Happy 99% of the Time

Oh the last day… it was sad, but I tried making the best of it. This morning I ate uji (porridge) with the children. It was so delicious!! I made a cake for Mjomba to take to dinner.

Mom and Dad went somewhere to have service, but I stayed at the orphanage so I could take portraits of all the orphans. I had a lot of fun doing that because it was a connection with each one of them.

I sat and talked with Rydone, James, Titus, Cynthia, and Leah. They were asking me what my daily schedule was at home on a normal basis. We talked about college, driving, and when someone legally becomes an adult. We always have the best conversations together.🤩

They had a huge football game, which was so much fun to watch!! I have never ever seen anyone play football like these kids. They are amazing at it! I gave my phone to three little boys, and they had never played a game on a phone before. They had so much fun playing Hill Climb!

There was someone there who I had never seen before. His name was Hillary and he went to college with James at Rongo University. James left to go take a nap and Hillary said, “Well, I heard you were a nice girl and you are happy 99% of the time. The other 1% is when you are sad and miss your Kenyan family. I had to come to see if it was true. You look like someone who would keep a promise. The reason I came was to ask you if you will sponsor my college education and my sister’s primary and secondary education.” I had to proceed and tell him that I am a 15-year-old who doesn’t have that kind of money.😂

I finished taking pictures and I played some volleyball. We were called to have supper at Mjomba Peter’s. When we arrived, I rolled out chapatis and had a good time with Leah and Mercyline. We had an amazing meal of kuku, chapati, pilau, beef, pineapple, and cake! Mjomba said that I was officially adopted into the family!! We had an amazing time!

At dinner, I gave the students a sweet and it was a little bit sad seeing the form fours because this was most likely my last trip to see them.

Tomorrow will be a sad day for sure, but I know I will come again soon!💞

-Vanessa Brooke