Day 9: Mambo-Hi!
Amanda and I confirmed our type A personalities today. We made lists of the number of students in each class, then counted out pencils, stickers, and cookies and made our rounds in the classrooms as the kids wrote their final exams. We made time to cut some veggies with Ezekiel for dinner, and made up boxes of food from the on-site store for community members. We welcomed 2 new Muzungus (White people) from Toronto who are friends of Lynda. They're great company, and love the kids as much as us. This afternoon's activity was life changing. I love working with Mission in Action Orphanage, but seeing how the community people live aka survive is surreal. We went on very (very) bumpy farmer-type-tractor-only (there are no postal addresses around here) dirt roads amongst crops to visit first with a family of 17 kids. The one boy's nickname in the community is 'professor,' because he's so smart. He was wearing a pin that said, 'Best in English.' If you could see the schools, you'd be floored. They're made out of steel, some with windows, some without. Lynda and Ivan chose to bring Professor and his twin brother to MIA next year for schooling. Imagine how their lives will change very shortly. We gave the family 2 boxes stuffed with maize flour to make ugali (like a cornmeal), flour, sugar, salt, toothbrushes and paste, juice, toilet paper, soap, laundry soap etc. Mom was sweet, she was happy and grateful to have the support. Family number 2, single mother with 3 special needs children. Ivan recently had their home rebuilt as their old one was falling apart. They generously gave out hugs and smiled from ear to ear, happy that we'd just paid them a visit. When we gave them the food they were over the moon. That phrase that gets tossed around, 'Don't waste your food, there are starving children in Africa.' The reality of that saying came alive today. Next time you need to teach a loved one about this, let me share my stories with them.
Back to MIA for dinner and an ice cream treat. Ronny ate it all (see photo), but not in time enough to salvage his pjs from runny chocolate. Luckily for me his caregivers let me change him and put him to bed tonight. A few camp songs with kids, and it was time to hit the hay. Tonight I'll pray in thankfulness for the basic necessities (and more) that I've always had, and pray that others I've met along this incredible journey will have the same luck one day, too.
Amanda and I confirmed our type A personalities today. We made lists of the number of students in each class, then counted out pencils, stickers, and cookies and made our rounds in the classrooms as the kids wrote their final exams. We made time to cut some veggies with Ezekiel for dinner, and made up boxes of food from the on-site store for community members. We welcomed 2 new Muzungus (White people) from Toronto who are friends of Lynda. They're great company, and love the kids as much as us. This afternoon's activity was life changing. I love working with Mission in Action Orphanage, but seeing how the community people live aka survive is surreal. We went on very (very) bumpy farmer-type-tractor-only (there are no postal addresses around here) dirt roads amongst crops to visit first with a family of 17 kids. The one boy's nickname in the community is 'professor,' because he's so smart. He was wearing a pin that said, 'Best in English.' If you could see the schools, you'd be floored. They're made out of steel, some with windows, some without. Lynda and Ivan chose to bring Professor and his twin brother to MIA next year for schooling. Imagine how their lives will change very shortly. We gave the family 2 boxes stuffed with maize flour to make ugali (like a cornmeal), flour, sugar, salt, toothbrushes and paste, juice, toilet paper, soap, laundry soap etc. Mom was sweet, she was happy and grateful to have the support. Family number 2, single mother with 3 special needs children. Ivan recently had their home rebuilt as their old one was falling apart. They generously gave out hugs and smiled from ear to ear, happy that we'd just paid them a visit. When we gave them the food they were over the moon. That phrase that gets tossed around, 'Don't waste your food, there are starving children in Africa.' The reality of that saying came alive today. Next time you need to teach a loved one about this, let me share my stories with them.
Back to MIA for dinner and an ice cream treat. Ronny ate it all (see photo), but not in time enough to salvage his pjs from runny chocolate. Luckily for me his caregivers let me change him and put him to bed tonight. A few camp songs with kids, and it was time to hit the hay. Tonight I'll pray in thankfulness for the basic necessities (and more) that I've always had, and pray that others I've met along this incredible journey will have the same luck one day, too.
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