Last day at Tumaini:(

We left Tumaini today and said a quick goodbye to some of our friends. Fortunately we will stop back by on Friday to pick up a suitcase and deliver some gifts. We were sad to leave but I honestly don't think our stomachs could handle it much longer:(.....we think the e coli had started to set in. We are definitely giving our thanks to God for helping us stick it out as long as we did. The pure lack of sanitation is great for the kids' digestive tracts but not good for our weak American stomachs! Bleach, paper towels, or even a little antibacterial soap do not exist in much of Kenya.

A huge thank you to all who donated baby clothes for the infants. The "mums" were thrilled and just amazed.....speechless is probably the best word. They usually inventory all of the items but when we got them out of the suitcase, they just labeled them as "50kgs of baby clothes" so too many to count! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! They picked out outfits for the babies that are currently there and they were all jackets. While we were sweating the babies were in full sleepers and now the winter jackets as this is the start of their "cold" season:).....I guess temperature is all relative. They are going to break ground on the Baby Rescue Center after the rains stop and will be able to adopt from there. The clothes will really go to good use and we saw first hand how precious clothes are here - they really take good care of them.

So now we are back to being tourists and are in Lake Nakuru for the night. For the first time in over a week, our tummies feel full. I can honestly say I have never appreciated chicken, fruit, vegetables, and cheese as much as I did today. Looking at a plate of food that has variety has a whole new meaning....and I say that with complete pleasure. I hope and pray to God that I will not forget what I have seen and what it means to go to bed at night with a full stomach. Guilt continues to be the theme of the trip once we go back to being tourists.

We so appreciate having the opportunity to be on this trip and spend time with our new Kenyan friends. Despite the color of our skin (though I wished I could have changed daily), everyone at Tumaini welcomed us like family. Even during the last few days, the older kids started to talk to us about where they had come from, what Tumaini meant to them, and where their parents have gone. I have no idea what they must feel in their heart and think in their minds. My mom and I are just swimming with ideas of how we can help more and really want to make this place a part of our lives.

Tomorrow we are off to the Masai Mara to see some wildlife. We did see a white rhino today which was awesome! Again, we are very safe and feeling better....many thanks to the makers of Cipro.

We love you all and pray that you are safe, happy, healthy, and going to bed with a full stomach. We look forward to seeing or hearing your voices when we return home. Much love from Kenya, Em