It is the rest of the story.

The above pictures are of Lillian and the day we went to pick her and her grandmother up to go visit the orphanage. We went to her home to find her in only a long dirty t-shirt. Her grandmother said Lillian had been waiting every day since we left for us to come back. I had gotten two of the dresses that Diane (thanks Diane) had made and brought them along with a few other clothes purchased in the market. We changed her into a new dress, took her in the village to get her head shaved, and headed with the grandmother to hail a matatu and go for our visit. Lillian held my hand and acted shy most of the trip. When we arrived we went into the sitting room and she and her grandmother were introduced to the house mom and dad. After sitting for a while Lillian began to inch her way to the door. Soon she disappeared out the door and as I checked on her I found her sitting on the wall watching the children in school. When the children were let out for lunch I introduced her to some the the children. When I went to check on her again I could not find her until I went to the back of the compound and found her at the well washing her hands with several other girls. She had ALREADY made friends and was off on her own. I did not see her again until it was time to leave. At this point she was asked if she wanted to go home or stay. Her decision without hesitation was to stay. The grandmother was so happy and so grateful to us for caring for her granddaughter. Lillian is doing so well. She has made many friends and seems to be at home.
I don't understand! I was so worried about her before we took her! I was so worried about the grandmother insisting that she come with us! How is it that a child can be taken from her home and be so happy? Can she truly understand what is going on? All I know is that she is thriving where she now is.

Because it is a tough week.

This week had a few tough days. When coming to Africa everyone has certain expectations of what they will see and experience. This is my 5th trip to Kenya and I am still taken by surprise by this country. Things happen here that would never happen in a developed country. They are horrifying and disturbing. This week I went with Daniel and a few others to look for property to build an Aids home on as well as to expand the Neema (street girl) project. I went because earlier in the week Ann, the TI social worker, mentioned a grandma in a village where we have projects who is dying of aids and has a six year old granddaughter, who also has aids, that has no where to go after the grandmother dies. She has asked us to take her granddaughter, Lillian, into our orphanage. The plan was to go and meet the grandmother and her grandchild. I wanted to go. It had been raining hard that day and we arrived to a very muddy village. We first checked on a widows project that TI manages that has been very successful. I was impressed at the sewing these women were doing. After checking on this project we walked through the small town area to the grandmothers home. As we walked I had this sense of "this is exactly what I thought Africa would be like". If Disneyland had Africaland I am sure it would be exactly like this town area. The small shops, people sitting outside, the muddy road and the children following us and holding my hand. We arrive at the grandmothers home which amounted to a block of "apartments" consisting of one room, a small window and a door. As we entered it felt as if we were entering a dungeon. It was so dark and dingy and the grandmother was very sick. There was no doubt she was dieing. Lillian had followed us to her home and came into the room with us. She wore a coat 10 sizes to large and keep her head down as we talked to the grandmother. Through the social worker the grandmother stated she was afraid what will happen to her granddaughter when she dies. The girl contracted aids from caring for her grandmother. Six years old!! The grandmother was so grateful there was a plan for her granddaughter. I whispered to Daniel, how does the girl feel about it? He had Ann ask her and the girl bowed her head even more and whispered something to Ann. Ann said she said it was fine. FINE!! How can this be fine? She is six! Her grandmother who has raised her since she was 9 months old is dieing!!! She will leave everything she knows and go to a different village and live with 30 children she doesn't know! How can any of this be OK?? I am struggling with this and wondering if there is a "better" way. Eventually Lillian will come into TI's care. It will be the "best" decision when her grandmother dies. But isn't there a better way? A better plan? Why does a 6 year old get aids from caring for her grandmother? So many questions!!

The next day one of our interns, Jennifer, went to the hospital with our social worker. When we did the previous medical clinics some people were referred to the hospital for more care. Jennifer has been interested in the medical aspect of the work done and wanted to experience the hospital. I have been to the hospital, once. I hope to NEVER return. It is horrific!! Two to four to a bed, dead bodies left for hours, stench and hopelessness. I can never come close to accurately describing it. I was concerned for Jennifer but this was something she wanted to experience. When she arrived with Ann and Daniel they checked on several girls who had been admitted the day before. When they arrived at the bed of a 12 year old girl she was dead. They do not know why she died. Her mother was in the room with her and Jennifer went to her mother and hugged her (not a very Kenyan thing to do, but a most compassionate act). I don't know how Jennifer made it through the day but she stayed at the hospital, shadowing Ann in getting medications for others who had come in that day for treatment and waiting for the child's body to be picked up and taken to her village (one calls a person with a pick up truck to come and transport the body). In Kenya, you must buy your own medications, food, IV's, bedding, and medical supplies in order to be treated. If the pharmacy is closed, you wait until the morning. Some die waiting for the pharmacy to open. You share a bed with at least one other person sometimes four people. You have to have someone stay in the hospital with you because you will not eat if someone doesn't provide food for you. I don't understand? How can ANY of this be OK? How can it continue? What is the answer?

Slum Project

We have started a project with six girls from the slums near by. Out of the six girls five of them have babies and the oldest girl is 18 with a 6 year old child. The youngest girl is 13. Last year Lauren started this project and we are continuing it. The girls make the cards and on Fridays we are able to pay them for what they have made. We will bring the cards back to the US and sale them. We are meeting with them three days a week for two hours. Not only will it give them a small about of money, it gives them hope in learning a skill and friendship with the interns here. I am sure I will have many stories to tell about our meeting with these young women.

Because it is the Neema Girls.

Last week when we visited the Neema project we decided to start a project with them. These girls have been rescued off the street or from the potintial of going onto the streets. Upon meeting them they are so sweet and innocent looking. It is hard to believe anything was any different than what they are now.

The project the intern girls decided to start with them was to make cards and jewlery that can be sold both in Africa and in the United States. We wanted to use our first day testing what skills they had in order to know what projects to start. We colored, cut and beaded all of which the girls did very well. The picutures are of the girls beading. Thanks Christopher for the beautiful beads!!

Because it is always nice to have some time alone.

I am sitting in my room, the compound is empty (a rarity), it is raining outside and I can hear the thunder. The birds are still chirping and I know that the water tank is filling.
There is nothing like having a few hours to oneself. There is TRULY nothing like having a few hours to ones self in Africa. It gives me time to rest and to reflect on the past month. It also gives me time to reevaluate my purpose while here. I imagined what it was going to be like when I came to Kenya this year. It is different than any time before. We are staying for three months where we have stayed only one month before. We are here with six interns and three new staff members. We have only been here with Meridith and Daniel before. Meridith is married this year. We had a team of VERY energetic women here for two weeks. Ruth is in America this year. Two of my sons are here long term. We could stay longer if we wanted as my husband is now retired. It is so different.

It is a great day to reflect and reevaluate.