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| The "before" picture after the kids got in |
After walking the children to school, breakfast, and morning devotions/a mini-sermon on 1 Peter 2:9, the team got right back into re-organizing the piles of books we made which were taken down by Hurricane Discipuli (i.e. the primary children students). We made a lot of progress, emptying the shelves that we are in charge of and organizing the books based on reading level. Elsewhere, we are also organizing the youth shelves, making sure series are in order and there are age-appropriate books on the correct shelves.During tea and lunch, the team spoke with Frederick, the chairman of the Tumaini board. He updated us specifically on the progress of the vocational school, which currently has 4 levels and a roof, and will soon have walls in place.
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| Story time |
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| Happy with their handmade bookmarks |
scheduled activities for the primary school children: Kris and Kathy, along with two student helpers (Anne and Kevin to read in Kikuyu) led storytime for the children in the chapel (Kathy said "they craved every word read"); Kaki and Julie had a craft center in the multi-purpose room, which consisted of making friendship bracelets, designing bookmarks (Kaki said "as usual stickers were a big hit, no matter the age"), and giving Kaki a new hairstyle! After watching some World Cup 2018 action with the older kids (England beat Tunisia 2-1), Wendell and I had several beach balls and a parachute, which the children quickly took control of. I'm surprised it made it through the day! At one point, a couple small children sat in the center of the parachute (one at a time) and the children on the outside ran around in a circle, causing the child in the center to levitate on the parachute! I don't think we got them to sign waivers!
Prior to dinner I went back into the multi-purpose center just to see what the kids were doing and I was greeted by the older ones who were using Kris's phone to take pictures of themselves and with Kris. I was quickly pulled into many pictures with the older kids, which was a pleasant surprise since I have not had the opportunity to fellowship with them. I spent about 15 minutes talking with Jane, a Form 3 (about a Junior in HS in the US), learning about her and answering questions about the US. She has two other siblings here, Helen (I embarrass her by singing Justin Bieber to her because she wears a shirt with his face on it) and Dennis, and two older siblings who are either in university or the workforce. I learned that her mother left them in 2009 and her father died in 2010, leaving her with a grandmother that had difficulty taking care of them. She told me, "As you can see, I've been through many difficulties, but I made it through them." And she is all the stronger for it! |
| Youngest child, Abrihim, is 4 years old |
Sometimes little Abraham comes up to me to hold my hand. He is the youngest here and was dropped at the front gate of Tumaini with his sister. The person who dropped them off told them "Your mother is inside" shortly before driving off. Eunice tried to find where he came from but was unable to. This is just one child's story. At dinner we learned more about the students and what they value here, which gives you a sense of their background. When asked what they like about Tumaini, they most often say "food". The children can sleep anywhere, but they cannot always have something to eat. Eunice explained when they first arrive and receive their first meal they often cradle it in their arms, showing ownership over that food and cherishing it.
What I have experienced here so far is exactly the thing I had hoped for: learning about and understanding the lives of different people, and building relationships with those people. While speaking with the Kenyans may at times be difficult, I have enjoyed the experience because I get close to them and focus on every word they say, something that I think is important for us to do in order to relate to other human beings. I look forward to hearing more personal stories from the kids and building more relationships.ex animo,
Stella aka Ngwaci (aka Sweet Potato)
PS Someone asked why we have a bucket. It is in case the toilet breaks down!
Today in GIF form:
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