Team Small Things to run 13 miles this Sunday!

This week has been an exciting week for The Small Things.

The happy couple!

Not only did we see Bekka, the director and Chair of The Small Things become married to Riz on Thursday, but they have now moved house and are living in Tanzania and are settling in great. We will soon have a lot more information on how the kids and Mamas are doing as well as recent developments on our projects. So stay with us for lots of updates coming soon!

This Sunday at 10.30am, Bethan, Charlotte, Emily and Jake will be running 13 miles in a half marathon in their home town of Taunton, in order to raise money for The Small Things. Together, they are hoping to raise approximately £500 and this money will go directly to the orphanage.

Training has certainly been challenging, not to mention, sweaty!

Charlotte with Filipo in January 2011
 (Now 2 years old)

So why The Small Things?

One of our runners, Charlotte, says how lucky she feels to have had 'the privilege of volunteering at Nkoaranga Orphanage with the amazing children and staff. I miss seeing the wonderful children and admire the work that The Small Things are doing to help make a difference to the lives of the people at the orphanage. This is why I have decided to run the Taunton Half Marathon to raise money for The Small Things. I am not someone who is particularly good at running so this is definitely a challenge! Training is so hard! However it will be worth it for this amazing cause.'

And how are our runners feeling about the big day coming up?

Bethan explains how 'The nerves are really starting to kick in now! I'm sure the adrenaline, the atmosphere, and the support that we will receive on Sunday will keep us going and get us to the finish line. It's certainly been difficult training at the gym and going on runs in such chilly weather! Not to mention trying to balance studying for a degree! But I'm confident we will all do well and that we will encourage each other to reach the end, however long it may take!'

Bethan with Maureen Kubwa
 (3 years old - soon to be 4 on April 22nd!)

We feel very proud of our four runners who are taking part in this challenge purely for our kids and the Mamas. This is another act of support that keeps us dedicated and thankful to you all who help us at The Small Things.

Click here to sponsor our team and to get them closer to their target. Any amount will be greatly appreciated by us all and a little goes a long way!

Keep an eye out next week to find out how the run went as well as updates and new photos of the beautiful children coming soon.

Good luck for Sunday to Team Small Things: Jake, Emily, Charlotte and Bethan!

Safari!!

I have now been back in Nkoaranga for almost two weeks now and have so much to write about - it has been fantastic.  But for now, I want to tell you all the 'safari' (trip) which we took the kids on!  We had decided that it would be really fun for the kids to visit an outdoor play area which Bekka found near Arusha.  Aside from being a little nervous about the possibility of huge downpours, everyone was really looking forwards to it!

The trip started off with all the younger children piling into the dala dala (local bus) which we had hired to take us there.  We were really sad that we were unable to take the children who had already been in school with us, due to them being picked up by TFFT for school that afternoon (we'll be writing about this year's kids starting school soon!), although to be honest it was probably a good thing space wise.  I think the kids were just as excited about the trip the playground as actually playing there: they sang songs, calling out the names of everything they saw out the window, waved at people walking along the roadside, and yelled in excitement at every speed bump!

The playground was great, really big with LOTS of swings, trampolines and see-saws spread out over a big grassy area.  It was perfect for all the kids to run wild and try everything!

Peddling backwards seemed to be much easier than going forwards!

Simoni pulling a goofy face

Zawadi loving the trampoline

Neema and Holly on the swing

When the rain arrived (it had been threatening to for some time), it was time for a little break and we all sat under two thatched umbrellas and the kids tucked into some peanut butter sandwiches, juice and biscuits, thanks to Christina, Therese and Emma for providing these!  Needless to say, everything was enjoyed immensely.

Baracka (left) and Pendo (right) tucking into their sandwiches and juice

Neema getting excited over the food

After that it was time for some more playing before the final excitement arrived - a big blow up slide!  Although there was some initial craziness as EVERYONE pushed to get up both the steps and slide and slide down five kids at a time, once Megan was installed at the top of the slide to keep some kind of order (thanks Megan!) there was a constant stream of kids climbing up and delightedly sliding down before heading straight back up again!  As the kids became more confident we saw lots of inventive ways of getting down the slide - I think they enjoyed flinging themselves down and finding that they just bounced!

Queuing to get to the top... 

...and David and Baracka grinning from ear to ear
as they slide down!

Finally it was time to head home.  We all climbed back into the dala dala and all the kids got lollipops...and needless to say, everyone was very excited and got very sticky!  Aside from lots of calls of 'MAJI MAJI' ('water') every time we passed a river (or puddle at the side of the road), everyone was quieter - tired but happy!  We got back to the orphanage just in time for dinner - what an amazing day!

Thank you for your continued support which lets us make days like this happen!

Greetings from Nairobi!

Peter and Andrea

Greetings from Nairobi! I'm currently on a brief trip up north to Kenya to drop off Riz at the airport – I'm going to miss him! The kids loved hanging out with the “big boys” this summer, and they'll be disappointed now that Peter, Adam, and Riz are all gone. Andrea and Simoni were especially thrilled to hang out with them – there are some very cute pictures of them together. All three guys are hoping to make a return trip at some point, and we also strongly urge any guys considering volunteering to take the leap – it's a really wonderful experience and the kids benefit hugely from having positive male role models around.

It's been a rough week at the orphanage – everyone still has the flu, and it's hit the little ones especially hard. Ebenezer is still in the hospital in town, although his fever and vomiting have subsided, so now we're just waiting on the diarrhea to stop so he doesn't need the IV fluids. Peace is also in the hospital, although he's been able to stay at Nkoaranga – the fever that was mild and transient in the other kids has been high and persistent for him. However, we're hoping he'll also be out soon. Medical students Martina, Lorenzo, and Daria (from SperanzaTanzania) have been of immeasurable help with keeping a watchful eye on all the kids, going on hospital visits, and helping us to figure out when to seek more help.

Riz and his baby Peace

I had the flu early and so was out of commission most of last week, but have been available now that more of the kids have been hit. That said, we've been having lots of meetings and hospital visits, so it has been busy for me too! Meanwhile, many of the mamas have also come down with the flu, and since we've needed even more staff than usual to stay in the hospital with sick kids, many of them have worked straight through it. We are so grateful for their superhuman strength and dedication!

Mama Pendo has started her management course, and is enjoying it despite having to get up very early in the morning to make it to Arusha on time! Although we and the kids miss her daily presence at the orphanage, it is worth doing without her for three weeks for her to attend such a prestigious program. We're confident that it will help all the staff and kids in the long term.

In completely unrelated but fun news, Chundvi and Pili Pili (our rabbits) have apparently been having fun together in their hutch – I'm told Pili Pili is pregnant! Once she gives birth, we'll be separating the males and females to avoid a rabbit overload. I'm excited to hand raise a few of the babies to be pets for the kids – it's good for them to learn responsibility and compassion, and it might just keep them from trying to chase down the chickens! The other rabbits will eventually be either sold or eaten – while I am officially neutral on which course they choose, I would prefer not to be present for the eating of the bunnies! That said, anything that leads to better nutrition for the kids is a plus in my book.

Anne with Neema

Anne has been busily at work on some great English/Swahili books for the kids, most new ones and a few translations of our favorite classics – currently working on “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. Leave a comment if you have any ideas for good books with simple vocabulary that might work for the project! It's going to be really useful for instilling an early love of books in the kids, and for volunteers who want to improve their Swahili. We're very lucky to have Anne working with us!

I'm in contact with Mama Pendo and the other volunteers daily, and I'll let you know as soon as possible if there are any changes with the kids. Keep them in your thoughts!

Summer week one - welcome back!

Little Ebenezer with his grandmother's sister, who is so proud
to see how much he's grown! 

SO! Things have been crazy but fantastic for the last week, I finally have time to sit down and write a quick recap. The kids have, I swear, doubled in size since I was here in December - in a few cases literally! The two new babies are doing really well - Ebenezer and Neema - although poor Ebenezer has a bit of a chest cold that has been giving him trouble. He's on meds now, so hopefully that'll be taken care of soon. This time of year is something of a trade off - it's colder so there are fewer mosquitoes and therefore less malaria, but they get more miscellaneous bugs, especially since they spend a lot of time squished together inside.

Little Maureen going for
 a stroll

Big Ebenezer, showing
off his standing

Vicky, little Maureen, Gracie, and big Ebenezer are all walking beautifully. Filipo and Frankie can walk well with a hand, and with a bit more confidence I think they could easily walk alone, but they sit down immediately when the hand is removed. Hopefully in a few more weeks I'll have videos and pictures of them walking, too! This group is funny - they can all speak to varying degrees, but mostly choose not to. In particular, Maureen can say pretty much anything she wants to - I've caught her singing full, complex songs - but flat out refuses to do it on command. If you didn't know better, you'd think the whole group was mute! Such a contrast to a year ago when Baracka, big Maureen, Neema, Zawadi, Ester and David were this age - with Baracka and big Maureen chattering away, the rest HAD to start talking to keep up and get their share of attention. No pressure in this group, though!

Maureen (left) and Zawadi

Neema in her LSE gear

The older group is now potty training and starting school, which is fantastic to see - and they're SO. SMART. I love watching them singing, dancing, drawing, and writing in class - they're doing extremely well. Neema is also our new LSE MPA mascot - she was too cute in my sweatshirt. Speaking of the LSE, Light Up the Night is going really well - the entire orphanage is MUCH safer with the adjusted switches and outlets, and we're about to start on the solar lighting for the orphanage and maternity ward (courtesy of fundraising by Kristina and the LSE MPA).

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to see Kristina much, as she's been struck by.... something unpleasant, it's not totally clear, but she's sick. Keep your fingers crossed for her! Marie will be here tonight, so we can help take good care of her. I'm also counting down the days until Riz, Adam, Jordan, my mom, and Patty arrive - it's going to be a full house!

I have a bunch more to say and I haven't even gotten to the older kids yet... but I have to cut it short for now, my internet time is running out. More to come, soon!

Safari!

I just realized that while we've alluded to it a few times, we've never told the full story of the day we took the Nkoaranga kids on safari to Arusha national park, which we are lucky enough to have just down the road. We rented a dalla-dalla (minibus) for the day, and piled all the big kids in - sadly, there wasn't space for the toddlers, and we could only bring kids who were potty trained. They were so excited before we even set off, they were making up their own songs for the moment and dancing with all the little ones!

Then we all piled into the vehicle - no small feat with two mamas, three volunteers, and a whole bunch of kids! They didn't seem to mind the close conditions, though - part of growing up in an orphanage, I guess! I think they enjoyed the car ride almost as much as seeing the animals - it's such a rare treat for them... with the exception of Tumaini, poor thing, who got carsick. Luckily, we were prepared.

Just the back two rows - all I could capture with the camera!
Multiply this by 3. 

Pray is psyched, Stevie's out the window, and David just
wants in on the photo op.

Once we got to the park, we saw all kinds of amazing things - zebras and giraffes and whole herds of water buffalo, plus some incredible scenery. The day was so clear that you could clearly see Mount Meru on one side (where the orphanage is) and Kilimanjaro on the other. We couldn't have been luckier with the weather! 

Buffalo grazing

Bethan helping Pray to see

On the way back, kids started to get sleepy... it was extremely cute to see them slumped up against each other. We steeled ourselves to wake them up, though, for another treat. On the way back, we stopped a local game lodge, where the kids could get even closer to the animals. This particular place, "Meru Game Lodge," rehabilitates injured animals and cares for those that can't go back into the wild. It's a really great place to stay (if you can afford it!) and otherwise to come by for lunch, or just to see the animals. Here the kids saw a crocodile, more zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, porcupines, tons of birds, and ostriches.

Dainess (minutes from falling asleep) with Andrea
passed out on her shoulder

Pendo, Asimwe, and Loveness looking at the zebras 

On the final leg of the journey home, we got the best treat of the day - the kids singing their "Thank you" song. It was and is unbelievably sweet, even when half the voices are a little sleepy! "Asante kwa safari" means "thank you for the safari (trip)," "asante kwa upendo" means "thank you for the love," and "asante sana yesu" means "thank you Jesus," and "moyoni" means "from my heart." There were a lot of verses that went through all of our names and the mamas names, but this was what I managed to catch on video.

What they should have been singing, but probably wouldn't have fit the rhythm of the song, was "Thank you donors to the Small Things," because your support is what makes it possible for us to splurge on day outings like this - it cost about $150 to make fifteen kids insanely happy, but if we'd been working out of only our own personal funds, that $150 would have had to go to vitamins, or formula, or salaries. Having your support gives us the flexibility to give the kids a few real treats, give them a chance to just be KIDS for a day, excited to see some animals. We're very grateful.

Going Personal - For Zi

For those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning, you know that this was once just my private place to share my thoughts about my Tanzanian adventure, what I thought would be a fun four months, but has turned into a nonprofit that in less than a year has drilled a well, installed water filters, bought chickens, planted a garden, hired a mama, redone a playground, sent thirteen women to English classes, sent three amazing children to school, and within the next six months will have rewired the orphanage, installed solar panels and paid for Mama Pendo to attend an intensive management course. Phew! It's been a long ride.

I am, of course, profoundly grateful for how far we've come. But sometimes I miss having a space to just write how I feel, how this work in all its forms gets into my soul. So today I hope you'll forgive me for going personal.

I miss Zawadi. I miss all the kids, but nothing is as all consuming as this. My room is plastered with photos of her serious little face - I see her big smile every time I open my cell phone. I watch videos of her almost every night, except when it's too much to bear. I spent the last month exploring every option to see if there was any way to shorten the degree that I am working on - to switch to something less intensive, to work harder, to do ANYTHING to get back to her sooner. And I can't. My choice is to stay another year and finish the degree, which I will need to have a fighting chance at 95% of the jobs making a real difference in the developing world, the jobs I want to do. My other choice is to take a year or two off, and try to come back and finish the degree later.

Last week in her new dress
Thanks Amy!

If I was making the decision for myself alone, it would be easy. I crave her like water, I would happily accept having to work twice as hard to finish the degree with her by my side. I am terrified that her gorgeous baby lisp and her sweet taut belly are going to disappear before I get back to her, that I'll never know the joy of parenting baby Zi, toddler Zi. But that's the point, it's not about me anymore. It's about what's best for HER. And she's not traumatized, living at the orphanage now. She's in the only home she knows, with people she loves and who love her. And if I went through the adoption process and then yanked her back to the UK, then immediately had to let someone else care for her 10 hours a day in order to have a fraction of a chance of getting my work done... THAT would be traumatizing. THAT would be unfair, and selfish, and wrong. I can't let my fear of missing her childhood ruin her experience of it.

Her first day at the
orphanage ~ 3 mo?
Thanks Diane!

I will be back in three short months, and by her side for another three from there. And even then I have to defend her, not let her understand the true depth of my love for her, not let her get too attached. I have to put her down to bed and walk away, and steel myself against her cries and confusion and anger, and cry in my house a hundred yards away from the orphanage, missing her horribly and knowing I can't let myself cave.

I pour myself into poems and scrapbooks, now, to tell her all the things I can't let her know yet, to have something to show her when she's older - "I never stopped thinking about you. I never stopped loving you. Not for a second." Even when I had to protect her from that love.

I've been scared to call her my daughter, because the Tanzanian adoption process can be horrific, and unpredictable, and unfair. But it's become my only solace now - to know that she is and will be my daughter, and she doesn't know it yet, and she can't know it yet, but the day that I take her home, I will spend every day making sure she never forgets.

Pure sweetness...

"Calling" my mom...

And pure trouble.

Wish me strength.

Hannukah and Piki Pikis

Bethan and Maureeni, cheesing for the camera

Happy Hannukah from Tanzania! Not a phrase that's uttered PARTICULARLY regularly, but I've always been a tad unconventional. To the kids, though, it's Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. Tomorrow we're having a Christmas party, which Baba Christmasi HIMSELF will be attending (in the person of Kelvin from KATZ volunteers). Each kid will also get a full new set of clothes and pair of shoes, plus a present from our grab bag of fun, all donated by you amazing people. They will be so excited!

A very sleepy Ester

This week has been incredibly busy, and made even busier and more fun by the addition of Bethan and her sister Vicky to the mix. The kids took to Vicky like a duck to water, and she's already got most of their names down like a champ - no small feat with nearly thirty children currently home. The kids are all fantastic, although Miriam and Ester currently have malaria, poor little scraps - Ester fell asleep into her dinner yesterday, she was so worn out! Miriam hasn't been much like herself, but with lots of cuddles from Vicky, who is her new best friend, and the aid of antimalarial medication, she should be as good as new in a few days. Still, what a way to spend Christmas!

The highlight of the past week for the kids was a visit from a friend of one of the mamas, who let them all pile onto his piki piki - NOT that I was going to let them go anywhere on it, but they were just as psyched to climb all over it. He then revved the engine, thrilling all of them except Zawadi, who promptly burst into hysterical tears and took half an hour of cuddling before she forgave me my burst of laughter at the look on her face. I'm an awful mother already, clearly.

It's funny seeing how relationships change over time. When we left last time, the babies were too small to have friendships within their little group. Since then, Filipo and Frankie have emerged as a constant pair - but not of best buddies, or not quite. Rather, no matter how often they're plopped on opposite ends of the playroom, they always seem to manage to reunite - almost always fighting over a toy. Which toy changes constantly, the only rule seeming to be that if the other has it, the first wants it, and vice versa. In this particular photo, despite a plethora of fantastic toys, they were fighting over the mop. They're a funny, funny pair!

Our other goal in the next week is to get the climbing frame up, or at least started. That said, they are so thrilled with their current playground, I'm not in such a rush! The toddlers are now able to use the slide, for the first time, and they absolutely adore it. No more death slide, hip hip hooray!

Lots of love from the three of us, all the mamas, and the kids - and come back Saturday or Sunday for Christmas updates.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah from Pray, who really needs a new shirt since he's destroyed this one!

Portrait of a birthday

 This is my second consecutive birthday at the orphanage - what a blessing. Zawadi's name itself means gift - and she's the best one I could ask for. They've changed so much since last year, though! This was my happy birthday reception from them last year - although the video was taken two weeks after the birthday itself, they didn't quite understand the concept and just thought it kept going on and on. Very sweet!

Here is the kids this morning, all saying hi, and then singing the "Nakpenda (I love you)" song that I made up to sing to them last year. Usually one of their names goes in the middle - they put mine in. They are my heart.

The computer seems to be cooperating with me, at least for now, so I'm going to hurry up and upload some pictures before I lose everything. So without further ado, the kids.

Mama Andrew and Shugya, 4 months and thriving

From right, Loveness, Andrea, Neema, Miriam, Mauren and Dainess playing on the new see saw

Little Peace - doubled in size and doing really well!

Little Froggy Frankie all grown up and chunky as ever

Beautiful Loveness with flowers in her hair

Mama Pendo helping Neema to brush her teeth

Mama Pendo brushing Zawadi's teeth - she's wearing one of the mama's headscarves!

A volunteer holding little Maureen, while big Maureen  holds Shugya. She loves helping!

The sisters - Pendo (left) and Zawadi (still in her mama headgear). They look more alike every day!

Me and my little man Simoni - guess who is who?

The playground is looking fantastic - we lucked out, and a local small volunteer organization has had two of their volunteers raising funds to redo it as well. It's actually almost done - but we're going to add a few finishing touches, including a huge climbing frame (the kids climb on EVERYTHING so it'll be good to have something designed to withstand it!). The kids are loving it, and I'm loving seeing them playing together - it's such an important part of what makes this place special, the relationships they develop.

I met with the electrician and solar expert yesterday - it was really useful, and we're close to finalizing plans for redoing the dangerous orphanage electrical system (which caused the fire a few years ago which seriously injured Pray and David Kubwa), putting in solar lighting for when the power is out (see Emily's rendition of In the Jungle for alternative coping strategies), and possibly expanding even further - I'll explain more when we've made final decisions!

As many of you know, Pendo has a little bit of a rough history - and it meant until we were able to track down some extended family a few weeks ago, we weren't sure exactly how old she was. We were under the impression that she was four. However, it turns out that she just had her FIFTH birthday - and after talking to the orphanage teacher, it sounds like she's actually all ready for school. We already have 3/4 of her sponsorship secured - is there any chance that someone out there was planning on doing another quarter sponsorship and just hasn't decided yet? This gorgeous girl could use your help.

I'm so grateful for all the support we've received - Thank you especially to my amazing family, who have poured in from all over the world to help the kids. To everyone else, I can't wait for you to see the looks on the kids' faces when Christmas comes!