Back to the Watoto: Back to Business

I rudely left everyone hanging after my departure from Kenya, in April. My mother always told me the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and while I think she was right, I sure hope this isn't the case. I am very sorry for this.

Networks and life got in the way. Since I left, Peter and I became the very proud grandparents of our first grandchild, Milo. Cary and Tarak (well, Cary) delivered Milo on Father's Day, and oh what a gift. Milo is now a little over one month old, and a thriving baby boy. I am over the moon, and while I haven't completely decided what I would like to be called, I think it will be Shosh. Shosh is short for Shosho, the Kiswahili name for grandmother and respectfully, "older woman". I love it.

It's been 3 long months since Emma, Ben and I departed on April 10th. While I was often very worried about being gone so long, it turns out it was all for naught. We finished the addition we started in April, painted the entire compound while I was here, and the rest was resumed when I was not...with SPECIFIC instructions. I'm picky about the paint colors - do not want to see any more of the hideous "Kenyan blue", pepto dismal pink or any shade of a color I do not approve of. Tony, this compound needs to look "smart".

The new addition:

The addition has proven to be not only a necessity, but somewhat of a sanctuary for the older children, grades 4 and above. They seek quiet time, and appreciate the excellent lighting ("Tony, white paint enhances the light!!!") during homework time, and the desk space. Slowly, we will fill up these book shelves with books brought from home. I brought a newly donated laptop with me this trip, another necessity. When necessary, our children can tap in supervised, to the existing internet. Though I think you all know by now that this isn't too reliable - not because of us, but because of the networks in this country.

Tony picked me up this morning after 11:00am - somehow, I slept in until 9:30. I took my last hot shower, ate some boiled eggs with some much missed Kenyan coffee, and was on my way.

Tony is doing great, as is his family. We communicate regularly, but when we saw one another, it was quite emotional. We have missed each other, neither of us hid this fact. We chatted the entire way, with one stop for me at the Telkom store to reactivate my simcards, and quickly got back on the road.

The copious rains of March and April that I experienced turned into massive flooding right after I left. Countless roads across the country were destroyed, along with far too many fatalities. Kenyans, for the most part, do not know how to handle the flash floods (do any of us?) and do not pay attention to the fact that they come out of nowhere and are capable of killing anyone in their path. Tony reported to me regularly on the flooding, as I was troubled by my vision of what it could do to WWC. Staff, thanks to Tony and Penina, were on the ball. Bags of sand were placed everywhere necessary to capture run off, particularly in front of the chicken project. These bags were rotated with dry ones every day until the rains ceased in June. We lost our spinach crop, not a hardship. Seeing it today, I never would have known had I not been told. Many of our community members who have (much smaller) chicken projects lost their entire populations. We lost 10. Further, our chickens do not like the cold and wet temperatures. They barely laid eggs for one month, but today, production is very healthy.

Tony and Penina with our output since Friday. 540 eggs, not counting the "roasters" who lay the higher quality eggs - those with more protein and nutrients.

Simply put, we cannot keep up with demand.

Mundia, collecting some eggs this afternoon:

We will continue Chicken Project 1, 2 and 3 on a rotating basis. Once Project 1 chickens discontinue laying eggs (at a minimum, 1 year old) then we will buy the second round...and continue this with Project 2 and Project 3. Tony called me a month ago and asked if we could house in Project 3 because of the cold. We did this, and everything is back on track. By January, we anticipate the Project 1 chickens being sold (a hefty 4-5kgs each) and replaced with chicks.

No one knew I was coming, and I about scared the daylights out of the four girls washing the school van. We had a truly wonderful reunion, tons of hugs, smiles, more hugs and everyone talking at once. All the children immediately asked me about "Aunty Cary's and Uncle Tarak's baby, so my phone was passed around to each and every child. No one wanted to share. They wanted to look at each image by themselves, it was so cute. We chatted for a long while, and then Tony and I retreated to the Office for chai. I have missed Penina's chai. The other Penina and Pricilla are doing just fine. I said hello to them for a few seconds, but otherwise leave them to their devices. Neither is very social; as long as they are doing their jobs, thats all I care about. Penina also reported to me, a far more in depth report on the other employees, whom she oversees. We will continue our conversation tomorrow.

Penina continues to impress and is my rising star. She single handedly mans the chicken project and is responsible for all of it, except daily feedings, which are shared. She takes her supervisory role seriously, and I am comfortable knowing that she could easily step in to manage WWC, should this ever be necessary.

Penina can put up with this, so she has what it takes!

Any commercial or school vehicle that carries children to school is now required to be painted the traditional 'school bus yellow." I recommended putting this paint job off, back in April, until necessary. We got harassed a few times by administrative police in our area (they shouldn't even have this title) so we finally made the change.

Not only did we get a fresh coat of paint, but the van got a complete mechanical overhaul. New shocks, ball joints and many minor repairs. This vehicle needs to be inspected in Nairobi by government designated bribes. Tony will take it in on Thursday, I'll pass. He can deal with the mechanics seeking bribes and finding things wrong with the van that really don't exist. If I go, it would cost 10x as much.

Tony has been asking me for months to consider buying a truck for WWC. His reason being his personal vehicle is taking the brunt of wear and tear due to the shape of our roads in this area. In all fairness, I understood Tony's request, but put this off too, as long as I could. We finally agreed on WWC paying for 1/2 of a used truck, and Tony paying the other half. He can now use this new (used) truck to transport supplies to WWC, and for his personal use. It will remain off the premises, at Tony's house. We are both pleased with this outcome.

Two weeks ago, Tony called me and told me a girl from another Rescue Center had stopped at the side of the road to tie her shoe, on the way to school. The rest of the children continued walking, and this girl was snatched by a perp in the forest and brutally raped. (Is there any other kind?) I asked Tony if he had spoken with Head Teacher Wanjiru, and if not, to please do so immediately. Loise, and all children, quickly learned about this tragic situation. Naturally sensitive and already traumatized, Loise refused to go to school for the next few days. Tony spoke with the Head Teacher who finally agreed that he will not send one of our children home randomly for some idiotic infraction in his eyes. We have a vehicle and need to be called. Someone will always come right away to collect the child. Loise, for her part, continues counseling which was ramped up since this incident.