Sorry for not writing sooner, I've been playing with the children!

Happy to be home Evalin

Kelvin says "Hi Laci!"

December 4^th from Mama

Well, we arrived safely and after a comfortable KLM flight.  If only we could persuade them to allow us more baggage KLM would become the ideal airline!  Breezed through passport/visa clearance, by the by they’ve constructed a new visa window, larger, so things clear a bit more quickly.  Got snagged at customs (I don’t know what their problem was, what, with Pat and I lugging 17 bags between us!  (Thank you again Amanda!)

What a greeting!  Latifa, Harriri (he always sneaks in), Stefano, Anna, and Oddo of course, Lohai and Jeremiah all greeted us at the airport, loaded things into the gari (vehicles) and we were on our way home!  The children stayed up waiting (which is quite an effort for a group of little ones as busy as ours and we were received in song and by TONS of hugs and cuddles!  They are all fabulous!  After a late night snack of sambosa we were off to bed, me with our two youngest in tow, Liadi and Latifa, who by the way has gone home with her mother for the holiday and was soooo very happy to do so!  We attempt to reconcile any of our children with their families as often as possible so they don’t lose touch and Latifa, after spelling several words in English (not that her mother would know if she was correct), we packed her up and sent her home with Mama.  A happy little girl and a happier Mama!

I have been walking around here weepy with happiness as I listen to Pendo read a story or dictate his letters to Liadi, our baby.  Almost everyone here can read at least a simple story now.  Christina, Pendo, Latifa, and the older children, Harriri, and Gerhad for example, are whizzes!  It is overwhelming when I recollect from where they started  . . .

We do have our concerns here.  Oddo and I sat Daniel down to tell him about his Mama’s death.  We held his hand and explained that his mother was no longer sick, (AIDS ) as his last memories of her were of her being so, but that she was with God now and could see him every day and would be so very happy to know that he was safe and healthy and happy . . . and learning.  We explained that when he says his prayers at night he can talk to his Mama and she’ll hear him.  There was not one tear.  I questioned him and he did understand . . . we are keeping a special eye on him . . .

Harriri, Liadi and Athuman’s brothers Gaspar and Deo came to visit and although Liadi ran to his kakas to greet them, Harriri, I noticed hung back, quite serious.  I had to ask him to come and greet them.  After they left I called Harriri into my bedroom to ask why he didn’t want to be near his brothers.  He didn’t have an answer, but after a couple of minutes he began to sob . . . Harriri cries silently, as do many children here, and this was very quiet sobbing but sobbing none the less.  You will remember, that his mother was murdered last year and I asked if it was his Mama . . . he told me no, and withdrew but when I asked him if he wanted to be alone for a while, he told me no and asked me to bring our lunches into my bedroom which I did.  Harriri is usually a high energy child, but can brood, as does Athuman his brother and we continue to investigate what brings this darkness and how best we can help.  Athuman suffered before his mother’s death but is new for Harriri.  We can usually tickle or cajole him out of a mood and we repeat REGULARLY that the children have the power to choose every day if they’d like to be happy or sad.  I remind Harriri if he needs some special Mama time, I am here . . . he too, we have an eye on . . .

You may remember Reward, our university student?  Well, earlier this year there were some explosions from a munitions depot very near his university and Reward was thrown from his bed.  He hit his head on the concrete floor and was knocked unconscious.  He has intermittently suffered from dizziness, severe headaches and falls unconscious periodically.  We have investigated a head scan for him but, with the public hospital’s machine broken, we need to send him to a private clinic and that will cost 220,000 TZS or about $140.00 CAD.  We are working on this . . .

Dada Katy and watoto

Sponsors, your Xmas gifts are being handed out pole, pole, (slowly, slowly) in private and the children are ecstatic. Thank you so very much!  We are BUSY here, inventorying clothing, repairing uniforms, interviewing teachers for next year and developing our educational programs.  I though, am spending almost every moment of every day with the children and LOVING every minute of it!  They are for the most part, healthy and happy and Dr. Pat is here and taking care of those feeling under the weather.

Best buds and bros Harriri and Liadi

Pretty Priska

Esther!

Our booth is proceeding (sorry for all the bad weather in Simcoe!) and we thank volunteers for coming out to help.  Please send my husband Steve an email steve@mybrokersteve.com if you would like to help and our container is preparing for shipment!  Thank you, again, to EVERYONE who has contributed to this container!  How blessed are we?

I will close but enjoy the photos!  We are well and loving each other and are so very grateful for your continued support . . .

Our new dining table!

Mary and Aisha . . .

Neema always gives us a smile!

Ema and Lazaro, best friends forever!