There were so many grubby little hands to greet me when I
spent my first morning with the kids at home at Happy House, writes our UK voluntary coordinator Elizabeth Gomm.
Hot and dusty, it’s impossible to keep clean in the searing
heat of Kenya and as this was a bank holiday they had been playing out since
breakfast.
By the time I arrived with Mama Sue and Papa Dave, they
little ones were coated in the grime of healthy outdoor play.
The older ones were helping around the house, organised in
rotas by their own Kids Council. Some in
the kitchen, others in the laundry and some down the road at school.
Helping in the house comes naturally to these children, as
does helping each other. When a baby
cries, there is always an older child at the ready to win the smiles back.
Happy House resonates with love.
As we pull up, Mama calls “Kidz Club!”. The word spreads
like wildfire. Talk about bush telegraph!
By the time we got to the kids lounge, there were children
coming in from every direction . Leaving their shoes in neat rows.
The new kids introduce themselves, then some do songs, poems
or other party pieces brimming over with confidence and zest for life.
Their energy is boundless.
They have biscuits, no one snatching, everyone saying thank
you, and then it is back off to play or pick up whatever they were doing until lunch.
On Monday there was a more formal welcome, a surprise to me,
but Mama as usual had planned everything down to the nth degree,
Tired after an excessively long journey, Sue insisted we should just pop into Happy House to say hello, and after chatting with Aunties Rose and Velma and Uncle Ronnie, she said “Come on we’ll
go down to school!"
The gates opened, the singing started and we pulled up to
the large banda where everyone was assembled waiting to say hello. They sang a welcome
as loud as they could, followed by Happy Birthday as it had been a few days
earlier.
There were lots of greetings, lots of love, and a wonderful
show by our talented kids who took my arrival as an opportunity to give me a
preview of their school closing day show which takes place tomorrow.
Mr Steve who took the picture of me with Morphin, Pendo and Natasha wrote: "It was a
wonderful afternoon whereby all Happy House kids gathered to at the Banda for a
special welcome to our own beloved Aunty Libby who has been away a while.
Pendo, Natasha and Morphin were waiting to give her a special welcome.
We also take that time to show aunty Libby what we are having for closing day ceremony items which
were play, poems, songs, dances and acrobat for surely it was so fantastic when
Musyoka and Johnny did a Kamba dance and Mr. Isaac caused great excitement by doing some break
dancing moves!
Our thanks to Aunty Libby for her hard work to ensure our kids get
their needs by searching sponsors and by raising money.
We also thank Mama Sue for being here for us every minute of every
day.
In everything may our almighty give you more strength and wisdom
to lead way for this generation of kids."Mr Steve is right, it was a fantastic welcome.
I feel lucky beyond words to be a part of this very special family and to be so loved.
