Karibu nyumbani! (Welcome home!)

Today, the Kipkaren Children's Home received a plethora of new kids: 24 of them, in fact, now bringing the total to 55 children.

I was privileged to be a part once again of the journey to pick these dear ones up and will write more about it tomorrow as well as upload pictures.

What strikes me time and again, however, is how the relatives/neighbors who had been taken care of the children don't hug them to say good-bye, nor shows much emotion in their leaving. (Granted, one aunt seemed concerned and told one boy "We WILL come to visit," while two friends at different homes cried their little lungs out because they, too, wanted to come with us...)

Though hugging and showing affection isn't part of this culture, I love that when these children arrive at their new home, there's a whole line-up of people who tell them how excited they are to have them and who introduce them to the world of hugs. Even kids who have been there for only a few weeks are blossoming! It's amazing what love can do!