A day at Wana Duma is about as predictable as the wind or the rain. Susan, Miriam and I will make a game plan and start the day but it never goes quite as expected.
You never know when you will find a sick cu-cu, child or one of our rescue animals in need. Everyday one of our kids pops in with something; a new school fee, teachers meeting (last minute to us), or a cu-cu needing help with trying to get birth certificates for their Grandchildren. Each child, each cu-cu has a story. You have to sit, listen and sort it all out. My days start around 4:30 am and end around 8:30 pm as my brain no longer wants to function. With Susan gone home on weekends, Miriam is with me. Lucy 7 and Sarah 4 1/2 come too as does Miriam’s 2 1/2 month old son; little Richard. He tends to be fussy so he is often strapped onto one of us as we move through the day.
Rahab and Baby Margaret
This week Titus and Stephen, our big boys at the Polytech came by (always at dinner time) for field trip fees. Titus, our troubled one, has made a dramatic about face, shocking his teachers and ready to finish his 2 yr carpentry course in good form. Martha our girl in tailoring came to spend her day off with us. Rahab and Grace came on Monday afternoon to visit. Rahab is now in hairdressing school and Grace, a graduate, is working in a salon. Rahab told Miriam she can’t thank us enough for giving her this chance as it has changed her life. Marrying and having a child right after graduation she was told by a former staff member she was not welcome back. But that is not how Wana Duma operates…..we tracked her down when we heard this had happened to her and welcomed her back with open arms. She said her and her husband had been really struggling as hard laborers. Now she doesn’t worry.
Miriam, Susanne, Lucy, Sarah, Agnes R, Hannah...and Bahati in the middle of it all!
Gitu comes by for money for their Senior “bash”. Peter and Ndegwa come by to go over a new business adventure. Gladys to talk about problems at home where she lives with her sister and her 9 kids and alcoholic Mother. Agnes W stops to get her transport money to get to her computer classes (which she is loving!!!). John M to get final fees as he finishes up his College courses. Faith, Anthony, Agnes R. John M (another) to get fees for balances due, Elizabeth pops in too. It is a constant revolving door that only closes after dark to begin again at dawn.
This week will prove to be challenging….but then every week is in one form or another.
So here’s to happy days, many bananas and no barking dogs at night! Oh yeah, can’t forget the grape juice……………..
