As promised, we have been BUSY!!! The days have been full of walking to visit cu-cus, sick mommas, and follow-ups with resuce pups. When not walking, we are meeting with business leaders in the community on how best to go forward with our project here, shopping to stock the house with food and mutumba (flea market) clothes for all our growing kids.
Cu-cu Grace greeting us from her shamba
On Market Day with many cu-cus in town, we decided to have them up for tea so that they could meet Becca. It was great fun!
They were all excited to meet her – greeting Becca with hugs and big smiles. Our prayer warrior, Cu-cu Grace, started our tea with a 5 minute prayer. She is one powerful cu-cu who at 88 still works her huge shamba (garden) with a heavy jembe hoe. As she prays you don’t have a clue what she is saying, as she speaks in Swahili, but you can FEEL her power and devotion. Goosebumps run from head to toe and tears slide down your face.
Our cu-cus truly love us and appreciate the support we give them as they raise their Grandchildren and GREAT grandchildren. They have been abadoned by so many including their surviving children who don’t want the added responsibilityand cost of raising their orphaned nieces and nephews.
Cu-cu Kagure couting fingers and toes
Cu-cu Kagure spied one of the baby dolls I brought for the kids and just couldn’t get over it. Pretty soon they were all checking out the tiny toes and fingers – rocking, hugging and patting them like newborns. Laughing and giggling as they had never seen a doll. “They look so real!”
No sooner did the grandmas leave to beat the approaching storm then some of our big kids pitched up-Agnes N for computer fees, Titus and Josphat, Peter and Ndegwa. They file in and out until dark. Some request fees for this or that and some just want a bite to eat and a chance to talk and laugh. We enjoy watching them blossom and become more confident.
Full House of kids watching WDCP video
Saturday we had a “Kids Day” so Becca could meet as many of our children as possible while she is here. I think we were close to 35 by the end of the day! First the little one arrived at 9AM with a big excited smnile on her sweet face. Eunice (6) is actually Ndegwa’s niece. He dropped her off for a play day while he attended to some business in town. The house quickly filled to bursting. Kids laughing, eating, drawing, reading and writing their thank yous and new ”children’s fun forms”. It was so fun to watch the little girls loving on the dolls and the small boys playing with the cars. It was dark before the door finally closed behind the last one and us “mommas” finally sat down! I must say the dawa (medicine) in the green bottle is mighty nice right about then!
Today, Sunday, we are all fighting colds. We told Miriam and baby to stay home and rest and we decided a semi-quiet day here wouldn’t hurt us one bit. Soooo, we are spending time catching up on the computer writing, and housework and enjoying the quiet while we can. If we are lucky it’ll last until early afternoon! Our reprieves never last long so we take advantage when we can.
Some of our little ones on Party Day!
