falling in love

I went back to the place where I fell in love with Kenya. It seems like every patch of grass, mound of dirt and tree has a memory. 

This is where I saw Musa's head sliced open for the first time. 

This is where I super glued Francis's foot to his shoe. 

This is where I was taught how to do a somersault and a cartwheel.  

This is where I knew my life had been changed. 

Oprah arranged for us to come. Last time we were in Kenya the manager at TCRC (Thika) told us she has been looking for a new home for some of the boys. Naturally I thought of Eternal Hope (where we are now). We set up the arrangements and now three of our favorite boys are going to have a new safer and loving home soon. 

There has been a lot of complications with paper work and the process is long and complicated but soon the boys will be changing homes.

Oprah called TCRC and said she wanted to visit the boys. Tony drove us. We got there and it was like a flood gate of memories hit. 

The boys were in school and so we went into the kitchen to set up the snacks and food we brought for the boys to munch on. As soon as the bell released them from school a flood of my favorite people in the world rushed into Kaleigh and my arms. It was like out of a movie. One boy after another jumped into my arms. I could have died. I was so happy. 

It was one of those moments that you wish you could stop time. 

My kids. My heart. 

It was all there.

We fed them. We played with them. We gave them books, toys and games. We took pictures. 

They begged us to not go. 

But as all good things.

It had to come to an end with a resolve to come back. 

I love those boys with all my heart even the annoying ones. 

I cannot wait to see them again. Oh my gosh. I cannot wait. They are perfect. 

The lucky three. 

Can we just take a moment and look at this child? 

Edi Opondo. 

He is my favorite. I know we are not supposed to have favorites but I couldn't help it. 

I would do anything for him. 

You have to agree that he is one lush son of God. 

trying to fit in

This trip to Kenya is not like my normal pop by. The orphanage we were going to stay at refused to let us come. Luckily another orphanage in Nairobi was welcoming. 

Here there are just over 30 kids. It is a mixture of boys and girls but definitely more girls. Our house is large and spacious. We have rooms that we do nothing with except maybe hang our delicates to dry after we wash them or let my dirty clothes pile up. We got here and in the house we only had bunk beds, mattresses and blankets. 

Perfect. Sleeping is covered. 

Nothing a quick trip to the supermarket could not take care of. 

Now that we have been here for a week, it is almost like we live here. 

The locals are getting more used to us. (Or not. We still get called all sorts of tribal names and the famous, mzungu.)

Here in Kayole it is a constant battle to find out where I fit in. In Thika we had made our mark. Everything seemed to flow. Now it is back to the square one. 

It was a new adventure to get my phone to work and new internet. It was an adventure to find a bank. Every time we need to get new food from the shop it is an adventure. Nothing is what we are used to. There is no flow and independence seems to be slightly taken away. 

As time passes it will get better. Things will also flow here in Kayole. But for now there is a lot of texting, calling, asking Oscar for help. Bless his soul. 

The kids are also at school all morning until like 4 or 5 in the afternoon sometimes. So Kaleigh and I have a lot of down time. I read, The Kite Runner, in 3 days. It was seriously so good. I highly suggest it. 

Also a perk about living with girls: they can braid hair! Guess who got lines in their hair last night? That's right. This sister right here. 

And I didn't end up going to Uganda that first week. I came to Kenya and realized I was needed somewhere else. 

So, kwaheri from Kenya for now.

oh canada

As it is snowing outside and I am waiting for my next flight here in Toronto, Canada, I thought that I would blog. I am going to Turkey next and finally Nairobi getting into country at 3:30 am. Who found these flights anyway? Me.

First of all, it is freaking weird to think that I am going somewhere super hot and it is all snowy outside. I flew in and literally thought to myself that I am not prepared for this but I am only here in snow land for 6 hours.

Okay. Okay. Now to the goods.

I feel like a lot of people are confused. I am not in the Peace Corps yet. I am just taking a little trip to Kenya before I head off for 27 months. I will be back in America in May.

This trip has been a struggle to plan. The orphanage that normally hosts me does not have as open arms as they say. They say that they have "other projects" going on and so they do not want any volunteers right now.

I did some research into that and it sounds like the manager is just lying to me.
After a few days of feeling homeless and SUPER stressed, I found the next best option.

Kaleigh and I will stay at Eternal Hope. It is an orphanage run by an American Mormon family. It is co-ed. That is going to be so weird. Girls are so dang moody. I know I will learn to love these kids so much.

I have gone and visited this orphanage many times. Oscar and Gabby work here. I am going to get to see those two lush men almost every single day now. That will be way different.

As you have also maybe noticed; Kaleigh and I are flying out a week apart.

I am taking this first week to make a trip to Uganda. What am I going to do there? I have no idea. Who do I know there? Not a soul, really. It is just because I purely have this desire to go to Uganda. Seize the day!

And that it is. I will be in America in May and then make my more permanent move to Zambia in June. So, don't freak out if you were not able to give me a proper goodbye.

We still have time.