20 June 2010

P came and picked me up around 7 we stopped by her place to eat breakfast and grab a few things before we left, I tried the computer one more time then finally we were on the road to get back to my kids! I was soooooooooooooo happy to see them! I went down and visited and checked on all my kids, it was so great to see them!

Hyena then started a soccer game with most of them so I went down to watch. Simon was being very clingly to me and wouldn't let me put him down so I didn't play but it was fun to watch we have some amazing soccer players! We then came back up for lunch after lunch I played on the little playground and teeter totter that we have. It was funny cuz Rafiki was laying on the one side/middle so I went and jumped on the other side and it scared her half to death the kids laughed so hard and thought it was so funny so of course I did it multiple times! :)

Then it was time for the kids to do more chores ( P was kind of on a ramapage of wanting everything done) I went down with some of the kids to water the garden and then Rock and Futbol took me to pick some goose berries ( freaking delicious fruit! YUMMY) I then played with Little Rat and Simon both of which were pretty clingy to me today but of course I don't mind! I then went with Scar down the street to talk to someone about giving us some bricks. While we were in the car he was asking me about my religion and and was really impressed with things I was telling him and stuff- it was a great missionary moment.

When we got back a lady was here with a bunch of me to visit Drama ( she's the newest child here). It was a bit alarming to all of us so we all had our guard up. Then Hyena, Mr. GQ, Tude, Mama, Rock, Futbol, Froggy, Obama, Hips, me and a couplde of others played a big game of keep away from the other team. It was alot of fun then it was baths, dinner, devotional and bed. Thinker has a cold and his chest has been hurting so I had Scar take him to the clinic, always someone to worry about and keep an eye on! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!

Boys helping sew some tarps together


Boys getting ready for a futball game


Froggy


Rafiki and Timon


The boys playing on the swingset


Futball time

19 June 2010

This morning P needs me to go to town and help her with some computer stuff so Scar and I left early. When we got there Scar dropped me off at her flat where we tried to get the internet to work but as usual it wasn't working from her house so we went to the internet cafe and worked for a bit from there but then the battery on the laptop broke so we couldn't work on it any more. We then walked across the street for lunch but they only sold breakfast at the time so she had an omlet and I had "frenchie toast" what they did was made french toast and then put bacon and cheese between two slices and then warmed it i[- delicious!

Then she surprised me by telling me we were going to Nyzura- the boarding school- to take some stuff to the kids that are there. I was so excited I was finally going to see B.B! Both her and Teach cried a little bit when they saw me, it was so great to see them again! We talked to the headmaster and asked about bringing them home for the weekend, I hope so much that he will allow us to do it, I want all my kids to be together where they are supposed to be!

We then went back to P's to try the internet and of course it wasn't working. Since it was getting later she wanted me to spend the night in town but since she lives in a retirement type place she is no allowed to have visitors stay the night. So she drove me down the street to almost like a small B&B where I stayed the night. I wasn't very thrilled with the idea since I wanted to be with my kids but the lady was very nice and funny and I enjoyed getting to know her, she made me watch her english medical soapies with her- they were terrible acting but it was good to sit and relax. I went to bed early since I am still not feeling well but I really missed my kids! You'll be in my heart!

Hands


Abraham

A few of some of our grounds

Rafiki and I with Little Rat, Volume, N and Dee-Dee

18 June 2010

Today since the kids were at school and things were taken care of here we decided to have a bit of a low key morning ( the sudden cold weather has us all feeling a bit under the weather and my leg has still been bothering me). So while Timon slept Rafiki went down to check on the preschoolers and I brought Baby Girl and Little Rat up here with me. We colored and danced to music then played on the couch and looked out the window. When Rafiki got back and Timon woke up I took the little girls back down and the 3 of us just hung out, it was really cold today so we had to really bundle up to stay warm, I ended up falling asleep and took a pretty good nap.

When the kids got home from school we decided that we wanted to take them to the damn again so they had to quickly wash their school uniforms and get things ready for tomorrow since it is the sabbath. Timon, Rafiki and I then took all the kids that are old enough to walk there to the damn ( there were 21 of them). We stayed there for quite a while talking, throwing things down the rock ( little round fruits from a nearby tree and a ball) and of course we slid down the rock where me and like 4 of the kids got holes in our pants. I probably shouldn't encourage it but it is so much fun and it's nice to let the kids be kids and do something fun and care free.

When we got back they all had to bathe and then it was time for supper. After supper the kids led their own devotional ( it is always so humbling to me to see how devoted to God these kids are- they are so grateful for what they have, I am so proud of our kids!) We then brought the fun kids cd down and danced and sang with them. It was so great to just let everyone hang loose and be silly and man oh man do we have some great dancers!

I am so in love with these kids! I wish I could take them all home and protect them from everything and help them become the amazing, smart, talented kids I know they are! I love them so much! YOU'LL BE IN MY HEART FROM NOW AND FOREVER MORE! ( i started singing this song to them last year and everytime I hear it I think of them! I love them so much!)






Playing on the dam

we made it!

17 June 2010

Well last night after I wrote we brought the music out and started dancing- we then warmed up our feet in some hot water cuz it got really cold really fast. After that Rafiki and Timon went to bed and Zazu and I stayed up talking and listening to music. We heard a truck leaving and it was like 10:00pm so Zazu and I went out and started yelling for the guard but no one was answering or coming so we walked down to where our cars are and there was no truck and no guard we kept calling out for the guard but still got no response so we started walking towards the gate and the guard finally came running to us. We asked him what was going on and he said that one of the workers needed a ride home so Scar said that D could take her- we were a bit concerned and angry because what if there was an emergency or something and the guard wasn't around- this is not the first time something like this has happened so something needs to be done.

Zazu and I were apparently sleep talking to eachother all night which is funny and random since neither of us have ever done that before. So we woke up extra tired today and I think with the sudden cold weather that it is throwing all of us off. There was a funeral in the community today so Scar wanted the 4 of us girls to go. We took a bag of Maize with us, they had their church group there and the chief came so after we all did our hellos and introduced ourselves the church group preformed a song and had us get up and dance with them. They wore these huge drums and played them while they sang and danced it was actually really interesting, we left before the did the actual burial and stuff.

On the way back we stopped by the clinic because Obama wasn't feeling well, while we were waiting I decided that I would make them vegetable soup for diner since it was so cold. So when we got back I began cutting the veggies with the help of Rafiki, Timon, Sarabi and Nala. We then decided to do a test cake run for the birthdays that are coming up so Zazu, Sarabi and I worked on that we had an adults women day.

I then went down to play with Volume, N, Dee-Dee and Baby Girl for a bit and by play with them I mean they "did" my hair for me. I then got a pleasant surprise by seeing Simon ( he had to go back to the doctor to get his legs checked so he has been gone for a few days). The kids then got home from school so while they were up doing classes with Mr. B I did an exercise class with: Mr Leech, Dee-Dee, Queen, Drama, N, Volume, Simon, Baby Girl and Jump. It was so cute seeing them doing push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, and laps.

Some of them had to go up to class so I began making supper- with the help of many little ones under my feet. I then continued playing with kids and caring for crying babies. Then the older kids came down so I was trying to help them with their homework while keeping all the little ones entertained. I felt like I argued with alot of kids today it seemed like no one was listening to me and taking baths when it was time to- it could have just been me tho since I was tired and not feeling to well.

Finally it was dinner time, it wasn't really a soup since we added to much rice so it more so became rice and veggies. It wasn't a huge hit by all but some of them really enjoyed it we then gave everyone a very small piece of cake and that got a huge response! After nightly devotional it was homework time Mr. GQ, Tude and Lips weren't really willing to do it so it was like pulling teeth trying to get them to get it done, they finally finished so I sent them down to bed.

We started our girls night! We invited Sarabi and Nala to come join us and Nala's daughter Chicken was here as well. The aunties washed our hair and then we all painted our fingernails and danced, they showed us how to do their African dances and we showed them how to do our American dances we had so much fun laughing and being together. We finished the night by having chocolate and tea before saying goodnight and watching them walk home. We finished our nightly tasks and called it a night. GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!












Dancer, Hair, Little Rat, Hands, Baby Girl and Rock


Rock and Babygirl

Me with Clown and Little Rat

Clown and Little Rat

Rock and the fire he built all by himself

Dee-Dee, N, and Volume licking out the chocolate bowl

The women cooking

Scar and Sarabi

We soaked our feet in some hot water, it was cold out

Washing our faces

16 June 2010

Dear Journal

This morning since the 4 of us are going into town I went down and played with Volume, N, Little Rat and Baby Girl before we left. As I was sitting there holding Baby Girl I was pointing to things and Volume and N would tell me what the things were in Shona and when I got them wrong they would laugh and make funny faces. It cracked me up how they would break up the pronounciation so I could "understand" it more ADORABLE! It was time for preschool so I walked them to class as I was walking away Baby Girl kind of yelled for me so I looked back and she was holding her bottle up for me to go get as I walked to her she walked towards me holding the bottle on top of her head SO STINKING CUTE! I helped make buns until we left.

The 4 of us loaded into the truck to go to Mutare Zazu and Rafiki were in front and Timon and I sat in the back. When we got into town we stopped by Paula's flat we visited for a bit then went to go run errands, as we were walking to the truck some people from the World Food Program were there to give us some food. Well there was alot more food then we expected there were like 24 bags ( 50kgs or more each bag) and 2 boxes so it took up 2/3 of the back of the pick up so Timon and I didn't have much room to sit- as we were driving off I was on the phone with dad the bags started shifting and falling on Timon and I so we were laughing and pounding on the truck for Zazu to stop the truck and come help us. Dad was a little concerned cuz I had to hang up and he didn't know what was going on so I had to send him a text to explain what had happened.

Our first stop was at the green market where Timon bought a bag and we bought honey, stop #2 was at an internet place where we had to pick up Paula's computer, we then walked to 2 different grocery stores to grab groceries before we stopped by some street vendors to get some more fruits and vegetables. We then decided to go get some lunch so we stopped by a place that had wireless internet so we could use the computer. We then stopped back by Paula's and visited for a moment ( or two) and then headed home. Home being the orphanage! :)

When we pulled up and I got out of the truck Tude was running full speed and literally jumped on me with the biggest hug! So sweet and tender ( Tude is very to herself and quiet so it is sweet when she does stuff like this). Then like a billion other kids ( Hips, Mama, Dancer, Mana, Clown, Rock, Lips, Queen, and more) met us with huge hugs and helped us carry stuff inside these kids are so sweet and amazing!! I love them so much! We then kind of just hung out with the kids a bit it was actually pretty cold so I made the kids stay inside. They are so cute and I am so in love with them!

Scar then came up he is so funny and sarcastic and just jokes with us the whole time. He told us that the scar is from killing a lion with a razor blade. He was trying to get D ( the guard) to lie to us and tell us that's what it's from but he wouldn't so Scar said he'd fire him for lying. He is so funny and seriously the best thing that the orphanage did was to hire him and Sarabi! It's such a relief! Then Tude and Mr. GQ came up here to do their homework- we were laughing and joking around the whole time so they just sat there and laughed at us. I am so in love with these kids and it was so nice to come home after being away all day! YOU"LL BE IN MY HEART!






One of our Matrons making buns


Little Rat

Baby Girl

Our preschoolers

15 June 2010

Dear Journal

This morning I woke on maybe the wrong side of the bed, I have been in so much pain with my leg still ( I don't know what it is but it is worse then the nerve damage I had last year) also my allergies have gotten worse so I was up most the night dealing with them. So sad to say I was a bit on the grumpy and down side but that changes so quickly when I see this kids so I watched as they got loaded in Big Blue to go to school. Rafiki, Timon and I were asked to go on the out reach program (FMSC); what it is is when we go to the elementary schools and feed all the kids especially those who are malnourished and in need of food.

The ladies went and fetched the water and got the fire ready so we could begin cooking 78 packets (each packet makes 6 servings). It took awhile to cook so the ladies were teaching us things in Shona and put their Dukus on our heads (the wraps that they were on their heads). We then went and met the head master- he is super nice and has such a great school and big dreams for all of his students- which is a huge difference then the school our kids currently go to. At break time (10:00) we begin feeding everyone- it started off with just the preschool and then we had grades 1-6 come out we fed over 570 kids and even had to turn a few ( more like a lot) of kids away cuz we were out of food. It is such a great humbling experience to feed these children that are so grateful and kind for something so simple. I sure do love it here and once again realize that I am so spoiled and take so much for granted!

When we got back Rafiki, Timon and I decided that we wanted some Naches for us so that we don't eat the ones that we bought for the kids so we went and bought some more. Hats wanted us to take a local with us so that if something happened we'd be safe so he sent Wonton with us. Wonton is such a great, funny, helpful guy. He laughed at my driving ( I did kill it a couple times), while we were out we decided to got to Murange to get a soda, .50 for a bottle but you have to drink it there so you can return the bottles. When we got back we read books to Volume, N, Dee-Dee and Rock ( he was home sick from school) Rafiki and Timon then let me take a short nap while they mad lunch- my leg is still killing me- they made yummy egg salad sandwiches.

After lunch the kids had to go do classes with Mr. B so we brought Giggles, Bugzy and Little Rat up to our flat to play for awhile, I then went down and held Baby Girl for ahwile who ended up falling asleep in my arms- nothing beats holding a sleeping baby even when she is almost 2 years old- i held her as long as I could but then had to put her in her bed so I could go take care of the other kids since they were done with their classes.

Hips, Queen, Lips, Froggy and Drama started singing and dancing for us, Mr. GQ came and sat next to me to do his homework- he was attempting to teach us Shona but it's not an easy language to learn so her just laughed and laughed at us. It was funny cuz Rafiki said "hey look it's the chicken bird that Zazu likes" (guinea fowl) I turned to him and asked him what it was he looked at me and said "doves." We started laughing so hard which again just made him laugh at us once again.

Then Little Rat and Baby Girl came out and sat on my lap, we played and watched the older kids. They all had to go take their baths so Volume, Baby Girl and I were walking back to my flat I said "look Baby Girl the moon (while pointing to the moon) Volume who was holding my hand looked up at me and said "Auntie Kourtn then said what moon is in Shona which I of course don't remember" So I copied her and with a big smile on her face she said "yay!" while we kept walking hand in hand. It was such a sweet tender moment to have her teach me something like that (she has become my little buddy). We played up in the flat til it was suppertime- I took them back down and we sat and watched as Hips, Hands, Lips and Braids were teaching Rafiki how to dance HILARIOUS we then ate our food, rice and beans, possibly my favorite meal here.

The 3 of us then came back to the flat Zazu and Scar were now back, I showed Scar the light up frisbee we brought and he was like " I want to go scare the gaurds, they will think it is a ghost" so we all went outside while he showed them. Then Timon and I taught them how to actually throw the frisbee, he then wanted to go down and show the kids, the too thought it was the coolest thing! I love how excited they get from the simpilest things! Something I could learn. We then told them all good night and brought Tude back up to do her homework. She needs an extra push and I am more then happy to be the one to do it. She is such a sweet, loving, kind girl and I want to help her be the best she can be! MY HEART IS SO IN AFRICA!

P.S. on a side note Scar is so funny!! The other day he was telling us that he calls himself "genuine authentic leather" also he has a scar on his forehead he said that the story is one that he will have to tell us tomorrow but the key points are: he could have married the chiefs daughter and that it gave him the opportunity to go to Europe and study abroad. He also said that he was considered a hero and that we need to put the pieces together and come up with the true story of what happened. He is such a great funny guy and I am so thrilled he is here for the kids!







Me washing the kids hands


The line of some of the kids waiting for food


Rafiki dishing out the food






Kids eating


The women cooking the FMSC food


Rafiki, Timon and I in our Dukus


Rafiki's turn to cook


Timon and I cooking


Us with our guard and some of the cooks


This is the FMSC food

Mr.GQ on his way to school

Breakfast on the go

14 June 2010

Dear Journal

This morning I woke up to the blessed sounds of children- how sweet the sounds!! I am so in love with these kids! Zazu and Scar were going to town today and at the last minute Sarabi decided that she wanted to go as well so left me in charge of everything and to make sure that things ran smoothly.

We were saying goodbye to the kids since they were leaving for school and they talked Rafiki into going and doing the FMSC (feed my starving children) program so she went school all day with the kids and by all day I meand from 7-12. Timon was still asleep, everyone was gone, kids were in school so I sat down and played with Volume, Little Rat, Dee-Dee and N. They played with my hair, we sang songs, they were attempting to teach me Shona ( really I was just copying what they were saying and they were just laughing at me! :)..) We then decided to blow bubbles but I couldn't get the mixture correct so the bubbles were not working correctly, they then had to go to preschool.

Timon was awake by this point so her and I each went down and got a baby and brought them back to our flat, she had Giggles and I had Bugzy, we played with them for a while then took them down to get thier nappies changed and got thier bottles. We took them back up to feed them and then all 4 of us fell asleep and took a nap on the sofas. We weren't asleep for long when E came to get me. She was taking me to get naches (a mixture between an orange and a lemon) from a local. Hats suggested that we drive cuz it was pretty far away so since I was the only one out of the 3 of us that could drive I got behind the wheel- I was a bit nervous since the last and only time that I drove a standard was when I was here last time, I think I did really really well, I was pretty proud of myself. Naches are so delicious!

When we got back Timon and I decided that we would start the "sudza cook off". We have been asked to come up with other ways to cook sudza cuz they are getting sick of it. So we mixed a sudza mixture into almost a pancake mixture for "sudza pancakes" ( they were still pretty bland and even when we added tomatoes to it), we then attempted to make "sudza tamales" they were ok, we didn't care for them but our little shadows ate them up- lastly we made "mexican cornbread" the kids and the workers really seemed to like this one who knows if we made any progress but it showed them that we are willing to help. (let me explain what sudza is, it is a white cornmeal mixture that is a little thicker then mashed potatoes but very bland).

We then did bubbles while we waited for the kids to come home from school, when they got home we split them in groups and did flash cards with them- I did math with: Obama, Mana, Clown, Thinker, Froggy and Drama. Rafiki and Timon were doing other cards with Volume, Mr. Leech, Dee-Dee, N and a few others. We then were going to go do classes with Mr. B but I got called away to an emergency; a lady in the clinic was in labor and needed to be transferred to Mutare. I was the only driver there besides Wonton so he agreed to go with to help me just in case. We got to the clinic to pick her up and they came out to tell me that she had just delivered the baby and asked me to come see her. She was absolutely beautiful! It's amazing how precious a new born baby is. We dropped them off at their house then came back to be with the kids. I sat down and did homework with Mr GQ and Tude while we watched Nala do Braids and Lips hair. It was then time for dinner and bed. We told everyone goodnight then came up here to do a few thing and discuss how our day went. I LOVE THESE KIDS SO MUCH!


Rafiki on her way to the school




Rafiki helping with FMSC


Me and Little Rat



Little Rat and Simon