Lesson learned in Kenya

Today I had a funny thing happen to me in church (how many times do you get to say that?) We were watching the youth choir singing and a little girl came up to me and smiled, so I picked her up and she sat on my lap. She kept looking back at me and smiling and we were having a nice time. Then she fell asleep, it was so cute because she had her little hands folded on her lap and she was leaning against me sleeping. Well, she must have felt pretty comfortable because then she wet herself – all over me and her! She didn’t even wake up! And wouldn’t you know it I wore a white skirt to church! Pauline took me and the little girl outside where I let my skirt dry before going back into church. I found out later that the little girl was there with her big brother and they stay at the church all day long until someone sends them home. Ruth said sometimes they are clean and sometimes not. The little one wasn’t clean today especially after wetting herself. I saw her later in the day and she was wearing the same dirty dress, but she has the cutest smile! That brings me to another funny story. Babies here wear “napkins” which we call diapers. Gideon said that most of the kids that are starting to walk don’t wear them so those accidents happen all the time.
So onto another funny story about “napkins”, Chuck asked Josephine (she is Pauline’s niece, lives with them and helps with cooking and cleaning) for a napkin to wipe his hands and she gave him the funniest look! She couldn’t figure out why he would want a “diaper” to wipe his hands on! So we found out they are called soviets (pretty much pronounced like Soviet Union!) Now we ask for a soviet instead of a napkin!
Ruth is feeling a little better today, but feeling quite exhausted. She did sing at church today but later in the afternoon she wanted to go home and sleep. She’s to go to the doctors tomorrow for another injection, so please continue to pray for her recovery.
I didn’t take any pictures today, so here are a couple of pictures from previous days. The first two are the van – you can see why we need to get a new one! The next two are before and after pictures of the new store. You can see how much shelf space we now have and it’s wonderful. Kathryn and Ruth are very excited about it because now they can see what’s needed and what is running low. A simple thing like organizing supplies can create such joy! The last photo is a nursery student – isn’t she the cutest?!
Remember that all donations for the next two weeks will be matched up to $10,000! Tell all your friends, relatives and co-workers about it! Thank you for opening your hearts to these children. Ruth has talked to many parents and they are asking why this is happening to their children. She is telling them that God wants these children to know that they are not worthless and have a future and a hope in this world. Pray for the Academy that God’s will and plans will be fulfilled.