Our Decision...change of plans...

Hi All!
By now I'm sure most of you have gotten our email. This is SUCH a TIA (this is africa) moment! We have learned in the last months to go with the flow here as anything else is impossible. The above being our mode of operation we packed up secretly on Friday night called for a driver with a single cab little toyota (about the biggest trucks here except for industrial trucks) and threw everything we owned into the back of his truck on Saturday. We looked like an authentic African family in transit complete with machete, plastic grocery bags full of our things little stools all tied in a heap with twine. We stopped for gas, made it through a police "check" and were dropped of 2 hours later in the middle of another "nowhere". :))

In all seriousness however, we had to make some quick decisions regarding our safety, specifically and most urgently the safety of our children after exposing corruption and abuse within the Kenyan owned orphanage we were at. We have learned since being here that this is common and several projects a year are shut down by authorities due to poor living conditions, disease, and abuse. It's a sad prospect but a reality here where Kenya is still one of the countries with the most corrupt governments and one of the main reasons Obama changed his plans and refused to visit last month, going to Ghana instead. We have learned that internationally owned projects are generally "above board" with finances, staff, policies and procedures and thus made our decision to follow a wonderful lady we met in Nairobi to her orphanage. While she lives in Texas, she visits frequently and the children here are fed, clothed and loved the way that we would all expect.

Our plans: As I said above TIA..means no solid plans. We feel that perhaps we were brought here to expose the orphanage and hopefully provide a better life for the 24 angels that live there. Maybe if he is under investigation he will be forced to provide better food, living conditions and maybe even schooling as this was one of our battles with him. There is a private school only 15 minutes away that would cost less that 10 dollars per month per child for tuition. The education is excellent, they are fed during the day, and best of all are not beaten there as they have been at the public school that they were attending for free. At 90 dollars per week per regular volunteer and 200 dollars per week per A Broader View volunteer he is taking in A LOT of money considering that we held steady at 18 volunteers on average.

We continue to pray and look for guidance as to what our next move should be. For now we are safely nestled in the tea fields at this orphange with 6 new little angels, all with there own stories, and our own kids are happy. If we decide to stay here, we will be able to do a lot of good and know that our money will be spent well. If we decide to come home we will have lived an excellent adventure and know that our lives and values and those of our children will be permanently changed for the good.

We will continue to update as conditions change. We have learned that we are able to make quick, good judgment calls and will continue to do so, so no worries... :))) Hakuna Matataa!!