the girls by getting them physical exams, meeting with the DCO and social workers, assessments for which classes to enter at Ereteti and then registering them both for school. Both the girls were very disappointed that they can't go to school until these items are checked off the list.
These items WERE on our list today, but they got overshadowed by another call from the DCO telling us to go to a hospital in Rongai (a town I frequent) to rescue 4 children, not 2. Off we went. After a brief waiting period and being shuttled to the children's ward, we were greeted by a lovely, smiling social worker and 5 caregivers. They were concerned about us not waking up the children, all of whom (there were 10) were napping.
We navigated the corridors to get to the ward where we would find our children. I was taken aback by these sweet children all sleeping in their cribs - it looked like something otherworldly to me, not warm and friendly by any stretch, but the caregivers were so welcoming and kind, that it made the experience better than I thought it would be.
Of course, as soon as the children in the first room saw us, three of them popped their heads up out of a deep sleep. I walked over to this little girl's crib, took her hand and smiled at me. After rubbing my hand, she lifted both of her arms up, so that I would pick her up.
This is Michelle, or Shiko, as everyone calls her. (Not the same Michelle I have talked about). Shiko was abandoned by her mother and has lived in this hospital since birth.She is four years old. "Why the wait?" I asked. "We were hoping her grandmother would come to get her."
This is a terrible picture, but here they are:
Mueni, Cosgei, Charles and Shiko
After waving good bye to their caregivers, the children simply took our hands, ran ahead to Tony, then turned around to wait for Penina and me. No tears, only smiles and a willingness to come with us. It was simply astounding to me.
Another terrible pic, but the only one I have of Tony and me with the four children.
The sister of Mueni was supposed to come with us, but the Social Worker "revoked" the placement, because she is only two, and we cannot take a child this young. This is what the directive from the Ministry to Watoto World Center looks like. The little girl we were supposed to take is named Mercy Blessing, because this is the name the hospital gave her. The security officer at the gate found her in a bag, still with her umbilical cord attached. The mother left her and took off. Both Mercy and her sister Mueni have lived at the hospital for two years.
Cosgei
We stopped to get milk for the children, and both the boys announced from the back seat that they wanted cakes. So of course we stopped to get milk, cakes and potato chips :)
On the way back to WWC, Tony's car died. We managed to get to Kiserian where Tony had a car waiting for Penina and the four children. Tony and I still had work to do...he dropped off the car, grabbed the truck and we headed back to Rongai to the Tile store to purchase more items needed to finish the job in the kitchen, and the boys room.
Stuffed to the gills, we had to poke all the way back to WWC, and didn't arrive until 5:30. "Please try not to take this kind of load again, Tony. I know it's an imposition, but it should have been stretched out in two trips. From my western perspective, this is one of the (many) reasons cars are beaten to a pulp here in Kenya: Abuse."
Just as we got out of the vehicle, Tony answered his phone, looking at me with complete disgust. "That was Grace and Anna's mother, wondering if we had enrolled her daughters in school."
There are no words to describe how both of us felt about this call. This mother illegally removed her children, kept them out of school for 2 years, deals drugs, let her girls run around without supervision and has the nerve to call us the day after we rescue her daughters? It's only Monday. This call is a perfect example of the lack of gratitude we are often faced with, with some of the guardians.
I said hello to all the children and asked them where the mtoto's (babies) were. Two of the girls led me to the activity room, where I found them playing.
Mueni, by the way, was rescued by the hospital last year (aka abandoned). Prior, she was 3 years old and she had been left at home to take care of her blind grandmother.
The social worker told us that the children eat, but they sometimes need to be "forced" to.
Not at WWC they don't! Auntie Respa talked the children into eating each and every bite, making all of us laugh, including the little ones.
Shiko, after eating. I can already see that this little girl is going to rule the roost.
The old boss (L) meets the new one! (Njeri)
It was quite the day here in Kenya. We will do our best to get Grace and Anna in for physicals in the morning, and then into school for assessments. I am flying home tomorrow night, so fingers crossed we can get this done, along with much necessary paperwork.
Lots of love from Kenya,
Simmie and Sheila
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