October 23, 2012
From what I’ve seen this weekend, an orphanage-when filled with the love of Christ-is like one big family. Now this big family has about 50 children ranging from 3 to 18, a “Mamma,” a “Daddy,” and many aunts and many aunts and uncles. It functions as a single unit; they all look after one another. The sense of responsibility to take care of their brothers and sisters is especially obvious in the older boys (the oldest girls are away at boarding school so we were unfortunately not getting the chance to meet them). All of these kids possess the purest sense of joy-a truly inspiring feat when you consider all they have been through in just their few short years.
Every Saturday, because that is when most of the kids are home from school, serves as a day of family chores. So we spent today helping out this family in whichever ways they required. A few others and I spent the morning sorting beans and maize (corn). And, of course, as visitors we attracted a few little helpers along the way. Then it was time for a tree climbing break; and not just any tree, the biggest avocado tree I have ever seen! (Sorry, Mom…I know you have always done your best to keep me out of the tree in our yard…but I have always had a spirit that led me up higher than my brothers. Besides, I just couldn’t resist following these little munchkins.) The cherry tree in my front yard back at home has been my place to think when the walls of my little world felt like they were about to cave in. It has been a place where I can separate myself from the world; separate spirit from body. I felt the same way up in that avocado tree with these kiddos! We were free. We were connected by one spirit, the Holy Spirit, simply enjoying its fullness within us.
When we finally made our way down, we went to the dining hall to help with the very big project of shelling peas. (I have never seen so many peas in my life!) And of course, what else would we occupy our minds with during this long process besides watching a Barbie Fairytopia movie?! Now this was the first television I had watched in a month, so I was probably a bit more entertained than I should have been-not something I am particularly proud of, but I am definitely not ashamed either. Hey, through these Barbie movies (we watched two) the kids, my teammates, and I were taught the value of our uniqueness and the importance of staying true to yourself-there’s value in that! About halfway through the second movie we finished our pea prep, at which point I found at least 10 little hands in my hair. Some little girls were very determined to see African braids in this mzungu hair! They had started the process Friday night almost immediately after our team arrived and were continuing their salon work-which seemed to follow me everywhere that I sat still for more than five minutes. But their task was proving more difficult than anticipated…these mzungu braids were magic! Who knows how, but every night they seemed to undo themselves…it’s a mystery!
My salon reconvened after dinner (chapatti-a tortilla like bread-beans, and tea), which of course we ate, as I like to say, “like a family.” If you have seen early episodes of the TV show “The Middle” you may understand the reference but if not…we ate dinner while watching TV. One of the older boys put on Madagascar 2, but that was quickly fixed because, of course, we had to finish our Barbie movie! The younger kids were shocked that anyone could possibly think otherwise.
After dinner I took a real shower with hot RUNNING water! Okay, now it may have not quite been a “real” shower (the shower head was in the same stall as a toilet), but after a month of buckets…it was close enough for me! Then I curled up in my sleeping bag on the bed I was sharing with my sweet sister, Antonia, with my Bible and a pen and I picked out the points of David and Goliath I would share (preach!) in Sunday school the next morning. Then, as some truly precious little night-owls played games in groups up by the dining hall (located a good distance away from the dorms), I fell asleep to the sound of pure, joyous laughter.
Sunday morning was a little bittersweet because we knew it was our last day with the kids. I got up and got myself read for church, then went to go help serve the kids breakfast of rolls, leftover chapatti, and tea. Each one of them said, “Thank you,” in one language or another…After breakfast it was time to preach! I told the story of David and Goliath, Antonia translated my words into Swahili for some of the younger kids, and Menzo (Goliath) & Tobi (David) acted out a very loud, somewhat aggressive, and extremely comic version of the tale. Comic because, of course, they had decided to do this at the very last minute when the groups of kids were split up differently than anticipated. So it was completely unrehearsed. The kids loved it! I found myself continuing to wake up to the same laughter that I had fallen asleep smiling to the night before.
Finally, after coming together for the main service everyone shared a delicious butternut squash soup lunch. (This in itself made me miss my mom terribly!) Then Anne, who was my little shadow for the weekend-especially after her Mamma relayed to her in Swahili that Anne was also one of my names-enjoyed some time on the playground with me. The tire-swing made us both giddy with laughter! Still, there came a point when I had to watch Anne’s sweet little tears as our van drove away. But I have been assured by her Daddy that I will see her again! They want to bring some of the kids and come for our DTS graduation in February; he promised me he would bring my precious little Anne.
This was our first taste of outreach. I can already tell the final 9 weeks of my trip to Kenya will be joyous and spirit-filled. I cannot wait!
~Chloe Anne
