Kourtni: 12 June 2010

Dear Journal

We woke up pretty early got ready went and ate breakfast and just kind of hung out til Paula came back to pick us up, when they came we started heading to the orphanage!!! I CAN'T WAIT! We began our 5 1/2 hour trip, with 3 people on a small pick up front seat, the back of the pick up was full of 12+ bags and 3 girls so we cozied up and set off. I am so excited! I couldn't stop talking about my kids and how excited I am to see each and everyone of them. We stopped by the half way house and bought some banana bread and some drinks, we then continued on the rest of the way - I COULDN'T WAIT!

When we pulled up to the gate and Crazy old Man was the one and guard, he remembered me and was as excited to see me as I was to see him. We then pulled up, parked and got out of the car. Hands came out and said "Hi Auntie Kourtin", I said hi and asked him where everyone else was and he said they were inside and that he would go get the, all we could hear was Hands yelling "Autnie Kourtin is here! It's Auntie Kourtin!" we could then hear the place burst with noise as all the kids yelled "Auntie Kourtin, Auntie Kourtin!" Thinker was the first one that I saw and he literally ran full speed to me and jumped into my arms with a huge hug! He was followed by Rock, Mana, Clown, Obama, Futbol, Mama, Dancer, Hips, Dee Dee, Froggy, Lips, Queen, Mr. Leech, Smarts, Drama, Volume and many more. They all ran to meet Rafiki and Timon. Hello then came out to say hi and brought Bugzy ( the 2 month old baby) for me to meet, the older kids then went and got Simon, Little Rat, Baby Girl and Jump for me to say hi to, they didn't remember me so they were shy but I seriously cannot believe how big they have gotten! I then went in and met Giggles ( also a 2 month old, both of the babies were abandonded).

We then took Timon and Rafiki on a tour of the orphanage- the laundry room ( new and really cool ), the play ground, the kitchen, the girls rooms, the boys dorm, the chickens and the goats. They then wanted to go on a hike up the mountian so Timon, Rafiki, Zazu and Hyena took all the older kids. I chose to stay behind because my back/leg was hurting really badly all day. It was nice to sit and visit with Hello again and to hold, cuddle and love on the new babies and play with my "old babies".

A lady then came with her baby who is a hydrocepth baby and his shunt is not working he is also very malnourished so AP being AP got her clothes, food, and stuff for the baby and her other kids at home. We then went through some of the stuff we brought, fed the kids dinner, and told everyone good night so we could get some rest and get settled in, It is so AMAZING to be back here! It feels like I have never been gone! I love it here! I love these kids so much!

everyone has been given nick names to protect thier idenity