Africa Day 7

Day 7

Tuesday December 17, 2012

I woke with the roosters and began packing.  I did not have much to pack though.  I gave away most of my clothes to the children in Victorious Children’s Home.  Vicki had asked for the book I was reading on the Beattitudes, it wasn’t even mine, but I gave it to her.  Sorry Barry & Linda Smith!  I figured you would not mind J  I also left her my torch to read by when the power goes out.  I had given my Bible away on Sunday to Bishop Juma.  His Bible was shredded and falling apart.  You could tell it was well used. I left my towel for the kids to use. I gave all the granola bars & popcorn I had brought for back up food to the boys, I left all my lotion, shampoo and body oil for the girls.  So, packing did not take very long.  Clair cam in to make my bed and I gave her a small back of trash that consisted mostly of packaging form thing I had brought as gifts like lotion sets.  She said she would take it to compost.  However, I think the children went through the compost because when I went outside I saw them playing with a box that the lotions had came in.  You see the top of the box was clear plastic and the rest of the box was cardboard.  The boys decided it would be great for catching ants and bugs and observing them.  I had to laugh.  They were having so much fun with my trash.  LOL

I spent some time hanging out with the children and reading this morning.  Carol, who works in the kitchen, brought me a plate of fresh fruit to eat “to give me strength for my journey” she said.  Everyone else was eating fried intestines.  There was no way I could eat that.  Vicki said “God has not given you the grace to eat intestines yet.” After my fruit, I wanted something salty so I had some potato chips.  The saltiness of the chips made me crave a coke.  So Acadius and another boy escorted me down the dusty path to the store. We passed a school and the owners let me go on a school tour.  I was so excited!  I asked all kinds of questions.  I found out that for one child to go to school for one year it is $530. The school I toured was a private school but here in Kenya you still pay tuition for government schools as well.  I was curious about costs because I know that one of the ladies who works in the kitchen has been saving all her money in hopes to send her two boys to school. 

 The children were giving me letters to take to sponsors in the US all day today.  So I would walk through the house and then need to return to my room to pack a letter.  As I was walking through the kitchen I stopped to drink my coke and talk to Carol. Carol is little Brittany’s mother.  Carol works in the kitchen for VCH.  She asked if I would please take Brittany with me to live.  It was so heartbreaking.  She loves her little girl so much that she would give her away in hopes of a better future.  I told her I would take her but I am afraid I would be thrown in jail if I took her.  After that sobering moment, I had to return to my room to pray. 

The time came for me to depart and the tears were many.