Life in Mbita (repeat)

Not sure if this made it or not, so may be a repeat.

School is closing tomorrow and we just got here!  I am having so much fun with all of my projects at CGA…go figure!  It has been a busy week as the school prepares to close down for 5 weeks.  The teachers discovered that Paul and I can use a computer 10-key to add up all the student grades/scores and take 15 minutes to do what would take them 4 hours to do.  We have many requests to help!  Judi has set up several projects for me to work on so I will be at school doing work even when the kids are not there.  That is a good thing because there really is not much to do around this little town except play with kids and APPARENTLY, Mavin thinks that we live to far for him to come to visit every day.  “It is very far” he told me when I asked him why he had not visited recently.  Oh well, I set up a play date for Saturday when they can stay for a long time. 

So here is an update on all of our kids:  Junior (age 12) attends CGA so I get to see him most school days except I have to be cool because I embarrass him when I talk to him.  He did not volunteer that info, I asked him…and he said “yes”.  Unfortunately, he has not been in school all week.  “father” told me that he burned his leg last Friday, with hot oil, so I went to see him yesterday.  OHMYGOSH…his poor leg looks like someone took their hand, after it was dipped in acid, and slapped his shin.  There is a terrible burn, literally the size of my outstretched hand.  His mother did not take him to the doctor, which I guess is like her, but a “nurse” neighbor gave him something to wash it with.  It actually seems to be healing quite well and does not seem to be infected…but ewwwww.  Poor kid!  He is the sweetest thing. 

Mavine, Eunice and Michael are siblings whose mother “went away” in February.  Apparently, she was very sick with boils all over her body but would not accept/admit that she had AIDS.  People say that she went to a hospital in Kisumu…and I suspect that she has died.  Well, these kids have been on their own until about 4 weeks ago when a nice African/Canadian couple  (Paul & Erin)asked them into their home.  Michael, the eldest – at 12, only just moved in with Erin and Paul a few days ago.  He did not want to leave his home and their things (what little they had).  I think he was hoping his mother was coming home.  He had been doing odd jobs for someone who gave him food, but I am so happy that he decided to go with his bro and sis.  I had a nice visit with Erin and Paul 2 weeks ago and they are here working with orphans and widows.  It seems that they are willing to have the kids with them, at least for now.  They have a nice place with a front yard that sounds like our house here last year.  Apparently, that is where all the kids play instead of my house…that is toooo far!!! 

Magdeline is no where to be seen.  No one knows where she went but Byron is still with his elderly grandmother.  This is his 2nd year at Star of the Sea Nursery School (we pay $50 a year for him) and he is actually able to talk with me a little bit.  I have only been with him 4 times but he looooves me.  When I went to visit Junior’s house yesterday, Byron was waiting outside for me when I came out.  He was barefoot (his shoes fell into the pit latrine) but he took me to his boots (full of holes) and put them on then we walked hand in hand to visit Mavine & Eunice,  Only Mavine was home with the twin boys that Paul and Erin are adopting (Paul’s brother died so they took the boys in) and the housegirl.  Byron and I visited for awhile and then I took him home.  He will be here on Saturday when the gang comes for a visit.  I think we will play BINGO.  I have prizes!  Anyway, I visited Byron at school one day (to pay his fees) and when I came in he smiled so big and just looked around and smiled at the other kids like “Oh, she is MY friend”.  A group of our kids have come to the church we are attending and Byron was all snuggily with me, but apparently he was biting and hitting the other kids when they kids went outside for the kids lesson…He is a wolf in sheeps clothing!  His uncle came to CGA and met with the orphan overseer and me to discuss, again, the possibility of getting Byron into CGA next year. Someone has to provide the mother’s death certificate and Byron’s birth certificate to get him admitted,,  His uncle said that he would take care of it….I can only hope and pray that he will.  We could use your prayers for this one because Byron will just be a lost little boy if he does not get into this school.  He can eat 2 meals a day there, be well cared for, learn well and not be “caned”.  I don’t think he eats much as his little belly is pretty distended and hard.  PRAY HARD!

well, that is enough for me right now…I will keep you posted on the other kids.  These are the most interesting stories, so hopefully, this will keep you for awhile.  You would not believe the stories that we hear everyday!    ORITI…until next time