Cruising the Carribean

The Aftershocks

Wednesday will mark the one month anniversary since I've returned from Tumaini. Forgive me if I've already shared this information, but while I was there, I was informed that the small boy, Isaac, that captured my heart last year, had run away from Tumaini. It had been 5 months that he had been gone.

I was so upset that everyone acted like it was no big deal. Mum and Paul, the manager, seemed like there was nothing they could do and really didn't want to talk about it. They focused their time on the children that remained at the home. I on the other hand, didn't understand why they hadn't gone to get him, why they'd let a boy, 14 years old (but looked like he was 10) live on the streets by himself, that they would let this child of God be disposable like so many other children are in Africa. I was more than bothered by it and found myself crying and trying to take matters into my own hands. Here is the journal entry from that night:

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

What a wonderful surprise! James came back today. He walked into Mum’s house about dinner time. He came in with his sweater on and his hood on his head. After looking at him for about 3 seconds, I jumped up and gave him a huge hug. He said that he had missed me so much. It was so good to see him. We only have 2 ½ days left here and we are going to make the most of it!

He says tomorrow we are going to share stories with one another. I’ve missed him so much. I asked about Isaac and he told me that he wants money and didn’t want to go to school- that’s why he’s still on the streets. David Kariuki told me that he wished to take me to the streets to see Isaac because he talked a lot about me. I don’t know how I’d be able to handle that. It breaks my heart just to think about the condition he might be in. Then, selfishly, what if when I walk up, he doesn’t recognize me because he is high? I wrote to David and told him that I wished to go look for Isaac if he is willing to take me. I’ll pray about it and let God lead me. Until then, I pray that he is safe and realizes that he has a very good life at Tumaini and comes back.

As much as I wanted to go back to the streets, I wasn't sure that I was called to do so. After some thought about how it would effect me, and Isaac, I sent this email to David:

I hope you are safely traveling back to Nairobi and that this note finds you doing well when you read it. I have been thinking about the comment you made about taking me to the streets to see Isaac. I would love that very much if you are willing to help me look for him. We fly back to the US on Dec 24th and our flight does not leave until 11:30pm, so I was thinking that if we get into Nairobi early enough, Kennedy can take us to meet you somewhere and we can look for him until it's time to go to the airport? Let me know your thoughts. I know it's Christmas Eve and if you'd rather spend it with your family, I can certainly understand that. I just miss him very much and think about him very often!

But it wasn't mean to be. David was spending time with his family and was not able to take us to find him. I've been in touch with a former employee of Heart for Africa through her blog and I think you should take a look at it here.

She and her husband Steve, have made it their mission to go out into the unsafe streets of Nairobi and rescue not just Isaac, but both Joseph's that ran from the home 3 weeks ago. God bless them!

The life these boys knew before being taken to Tumaini consisted of huffing glue to stay warm, make them forget they were hungry, and it was cheaper for them to buy. They knew stealing, beatings, running from law, and being a family for safety. You would think that being at a home where they are fed, clothed, bathed, and taught would be perfect for them. But ever since David Kariuki, once a street boy himself, left the home, these boys feel they have no one to turn to, no one to help them cope, no one to help them understand. My heart breaks for these children.

Lessons Learned

Our time here in Kenya is coming to a close and I have learned many things from these wonderful people. They are lessons that we American's should take note of and incorporate in our homes and with our families.

1. Always greet someone when they approach you
2. Take time to welcome a visitor in your home, even when they come unannounced, and serve them
3. A visitor is just that- a visitor. They are not to get things for themselves, you should serve them
4. On day 2, you are no longer a visitor and can share in the house chores
5. Always offer tea and something to eat to your visitors
6. Hug and love one another as if you were family
7. Put the needs of someone else in front of your own needs
8. Lend a helping hand if you are physically able to
9. Share what you have- bread, tea, sweeties, jacket
10. Most importantly, you may not have a lot, but love one another....always, and be proud of who you are.

I love these people and feel like I am part of them. I know they feel I am part of them too. Mum gave me the name Makenna last year when I was on this trip. It means "loving woman" and I surely have a lot of love to give them. I feel like I am part American and part Kenyan. Until I am back with them again, I will be loving them and thinking about them everyday.


Other lessons worth noting:

The Kenyan sun is very hot and I am allergic to my sunscreen. Putting sunscreen on my face and neck has caused hives on my face that have been there for 2 days. My face is fried because the sun is still hot and not having sunscreen on is not a good thing.

Showers will be freezing cold when the power goes out and the bathroom will get very dark.

When milking a cow, make sure you jab up before you pull down to get the milk.

Things here don't taste good, they are "so nice."

You will never meet a stranger.

Muzungu's are very interesting to Kenyan's, especially if they have never seen one.

Physical labor is the only work these people know.

Taking tea is a must, at least 2 times a day.

"So smart" means you look very pretty.

What's for Dinner

It seems like we eat a lot around here. Mum is constantly trying to feed us more and more so that we don't get "cold."

Today, they children arrived so we spent the morning preparing their "snacks." We had to roll out the pieces of dough into balls, then press them into small patties that were then fried.
These women are very strong. I witnessed Ann pull a metal spoon from grease that had been frying for at least 30 minutes.

She didn't panic or make a face or shake her hand because it was burned. She calmly pulled the spoon from the boiling grease and set it on the table. Impressive.

Mum made us a chocolate and banana cake.
Everything is very simple here- no recipe and no measuring.
The cake batter consisted of flour, 3 eggs, baking powder, cocoa, banana flavoring, and a handful of pure sugar. Short and sweet. It was delicious!

I served tea and bread outside today under the bright Kenyan sky. Peter, Mum, my dad and I enjoyed sitting in the sun, surrounded by the Abadare mountains taking tea and apple snacks.

For dinner, we were to have spaghetti noodles- plain, nothing on them or with them.

I told Mum that I could make a tomato sauce but she was not familiar so we walked down to the local stores to get them. There I met Mum's friend Gertrude. A beautiful lady with stunning eyes. We bought bread, tomatoes, carrots, onions, sweeties (candy for the children), sodas, and jam.

When we got home, Mum put an apron on me and I got to work. They loved every bit of it!
I was amazed because they had never had it before and never had heard of tomato sauce. To top it off, we each had a piece of Mum's cake.

Sights and Sounds of Kenya

Gonga - they are trying to get my dads attention. It means "grandfather" in Kikuyu

Take (insert drink or food name) - instead of eat or drink, they say, "would you like to take tea or bread..."

Auntie - they are referring to me

Muzungu - white person in Swahili

Smart - pretty

Kuja - means to eat in Kikuyu

Decker - is a bunk bed

A Shave - is a haircut

Top up - they want you to add more

The first day someone arrives, they are a visitor and are not to do anything but take tea and bread. If you have been there, like we have for a couple of days, we are expected to wait on that person.

If you cook dinner, everyone else does the dishes.

The power goes out more than once everyday and stays out for 2 hours at a time sometimes. Because we are in the mountains, it gets very cold at night- about 50 degrees and gets VERY dark. You are not able to see your hand in front of your face. There is no heat or air here. If you are going to shower, you must turn on the water heater, which runs off of electricity, so that you can have hot water. Last night, the power went off while I was in the shower. There went my hot water and all awareness of where anything was. Imagine, standing naked in a 50 degree bathroom, with ice cold water falling on you, you're not able to see the hand in front of your face, and you've just lathered your hair with shampoo. Good times... when I came out, I was breathing smoke and shivering because of the cold.

The Faces of Tumaini

These are the people that have welcomed us to Tumaini so far this week. More children are expected to come on the 22nd and just knowing that excites us.

Life at Tumaini