Dirubi and Lee McGraw by Gina Martin

Today's excursions took us to 2 orphanages - Lee McGraw & Dirubi- which was about a 1.5 hour trip one-way.  The sights to see were plenty.  The streets were lined with vendors who were selling every type of vegetation imaginable which they had most likely grown on their own little patch of land.  Donkeys, goats, & chickens mingled freely among the people alongside the streets.  Mothers were carrying babies in slings on their backs.  There was even a child who could not have been older than 5 helping her mother by carrying what must of been her younger sibling in a sling on her back.  White economy vans that serve as taxis had passengers that jumped on & off with the van still in motion.  Soon, we came upon a mama pig & her piglet eating out of a pile of garbage in the middle of the street, undeterred by the hustle & bustle of people around them.  As we zipped down a narrow 2 lane road with no shoulder, school children scurried alongside the road.  They were close enough that they could extend their arm & touch the vehicles as they blast by.  Cows are left to wander around freely to graze like deer.  I'm told that when their owner beckons them, the cattle recognize their owner's voice & return to him.  So do the loose donkeys.  Cattle in Texas can't compete with these!

As we drove by the people, they stared in disbelief at the sight of white people.  Even the cows seemed to stare with bewilderment at this novelty.  As we continued down the road, Mauryn, little Johnathan, & Rispa serenade us along our journey with praise songs sung in Swahili.  I was pleased to see my 15 year old daughter remove the earphones from her ears to listen to the rich, harmonious singing and with absolutely no prompting from me!

Our first stop is the Lee McGraw Orphanage.  What a nice facility.  The kids sang several songs to us in English.  Wow!  Here is a short video of the kids singing:

 
John Bartholomee took some time to play frisbee with the kids.  A young orphan by the name of John shyly introduced himself to me.  He said he was 12 years old.  I found out later that he lost both of his parents to AIDS when he was 6.  He very quietly & politely asked me if he could follow me around.  He reminded me so much of my boy, Garrett, back home.  I wanted to take him home with me.  As we pulled away, I was surprised at the tears that began to flow from my eyes.  Even more surprising was the fact that I could not get them to stop flowing for what had to be at least 5 minutes.  A few minutes later, we stopped at the Dirubi Orphanage.  We placed goodies on the kids' beds - candy, granola bars, peanut butter crackers, pens, & Linda Denton's beanie babies which were a big hit with the kids.  Most of the children would collect the goodies off of their bed & place them in their box.  This box is about 2x2x3.  Everything each child owns is kept in this box.  Their only possessions.

Outside, Taylor & John both played frisbee with many of the kids.  I was fortunate enough to play volleyball with about 20 girls.  Our net was a line of jackets that they laid on the ground to divide sides.  In my conversations with a handful of these girls, they wanted to know what American kids were like.  What did they study in school?  What extra activities did they do?  They asked me to sing for them.  Where was Kent Rogers when I needed him?!  The only song I could think of was "Jesus Loves Me".  Surprisingly, they did not know this one.  After teaching it to them, I then taught them how to do the signing with the words!   They were all smiles learning that.  Through our conversation, one beautiful girl asked me how my palms were different from hers.  Other than the obvious color difference, I could not think of anything.  She proceeded to tell me how mine was smart & hers was not; how mine was beautiful & hers was not.  As if white people are better than black people.  Oh, how my heart hurt to hear that.  Who told her these lies?  Satan, of course.  Why do we believe satan's lies?  I had the opportunity to tell her, "We share the same heavenly Father.  That means my Father is your Father.  He's also your Father.  That makes us family.  We are sisters."   I so badly wanted every girl there to believe that.  I wondered how deep Satan has embedded his lies, & would she ever be able to believe the truth - God's truth?

As we drove back to our hotel, I had many thoughts run thru my mind.  These orphans had lots of genuine joy in their smiles.  Was this confirmation that with the simplicity of life there is joy to be had?  I think of what life must be like for these people.  I go there in my imagination (having just my family without all the extra stuff that we Americans have so much of).  I think I could be happy if all I had was my family & nothing  else.  I have been so richly blessed that I have never had to truly be put to this test.  These people live it as their reality.  Each day is a daily struggle for survival.  They wake up each day wondering IF they will eat this day.  Do I ever really, truly have any right to complain or want for anything?  Have I ever awakened & wondered IF I was going to eat this day?  Never.  Have I ever wanted for something & not gotten it?  I can only think of 1 thing - when I was a child, I wanted a rock polisher which I never got.  Big deal, huh?  These children do not have any use for such trivial things.  Their objective is to get through today - alive - so they can have a chance to get through tomorrow.  Can I truthfully say I've ever had to do without?  Definitely not.  How many times have I been given so much yet I have continued to ask God to do more?  Countless times.  I pray to God each night with my children & tell God how grateful I am for all that He does for us.  I ask him to help us not take any of it for granted.  When I look at the gratefulness on these children's faces & I reflect on my own gratefulness, I can't help but feel ashamed. Who is truly thankful?  I think the answer is painfully obvious.

From Tim:  Below are today's pictures.  Thank you Gina for sharing your heart.  Its impossible to not be touched by what you see here, but not everyone will admit it, as you so artfully have done here.  Be blessed.

Kenya 2011 Spring Dirubi / Lee McGraw