Most of the orphan children have returned, and other children arrive for school along with the teachers who work at Joy World.
There are countless knocks on the door for Caroline to meet and discuss with parents.
I am quickly realising how well respected and regarded Caroline is by everyone in the community for the work she is doing. She is referred to as "Mama " or " Mother " by everyone child and adult alike.
She tries to help as many children that she can afford to . The orphanage children are fed every day, and if there is enough food the school children will also be given lunch, but this is not every day.
I meet the children who have arrived and one or two of the smaller more confident kids latch onto me. They are all incredibly cute with wide smiles nad bright eyes and there is lots of fun and laughter. If you look beyondthe smiles however you notice that many have dirty and tatty clothes. There is a school uniform but many parents cannot afford to pay for it and Caroline does not insist.
You notice aslso the shoes many are wearing, they all seem to be many sizes too big.
I watch a class being held and one lad of about 6 is taking the class through sign and numbers on the wall pointing with each with a stick and the class chanting out the answer. Old fashioned education but still in my opinion the best. It is obvious to me that many of the children are very bright.
In the afternoon we catch a bus again to a local hardware shop to buy paint for the class rooms. We buy 30 lites of cream which costs 3000 kenyan shillings about 30 pounds which I pay for. I feel better that at last I have begun to contribute something, but this is Africa and the pace is slow .......Africa time !!
Caroline also protects me from a drunk who she believed was about to snatch a gold chain from my neck. A reminder I guess that I am a potential target for theievs, although I am careful not to carry too much cash or valuables with me.
In the evening Caroline has many more visitors, parenst , teachers, parents wanting food for their children and two local pastors ....her door is always open. I remind her later she needs some " me " time as well which she acknowleges.
I move into the second guest room in the house which is larger and more comfortable with its own toilet and shower.
I have my firdt good nights sleep.
