Hey guys,
I had such a great time last night, so I thought I’d write a quick blog. For starters, I’m now the proud Auntie of a Master Kai Wiggers, born yesterday, mother and baby doing well – I can’t wait to meet them! I celebrated in style to the African drum (ok so it was the bottom of a water barrel but anything goes here) and danced like an excited child at the news.

Yesterday we finally closed the school, everyone congregated in the playground, the parents came to see how their children had progressed this term and all the children presented something in their classes. We sang songs and danced and heard from the teachers words of wisdom to digest while we enjoy the vacation. They’ll be back for ‘tuition’ on Monday (I’m yet to discover what this looks like) but for now we can enjoy a couple of days off and have some fun. There was a lot of talking in Swahili and though I understood bits and caught more than I expected, the ceremony was around 3 hours long so I just joined in where I could. After that, the children who had performed the best, tried the hardest, behaved really well and so on received prizes and praise for their efforts and I took pictures of them all looking excitable (or in some cases not looking at all) with their parents.

When we’d finished, we went back to the orphanage, I played with the kids for a bit, jumped some rope and just hung out with the kids which was great. Then we practiced the kids folk song for the fiesta, it’s in Lugha so it’s quite a challenge but I love traditional songs so I’m learning it too. The Sunday school group sang this song together and their dancing is so cute, I’ll get a video clip of it before I leave.

It was Jeridah’s last day today, she’s going to the west to visit family so I spent some time with her, helping her make pojo (something like mushy peas but much tastier) and sima (ugali) – cooking for 34 is a feat in itself but Jeridah said I was doing a good job and I didn’t ruin their dinner, phew! There was an electricity outage so we cooked to candle light – a single candle glued to the wall with wax, it felt strange but was cosy and with Jeridah to make sure that everything was going ok I could relax a bit knowing that she can handle anything even though I could hardly see what I was doing!

Then we ate all together in the hallway and danced up and down to get people in the spirit of the folk dance – I was in my element. The kids were really relaxed and free to let go and we had a lot of fun. I wish every day could be like that. The kids want me to stay over one evening, maybe I’ll stay on Saturday, though I doubt I can hope for getting much sleep.

When I was talking to Jeridah I was asking her about her trip and she said she could lie in tomorrow till 5.30! At the orphanage, she is on her feet all day and had kids at home too, gets up at 4.30 and goes to bed at 11.30, now that deserves some respect. The kids are so well behaved too; they obviously have great role models between her, the other nanny Elizabeth and Violet who loves them like they are her own. I feel so privileged to be able to share their lives while I’m here and really feel like I’m part of the family now. I hope that it won’t be too long before I come back but that will be up to God as I don’t really know what the next few years hold.

Anyway, I better get ready to go see the kids again, we’ve got the day off today and I want to make the most of the time I have left here..until next time, be well and be blessed in Jesus holy name. Xx