her new baby in her arms. One does not feel judgement in these situations, that is not our job. In my case, I felt sadness and relief at the fact that these girls were coming with us to safety, coming to be with their sisters. I got in the back seat of Tony's car, with Tiff and Sheila tucked at my sides. They both looked up at me with huge smiles, their bag of belongings together in one small plastic bag, and fell fast asleep on my lap.. I cried tears of joy the entire way back to WWC - it was my first experience rescuing children from a situation of abuse, trauma and sadness. No hope. On this day, the reality of opening a rescue center hit me hard. We were doing the work we were supposed to. We were giving hope to Sheila, Tiff and every subsequent child we rescued.
When we got to the bottom of our road, I said to Tony: "Tony, stop the car. You need to turn around and look at this." Tony stopped, turned around and said simply: "Simmie, the Kingdom of God is made for little children." We both smiled and marveled at what had just happened - here these two little girls were, fast asleep in my lap. I was a stranger to Sheila and Tiff, yet they had instinctively trusted both Tony and me to take them to a better world. It was a beautiful day, one I shall never forget.
I will also never forget when the four sisters saw each other again. One could see from their expressions the wonderment and joy of being reunited together again. It was as if they were saying to one another: "Where have you been? I have missed you. I never thought I would see you again." I think of this situation often, and always derive huge strength and incentive to do the right thing.
Sheila was scheduled to visit her mother over the Holidays, now 19 and with with yet another baby. Her 3rd. When Tony delivered her back to her home (with Catherine, Josie and Tiff) a social worker accompanied him. They found the mother in their tiny shack, with the newborn in her arms. The social worker decided on the spot that Sheila would be removed from WWC and would stay with her mother, due to the fact that the mother had "broken the contract" by having another child.
When Tony called me at home to give me the news, every alarm in my body went off. I cried silently in the shower; cried for this beautiful little girl who was abruptly and unfairly removed from safety, back to the situation she had come from. Removed from her sisters, all because her mother had violated her side of the agreement. A ridiculous, inane agreement, made by authorities who rarely follow through on THEIR side of the agreement to always reintegrate a child back with a guardian with care and time. They violated their own one year rule. I was devastated by this injustice, and quietly tried to nurse my own injured heart. I vowed to get Sheila back, and I will.
Tony and I drove directly to the home to see the children. I know the air traffic routes around Nairobi - we happen to be in path of international flights coming in from the north. Flights circle south around Nairobi National Park, over our WWC, right into Jamo Kenyatta International Airport. I also know that if I turn my cellular data on at the point over WWC, we are low enough to the ground to pick up a signal. I quickly texted Penina to tell the boys to come outside: Do you see the plane above? I'm on it!
Thus, the children all expected my arrival today.
The kids had just returned from church when I arrived to hugs and kisses. Once settled in, Tony and I assessed the damage from the rains. It was considerable, and I take my hat off to Tony for his diligence in getting the repairs done as fast as physically possible : a new walkway, and protective rocks and malum placed strategically around the home to prevent future rains and copious amounts of mud from entering the compound. We are still digging an overflow septic area, which will be completed before I leave. After chatting and playing with each of the kids, I said goodnight and headed to my new Guest House for the night. My beloved Whistling Thorns has shut down permanently. More on that later.
It's great to be back, just wonderful. I have a very busy week ahead - get this borehole project started and completed and re- rescue Sheila. Two of our children have not returned from the holidays, Rita and Esther. Again, red flags. I don't like this situation one bit, because apparently their grandfather ( and guardian) allowed their mother to come take them from his home for Christmas. We rescued Rita and Esther from the side of the road in Ngong. Their mother told them to get out of her car, pointed to their grandfather's home, said "go there" and drove away. We will get to the bottom of this, too. I have 9 days.
Tired and wiped out, i must sign off. There is no internet here, but I will be writing blogs and posting when I can, if at all.
Lots of love from Kenya ~ Lala salama,
Simmie and Catherine
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