June 30th

Today, we went to the another orphanage, Kip Kaeno's Children's Home, the same one we went to last year. We went into a small pre-k class with 12 or so kids. When we went in, they were all practicing writing letters in little booklets. But after a few minutes, none of them wanted to do their work. They were more interested in using us as things to climb on, or bringing us all their favorite toys. We tried to get them to practice letters, but they preferred bringing us dead bugs instead. After that, they all went out to wash up for lunch. Some kids walked around half naked, because they had just finished using the plastic training potty, and didn't see a need in getting redressed. After that, we went back into the classroom for a little bit, and then it was time for them to have lunch. Brooke, Helen, Lilian, and I walked around the orphanage, looking at pictures on the walls and playing with a cat. We later went into the office to talk to one of the social workers. Both Brooke and I were anxious the whole time we were there to see the two kids we had attached to last year, Liz and Edwin. We asked the lady about them, and she told us they had both been adopted since we'd been there last. She showed us pictures of each of them with their new families. Liz ended up with a nice looking couple that lives in Nairobi. Knowing that Liz was adopted made me really happy, but I was also sad I didn't get to see her. After talking with the social worker, we had lunch with some of the ladies and some visitors that were staying at the orphanage for a short time. After lunch was all the toddlers' nap time, so we hung out with the smaller kids, age 1 or younger, until the older kids arrived. We played on the playground with the older ones for a while, and watched them play in the sand, making mud tea and mud ugali. After that, we went back home. It was a good day.

Last year I got super attached to little Edwin. Going to the orphanage a second time I was really anxious to see him again, however I didn't want to get my hopes up too much. When we got there I asked the ladies in the office and they informed me that he had been adopted by a couple in Nakuru which is the half way point between Eldoret and Nairobi. He got adopted with one of the little girls from the orphanage, Joanna. So they are brother and sister living with two nice parents. I am very happy for him! The orphanage adopts out about 16 kids a year, so its nice to see that the kids are getting placed in loving homes. They are doing great work that our world is desperate for.