Chaos + 104 = Love: Day 1

Chaos? Really?

There are one hundred and four children. Yes, you read correctly: 104 children. The majority of them are under the age of five.

So is there chaos? Yes. A bad chaos? No.

Last night it rained; no, it was more like a torrential downpour. For hours it rained, even well into the morning.

And where there is rain here, there is mud. Lots and lots of mud (so glad Sean and I bought rain boots while in Canada) plus lots and lots of children equals: not a good combo.

This morning Sean took Jeff, Carla and their adult children to the airport for their one-week safari. I stayed back to keep an eye on things and to pray that the rain would stop. J

I wanted the rain to stop so that the children could go out and play. Thankfully the older children had chores to do but 80+ little ones were held indoors until the rain stopped.  After a little while, the children get bored of sitting inside; they need to be outside to run and play, to expel all that energy.

Lord, PLEASE stop the rain, even for a few hours.  And He did. Thank you.

The children busted through the doors to the great outside with extreme excitement. I think we were all excited: the aunties, the social worker, the children and me.

Children are not really meant to be indoors all the time. Seriously. Go out and play; soak up the sun, play in the mud, swing on a swing, throw a ball around. Being inside all the time is way overrated.

Anyway…

The children are starting to call Sean, Baba Sean (Baba is Dad/Father in Swahili) and me, Mama Mary.

We walk onto the veranda in the morning (it’s this long room lined with high chairs for the babies, tables and chairs for the bigger children and a section with a TV and DVD player where The Wiggles, Barney and Sesame Street are played from time to time for the children) to greet the children. “Baba Sean, Mama Mary!” is screamed throughout the veranda. I think we’re still a novelty here. I’m sure that will quickly wear off.

My day today was filled with holding babies who needed to be held, toddlers who needed some affection and children who needed attention after hurting themselves. I’ve got today’s breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner imbedded in my shirt and skirt. Yes, this is life. A good one.

This evening we spent some time with the twelve older children (7-17) as we all ate mangos (thank you Sarah, Thomas and Matt for those) and quoted The Lion King movie. Hakuna matata!!!!

So now, Sean and I go to our bedroom and call it a night. Oh yes, and we can’t forget Miss Cindy-Lou who will be staying in our room with us while we’re here. She’s a four-month old gorgeous little girl who has a bit of a trachea problem and its better that she is fed, burped and monitored closely. So we have a nice little basket with a mosquito net all set up in our room for her. Yes, she is a princess.

Off to bed we go. Good night everyone.

Much love,
Meredith (& Sean)