Mzungu! how are you? (repeat 25 times)

Hi Everybody!

Things have been so busy over here at Tumaini!! And I’m loving all of it…even the ever-present new things to process about living in another culture.

Since my last post…

We still don’t have running water. But it’s really okay, it’s just caused us to get more exercise. Okay, for the band nerds and my family…remember how after playing the mellophone in marching band for awhile, I got these weird muscles between my neck and shoulders that I didn’t even know existed? Well, carrying full buckets of water up a hill and stairs has done the same thing. We hoped for more ways to get exercise when we came back from our conference in February… =] We really have been fine with limited water.

Bishop Thagana, who started Tumaini and GOA (http://www.goaweb.org/), came to visit with his family after he returned from America a few weeks ago. I discussed some of the library plans with him, and after a conversation with him and our social worker, I really didn’t think it was going to happen. We don’t have much space here, and between needing room for kids and for computer space (the kids are learning about computers this year), it wasn’t looking like a library would happen while I’m here. But I really felt like the LORD wanted that to happen! On his last day, Bishop visited Mama Cecelia’s old office because she’s going to be working from her house now, and he decided that should be used for the library!!! Praise the LORD, bwena asi fiwe! So, things have been a whirlwind as we collect the books and make final notes and documents. It’s so exciting! I REALLY believe reading will a) improve these kids’ scores, b) expand their knowledge, and c) stretch their brains. And, I really think once they start reading, some will realize how much they enjoy it.

…kind of like how half of these kids didn’t know they were athletes until given the opportunity to play sports. The past 2 days have been SO MUCH FUN! The schools around our area have put together soccer teams, volleyball teams, and netball teams (like basketball), and we have spent the last 2 days at all the competitions. Lindsey & I have been talking about how much we love it that everyone gets these days to have fun and be kids. This is the first sort of tournament they’ve ever had, so we realized after watching one game that the “spectators” didn’t know their job was to cheer and support their team. Haha! Our social worker got them together and promised them “maandazi” (Kenyan donuts) if they would cheer. I think they would have cheered even without the maandazi once they knew they were supposed to…plus, they had fun doing it! Some of the kids at the other schools aren't used to seeing "wzungus" (white people), so they crowd around us & stare. It's a bit awkward, but it makes us laugh. It reminds me of when we see zebras here & yell "zebras! wooowww!" and we stare for as long as we can and take pictures. That's kinda how the kids are with us, haha! They yell at us "mzungu! (white person!) how are you? how are you? how are you? etc." The "how are you's" continue until they can't see us anymore. It's so funny. We yell back "fine, fine, fine, fine, etc." They ask "how are you?" with this really high pitched, nasally voice. I guess they think we all talk high pitched and through our noses, which compared to the Kenyans, I guess we kind of do. haha, anyways, it's hilarious. I need to get a video of that.

During the boys’ soccer game, I was cheering for James and noticed that the only adults they had cheering were me, Lindsey, and some of the teachers. There were no parents. It gave me tears in my eyes, there were so many times yesterday that I felt like a mom taking her kids’ to their ballgames, holding their sweaters and cheering for them, and I prayed that they would understand someday that the LORD is proud of who they are. He’s the One that made them, took care of them on the streets, rescued them, and is providing for them, so of course He is proud of them. I hope people tell the kids they’re proud of them after we leave. I know the LORD will take care of them.

It’s also been fun to see the teachers and staff out at the ballgames, coaching, supporting, and having fun. Authority is taken very seriously here, I mean, very seriously. You don’t rebel or there’s big trouble coming. So I’ve loved watching the teachers turn into cheering, supportive, fun coaches!

I have exactly four weeks left at Tumaini, and time is going by faster than it has in my whole time here. I’m getting sad to leave…I adore some of the kids and I want to take them home. But, the LORD’s grace is prevailing still. I’ve been reminded that He fills voids when people are gone, there’s a time for going and a time for leaving, He understands our thoughts from afar, and He has good plans for our future. I’m sure it will be tough when I bake a cake and wish Teresiah or Margaret could eat it with me, or when I get in my car to go to church and think about these sweeties walking 45 minutes up a hill to get to church. But I am excited to see everybody again, as much as I enjoy it here, I do miss home! I am also excited to continue walking alongside the LORD and to see what He has planned. He is worthy to be praised, that is definitely one thing I’ve learned from living in Kenya!