Tenders are Served!

Monday, June 28th... We've just finished dinner and it is 9:30 pm. We are SO tired that the conversation is kind of in a lull at the moment. It has been a busy day but a good one. Another one of eye opening exposure and a chance to see what a different culture we are in. I've been amazed by a lot of things... but I've also been surprised by how different things are and yet how the same they are at the same time. Kids are still kids anywhere they are. Today I watched two little boys playing with trucks in the dirt and I was reminded of Cody as a little boy. The only difference was these boys were barefoot (not by choice, filthy dirty, and there truck was not a Tonka truck. It was made of an empty can of oil and a few pieces of metal tying the whole thing together. But to this little boy it was just a truck. And when he wasn't holding up his way to big pants he was making car noises just like every other little boy in America. The second thing is that as all children all they want is to be noticed. They want to be recognized and acknowledged. The first day they greeted us with smiles. And then they got a little shy. By today they were all waiting for us with hugs and they are so excited every time we show up. The only way to tell the girls from the boys (except for the older ones) is to see who is wearing a skirt and who is wearing pants. They ALL cut their hair short (not only our kids but all kids I've seen) so they don't get lice.

Today we started the day by getting organized. Phil and I sat and figured out just exactly who was still here at the school, and who had left for whatever reason (some for reasons that were good as in the family moved back to the north, and in some cases he had to ask them to leave) so I can get back to the states and refigure the sponsorships. It was a huge step for me, cause I was really feeling like I'd come in midstream and was missing the boat. I now feel much more confident in what is taking place. Jen, don't read into that that I won't be calling you for help! Our goal we decided was to get the kids that board here sponsored first and then take on the school kids who still live with family of some kind.

We then decided to get our tenders for dinner. There is one rooster that lives (wait I should say lived) on the property. Well, his days were numbered after waking us all up for several days in a row. So the decision was made to have him and a few of his female friends for dinner. I've never been a hunter so that was something new and different. First, for those of you who know Colton, Blake, Brian and Josh you have to visualize them chasing after the chickens and rooster. Brian had a 2x4 (which I'm here to tell you is not effective for catching chickens). Jamie, (one of the girls on the team, also a vegetarian) was devastated cause we were about to do away with "Tender" the chicken she had made friends with. Hence, the name of the blog! So there were these four crazy guys out there chasing the chickens... finally they were caught; Blake figured out if you held them upside down they stopped moving and shaking so he was the holder of the goods. Then it came time to do the honors and after being shown how, both Brian and Josh did the honors. Blake was really glad when his chicken got dispensation to live another day! I have to say the expression, "like a chicken with it's head cut off", is really a true statement! So when dinner came out tonight it was a little different. I couldn't look at my plate in quite the same way. But I have to say it was tasty!

After getting organized we headed back to the kids school for VBS. And for the first day I have to say it went really well. The group in charge of that did a great job. After some singing and some teaching they played games with the group which was divided up by tribes so that there was a translator in each group. I was glad that I was the photographer because the energy level to keep up, in the heat, was more than I had. I did join one group for awhile and it just about did me in. I almost ended up like "Tender". I did spend more time teaching the photography to some of the kids and that was really special. I know I've mentioned this before but I can't even begin to express to you how excited they are to see their picture on the screen. I have been pulled in all directions by seven or eight kids at a time trying to see the picture that just was taken. If I aim the camera at one child, by the time I push the button five or six more have jumped into the picture. I finally have had to learn to tell them to wait. So my sign language is getting quite good. I still get called Muzungu at least 200 times a day and each time it gets a little louder. But these children are so cute it is hard to resist. After that (which lasted about three hours) we went to see the widows who Phil also sponsors. This is a group of women who's husbands have either been murdered or died of AIDS or malaria. He was telling about one of his little boys whose father and mother were murdered by their neighbor. He and his sister and five of his cousins are now being raised by his 70 year old grandmother. And that is a typical story. We spent about an hour visiting with them (with Susan translating). Here is a group of women who have nothing and they treated us like kings and queens. They brought out plastic chairs for us to sit on, while these older ladies sat on the ground. It was really humbling to be among them. To see where they live and how they live, just is so hard to imagine. I'm sure there are places like it in the US, and we know there is poverty in our own community, but we just never see it. Here you can't get away from it. It is everywhere. It is overwhelming in that we just can't escape it.

I have to reiterate again that I am here with a great group. The group is becoming really tight knit and I am sure we will forever be friends. They are all sensitive to the kids and to each other; though we all have a warped sense of humor. Well, that is everyone but me. I'm the nice one as you all know. There is not a sarcastic bone in my body.

I love you all very much. Thanks again for being a part of this journey. Every day just gets better. I am so glad that I am here. It has touched my heart so much. What a blessing to be a part of this group and a part of this experience.

Sue