MY Blog... So I start with MY Kids!

My kiddos! AREN'T THEY SO PHOTOGENIC? How do I explain leaving CO and having no children to coming home with eleven? These are the kids of "Heroes of the Nation" Orphanage in Nyhururu, Kenya - Africa. They are the most amazing children ever! I decided that someone forgot to tell them that they are orphans. I've never seen so many smiles in one place. Each child here has their own story to tell. Many (not all, thankfully) were abandoned, their parents died, or were left with elderly relatives who were unable to care for them. One of my girls (Mary- pictured above & below) is not an orphan but attends the school as a day student and returns to her family in town each evening.

Our bus pulled up to what I thought was the gate of the orphanage. There were so many children around and they were soooo excited to see us. Later I learned they had been waiting all day for our arrival. We arrived close to 3pm (ish.). The bus began to move again and I realized we were not there yet. The children were now running along side, often while holding hands with our team, for approximately a mile back to the campus. Mary was running and holding my hand (at altitude - making it look easy I must say...). She was the first child who chose me.

Allow me to explain. Once the bus parked and it was time for us to get off (finally ... many many hours of travel and my legs were aching for some exercise) we made our way to the steps and looked out into a sea of children in orange and purple uniforms. The moment our feet hit earth there was a group of children surrounding each team member. We were chosen and ushered away from the bus. I use usher loosely as while we were walking being manuevered away there were more children than I could count attached to any available part of me. We made our way to a spot on the field they use for athletics and more. They wanted me to sit. One skill I learned was to sit while attached to many children and without using hands. We introduced ourselves and I did my best to learn each one's name. Wow that was a task.
Hannah, above, was one of my girls. She was a little different in the fact that she was always around but wasn't always touching me. Most of the other children were always touching one part of me or another. Hair on arms/legs was a big thing to them as their skin there is hairless. Often my hair was "fixed" by the girls (or boys) depending on who was around at the time.

Bill and I were chosen by different groups of children. Bernard is one who floated between our two groups. He is a wonderful young man. Each child is so very thankful for all they receive at Heroes and Bernard is one who expresses that thankfulness in such a gracious way. Along with other children, he worked his way to a permanent place in our hearts. Bernard was the first to write me a note and share his story with me. I hope to keep in close contact with each child.

Now... Samuel. He is a most wonderful young man with a charisma about him that is almost unmatched in one so young. Leadership seems to come out of his pores. It was often that he was the one re-directing my path when I wandered away from my keepers children. I will share lots more in the coming days but... allow me to leave you with this one. He said something to me that I am still pondering and 'chewing' on. "Samuel, are you ever sad?", I asked one day. Remember in your mind who an orphan is and what society says about them. Often they are abandoned, or their parents have died and they are left on their own with no one to care for them. They are left to fend for themselves. Back to the question, "Samuel, are you ever sad?" His one word answer still is running through my head. He answered, "Why?".