Adapting

Yes, I know I haven’t updated like I was supposed to… We have just been so busy!!!

We have finally started to get into a groove. (School, chores, playtime, etc.) And we hosted our first team!

Mike Curry and a group from Tennessee came and stayed a week in Hospitality House. They were very pleased with our services, our food, and their rooms.

They were a very friendly group! The kids and I occasionally had the chance to visit with them.  One of the members of this team entertained us for hours with magic tricks. (And from that time, I now know how to tie a knot in a string without letting go! Lol!)

With us being so preoccupied and not having transportation of our own, we haven’t had the chance to visit the Children’s Home since that first night…

As I have told you before, our Elizabeth was thrilled to know we were moving to Kitale! And I think perhaps she had envisioned us being at the home every day.

When we saw her at church two Sundays ago, instead of running to come sit with us with a smile beaming on her sweet face, (like she did the week before,) she quietly sat next to Dad and hardly said a word. When we asked her what was wrong, she wouldn’t tell us.

After talking with her, we realized why she was so upset; we hadn’t seen her since that first night! In her mind, we had forgotten about her.

We very quickly explained how much we wanted to see her, but we had no vehicle.

After hearing this, and after we had apologized, she perked up. She held my hand for a LONG time; and if I so much as loosened my grip, she doubled hers.

Thankfully, Pastor Richard and Mama Helen have made plans to take us for a visit tomorrow! So we will be able to see her again. We have been sending letters back and forth by Erick, but it really is not the same…

Now, that brings me to Erick.

Erick has just recently turned 18 years old. He grew up in Seed’s Children’s Home, has lately graduated agriculture school, and is now working as the gardener for Hospitality House. He is very kind-hearted, and a lot of fun to be around. All of us Wilsons love him to death.

He has been kind enough to carry letters from us, to Elizabeth, and back again. And every day, along with letters, he brings news from the Children’s Home…

Probably my favorite bit of news he has told me concerns my baby sister, Rebekah.

Rebekah was sitting in my lap one afternoon, and Erick was sitting across the table from us. Rebekah, as usual, had the addicting pacifier in her mouth.

Erick stared at her for a long time, and then he finally said,

“Hannah, what is that thing in her mouth?”

I pulled the pacifier out.

“This?” I asked.

“Yes!” Erick said, “All of the children at the Home have been talking about it. They all think that it is a sweet [candy] that she is always sucking on. But I told them that I don’t know!”

I started laughing, and explained that it is something we use in America to make babies shut their mouths. When a baby cries, we put the pacifier in, and the baby is quiet.

I just wish I could have been a fly on the wall when he explained that one to all of the kids!

………………..

The missionary community here has been very welcoming. There are people from Canada, Connecticut, Washington, and all over the place!!

It’s funny, because all of the missionary families know one another and where all of them live. It’s almost like an inner community inside the small community of Kitale.

Well, I have got to get to bed now, so I will wrap up with prayer requests.

We are still in need of a vehicle. We are praying for something that will fit our whole family to come along, and for it to be in our price range.

We are praying for our anti-Malaria medicine. We found refills of our medicine here, but it is REALLY expensive. (There was a bit of a communication error when we asked about the price…)

And last of all we are praying for all of us to adapt to our new life. Living here is very different than it was when we lived in Texas. We miss our friends and family, our church, and just the familiarity of home.

I hope to update more than I have been. It’s just that the first few weeks here have been so hectic. I promise I will try to do better!! So, until net time...

Many blessings, 

Hannah Wilson