Better To Own Something Than Be Owned By Someone. Family #8: Mama Victor

A brief recap:
One of the largest factors of trafficking in persons--especially in the developing world--is poverty. A lack of means to provide for their families leads people to accept "too good to pass up" employment offers, often at the expense of freedom and dignity.

If only 2% of trafficking victims are ever rescued (and 80% of those rescued will go on to be trafficked again), if a true count of victims is unknown (and seemingly unknowable) because the crime is so well-hidden, then the most promising solution must be prevention.

With a stable source of income, families and their children will never need to search for employment in places that may take advantage of them. And so, I've launched a program to provide business opportunities to local families. I believe it's better to own something than be owned by someone.

So far, I've introduced you to seven families {here and here} and, over the course of this week, I'd like you to meet four or five more. {This afternoon, we're trying to make it to see two or three...and I can't wait!}

Since long recaps are overwhelming {for me to write and for you to read} I thought I'd break it up and introduce you to one family at a time.

First, here's the beginnings of seven farms. How fun is that?!

Each time we load up the car with items like these, I am giddy with excitement to bring them to the families. Imagine someone handing you a gift that will generate income to both sustain your child's health and development AND relieve that stressful "where will I get the money to...?" feeling that, for many families all over the world, is a constant.

What a joy it is to be able to give these types of gifts thanks to your generosity and support!

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We have found that Sunday afternoons seem to be the best time to visit, since nearly everyone is home resting and preparing for another busy week. So, last Sunday, after church, we headed out to see six families: three first visits and three follow-ups.

Mama Victor // seeds



Victor {in the red and blue beanie} is 8-years old and was born with Schizencephaly, which, essentially, means one side of his brain never developed. {His brain scans are completely dark on one side.} His mother, Phoebe, had him at fifteen and, though she loves Victor very much, she struggled to provide him with the level of care he needs.

She and Victor live with her mother and younger siblings, but with the adults at work and the kids at school, Victor was often left alone in the house all day. And so, a few months ago, he came to live at the Precious Kids Center. {Read more of Victor's story here.}

Phoebe visits often and even brings his younger sisters and grandmother {seen above, on the left, holding Victor's youngest sister, Faith} along when possible.

Victor knows his mom's voice and will instantly smile and laugh as soon as he hears her walk in. One afternoon, as she and I sat in the living room and she held Victor {then Julius and Isaac, two boys who, like Victor, can not sit on their own and need to be fed} and I held Faith {because, look at how cute she is and excuse the fly on my head!} we tried our hardest to make conversation through my beginner's Swahili.

This young mother has done her best to care for her son. That afternoon, I saw the depth of her love and compassion as she held her son, and other children whose stories she does not know, but whose struggles she can identify with. When she left, I knew I wanted to help her family begin a small business.

During our visit on Sunday, Phoebe and her mother explained to us {well, to Sammy, who translated for me...I'm getting there, but still have trouble translating at the speed of excited chatter} about the crops that grow best in their village. {Since they are far from the river, they prefer plants that don't need much water.} Her mother even ran outside and brought back samples of the crops to show us.

So, this week, we'll be picking up the seeds and delivering them to this sweet and loving family! I am really excited to show you their progress and follow along as both the farm, and Victor, grow.

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If you would like to be part of changing the trajectory of the lives of families like these--with a one-time gift of $30--you can do so in one of two ways:

// Tax-deductible giving //

Checks made payable to Reaching Beyond Ourselves can be mailed to:

Allison Hibbard

c/o Reaching Beyond Ourselves

39 Donatello

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

// Online giving (non tax-deductible) //

You can give via Paypal: allihibb@gmail.com

Or online: gofundme.com/allihibb

Small Business Updates, Launches, And Goals

In the two weeks since I announced the launch of this new small-business project with the hope of offering sustainable sources of income to families who may otherwise seek employment in places or from people that may take advantage of them, so many great things have happened:

• Many have asked how to support these small businesses. Thank you so much for your belief in this program and for your excitement to join in! {Donation information can be found at the end of this post or on the right-hand side of the page.}

• A few donations have come in so far! which means...

• We've been able to identify more families who could benefit from this program and begin plans for their start-ups! 

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First, an update on those whose start-ups have begun:

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Mama Rispah // shop

(I wish I had a better photo, but the lighting was terrible and I had walked there and the route finishes with a huge, steep, rocky hill, so I was awfully sweaty and out-of-breath when we arrived. Next time we visit, I'll go by car so I can make sure to pay more attention to the documentation process.)

What was once a shop filled with buckets of charcoal--which is a big seller!--now carries even more necessities for day-to-day life in that neighborhood: laundry soap, bath soap, tea, salt, sugar and matches. Many of the items had almost run out due to popular demand and Mama Rispah was telling me, with excitement, of her plan to restock.

Yesterday, her youngest grandson came to school in a new-to-him pair of high tops (as opposed to his old crocs or worn flip flops) which he was SO excited to show me. I love the small, tangible ways this extra income is already improving the lives of Mama Rispah's family. I'm hoping to make another visit sometime this week to see how the inventory is holding up.

Baba Boniface // farm


Each time I meet Baba Boniface--Steve--I like him more and more. One afternoon last week, we went to pick out the types of crops he would like to grow and he, excitedly, talked about the various types of each vegetable and how they vary in price, cultivation, and even taste. He went home with two different tomato plants and one package of cabbage. {He'd also, very helpfully, chosen the kale seeds for Jackson, Allan, and Paul's farm.}

As we were waiting to take this picture, (with his son Boniface) he told me that he would be heading home to prepare the soil and would let me know when he was ready to plant so I could come and take more photos of the process.

Looking at the prices on these seeds, I was (again) shocked by how helpful this relatively small gift can be. This man, who knows quite a bit about planting and tending crops from his years of working the farms of others--who makes the equivalent of a few dollars a week--would have to save for years (barring any unforeseen expenses or emergencies) to have a spare 750 shillings (about $7) to purchase just this packet of cabbage seeds. And now, thanks to your generosity, he and his family will have an entire acre of vegetables to harvest and sell come January!

A quick update on Mama Rose. I received a donation specifically for Mama Rose's chicken business (thank you so much!) and wanted to share that it is also in the works! We have plans to begin construction of the chicken coop this week, but are awaiting the end of the rainy season to purchase the chickens themselves in hopes of longer life-spans once the cold (and chicken-disease-ridden) weather passes.

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And now for a few of the new families!

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Eve // hair salon

Eve is a single mother with two children. A few years ago, she participated in a women's Bible study run by Sammy and a few other American college students who spent several back-to-back summers serving here. She's been a dear friend to Sammy ever since.

We visited her house, where we met her son Barack and heard a bit about her dream to open a hair salon. She had no idea why we'd come to see her...she thought we were just stopping by for a visit. What a fun surprise it was, at the end of her story, to tell her we'd like to help make her dream a reality!

Kenyan women (of all ages) have their hair done in various styles (weaves, plates, braids) about once a month. Eve knows how to do hair, but could not afford the salon-quality blow dryer required to get the business up-and-running. Customers bring most of their own items, (combs, rubber bands, beads, or hair extensions) so all the stylist needs is a blow dryer, but this is still quite an investment for a single mother of two.

Eve is warm and welcoming. We walked to a few nearby homes to meet her landlady (and a man who wanted to say thank you for the treatment he received from a recent medical clinic provided by a team from Texas!) and drew quite the crowd--she knew them all by name. When we arrived back at her house and I asked to take her picture, she invited all of the neighborhood kids to join.

The next day, Sammy and I brought her her very own blow dryer. When she opened the bag and saw the box and said, "Oh! I'm so happy I could jump up and down! God bless you! God bless you so much!" before hugging both of us. Even though it was nearly dinnertime, she quickly said, "Oh! I'm going to look for work today!" I am really, really looking forward to watching how this small tool will help shape her family's future.

Lea // seeds


As we talked with Eve, her landlady came by to say hello. She had heard that there was a car on their narrow, bumpy roads and came to check it out. When she saw that I was taking pictures, she invited us to her house to photograph her kitchen. (I'm not sure why, but we obliged.) Once we arrived, we found a small one-room house with a mattress on the floor and a few belongings. (I have to imagine that being the landlord of a home or two in a slum is not a lucrative business. I'm willing to bet it's more wandering back and forth, reminding people that the rent is overdue than actually collecting any money.)

Just outside of her home was a small dirt box that she called her farm. As we drove away from the neighborhood, Sammy and I talked it over and decided to surprise Lea with a packet of seeds to grow kale in her little farm in hopes of giving her income a small, but ongoing, boost.

Mama Lavender // seeds


Mama Lavender has four children: three girls and one boy. Her third child, Lavender, has cerebral palsy and has been part of the Precious Kids Center for over two years. On school breaks and holidays, Lavender goes to stay with her mother (and her come-and-go father.) Mama Lavender has tried to find work here and there, but with four children--and one that requires a little extra care, (for example: being carried to and from the toilet several times each day) it's difficult to find a steady income.

Outside of their home is a large piece of land that is ready for planting. Mama Lavender told us that she had planted there before, but the neighbor's chickens got in and ate all of the sprouts, so there was nothing left to harvest. Next week, we will bring her new seeds--she's asked for two very popular and easy-to-tend vegetables--plus netting to keep the crops safe.

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A few details...

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My birthday is coming up. I will be thirty-three on October 24th. My goal is to help 33 families begin their 33 new businesses for my 33rd Birthday. I have a running list of families who would benefit from this project...and I am so excited to see all of those businesses up-and-running by December 1st.

If you would like to be part of changing the trajectory of the lives of these families--with a one-time gift of $30--you can do so in one of two ways:

// Tax-deductible giving //

Checks made payable to Reaching Beyond Ourselves can be mailed to:

Allison Hibbard

c/o Reaching Beyond Ourselves

39 Donatello

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

// Online giving (non tax-deductible) //

You can give via Paypal: allihibb@gmail.com

Or online: gofundme.com/allihibb

I am really looking forward to sharing more updates on these businesses. And introducing you to more of the incredible families we've chosen to partner with.

It's So Much Better To Own Something Than Be Owned. The Launch Of A New Project.

In the last three months, as I have read and researched more and more about trafficking in persons, I have found proof of what I have suspected to be true: one of the largest factors of trafficking in persons--especially in the developing world--is poverty. A lack of means to provide for their families leads people to accept "too good to pass up" employment offers, often at the expense of freedom and dignity.

If only 2% of trafficking victims are ever rescued (and 80% of those rescued will go on to be trafficked again), if a true count of victims is unknown (and seemingly unknowable) because the crime is so well-hidden, then the most promising solution must be prevention.

And so, as I've shared before, I'm working on a conference to help educate the local community; to give them the tools to identify and avoid trafficking situations.

But I'm not stopping there! 

With a stable source of income, families and their children will never need to search for employment in places that may take advantage of them. And so, I am launching a program to provide business opportunities to local families. I believe it's better to own something than be owned by someone.

We have chosen four families of various size, location, and skill--several families of students from Precious Kids Center School--all families we know and trust--to be our test-pilots.

We've also identified SO MANY MORE families who will benefit from this program. (And know that there are so many more we have yet to meet!) Just think: for $30 (a one-time gift of $30!) we can alter the trajectory of a family's life!

Each of these families are given the choice of three business options: chicken, seeds, or a shop. They have been given the starting block for their business under one condition: they are to return a small portion of their earnings to the program to go toward helping jump-start another family's business.

Let's meet these families, shall we?!

Mama and Baba Boniface (Steve and Jenny) // seeds

Steve and Jenny were the first stop on our tour. And, my, was it beneficial! They have three boys, the oldest, Boniface, attends Precious Kids Center School for an education suited to his needs. These two look-after a small piece of land for a local family, and with their knowledge of farming, will thrive with a small plot of their own. They gave us a tour of the grounds they keep and estimates on cost of seed, the length of time from planting to harvest, and an educated guess on how much profit various crops could yield daily, weekly, and monthly. To say it was the right first-stop would be an understatement.

We will set him up with the seeds for a few of the most popular-selling vegetables. Not only will he be able to grow these vegetables to both sell and feed his family, but he will also have the opportunity to teach a tangible skill to his sons. (He's also agreed to help train those who are interested, but not yet proficient in farming!)

Mama Rose // chicken

Mama Rose and her husband (not pictured) have four children, three boys and one girl. The oldest (Rose, seen here) and youngest (Collins) attend Precious Kids Center School to receive a specialized education suited to their developmental needs. The middle two boys attend local secondary schools. Her husband is a teacher, but due to a nation-wide teacher's strike, there has not been a paycheck in that house for about two months. With four sets of mouths to feed, school fees to pay, uniforms and supplies to purchase, not to mention all of the costs of keeping a home running, this family is in need of income that will help meet their financial needs without taking away from the physical and emotional needs of her children.

She's chosen to raise chickens. We will provide her with four hens and one rooster, a coop, and a small bag of feed. She can collect and sell eggs, (also using some to feed her family!) while also breeding additional chickens to sell. The first four will be returned to the program to help another family, but the rest are hers to keep or sell as she sees fit.

Mama Rispah // shop

Mama Rispah is a single mother of five daughters (several that I have known since I worked with Oasis of Hope.) Over the years, her children have returned home only to drop-off a grandchild before heading off again. Two of her grandsons, Chris and Steve, attend Precious Kids Center school.

Mama Rispah recently used a small amount of money to begin a shop outside of her home. She has a great location in her neighborhood--just around the corner from the local water source--so there is a lot of foot-traffic along her road. She was selling charcoal when we visited, so when we offered to purchase some other commonly-used items for this community, she made a short list: soap, laundry detergent, matches, salt, and tea.



When I visited a week after dropping off these items, she excitedly told me how well things were selling. She also mentioned that, with some of the profits she made last week, she was going to purchase a few other items to sell. We have agreed upon a small amount of money to be returned each week for the first month of this shop, once again, to go back to the project and begin a business for another family.

Allan, Paul, and Jackson // seeds

These three boys have been living alone for the last few years, scraping by to finish their education. This November, they will sit for the National Exam that marks the end of secondary school and, officially, enter adulthood. To give them a sustainable source of income as they make the leap from student to grown-up, we (with some much needed coaching from Baba Boniface) are going to set up a small (1-2 crop) farm.

They will be able to plant and tend to the crops while they finish school and, by the time school closes for the year, the crops should be fully grown and ready to eat and sell in local markets to pay for the items they will need to run their home while they await exam results and, potentially, begin University. Like the other families, we've agreed upon a small amount to be returned to the program each week for the first month of sales, in order to help launch a new business for another family.

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Please be praying for these families. For wise business choices, for generous spirits as they give back to help additional families, for protection over the plants and animals. Pray that they would be surprised by the abundant blessings that come in the first few months of these businesses. Please also be praying that I would have wisdom as to the next guiding steps for these existing families (savings, business growth, etc.) and discernment going forward as we choose the next set of families to partner with.

If you are interested in being part of this new project--interested in giving $30 to change the life of a family--there are donation options on your right or you can email me: allihibb{at}gmail.com for more ways to give.

I Successfully Hopped A Fence And Shimmied Under Barbed Wire...All In A Dress

Thursday began as normal, but turned to unexpected adventure before we knew it.

I sat down on the couch when we arrived at the center...Sammy had mentioned that there was a lot of office work to be done, so I brought a stack of school uniforms I had promised to stitch before everyone goes back to school next week.

But I never got around to them.

I was, first, distracted by this adorable child. Christine handed me her comb and giggled like crazy when I stuck it in her hair. Cyril was, clearly, not as amused.

I had just pulled out a pair of torn trousers when Sammy came in to the living room with her purse and asked if I'd like to go with her and Phoebe to visit a kid in Cherangani. The one time I passed up a home visit, I heard that it was a kid I would have absolutely loved (Sammy called him the male version of Suzie)...so I've learned my lesson. I grabbed my purse and jumped in the van.

We drove for nearly an hour (mostly because we missed the turn and had to back-track) before stopping to pick up a man who would lead us to his house and introduce us to his son. This man is a security guard at a hospital in Kitale who has seen Sammy and her staff bringing kids in and out for various treatments. For months he's been asking her to come and see his son, who also has special needs.

Little did we know, once he led us to a gate at the end of a field and we got out of the van, we'd be hiking for about ten minutes (including hopping a fence and climbing under barbed wire) to get to his house. I have to say, I love these kind of surprises--even when I'm wearing a dress--and especially when a storm's-a-brewin'.

When we arrived at the house, a woman came out carrying a tall, thin boy. She set him on the ground and he looked at us with a mix of fear and curiosity, but slowly began to smile at Phoebe and Sammy. My white face and yellow hair have proven to be incredibly frightening to most of the children we've visited. It takes them a while to warm up to me--if they do at all.

Back to Lenny--that was his name, Lenny. As the parents described his symptoms to Sammy (in Swahili, so I only caught every few words) I took a few pictures. Once I showed them to Lenny, he warmed up to me a bit more.  Lenny has cerebral palsy, which limits his mobility, and his mother described some form of cleft palate located in his throat, which limits his speech and food intake.

Sammy told the parents that Precious Kids Center is currently at maximum capacity, but promised to be in touch about how she can be part of Lenny's development in the future.

And then the rains came. So we said our goodbyes and began our walk back to the van...back under the barbed wire and over the fence...quickly.

When we got home, ate lunch, and changed in to warmer (and dry!) clothes, we realized that Allan still had to go to the hospital for his fourth typhoid injection. I drove over to the kid's house expecting to pick up Allan and Phoebe, but somehow ended up with an additional six kids. 

And, thus, we made an incredibly loud visit to the hospital...creating quite the scene out front. No one wanted to use the van doors--opting to climb in and out of the windows instead, Frank blasted Taylor Swift "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" on repeat, Lucy and Hillary jumped to pick berries from tree branches, Manu paraded around in this get-up, and Pascal was hollering at each one of them to look at the camera.

I pulled in to the center and immediately saw Bramwel flailing his arms in the window and hollering at me. Turns out he was yelling, "Hey You! Get in here! Come here!" I walked inside and he went straight to, "Where did you come from? Where's Sammy? Sit down! Take off your shoes!" I hung around for a few minutes, but then headed home for dinner...but not before taking this sweet photo. By the way, this was the only way to stop Bram from yelling more directions at me, "Hey You! Go home! Come back tomorrow! See you! Bye!"

 

This Tuesday Included A Terrific Team

Anytime there are guests expected at the center, the morning is spent in preparation for their arrival: mats are brought outside, on which the kids congregate, and with each passing car every head turns to the street with curiosity and anticipation, hoping that engine will stop in front of our gate and it will be time for the party.

Such was this Tuesday morning. Sammy and the house moms did the morning feeding and cleaning a little faster, but a little more thorough than usual. (You know what I mean, it's the difference in the way you clean before your friends come to dinner at your house and when your mother comes to dinner at your house...) And Sammy would complete a task and then come out front to see if it was time to welcome the visitors or if, just maybe, there was time for one more quick chore.

That morning, the kids had been given corn on the cob with their tea. They were all very excited to have such a special breakfast...and I was very excited to watch a houseful of kids with missing front teeth attempt to eat it! 

It's also pretty funny to watch the smaller kids try to grasp the concept of a camera. Once they can see themselves on the screen, they just lean closer and closer to get a better look...until what I'm left with is a sequence of gradually enlarging faces.

For a few hours each morning, (well, six days a week) a teacher from Greenfields comes to work with the older kids in one of the classrooms. They work on assignments they were given over break and receive focused assistance in subjects that have proven to be difficult or confusing.

While the older kids are in the classroom, the little kids take full advantage of the 'cool toys'. Willie had the time of his life as Mike pushed him around the compound on the bicycle for about half an hour.

Around eleven, the team arrived. Typically, teams are made up of 10 to 15 people, usually members of one (maybe two) churches from the same number of states. This group was very different: they pulled up in a bus, for starters, followed by three or four cars. They were not only Americans (from a range of states) but also a large group of kids from a local orphanage who had come to spend their day serving the kids at the center alongside their American sponsors. 

It was so fun to watch the front yard flood with guests. Guests who jumped right in and introduced themselves to the kids, worked to learn names and hear stories.

Within minutes, most of the Precious Kids had been 'adopted' for the afternoon: they were carried around, photographed like crazy (which we know they love!), fed cookies and juice (so much that most of the kids declined lunch because they were so full!), and given loads of one-on-one attention (which can be hard to come by in a home of 37 kids!)

The older kids (especially the boys) are a little more stand-offish when it comes to visitors. They stood on the sidelines and watched the swarm...they definitely enjoyed the juice and cookies, though. I had to snap this picture quickly since they love to take photos of one another, but not have their pictures taken by me. (You can tell by Jabal's face--second from the left--that he's very concerned about what's happening.)

The team also brought gifts! Diapers, food, and miscellaneous household items. So kind of them!

As their visit was wrapping up, we started serving lunch--well, to those who weren't too full on cookies and juice! The visiting kids stuck around, even after the team left for lunch, to help wash all of the dishes--such kind and servant-hearted guests!

Once the team left and everyone had eaten lunch, we made our way home for quick naps and a little downtime before coming back for dinner.

I sat on the back porch while the teenagers ate dinner and the house moms cooked theirs. We joked and laughed and attempted to speak one another's languages, coaching each other as the conversation went on. One of the boys was mixing up him/her in a story (this is a common struggle for those learning English, since most pronouns are gender neutral in Swahili) and the girl's began to tease him, he stopped and yelled, "Hey! I'm trying!" and continued with his story.

Suzie made her way outside and sat with me for over an hour--mumbling in her own language--every few minutes stopping to look me in the eye and touch my cheek. I really love that girl. And I love to watch the other kids interact with her--so lovingly replying to her chatter and copying her excited movements. She really loves them.

Watching this house of kids who have not really known family be family to each other is amazing. Learning to love and be loved--to be vulnerable, to trust that their feelings will be well-received and respected. I know this changes the way they view themselves and the world around them...and, slowly but surely, I'm starting to see how watching all of this unfold is doing the same for me.

A Monday Of Childhood Moments

Monday morning, bright and early, we made our way over to Precious Kids Center. Sammy said the only "must" for the day was to take Allan and Manu to the doctor. So the morning was full of playing and lounging.

Phoebe and Sammy carried Allan and Manu to the van and we drove to the local hospital. The two boys sat and waited to be seen by the doctor. (Manu is his breakaway pants and Spongebob shirt...)

Each of them had blood drawn (with only a few tears) and then waited for results. Manu tested positive for malaria and Allan, typhoid and malaria. Since Allan can't swallow pills, (he threw up painkillers two days in a row) they put an IV in to his arm so he could receive injections over the next five days and make his way back to health. It was rough to hear him cry as they installed (you can call it that, right?) the IV, and then to see those big crocodile tears when he came back to the waiting room!

In the meantime, Manu, Phoebe and I played peek-a-boo with his drool cloth, and Sammy checked to see if any of his teeth were loose--she loves pulling teeth! And Manu was going crazy for all of this attention!

We came back from the hospital and headed to town to make a very exciting purchase. Hillary is sponsored by our friend Gennadiy, a Ukrainian pastor who was on the team that was in town when I came in February. He has a huge heart for street kids all over the world--he has adopted about 25 street kids in Ukraine! This week, he sent Sammy money to buy Hillary a bike.

Hillary was trying so hard to play it cool, but was obviously excited. When I asked him if he knew which bike he wanted, he immediately told me about one he'd seen last time he was in the store. We headed upstairs--Hillary trying his hardest to keep a normal pace--and he chose this green and black bike, which he rode all the way out to the parking lot. He jumped straight out of the car, grabbed the bike and headed out front with the other older boys (who were excitedly chattering about how cool it is!) when we got back to the house.

Earlier when we'd been preparing to leave for town, Cyril got up off of her favorite spot on the couch and walked out to the car. I've never seen this happen--she's usually very comfortable to hang out and watch the madness of the house unfold around her...she loves to laugh when the other kids get in to trouble--so Sammy promised we'd take her home with us that afternoon.

As promised, after lunch, we put her in the car and drove home. She followed Sammy around the house for hours--she sat outside while Sammy drank her tea, and curled up right in the middle of the couch where Sammy was trying to nap. We found a small purple clip with a flower on it and she pretended to smell the flower for a solid five minutes, until Sammy gave her a small plastic bag which she crinkled between her thumb and forefinger for nearly half an hour. Girl had the time of her life.

While Sammy took Cyril back to the kid's house (in the rain) I did some yoga (I know, check me out!) made dinner and thought about the fun, tangible moments of childhood that had taken place that day: peek-a-boo, first bikes, nap-time snuggles...each of these a memorable part of growing up. I love that these kids are able to have these experiences (even if it is years after most children.) Kids that were abused in orphanages, grew up on the streets, or were left alone in the house all day--now receiving one-on-one care, attention, and appropriate touch. These moments are just a small example of the beautiful redemption story God is writing in the lives of those at Precious Kids Center and I am so grateful to watch these unfold--and even be part of them--each day.

My Post-Team, Pre-Sammy Weekend

With the team gone and Sammy not yet home, my plan was to "only do things I want to do" for the rest of the weekend as a way to re-cooperate after a very, very full week.

Friday morning, I stripped every bed in the house so the sheets would be fresh and clean for Sammy's return. I packed up the make-shift bedroom we'd built in the dining room, washed all of the dishes, and cleaned out the fridge (You may be thinking, "so much for your plan to take it easy..." but, I wanted to do these things!)

Once all of that was in order and our friend was hard at work doing all of the wash (she's a gem!), I headed to the kid's house. Most of the day was spent laying in the yard, taking it very easy!

At one point, I had three kids pretending to nap on my lap. Pretty great afternoon, if you ask me!

My mom sent a suitcase full of gifts for me and the kids with Sammy's mom...including enough Dodger shirts for the whole of Kitale!

Friday night and Saturday morning were spent writing blog posts while watching Felicity on DVD, reading a book, oh, and a lot of sleeping.

After lunch, I was back at the kid's house. Just in time to watch Suzie and Cyril have a silent couch battle.

Round 1: how to eat lunch.

Round 2: how to watch TV (Cyril is a very slow eater!)

All week, as I had been pulling the van in and out of the center, the smaller kids had been asking to come along. Finally, I gave in and loaded ALL of the smaller kids in to the van (and some older kids to hold a few who can't sit on their own.) We got 29 people in to the 10 seats (yikes!!!) and made a slow (but very exciting) trip around the block. Most of the kids giggled and cheered the entire time, but Manu (who was in the front seat with Augustus) was the only one to cheer when he realized we were heading home. (He into the concept of car rides more than the reality.)

When we came back, a few of the girls ran back to get pieces of charcoal from the backyard. Slowly but surely, they drew a crowd...and some pictures. (Get it?!)

It looked too fun to pass up, so I drew my mom and dad and brother. Someone asked me to add my grandfather (who has become a fan favorite around here as I pass on his messages that "Manu takes great photos" or "Maureen is very cool!" They love him!) 

I had made one more promise that I made sure to keep: I told Lillian and Lucy that they could come spend the day at my house. We painted nails, (they had such a great time choosing from the dozens of color options sent by my mom and aunt!) and watched 13 Going on 30 while eating a huge bowl of popcorn and enjoying hot chocolate. 

While I cleaned up, the girls climbed the tree out front and took home two mangoes each. And, since the van was out of gas anyway, we enjoyed some samosas from the gas station. (I told them they had to pretend to eat dinner so the other kids wouldn't be too jealous of all of the junk food they had eaten!)

I hung around for dinner at the house (and even a quick dance party)!

This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it. Julius was not in to these glasses!

Sunday morning I woke up early to meet Sammy and our friend Caren at the Kitale Airstrip. Here's the plane they took from Nairobi--I'm pretty sure they made up the majority of the people on the flight!

Sammy needed a nap after a long week and a very early morning, so we went home. I wrote a few more blog posts (and enjoyed a nap myself!) before we went for Sunday Night dinner at the kid's house. They hadn't seen Sammy in a full week, so they swarmed her as soon as we arrived!

Sunday nights at the house is always madness--especially when it's been raining and they've been cooped-up inside all day--so we called it an early night.

As much as I loved my alone time, it's been really, really fun to have Sammy back. Our week has been full of adventure, moments of childhood, lots of laughter, and even a good amount of rest (so many stories to come!) AND we've been watching my favorite show, Veronica Mars, each night before bed! (!!!!!!!!)