I'M BACK!!! I can honestly say I’ve never been so happy to be somewhere. It’s amazing how I can just drop myself back into Africa and feel like I never left, and even more, feel like I’m home. Everything here looks different. The rains started about six and a half weeks ago so the roads are washed down to the rocks, and the fields that were dry and barred when I left are overflowing with greens and growing crops. I knew that things would grow and change while I was gone, but I didn’t expect to already see the ground flourishing already. The night before I left, a sheep that lives behind Hill Crest gave birth so as I got to school, I saw the baby sheep that could hardly stand long enough to keep up with its’ mom, and I took that as a sign. With my leaving, Hill Crest would be okay. There would continue to be growth in the program and new volunteers to take care of the kids, and even though I won’t be there to see it grow, it will happen. I couldn’t help but be jealous of the new volunteers who would be there to see not only the baby sheep grow, but my kids as well. But now, here I am. Five weeks later, back in my favorite place in the world watching my favorite kids and a still baby sheep grow.
I got to see several of my kids on Thursday when I went to Hill Crest. School is out right now for Christmas, but on my walk there were a handful of them outside Noela’s house. They yelled “teacha!!” and ran to me, grabbed my hands and crawled up me until I gave them all adequate love and sorted out who could hold my hands, who could hang on my back and who could be on my shoulders. It was quite a sight, I’m sure, as the villagers stopped and stared the rest of the way to school. Isaac wasn’t at the school, and since Johnson was not one of the kids at Noela’s, I decided that we would go to him. So after about 30 minutes of running around and picking up the kids and playing with them, we went to Johnson’s house. He was sitting outside a shop on the way to the house so when he saw me from a distance, he stood up and I threw my hands into the air so he would know it was really me. He came running to me like nothing I’ve seen and jumped into my arms and wrapped himself around me and just held my head and as expected, we both cried for a bit as we were reunited. It was amazing. The rest of the day he was on my side..and didn’t particularly care that it was his last day with the volunteers that came in as I left.
Today was my first time seeing Isaac and he just lit up. He can’t believe that I’m here, and it’s so nice to see him again. I’m heading to his house in a little while to visit and talk about the last five weeks and what we need to do at Hill Crest to ensure that the fundraising and building will go as smoothly as possible. Elizabeth is in Kenya until she has her baby. Isaac’s dad insisted that she spend the duration of her pregnancy with his family so they can help her until the baby is born, and for a bit after it is born. Isaac and I will figure out a time to go see her...I can’t be here and not see her!!
That’s about all I got right now! I’m so so happy to be back. Soon I’ll be calling Kaka to see why he isn’t back yet. (Pretty sure what we figured would happen, actually happened. Mad about it.) SO I’ll update on that when I talk to him. Oh, and the whole house is going to Zanzibar for New Years, so I’ll be tagging along with them. School will start back following the day we return I think. I’m also really excited for that. I wanted to go to Zanzibar last time but couldn’t give up time with the kids, so I have to take this opportunity since the kids are technically out of school and Isaac can just go in to feed them. Lots to look forward to :) Anyways, off to meet with Isaac! Love from Tanzania to all of you at home as the holidays come around. xoxoxo
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