back in Kenya, back at Happy Life

Ah it feels so good to be back in Kenya. I think this place is my second home (wait thats NC so I guess third home! haha). The bus ride was not as enjoyable as the first time but I made it with no problems. I am back at the same house and it was a very happy reunion with the family. I am sleeping in a different room which after all the moving around this summer makes it that I have lived in 5 out of the 6 rooms at some point! I got to hang out with a few Kenyan friends over the weekend and spent some time back in Nairboi town. I still remember my ways around everywhere!

The taxi driver I use to use called me on Saturday remembering I said I would be back sometime in November and just wanted to check in with me. I was going to get on a matatu yesterday and heard my name called as one of the drivers on our route came to say hi. Then this morning the boda-boda driver I use to use honked his horn and waved to me as he drove by. It is so nice to be remembered by people that you thought would easily forget you as you only saw them a handful of times.

I was so happy to be back to make it to the fundraising walk at Happy Life on Saturday. It was wonderful to see all the women that work there and a few of the community volunteers I know as well. It warmed my heart so much to have the bigger kids yell my name when they saw me! I def missed these kids a ton! The walk went well- even though it was 12 km! haha. There was a good turnout and the US director and his wife are in town so it was nice to talk with them for most of the way.

The construction they were doing on the building is almost done and they are certainly growing. They have added 14 new babies in the recent weeks! Most of them gave straight from the hospital at only a few days or weeks old. Some of them do have tragic stories as well though; such as Joy whose mother was insane and actually bit the child on the face multiple times that she now has many scars! Ah I cant imagine! Unfortunately there has been a bad string of malaria going through and a lot of them have been sick. Some of the babies are sooo tiny that it breaks my heart when I hold them. I am hoping they will get their nourishment up quickly and they all stay away from being sick! With all the new babies they have changed around cribs and even rooms kids are in but I think I got most of the new placements down today.

A few updates on kids...
Jennifer was returned to her mother. Turns out the father had taken the baby to the police station stating it was an abandoned baby and bribed them to give anyone looking for her the run-around. The mother spent 6 weeks trying to find her and ended up getting arrested after telling off the cops for giving her so many mis-leads. When she got out a few days later they told her where she really was and the mother came for her daughter, who is actually called Anita. Apparently it was an amazing reunion and Jennifer was instantly changed when she saw her mother again which is so good to hear because she was having such a rough time!

Naomi has been returned to family as well. The mother came to HL and asked about her baby. The mother's story is very strange and I will spare the whole story but tell you it involves stealing money, drugs, someone dieing, jail, prostitution, etc. Turns out Naomi has two other siblings that were sent to another orphanage when she came here after the mother got sent to prison. The staff at HL say that they will not realise the baby back into the mothers hands as she clearly is an unfit mother. The lady then sends the grandmother who neey wont let Naomi go home with her because thats not a decent income etc etc... The grandmother catches wind of all this and comes for the baby instead as she did not want her with the mother either. The grandmother is keeping the name Naomi so I have no idea what her real name was.

Nathaniel was the only baby to be adopted while I was gone. Chris is doing so much better and is not as sick anymore, eating without throwing up now! Johnathon now eats without fussing. Daniel can sit up. Matthew and Job have gotten so big. Ah they just all grew so much over the last two months! This afternoon I will get to spend more time with the older kids and am very happy about that. I know Samwell and Emmanuel are now going off site to another school but dont have much more of an update on any of them just yet.

Crazy to think I have only three short weeks left and will be headed back stateside at the end of the month!! I will def enjoy my time here though!