Kenya: Empty House

This week the mzungu oasis feels quite empty due to several departures. Salome left back to school and everyone who lives in town returned there after the weekend. Our house mama, Salima, left also on her two week vacation to visit her family up country while Josh returned to Winnipeg for the summer. So, it’s just Beautiful and I for the next little while in Mlolongo.

Although we just celebrated Beautiful’s 19^th birthday, I am beginning to realize how much younger she seems to me. I feel protective, almost responsible to keep her safe these next couple of weeks. We share most of the responsibilities – cooking, cleaning, and wash. I’ve taken over the role of “mama” making sure I know where she is at all times, taking her to appointments, making sure she is feeling well. As a joke she has crowned me with the name “mama Lexi”. I don’t mind at all.
This weekend we went together to visit Mwende and Lynda, two of our VCT youth who have had babies recently. If you remember my past blog entry about Lynda’s baby Cedric and compare the picture below to the one taken a month ago, you will see how big has grown! Mwende had her baby a couple weeks ago- a girl named Brenda. Apart from all the visits and Beauty's birthday we also had a going away party for Josh at the centre. With “jungle juice” (it tastes like it sounds) and reggae blasting all the youth had a full-out dance competition. It was a great time but everyone was disappointed with the reality that Josh was leaving. The next couple of days at the centre will be busy – a community outreach today, and a mobile CT (counselling and testing) tomorrow.