The Place of Grace

The children and I, along with returning volunteer Jennifer, went for a walk toward the end of the day, getting some time together before I ended this visit.

Margaret and Esther wrapped themselves in my orange kikoi and ran ahead, letting the fabric billow out behind them in the breeze. Nancy and Naomi and I walked, hand in hand, behind them, occasionally ducking to the side of the road to let a car or a cart pass, or to say hello to other children who were out of school for the afternoon and inventing outdoor games for themselves.

The sun was hot, but the wind kept us comfortable, and we eventually came down the lane toward Grace's house. One of the housemothers, she was having a day off with her family... a day off that included two walks to the market, and a visit at the Home, just to say hello.

Grace welcomed us in.

"Us" was about 20 children, plus Jennifer and me! We squeezed in, and she dropped her task of removing kernels from corn cobs (preparations for the evening meal of githeri) in order to slice an apple and divide several carrots into bite-sized, nutritious snacks for the whole gang.

When we finally emptied back out into her fertile compound, we said hello to the goats, tested the ripeness of the avocados and marveled at what looks to be an upcoming bumper banana crop.

She walked us to the end of the lane and said, "Now, when you come back, you'll know the place of Grace."

So true.
-H