Day 9: Little Ellie

Four years ago on January 14th Jacky, one of our Kenyan tailors, gave birth to a baby girl and named her Ellie. Needless to say I’m quite taken with this little one and was happy to see her today.

 As our car pulled up to Jacky’s house Ellie wiggled out of her mother’s arms and made a bee line for me. I jumped out of the car and lifted her into my arms. For the rest of the day she drew me pictures, gently touched my fingers, played with her new music box and carted Babar the elephant around on her back as though she was a real Kenyan Mom. Little Ellie cried when I left saying she wanted to fly. I imagine her mother had told her that I would get here by plane.

We spent some time with her older brother Christian too. I brought a packet of origami papers and taught him to make a peace crane and Charlotte taught him to make a fortune teller.

In between playing with children we reviewed the MCP health curriculum and then had Bella, Jacky and Sara teach us as though Phoebe, Agnes, Charlotte and I were the school girls. We asked silly questions, giggled, acted shy and made them explain things over and over. After a couple of hours of this I felt like we’d streamlined some things and clarified some teaching methods. It was really nice to have some time to work on this.

Whenever we visit our sewing cooperatives, I like to take time to look at the kits being made and work with the tailors to help them streamline their process and improve the quality of our product. It is so important that each girl receives a MoonCatcher Kit that is durable and well-made. So while we were at Jacky’s house we spent time working together on this.

Agnes and Sara left to take Bella home and sent us with our driver back to her house in the dark. It was like a scavenger hunt trying to find things with very little knowledge. There are no street signs, lights or much else. mainly you try to remember if there were trees or bushes or was it barren there. What color was the gate or was the entrance on the left or the right. Charlotte had dropped a pin on her phone and Phoebe is way more knowledgeable about this stuff than we are so we eventually found it.

Dinner was ready when we walked in. Seema, fish, greens and plenty of mango.

I bet you’ve been wondering about the pigs. That sow is still pregnant. Poor girl, it’s not fun going past your due date.