The Orphanage

After we FINALLY finished our language training for the day, we embarked on a half-hour hike to the orphanage. It was a single-file footpath leadking out from the seminary farm toward the mountains. On the way we had to jump over streams, saw a monkey on a cocanut tree (and a man climbing one on the way back), walked on railroad tracks while naked children bathed in the streams on either side of us, cut through cornfields, and walked through a couple herds of goats and cows. The entire walk is absolutely beautiful from beginning to end, with palm trees here and there and the green mountains before you.

We eventually ended up at this huge nunnery that just popped up out of nowhere. I don't know how they built so many two story brick buildings so far away from the main road. There were only about 20 children, three and under, all with runny noses and skin rashes (scabies?). Everyone just stared at them when we walked in so I went and sat down and had one in my lap immediately. She never let me set her down, even when we went in to look at the babies. When we left, nearly every one of them was screaming to be picked back up again. Dr. Strickert said that we can go as often as we want as soon as we finish our language class hours.

We will be leaving for our safari at Mikumi in a few hours. Josh, the four-year-old here, assures us that we will see lots of wildabeasts!