Peak of Zola

My Friend Rispah just had a baby girl. She asked if I could take her pictures for her. Of course I said yes. I was beyond nervous. I have never taken newborn pictures before. I had no idea what I was doing. Before I went over I researched how to take picture of newborns, what styles I liked, what styles were easy and simple...and I did this for a couple hours. No shame. Anyways it was basically just a way for me to talk myself into the fact that I could do it. And here they are. I am so proud! They Turned out way better then I even thought. Here is a little peak of Zola.(Yes she is half black, can you tell?)

She lasted about 15 minutes before she got to hungry to take anymore pictures, and the crying started.

The Lucky Three

I would like to introduce you to some of my favorite people in the world! These three hold a very dear place in my heart and I would not be the same with out them! 

I am going to take you back a couple months ago. One day as Megan and I were preparing to take our money to the manager to pay for our months rent. (Yes, staying in Kenya is not free and we do have to pay for everything out of pocket while we are there volunteering!) On the thirty second walk to the office, we started talking about our boys. Particularly her favorite boy, Egnation Opondo. This is a topic we spoke of very often! We were talking about what was going to happen to him after we left. He is one of the oldest boys at the center. He is not sponsored to go to school. He is not learning really at all due to the fact that his teacher moved 6 hours away. Megan said she had been praying on what to do. 

That is when we walked into the office to meet with Winnie the manager of Thika Children's Rescue Center. Every time we go in there we always chat with her, she asks us how we are, if there is anything we need help with or anything they can do to help us with. Anyways, after a bit of talking she remembered that we would often go to another orphanage in Nairobi, about an hour away. She told us that TCRC is packed full of children, about 100 boys. Also the fact that TCRC is suppose to just be a home for the boys to go to until they find the boys parents or till they go to a real orphanage. 

She then asked if we could ask our friends at Eternal Hope if they would be willing to take some of our boys. Instantly my eyes almost began to water. This is the answer to Megan's prayers that she had been looking for. We told her that we would talk to, Oprah, the manager at that orphanage and get back to her. 

Megan and I were just too excited to get out of that room to talk about all the possibilities and the what ifs! Who would we send? How many boys will they take? Who's lives are going to be changed forever? Who is going to be able to go to a real school? After talking to Oprah and Winnie we were able to finally get Oprah out to TCRC to "choose" the boys she felt would fit into her center. Winnie was hoping it would be some of the younger boys because we have an over flow of boys aging from 5-8. But she chose 

Tony who is 9

Abraham who is 10 

and Opondo who is 12

Can we really act surprised?

While we were there they were never able to get the boys to Eternal Hope due to a long list of reasons. But rumor has it that they should be there by January 2014. So many prayers have been answered. Most of the staff and children at Eternal Hope are members of the same church that I belong to. This could end in so many possibilities that I cannot even explain how happy I am about. They could get baptized one day. They can go on missions. They have a better life. They have more freedoms. They are safe from nasty men. They can go to church weekly. They will eat better and healthier foods, and the list goes on and on. 

Going to back to TCRC will not be the same with out them. Especially with out Abram. My I have so much love for him I don't even know where to store it. 

He is like my right hand man when I am in Kenya. Always there. I remember the first year I went to Kenya and meet him. We were all sitting at the water in front of our house playing games, and coloring pictures. About half the boys were sick and being called to the office to get medication. I hop around the other side to tell the boys they need to listen and go and we can play later. That is when I remember meeting Abram. His poor sick self to tired to even move just sitting in the broken sink with tears rolling down his cheeks My heart melted right away. Where is his mom to give him the love that he needs? To make him soup? To keep in in bed until he gets better? I was stunned. Not knowing what to do and knowing the fact that I was not allowed to give these boys hugs or kisses I pulled him up and out of the sink and gave him a short in brace (shh) as he pushed me away (he hates hugs) and told him he needed to go get some medicine.

(If you would ever like to sponsor one of the boys to go to school, or help some of my friends that also live in Thika let me know!!)

April to September

So much has been going on. But nothing seems worth of a blog post. Sense being home from Kenya I cannot seem to sit still. Kenya has put this little travel bug in me. I work and get money then spend it all on a road trip, gas or even a plane ticket. I ask myself where all my money has gone? Then I realize that I have been to Utah and Idaho twice, 

Got my ears priced for the first time in Utah

Megan graduated from College

Family reunion with my Grandpa and his brothers and one of his sisters

took a day trip to Wyoming with Megan and her roommates 

I took a trip all over Southern California, Vince Beach, Agoura Hills, Hollywood blvd, down town LA, Santa Monica Pier, and Universal Studios 

Linel took me on my first underground train ride

Yosemite trip with Rebecca, Julie and Emmanuel 

 the beach

 San Francisco for my 22nd birthday

most recently I went to go visit my best friend Scott Oregon for a week and Washington...for about an hour but while in Oregon I went to Pendleton's 104th Round-UP.

In between all of this I was the Girls Camp photographer and my oldest sister Kerianna got married!

But, not that the summer hype is over..maybe it is time to settle down? I have still yet to figure out what I want to do with life. But I know that real school is not the answer for me! But Kaleigh, what are you going to do you ask? That is a great question! I have no idea. I need to get a new job, again. I could be a nanny, again, I really do love being with children, but for some reason I really do not want to do that. It is kind of like been there done that unless you live in Australia or pay me an arm and a leg I don't think I want to nanny. Then I think maybe I will go to cosmetology school? I hear I am good with hair and things like that, but if I did that I would want to be a barber. Or do Black peoples hair, like learn how to braid. That would be the coolest thing ever! haha I am so weird I know.
But then I start thinking and if I go to any school I would want it to be some type of photography school because that is really what I love to do! I could take pictures, edit pictures, or just look at pictures for like hours and hours every day. I just love it! How do I start though? Once upon a time I was told not to go to school for photography they take away your skill and make you universal in a way. So that is kind of scary. We will just have to see though.When I figure it out I will be sure to let all of you know! 

four hours

I have been home for four hours now. I miss Kenya like crazy. I mostly miss the boys at TCRC. I was living a life most people only dream of. But it was not a dream. It was real life...but, now it just feels like the last three and a half months have been a dream. I hate it. I think I am most scared that I will forget. This might sound dumb. But it is the truth.

I am scared I am going to forget why I love Kenya oh so very much. I am scared I am going to forget the boys laughs. What makes them happy. What makes them sad. What they love to do. What their struggles are. I am scared that I am going to forget the language. I am scared that some other LAME volunteer is going to come into the boys lives and they are going to fall in love with them and forget me. I am scared that one of them is going to get hurt and nobody will be there to give them a hug and tell them they will be okay. I am scared that Stephen is going to come into the the dorms at night again and beat the boys and Megan and I will not be there to protect them while the other runs to get the other staff members (go to megans blog to read that story) 
But, I have to remember that they did fine with out me there before and that they will do okay with out me there again. God be with you till we meet again!

Night

Nights with the boys have always been my favorite. I think it will always be my favorite. Most nights they are allowed to watch the news or a movie for an hour before they get sent to bed. Those nights Me, Megan and a couple boys just sit outside by the water tank and talk about life, laugh, run around like crazy people, have the boys dance for us and just cuddle. I love it. The stars are so bright every single night. (we live in the middle of nowhere) We sit there and sing Yellow by Coldplay. I am pretty sure half the boys here know the lyrics, 

"look at the stars, 

look how they shine for you,

 and everything that you do"

I am pretty sure that this song was made for my boys. I would do anything for them. I want them to have every chance to succeed...now I just have to figure out how to help show them what they are worth. 

Tisa

Lately the power has been going out every single night due to the rains. (legit it has rained at least once a day for the last month..it makes washing clothes and letting them air dry really hard) Because of this the boys have been sent straight to the dorms to play and what not. So Megan and I go and play with them or read books off of the Ipad, which they LOVE! 

(he is so photogenic)

The other night we decided to go into the dorm and play. No books off the Ipad that night. There is a boy here. His name is Tisa. he is about 14 years old. He has special needs. He really does not speak anything at all. I ask the boys what he is saying all the time and they say 'I do not know...He does not speak swihili' He knows how to say go over there, Megan, Kaleigh, and a couple other things. Anyways, the other night he was just laying on the ground..chilling and he did a backwards summer salt. It was the funniest thing ever. He jumped up and screamed he was so happy then did it over and over and over with the same reaction. We encoraged some of the boys to go over and do the summer salts with him because it was just so fun watching Tisa enjoy life so much.

change

Change is good..or so everyone always tells me. I personally HATE change. You can ask any one of my family members. I do not do good with change. I am not ready for this change that is going to happen. But there is nothing that I can do about it. It will happen wither I like it or not and I know that I already do not like it.