So Busy

     
When I am home in America I feel like I am always so busy. Well nothing has changed. In fact I feel like I am even more busy and I am getting pulled here and there and I do not have enough time to do everything I want to do. I just want to be with the boys. They are the reason I came here. I even feel like I do not have enough time to go on a safari. But lets be honest what is coming to Africa with out going on a safari? I was talking to my mom the other day and I was telling her this and she asked me to think about what I will regret the most when I get home. Psh this is SUCH a good question. I need to start being a tourist and start taking more pictures of where I live. I want to go to John's house. I want to go swimming. I want to go to the coast. I want to go on a safari and a safari walk. I want to go to Hell's gate. I want to go to 14 falls. I want to go to a rugby game in Nairobi. I want to visit Alex. I want to see Harrison again. I want to make the boys smile every day, that is why I am here. Most of all I want my home and my Kenya home to become ONE. But, we all know this is not going to happen. (I guess I will just have to come back next year, Oh dang it, its a sacrifice I am very much so willing to take)

This is what I have been doing the last couple of weeks. Visiting orphanages and schools, making dinner for the elders and random people in my ward, going to church events, teaching class, dancing and lots of traveling on matatus.

This says our names, where we are from and what we love.

Hope Learning Center that our friends work at and run.

We visited our friend Kevin's old high school.

This is at an Orphange at our friend Babu's work is going to start sending volunteers to.

The Children singing and dancing for us

Visiting another orphanage with Babu

Dinner with the elders and others from our ward

A stake YSA dance 

A baptism

Teaching class

In PE the teacher Tomo tough them a Japanese song then 18 were selected to go and sing it.

Dancing in class with the boys

I pass this on my way home and to the church on the matatu

WELCOME to KENYA

FAVORITE

   

I have 3 all time favorite boys. Number one Harrison. He is at school right now I only got to know him for about the first week I was here then he went off to boarding school. I do not know why I love him so much but its just one of those things that is over flowing. I miss him a lot and am ready for him to come back, but I know he is better off at school. (he is on the right)

Next is Anthony but he doesn't even respond to that name. We call him Tony. I love him more then I can even say. This boy is my baby. When I first got to Kenya he would always just be there at the door when it was opened. He has always just been there when ever I need someone. He is not mean to the other boys. He  just is a lover. I love when he holds my hand and that happens on the daily. (please tell me he IS the cutest boy you have ever seen, just look at his smile)

Last is James. This kid has KILLER lips. They are the biggest things I have ever seen. He was supposed to go home last Friday but his mom never came and picked him up at the court. So, he gets to go home with his grandma which he is SO excited for. He remembers her and loves her so much. James is always so happy he always makes the oddest faces at me then I make them back then he laughs and laughs and laughs. I am not excited for the day he really goes. I might just cry. 

First Boyfriend

         

Last Monday I went to visit 2 children's homes. (orphanages)

 After visiting the volunteer house Babu, Megan and I were all just waiting outside for Simon so that we could go visit  the children's centers, and low and behold this BLESSED son walked up and then Simon was like meet my friend Ben. After asking him to dance for me and sing he hopped into the back of the van and off we went. He is a coach at the two centers. At the first one we went to he coaches Baseball and at the second one we went to he dose dancing and they go to competitions to raise money. 

After the first orphanage we went to, Megan made a comment about me being his girlfriend. It was just a joke, but little did we know he would take it for reals. That night he texted me and said something along the lines of Hey baby! I am so happy you are mine, I am going to show you real African love. Sleep well my honey. For reals it made my day. He is so funny he would jump around singing FIRE BURNING! OW OW OWWW! it was so great. He is so good with the kids he works with I can tell they love the programs that he does with them. But after a week of getting text messages of him telling me that I was the best thing ever it got a little creepy and I had Megan help me break it off with him. It was so hard I did not want to crush the pour kid. He is just a wee little fellow. But today he messaged me and told me he was doing good and he will still like me to come visit. Our friendship better work out. He is so great. 

Unconditionally Loved

     

When I first got to Kenya I remember thinking why the heck did I do this? 3 months..that is the longest time ever. I have no idea where I fit in. Everyone seems to know what they need to be doing and I just stand here and watch. Why does Megan love this place so much? 

(Steven, Peter Jimmy, and Jack walking me to my house)

NOW I understand. Please take a step into my life. Every day I wake up to boys singing, laughing, yelling, talking, walking around and washing clothes. Every day I wake up to someone needing my help, weather it is because they are hurt, or need help in class, or to be pushed on the swing, or need a friend, or need a good laugh. Every day I wake up to over 50 boys who just want to be my friend, who wants to help me get as dirty as  I can before the day is over. And the best yet EVERY day I wake up with over 50 boys who just love unconditionally, no matter if I get mad and frustrated at them or they get mad at me or frustrated because they do not understand what I am saying. They still want to be my best friend and they forgive and forget so fast. It is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me. Now when I think about going home little tears come to my eyes. How can I leave? What am I going to do when I get back home? Home doesn't even sound like fun. What will be my reason to get up every day? Who will talk to me in Swahili? Who am I suppose to pass the message to the run as fast as I can away so I do not get slugged? 

life is good.

    

Lets just talk about the day today. It was SO good compared to yesterday, yesterday I was playing with one of the boys, Harrison and his marbles and then another boy garbed my arm and when I moved it I smacked Harrison in the face. After the sorrys and asking him if he was okay, and him not even giving me the time of the day I just walked away. I didn't to have to deal with a kid crying when I knew he was really okay. Then like 10 minutes later one of the older boys with WICKED good English came running up to me and was like you BEAT Harrison and steal his marbles? and I was like wha wha wha wha? ME? NO!!! and he was like then hes a lier? and I was like um I guess if you want to put it that way, so I asked them to take me to him and we sorted things out I found his extra marbles in a sink that he though I stole and now he is attached at my hip again when ever I see him. But being accused of being a theif and being acused of beating is not something I would take lightly because I am sure these kids get beat enough. Lets be 100% right now.

Today started off with a walk to the store to make banana pancakes like the song from Jack Johnson. The pancakes we good. Then Bernard, who is going to basically high school on Monday came to the house and told me he was so bored. I totally do NOT blame the kid. He isn't allowed to go anywhere and really has no friends here and all the boys were in school anyways. So I told Megan and we got cards and thought him some new card games. Lets just say I think he still likes his same ol' AK47. 

After we were finished playing with him get got prepaired for class. Today was class nursure, basically preschool but they don't understand English so its a really hard class to teach, I was really dreading the day...lets be honest. But today's class went SO good. We stared off with the Popsicle or ice as the boys call them. Then sense they have 5 of the 6 new boys in the class they are re-learning the ABC's and how to write numbers. So we painted numbers 1-7 and letters A-F. Then with the extra time they all got a page to paint from a coloring book. It was a success. The boys LOVED it. 

While I was watching a movie with the boys I came up with a BRILLIANT idea to have cheesy potatoes for dinner. So I came home and made them, I was in heaven but Megan doesn't like the cheese so she gave hers to the dog. Next time we feed the elders it will be cheesy potatoes and chicken. (I am SO EXCITED) 

Tonight Megan and I wore fake mustaches to the dining hall to watch TV with the boys. It was EPIC. the boys loved every second of it. they laughed and laughed and laughed. It was the best thing ever. 

This is just a little picture from today, my man Tony. I realllllly love him. 

(and my hair that I really love to)

The Older boys with there Popsicle's. 

I might be in love.

   
I get asked all the time what I love about Africa. The real question is what don't I love? I LOVE the boys. I love the crazy matatu rides. I love walking to landless. I love being called smart(it means pretty here), it makes my day EVERY time. I love the laughs from the boys. I love pushing the boys on the swing. I love playing 'pass it on' with Freddie. I love helping Freddie even though it ends up with me doing everything and his hands under mine. I loved helping Bodi water the plants today. I love being asked if Megan is married. I love being called MoMo or Muzungu where ever I go. I love the fact that I still jump when I get honked at. I love trying to convince the boys I am Black America, but it never works. I love that I get to see Tony EVERY day. and he holds my hand. I love asking the boys if I can pick there nose. I love going to church. I already love the young women. I love playing games with the boys in class. I love love LOVE dancing like a CRAZY for the boys because they just laugh and laugh at me and it just makes me so happy. I love going for walks. I love doing things with the Elders and Dan, they are freaking HILARIOUS! I love shaking hands with the little kids. I LOVE my hair braided, lets be honest it is the BEST thing ever. I love having talks with the kitchen staff. I love that Boss runs from me every time he sees me and then sneak attacks and punches me. there  are so many other things I love. But most of all I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the boys. (By the way I really really really miss my boy Harrison...a LOT)