Hi everyone, I just want to let you know that from now on I will be updating my blog twice a week because I don't want you to get overwhelmed and not read it! I will also be starting a separate blog for Walk In Love. I have some very exciting news for everyone, Walk In Love has officially partnered up with Neema House Baby Orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania. I will serve as an outreach program but you can be sure I will be at the baby orphanage playing with babies whenever I have spare time! Neema House has rented accommodation about 15 minutes from our house so the long traveling everyday to Cradle will be cut down to once per week just to visit with the Cradle babies, mainly Ibra:) Hope everyone is enjoying the blog! Miss you all and I hope to make a trip home in September to visit and do some much needed fundraising!
This is a new addition to our every growing Tanzanian family. Barran almost ran over this little guy while on his way back to the house one night. He decided that the best thing for him was to take him home! We haven't named him yet. Any suggestions???
Tom and Barran came over on Sunday to make us Sunday dinner. We had goat, chips (french fries, a stable here) and rice. It was very nice and we have decided to continue on with Sunday dinners. Next week we cook!
Full from Sunday dinner, Jason and the puppy take a nap.
For all of you that do not know, Jason and I live in a house owned by a safari company. During low season, now, we have up to 7 Safari vehicles in our compound. They are constantly moving them and Jason decided to join in the fun!
Warning: The following pictures are in reverse order.
On Thursday Claire took B to the doctors and I offered to look after Selemani and Nancy for the afternoon. We had a blast! I am also happy to announce that B is HIV negative!!
B now sure what to do with herself after busting her water balloon.
Nancy was thrilled when she popped hers! Unfortunately for B is was directly over her head.
B, Selemani, and Nancy not quite sure what to do with the water balloons.
Eating supper with the kids and Claire, not pictured.
Selemani and I playing the in the yard. You might be asking yourself why is there a tent set up in the yard? As I said earlier the house we live in is owned by a safari company and about a month ago they set up all their luxury tents in the yard to take pictures and have yet to take them down. The tent directly behind us is the kitchen tent.
Playing with Alex
Jason came home early to play with the kids. They love him!
Eating all there lunch!
Patricia is growing everyday! Such a beautiful little girl.
Ibra
These are the twins that I have mentioned. Princess is on the left and Prickett is on the right. Princess is doing great! She is eating well and growing nicely. Prickett on the other hand is struggling. Please keep her in your prayers.
Kitty playing with puppies tail. We really need to name these animals.
All my big babies!
Me and Ibra
Weigh in Day!! These are some of my favorite pictures that I have taken. Next Monday I am going to take pictures of all the children being weighed. So cute!
Walk in Love
Walk in Love has officially partnered up with Neema House Orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania.Because of all the new and exciting things that will be happening with Walk In Love I have decided to make a separate blog for those who want to follow our programs and progress. This week I went with Claire and Micheal, directors for Neema House, to visit Masaai triplets. Claire's daughter, Nancy, is from a Masaai village about 20 km away from the triplets. When Claire was visiting Nancy's family about 2 months ago she heard about the triplets and was taken to them. When she arrived they were very tiny and the mother was not producing enough milk. Claire decided that she had to do something and with this the triplets became the first outreach family. Since I will be doing outreach for Neema I was invited to come along and meet the Masaai family and deliver the much needed formula and some clothe diapers.
On our way, about 2.5 hours, we came across a huge herd of giraffe. About 30 total. It was so exciting to see them roam freely outside of a national park.
This is the Masaai village the triplets live in. The houses are made of sticks and dung with thatched roofs. The homes are surrounded by a gate made of thorn bushes to keep any predators, like lions, out.
This is the house that the triplets live in with their mom, and 3 sisters. I believe I was told the men live in a separate hut. The triplets father had 2 wives but one recently passed away during childbirth. He has 10 children including the triplets.
This is inside the boma, house. It was so dark that when I took this picture I could not even see the people. I was just told the mama was sitting in that direction and asked if I could take a picture. It was small and hot. There is a constant fire going int he middle of the home. They also had a baby calf gated it he corner.
The "dada" (sister) dressing one of the triplets
The siblings were very affectionate and caring with the triplets. They were a very loving and lovely family.
Micheal holding 2 of the triplets and mama holding the other. Micheal has the two boys and the other is a girl.
The difference between the smallest triplet, Frankie, and the biggest is 2.1 kilos. Frankie only weighs 2.6 kilos and he is 3 months old. We are trying to get him to the hospital because he is also hydrocephalic. Claire is taking some pictures of his head that we took to a well known American pediatrician to get some medical advice and an estimate on surgical costs.
Lucia was only happy with her Mama!
As I mentioned early, the father had another wife that died during childbirth. This is the 4th child. He is about a month old and is also in need of formula. He is living with his loving grandmother on the boma next to the triplets.
Me and the family. I can not say enough good things about the Masaai family that I met today. They were all so friendly and kind to us and one another. If the man had never taken Claire to the triplets I very much doubt that they would all be alive today. The only option they would have had would have been to take the long journey to town and drop them off at an orphanage and once a Masaai child is at an orphanage for too long they can not go back to the village. Masaai life is very hard and a child that has been raised by western standards would never make it in the villages. Most Masaai families chose to leave their children in the orphanages because they know they can not return. It is simply to dangerous for them. This is why outreach is so important.
Mama Musa showing off the new diapers.
I hope you are all enjoying the blog! I will put the link to my separate Walk In Love blog up shortly. Have a great week!
Lots of Love
Aubree and Jason
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