I'm in a Gang...with Teenage Boys!!

Two posts in one day?!  Are you kidding me?

After our visit to the slums today, we came back to the Karibuni to relax.  Rose was my shadow as I sat in the common area and worked on my blog.  She had a tough time understanding the concept.  The conversation was something like..."So you type it here, and your friends can see it in America??"  Well, yeah.  "And you can move a picture from your camera through this wire to this little computer?  And then put the picture in the story??"  Uh...yeah.  I can understand why this is hard to believe for her.  Jenni was trying to explain Instagram to me today and I had many of the same befuddles comments.  :)

Our group (plus Rose, happy after some snacks!! and Mr. Wonderful, Phillip) posed for a photo on the steps of the Karibuni this afternoon before returning to the orphanage.

And just in case you are worried about my safety...

Here is one of two or three guards with scary guns that patrole the Karibuni.  Of course, they are sitting in plastic lawn chairs under the shade of a tree at the moment...not exactly "at the ready" to combat a kidnapper or thief!  And though he may look like he's drinking a beer, he's not.  I checked.

We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening at the orphanage.  When we arrived, the kids were in this massive group of concentric circles doing their devotions...which basically involves singing, clapping, dancing and one child reading a bible verse and explaining it to the rest of the crowd.  

Needless to say, the bible reading portion can be quite entertaining depending on the age of the reader.  You can see the new orphanage in the background.  Wow...it looks great...really.  Makes me happy to see it occupied with running children with happy faces.

Back to the crowd of children!  My homies...apparently any boy between the age of 13 and 16 who like to wear sunglasses at dusk...insisted on a photo with me. And, of course, they chose the Seed's Children's Home bus as the scenic background.  In other photos, we were flashing gang signs...but really, the sight of a 49-year-old woman flashing a gang sign with a bunch of teenagers wasn't something I wanted to share. 

The boys are (front row) Andrew and my man Mike, (back row) Kevin, the big Amos, Abuid, Brian, the 49-year-old who shouldn't be flashing gang signs, and Laban.  All wonderful boys...love each one.

The rest of the evening I visited with any child who grabbed my attention.  It's tricky to give everyone attention but I did my best!  I gave special delivery hugs to little Brian for Denise D. and to Anna for Deanna A.  I did run away to a "secret place"...if that's possible in an orphanage with 189 children...pretty sure every "secret place" has been discovered.  But, anyway, Millecent, Jackie, Cathrine and I found a "secret place" to talk for a few minutes.  

Jackie and Cathrine, as I mentioned, are sponsored by my sisters...so I included them in all my wanderings with Millecent.  Now, I know for a fact that my sisters sent them each an outfit which I think must be reserved for church...because Cathrine was wearing a pajama nightie and a sweatshirt all day and Jackie was in a yellow t-shirt, too large green sweater and long green (different green than the sweater, by the way) satin skirt with ruffles.  I'm thinking some play clothes are in order!!  I might have something in my pile of goodies for each of them.  But church is tomorrow...so I'll check on those outfits!!

So.  Church.  Tomorrow.  Hold on to your seat!!  If you have read this blog before, you know church is a wild time.  And, surprisingly, I'm actually sort of looking forward to it!  I mean, it's a bit crazy but I can appreciate it.  I just wish it weren't so dang long!!  Two hours at a minimum...that's a long time to maintain the energy required for one of Pastor Richard's services.  But, with all the dancin', wavin' of hands and energetic prayin', any and all churchgoers are bound to expend quite a few calories.  I think I'll have an extra piece of cake tonight!

Good night from Kitale!

Tish