Monday 12th November
Our 4 Canadian visitors left today after a 1 month stay with us. Good byes are always hard but we had a fun night last night with Pizza, Soft Drink and Lots of Chocolate so that was yum. Can you believe you can ring and order for pizza delivery here in Nakuru?!
It was great to have you here girls and I wish you a safe trip home. xx
Never a dull moment here at Mission in Action.. 2 nights in a row we have had break ins very close to our property. We have heard screaming and our dogs barking both nights. Apparently, 1 of the theives from this mornings 4am break in was caught. You would rather the police catch you around here cause when the locals get a hold of you they sure have their way. Last time I heard from one of our staff members, the theif was being held by a bunch of locals had cuts all over his head and had plastic tied around his ankles and burnt onto his legs. He was being tortured in the hope that he would advise who the other 3 theives were. They say he will not talk as he would be worse off if he told and then got caught by his freinds. He will most likely be killed and the most common way for this death around here is a tyre put over his body with kerosine in it and then they strike a match. Very gruesome and I am surprised that people still attempt to break in knowing what will happen in the likely event that you get caught...I guess they are pretty desperate...
Another big project I have been working on is stories on all of our children and before and after shots. I think that this is a great way for all of our future volunteers to get to know our kids before they arrive and get to know their history. It is also a way for all of you out there to meet our children! They are all so special and have their own special personalality.
Check it out here
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Our Good Bye Party for our lovely North American Friends. |
Tuesday 13th Novmeber
Its just one thing after the other. Today is a sad day. Our beautiful new puppy "grizzly' died. After our recent break in one of our visitors, Kara, raised money for 2 pure bred german shepherds for us to get police trained to protect us and the children. They are worth $800 each. Sadly, Grizzly got 'tick fever' and there was really nothing that could have been done to save him. Poor 'Kali' (the other puppy) is wondering where his friend is...
We will aim to raise some more momey for another puppy as we definately need protection. Again, last night we had another break in close by.
It is confirmed that the man who broke in the night before to ther other house has been killed.
They say that we are pretty safe as we have our 2 'Masaais' as our night guards. Apparently, Masaais' become 'men' after they fight with and kill a lion. Our small Masaai has killed 5 and the other Masaai 3. So along with our Masaais and dogs we can sleep easy. Many Kikuyus (local tribe) are frightened of Masaais as, when it comes down to it, they will do what they have to do to protect. NO questions asked.
Baby Purity had to be rushed back to the doctor yesterday as she was not well again but we got some more medicine for her and she is doing well. Sadly she tested HIV positive, but we hope that changes. After all, our joshua did .... |
RIP Grizzly
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Our little Mzungu Karl enjoying his vegies.... he is just adorable. |
Wednesday 14th November
Shopping day AGAIN... ai, ai, ai, it comes quick.
We had to get the Exterminator in today as we had many roaches... big job for the staff to get everything out as you can see by the picture... this was just the kitchen cupboard!
Today, as most other days, we had a visitor to our front gates. We were told it was a lady wanting to give us her baby. Mary and I headed out to the gates to see what she had to say... When we saw her she showed us her beautiful Baby daughter, Margaret. We had to get someone to translate as she only spoke Swahili and she said she could not look after her other 3 children at home with this baby so could we please take her. Mary asked many questions and it seems that she had her own land and she grows her own food which she sells and eats so she should be able to care for her children. She just wanted her life to be easier. She wanted to give up her child there and then and was ready to just hand her to us.
Mary said 'I cannot comment to you on your decision but if you want to give away your baby you cannot give her to me. You can take her to the childrens department in town and then they will decide where to place the baby' Mary gave her lunch and water and the lady left, she said she was going back to her house to get ready to head to the childrens department in the morning. She walked 6 hours to get to us,
You see, Mary could be charged if she takes a baby directly from someone. The mother could come back in years saying that we kidnapped her child and many other reasons why she cannot...
Yes, we take the risk of the mother just dumping the child as alot of them do, but it is really out of our hands. It is just a very hard part of the job that MIA has to face way to often.
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Antony and Lillian getting stuff out of cupboards for the Exterminator
(how do you reckon you say it Ashley?)
Pictured below our Laura and and Millie.. they were both born and abandoned at the same hospital, shared the same incubator and then the same crib. They are both a product of incest and by the rules of their tribe should have been killed. Millie is HIV positive.
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Our baby Moses who was dumped at our front gates by his mother.
Mary recognized that the child looked like a lady that she knew was pregnant and after about 10 months finally tracked her down. She was thrown in jail and has just been released and is on good behaviour for 1 year and will perhaps take Moses back after this year...
His eyes are IDENTICAL to his mothers and after i met her i knew why Mary knew whose baby it was. |
Thursday 15th 2007
Nairobi is one of the most ful on cities i have ever been to. Talk about crazy people. The drive here was not to bad but driving once in the city is just ridiculous. i just held on tight and left it to Mary who knows what she is doing trust me.
We are here for the night so we can pick up my Mum from the airport in the morning.
We had to do a few things here in the city, 1 being trying to get a tax exemption for MIA belongings to arrive on the shipping container. MIA applied 1 year ago for their tax exemption and still heard nothing so we though we would go to the office to hurry it along.
Well, nothing is easy here EVER so from 8.30am till 1.30pm went like this.
Arrived at Kenya State Revenue building Sent to 1st floor, then 21st floor, 20th floor then 19th floor (with 15 minute discussions on each floor to find out we had been sent to the wrong spot) then we where sent to another building 'The Tresuary' over town (we are walking) we are sent to 12th floor - wrong spot, so we are sent to room 1219 - wrong spot, so we are sent to 1217 - cant help us... they said we should go to yet another building across town (stll walking) we have to basically run to this building so we catch these people before prayer and lunch... we make it on time and head to where we were told but of course it not the place we are meant to be so we head down to room 39 and meet with the person we are told to speak to. He was kind of helpful and advises that we need to come back in the morning to meet with the person who can help us... AAARRRGGGHHHH
PHEW we are exhausted!!!!
So, we will pick up my mum and head back into the city in the morning. oh the joy.
We really hope that we can get this sorted other wise we will not be able to recieve all the donated goods that are waiting in Australia as we will just have to pay way too much tax on it. The process here in Kenya is just a nightmare and as you can see from my brief explanation of today i think it is going to be a mission to complete this.
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Friday 16th November
We picked up my Mama safe and sound. She was a little delayed.. not because of the flight as she landed on time.... but apparently because the men who wheel the 'shoot' to the door of the plane had not arrived at work yet! They were stuck on the plane for about 1 hour with no air and mum said it was REAKING and she nearly passed out. But she is here now and safe and in bed already as she is exhausted.
The drive back from Nairobi was exhausting. I am getting used to the driving but still get a little stressed when i see a semi coming straight for me at 100km per hour. Cars just dont look at all when they turn or pull out and you are constantly dodging something whether it is a Donkey or a Taxi there is always something.
Hair cuts today and most of the children where very good but a couple of them screamed the house down... it must pull so hard on their tight little curls. They all look so different now but of course are still sooooo adorable.
Yes, of course Joseph was one of the best while getting his hair cut.
For 2 reasons, he is the best behaved and had the best hair dresser.
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What a great pair... |
Driving into Nairobi...
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A regular sight...
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Saturday 17th November
It was nice to wake up this morning and have my Mama here with me!
Up early to help with the breakfast today and my mum is amazed at how well behaved these children are at the breakfast table.. they eat all that is in their plate with next to no complaints. To think that they have these 30 children under control is most definately a miracle!
We recieved 1 of our new vans yesterday and it looks great. (thanks again Cazza, Suz and Annalese!)
Its Sabbath today so the children are all wondering if they are coming to church in the new van? we get all of the older kids dressed for church and 2 of the smaller kids (Suzie and Joseph) They are so excited! We head to church that goes for close to 2.5 hours and again all my little angels are just that... LITTLE ANGELS!
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Suzie, Suzie and Inna on their way to church
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Me and all my little angels.
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Sunday 18th November
Today was such a fun day.
We got up extra early this morning so we could take most of the kids on their first exursion in the new van! The children were SO excited to be getting ready for their day out....
We all piled into the van and we where on our way to Lake Bogoria Hot Pools. Stopping off along the way for a stretch, toilet stop and a kodak moment at the Equator and to also buy some items from the locals....
Lake Bogoria is a man made pool and the water is from Natural Hot Springs. It was such a beautfiul day... for a lot of our little children it was their first time in a pool and they were a bit hesitant at first but after a while they were having the time of their lives. They were stoked that they got to have 'chippies' for lunch as well...
I freaked out a little when i saw monkies heading over to me when i was laying down (I thought they were going to attack me!) ... i started screaming... everyone thought it was really funny because all they wanted was food and they quickly came and stole our big bag of peanuts!
We were completely exhausted on the way home and can tell you that we will all sleep very very well tonight after our big day out. Thanks to Ivan and Mary for such a great day!
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Mary, Me, Anna, Ashley, Mama Sarah, Martha and our kids at the equator
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Inna and Me..
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Everyone enjoying themselves...
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