Friday, November 24, 2006
End of Term/Holiday Party at HCC
In Kenya the school year is divided into terms which last about three months and at the end of each term there are country-wide exams for all students. The Happy Children's Centre orphans have just gone through the exam period and their term will end today, which marks the beginning of the holiday season. Holidays are always hard when family is absent, but they are particularly hard on orphans. So it was with this in mind that we arranged to have a party with special high protien foods for the children. The party was held yesterday, on Thanksgiving (not a holiday in Kenya) and the children had a WONDERFUL time. The party came together with donations that had been received specifically for foods high in protien and vitamins. Each child received beef and rice pilau, an egg, an orange, bananas, juice and cookies and the teachers received a bag of sugar and tea. This meal may not seem like a feast to those of us still recovering from the big spreads of our American Thanksgivings, but this was very special food to the orphans, whose usual meal is ugali (corn mush) with perhaps some beans from time to time.
The day was full of activity, too. There was a visit from the Bishop of the church where Zablon is pastor and he led the Happy Children's Centre in prayers of thanks. There were drama and comedy skits, singing and several speeches and Sophie reported that everyone laughed a lot and had lots of fun. (Oh, what I would have done to have been there!!) I had sent books and a card and Sophie read to the children so they knew I was with them in spirit. She reports the children were very grateful and they seem to be a bit more disciplined than when she had visited before. She has sent me receipts for everything and I hope to post photos when she is able to get them developed.
It has been raining a lot at the coast in Malindi and elsewhere in Kenya and flooding has been a problem (you may have seen reports on BBC). There have been some struggles to get the children back and forth to the building site. I'm grateful that all the children are doing well and that we were able to provide them a very happy day. Life is made up of memories and celebrations and it pleases me a lot to think of these kids, who have almost nothing, feel remembered and loved despite the torrential rain and our miles apart.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen!!
Mama Kirsten
The day was full of activity, too. There was a visit from the Bishop of the church where Zablon is pastor and he led the Happy Children's Centre in prayers of thanks. There were drama and comedy skits, singing and several speeches and Sophie reported that everyone laughed a lot and had lots of fun. (Oh, what I would have done to have been there!!) I had sent books and a card and Sophie read to the children so they knew I was with them in spirit. She reports the children were very grateful and they seem to be a bit more disciplined than when she had visited before. She has sent me receipts for everything and I hope to post photos when she is able to get them developed.
It has been raining a lot at the coast in Malindi and elsewhere in Kenya and flooding has been a problem (you may have seen reports on BBC). There have been some struggles to get the children back and forth to the building site. I'm grateful that all the children are doing well and that we were able to provide them a very happy day. Life is made up of memories and celebrations and it pleases me a lot to think of these kids, who have almost nothing, feel remembered and loved despite the torrential rain and our miles apart.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen!!
Mama Kirsten
