"Santa" comes to Nyeri!

Salvete omnes!

While Saturdays for most can be "lazy days," this is not true of Kenyans! Class 7 and 8 students have school on Saturday, and the older students still have chores. The major chore today, besides the standard cleaning of the walkways, was cutting all the children's hair. I considered getting my hair shaved as well, but was convinced not to do it. 😞

Today was also a big day for distributing gifts to adults and children. Children at Tumaini and Huruma received a pencil case with school necessities inside, flip flops, a Bible, and toothbrushes. Students in secondary school also received a calculator and geometry set (compass and protractor). Adult women received bags hand-made by Meadows parishioners, and men received work gloves; both also received Bibles and hand-made wooden crosses. Wendell, Kaki, and I went to Huruma to distribute the gifts while Kathy, Julie, and Kris remained at Tumaini for "Days for Girls" orientation #2 (Kris will tell you more about that). I played volleyball with the young men at Huruma and have the bruised arms to prove it!

After returning to Tumaini, I spent more uninterrupted time with the kids than I have been able to this trip. I either sat and talked with them, watched television with them, ran after them, or threatened to make them into a chapati. Many call me a "crazy mazunga" (crazy white person) and I point at them and say "No, you're a crazy mazunga" and then we begin arguing! I have also been called a "crazy Kenyan" by them, which I take as a point of pride.

I am beginning to feel the time here get shorter, and I hope to spend as much time with the kids as I can. It is unfortunate that we are not here another week, as I have only begun to see the kids become more familiar with me, and I, in turn, am beginning to become rather close to a few in particular. I can only cherish the time I have left and continue to hold them in my heart once I leave.

ex animo,
Stella aka Ngwaci (Sweet Potato)

Me chasing after the children in GIF form:

Saturday is coming to a close.  It rained earlier this evening.  It's rained more and has

been cooler than any of us remember from previous trips.  I hear children singing faith songs in Kikuyu and Kiswahili.  Little ones are running around, burning off steam endlessly.  Sounds from surrounding rooms include chairs and tables scooting on the concrete floors.  All these sounds are all familiar in just the short time we have been here.

THE LIBRARY PROJECT IS COMPLETED!!  When we arrived last Saturday Eunice, the manager of the 2 children’s homes indicated that the Tumaini library full of books had gone unused for many years and needed major updating.  So we set-out to pull outdated or badly-worn books and books that were not matched well to children’s taste and ability.  Over the week, we removed most of the books from the shelves and reviewed, sorted, grouped and re-shelved them in a way that was conducive to the children accessing the books.   At times the work was tedious.  However, we have the opportunity to learn that being obedient to God's will sometimes means that the work will seem boring.  And we will leave without certainty as to what will happen with any project after we're gone.  But we have great hope. 


Plans are for Reuben, our new friend and ‘partner-in-crime’/ time-keeper, and others to make the books more readily accessible to the children, encouraging a love of reading while caring for the books.  The children have been asking for more story time.  So, if anyone wants to drop by and read a book to the children, they are most-welcome, I’m sure.

Who knew that our trips to Kenya would lead to teaching the young girls of Tumaini and Huruma about their anatomy, reproduction, self-defense, sex trafficking and how to use reusable hygiene kits?  This was a new one.  Sally P. from our church (who had travelled here in 2011) gathered a group of wonderful women who purchased, cut, stitched, and assembled 100+ Days for Girls kits…the preparation of the kits was meticulous and precise.  These kits are non-disposable and give the girls the independence and security they need each month.  Some of our team did the training and got certified to teach the “how’s” and “why’s” for caring for their God-given bodies.  The girls were very excited to receive the kits during the training.  And we pray that this ministry is among the others we have seen succeed here.

As I wrap-up, the sounds are fading.  I heard the gate for the dorm close and the children are locked-in for the night...as are we.  Less furniture-dragging noise, voices are muted, and no more running for tonight.  Goodnight from Kris and the team.

On top of the Vocational Training Center