Tammi Fenwick

I have spent 2 months at MIA and what an experience I have had!
In what now seems like a short time, I have learnt so much about myself, the people behind MIA, the Kenyan community and the world. This is the first time I had traveled and at first it was such an overwhelming experience that I thought I could not do. When I came and found out that the family were vegetarian I thought I would starve! I took me a while to adjust (and I lived off 2 minute noodles for a while!) but when I followed Ivan and Martha’s advice to try Anisha’s cooking I was pleasantly surprised! Anisha’s food is probably the best food I’ve ever eaten and it’s almost impossible to lose weight here, in fact I reckon I’ve put on weight!

 All the kids have been so welcoming and open to a new friend, it really surprised me! There are so many of the kids who have become favorites but after 9 weeks here I know that at some stage each of them has been a favorite (well second favorite after Matthew of course!). Even Mikey has become such a cutie! Each time I watch them play it makes me smile and I hope that when I get home I will remember those times and it will keep me smiling! As anyone at MIA knows, Matthew has stolen my heart from when I first started sponsoring him as a tiny 6 week old. Seeing him turn one was one of the best things I have done and I will be with him for every birthday to come. I love that Mary and Ivan have changed him from a sad, sick looking baby to a gorgeous and extremely happy baby boy. He is one of the happiest babies I have ever met and it was so hard to leave him for 11 months! But I know that when I am gone he will get all that he needs plus more. 

Being here through the election chaos and violence I have seen so much, a lot of which I hope I never see again. Talking to people who have lost everything, holding a baby that died soon after I saw it, visiting the hospital, working with newborns there and of course being at the orphanage, has been a life changing, sometimes harsh and unique experience. I have met many, many amazing people and now find myself actually wanting to meet more people. Every mzungu I see I want to meet! I have learnt to take the time for friends and feel like I have more friends for doing it. Living with my “hut mates” has also been a great learning curve. Anna and Bec were probably the best hut mates I could have asked for and I’m sure we will be friends for a long time to come. All of the staff, Anisha, Martha and Ivan have become like my family. Now I have an Aussie family and a Kenyan family!!! Throughout this election violence everyone has been so supportive and we have really been able to work as a team. I have felt so involved in what’s going on and the decisions that are being made. It has made my experience at MIA 10 times better. Some days I wake up not knowing what the day will bring and unsure of how safe the day is going to be, but each day I wake up to my Kenyan family and know that they feel the same thing and it has made it easier. After 9 weeks here I feel exhausted, both emotionally and physically but I love it because I know that I have actually done something each day. Every night that I go to bed so tired I can’t help but think that its great because I have a reason to be tired, whether I have spent the day sorting clothes, buying mattresses, visiting the community, playing with the kids, picking up more kids, bathing tiny babies at the hospital or just doing general things that need to be done. I felt needed every day I was there and always felt like the people around me wanted me there.  

I have felt so comfortable with the people here and even through this violence I have felt safe at MIA. Being with Aussies (Ivan and Bec) has made me feel heaps safer and less homesick. Everyone has really bonded together and supported each other during this tough time. It really has been a tough time but I feel stronger for having gone through it.

I can’t thank everyone enough for what you have all done for me. I know I will be back and expect weekly photos of Matthew until Australia opens the link for him to come home with me!!! So Ivan, learn to email!

Thanks so much to everyone at MIA. Ivan, Martha and Anisha, you guys have been fantastic, I owe you the world. I will see you all in December if you’ll have me again! Hopefully next time I will get to know Mary and the girls better.

With tons of love,

Tammi   

Tammi now has her own website for her charity
To Kenya Forever