We Are On a Roll

I finally made it to WWC yesterday afternoon...missing one piece of luggage. I never understand how 5 can make it and one cannot....in any case, the one with Christmas presents is on it's way from Paris tonight, and will be delivered to Tony tomorrow afternoon. Tony asked me if I wanted to go to Nairobi tomorrow to fetch it. ABSOLUTELY NOT! On New Year's Eve?  Wouldn't even consider it.

It's funny how my copious trips have changed things around here. Driving towards WWC, the maize is so high it looks like a jungle. WWC was not even visible! Tony, David and I took my bags to Nyumba Yangu and then headed for the office. I have to slap myself as I write this. "Headed for the office?"  The children and I grinned, waved and blew kisses at each other, but Tony and I had matters in the office to address.  It was as if I was here only one week ago, not 7.

I headed out about 10 minutes later, and the children were busy with tasks and activities. We all hugged hello and chatted quickly....I was anxious to see the new addition to the chicken project and our 200 new chicks. Bi-monthly vet visits, vaccinations and 50 kg of food a week? Our chickens look so fat and healthy! We are calling the first round of chickens purchased 5 months ago Project 1. The second round of chickens, purchased just 3 weeks ago are being called Project 2.  Project 1 "layers" as opposed to roasters (those we eat) are ready to lay eggs. Project 2 chicks are separated and growing fast. In addition, we have a few roasters that Tony has acquired for eating. They are floating around the back of the compound which I put an end to in about 30 seconds.  I cannot tolerate "free range" chickens ranging at their whim. They are messy, get into everything and leave waste everywhere. Hence, we are building a pen for them as I write this. 

Project 2 chickens:

Project 1 chickens are so big and anxious to start laying eggs (you can tell by the sounds they make) that I couldn't get through the crowded door to take a pic. Maybe tomorrow!

Below, the fundi appeared this morning, to add the pen for the chickens and our new goat. And new puppies.

I had to have a quick word with Tony about the last two {{new}} acquisitions. We have been down this road with dogs before. Kenyans do not share Americans' attachments to dogs, cats or any animals for that matter.  Dogs are for security, period. While I approve of security, I most definitely do not approve of dogs in a house all day, to be let out only at night.  We had two dogs when I left in November, one died and now we have three.  I did not ask how one died,  I do not want to know. I did not ask about the two new ones, nor did I look at them. Furthermore, WatotoWorld does not put a shilling towards this 'project'.  This is Tony's project - we ironed this out four years ago. 

In the image above, this new pen will be completed on Monday...only then will you get a better idea of how this is all going to work.  

AS for the goat? Well....this was a gift from the mother of Loise, our rescue child you may remember from back in October/November. Tony called me a few weeks ago, very excitedly, to tell me about this goat, and when we got off the phone, he sent me a picture of it in the back of his car. I laughed of course, because this is Kenya.  So, the goat is eating it's way around our considerable compound now...that said, I did not want this goat either, and told Tony if it becomes a (minor) nuisance? It will become nyama choma (barbecued meat). This is also Tony's pet project.

Watoto World Center's shamba is nothing short of amazing.  We have spinach, tomatoes, carrots, onions, sekuma and maize. Add to this: mangoes and....drum roll...watermelon!

This is our watermelon patch, in between the maize:

Below are two of the new water tanks we replaced last month.  These two tanks supply all of the water for the drip irrigation, and flow into the two additional tanks that supply water to the dorms and kitchen.

I told Tony today that we should be utilizing the space underneath of these tanks, so we will convert this area into a supply shed, with the materials from the existing shed.  This will be more efficient and more pleasing to the eye.  I was grateful that the piles of mbati and other materials behind the home were disposed of, as I requested last month.

The very good news from earlier this month is: we were able to purchase the lot of land directly behind us.  This is the plot of land our neighbor was using without authorization. After three surveyors came out to discern who owned what, it was concluded that this plot did not, in fact, belong to us. However, nor did it belong to the neighbor who was using it illegally.  We now own it, and have fenced it in. In order to be neighborly, Tony and I decided to let him use this land, only until his crops are ready to be harvested. Good fences make good neighbors.  Harvest time is just around the corner.  As an aside, if you look at the maize in this plot and compare it to the images of maize on our property above, you can see a considerable difference in crop size. Every day I spend here at WWC, I remain grateful to our donors for the gift of water.  Water is life, and has given WWC an amazing advantage.  We are selling crops and with this income, have hired two additional shamba workers. We are ready for the egg production to begin and have two buyers in the markets - one of them being the only supermarket in Kiserian.  We are on a roll!

I am happy to report that our two youngest children have been adopted out of WWC: Millah and Jolene.  While I never expected this transition to happen as quickly as it did, the courts ordered it finalized on November 16th.  These two little girls now have a mommy and a daddy and a secure future. All of us miss deeply these children, but as I spoke to the children in depth about this event today, this is why we are here. WatotoWorld is doing the job we set out to do. Because we have two vacancies, we will be admitting the young sister of two of our children, a little girl we were not qualified to take in when we opened. She is now 5 years old.  More on this later, but  I have been requesting this move for two years.

Loise is our temporary rescue. Because she has adapted so well, and bonded so beautifully with the other children, she will become permanent, which brings us back to 20 children.  While this was not our original intent, Tony and I both feel that it would be cruel to exit Loise to another Rescue Center closer to her home. She has had enough trauma in her young life. 

Tabitha

Tiff

Brian

Josie

Puss-Puss (yes, he is still our guardian cat):

 

Njeri

Our infamous boss has settled into herself and, while delightful as ever, has lost her title to Jecinta.

Faith

Peter

Vivian

Sophia

It is absolutely wonderful to be back!  My time is limited, but I am already utilizing it well.  Tomorrow, if my bag arrives into NBO as promised (tonight) we will celebrate Christmas together. If not, we will go hunting and celebrate on Monday.

Much, much love to all from East Africa,

Simmie, Josie, Catho and Brian