Saying Goodbye to Arusha: Part IV - Plaster House

Warning: Long post with lots of pictures and a few videos. Bear with me :)

Our last week, I went to Plaster House twice. I went Wednesday of that week with Janelle. When we got there, there was a big group of visitors from the US there. Sarah, the Australian, who started Plaster House (PH) was giving them a short tour because they were from a church that supports PH. The kids were definitely dressed in their best that day...so adorable. The visitors brought gifts for the kids, and they even had enough for each of the kids (that's a huge deal because if someone brings/sends some little toys but not enough for each kid, chaos breaks loose). It was quite fun that day. Here are some pictures from that day:

Mama and Joseph

Older Barka and Me

Bariki and Me - This kid has the sweetest laugh.

Thursday, was our last real day in Arusha (we left Friday to go on safari for a week and returned for one evening post-safari). I got up early Thursday morning and went to the hospital for chapel. They have chapel every morning for about 15 minutes before they get started, so I wanted to go for Nate's last day. I said goodbye to Sarah and started on my journey to PH. Janelle couldn't go that day, so I knew I would have to ride the dalladalla on my own and walk a good bit. Fortunately, Nate and I did this a week earlier when I took him to PH, so I knew which dalladalla to take (which can be tricky sometimes). I walked about 10 minutes from the hospital to the road where I caught the dalladalla, rode the dalladalla for about 5-10 minutes, and then walked about 20-30 min up the road to PH. I was already pretty emotional that day, as I was finding it hard to say goodbye to Arusha in general, but I knew that this would be the hardest part. When I got there, I was greeted by the usual smiling faces and "hi" and kids running up to be held. It never got old...the excitement of the kids when we arrived. I often thought about Jesus and the children...forgive me if I have already posted about this...


"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Mark 10:15

The way God calls us to receive him and his kingdom is like that of a child...what a clear picture those children at PH gave me of this.

When I got there, I asked the house mamas if we could go ahead and have the chai. I brought some oatmeal cookies for the kids for my last day. They passed out the hot chai, and I passed out the cookies (which again, kids in Tanzania are not accustomed to our style of cookies, so it was fun to watch them eat these sweet treats). Many of them dipped their cookies into the chai.

I spent the rest of my time there holding the little ones and visiting the kids in the rooms who were confined to bed (post-surgery kids with plaster on their little legs). I took out my camera and took a TON of pictures that day, so here you go.

Kids Who Had Surgery the Week Before

Enoti

Older Baraka

Best Smile Ever!

Teresia

Sara

I lost it when I said goodbye to Sara and Teresia. These two sweet girls captured my heart those last two weeks. 

Here are pics of other kids that last day (ones that didn't necessarily have surgery that week before).

One of the mamas and her baby

I think this child had burns all over.

Tumaini

So the story about Tumaini is that she (yes, she...I thought she was a boy the whole time I was there until the 2nd to last day...it's really hard to tell, especially since girls wear boy clothes and boys wear girl clothes) started out so quiet and timid when I first met her. She rarely interacted with any of the kids, although Enoti often sat by her. Tumaini, which means hope, would never talk, smile, or move around much. I tried and tried to get through to her and nothing seemed to work. But by the last few weeks, she turned into this smiling, laughing, playful, even snuggly little girl you see below!!

Lazaro

The Boys

These guys couldn't get enough pictures taken! At one point a few of the older boys got a hold of my camera. I resisted at first, but it was my last day, so I let them take a few pictures. It was really funny because a few of them figured it out, but most couldn't figure out how to take a picture.

The Little Boys - Osser (left) and Younger Baraka (right)

Some Videos from that Day

Swahili Sesame Street

One of Their Favorite Songs to Sing

Group Picture

Before I left for good, I asked to take a group picture. Unfortunately, the kids who couldn't walk didn't get in the picture. It took quite a while to get this picture taken :)

On My Way Out

After the group picture, everyone started clapping in rhythm while I started gathering my stuff together. I didn't know exactly what was going on, but then they all started singing this song. I don't know what it means, but I think it is in Kimaasai (not even Swahili) because I recognized the only Kimaasai word I knew..."Ashe". It means "Thank You." Well, any of you who know me at all can guess...I started crying...a lot. I couldn't hold it together. Here's the video. 

This last video is them saying their usually "Bye"...

Crying, I left Plaster House for the last time (hopefully not the last time ever, but if/when we return in the future none of the same kids will be there). I stopped to take a picture of the gate that I loved seeing so much. It's hard to see, but there is a giraffe (twiga) on the left part of the gate. 

I stood there a few minutes because I didn't want to leave. But when I started walking away, I heard someone call my name. I turned around, and sweet Lazaro was saying goodbye one last time underneath the gate. Sigh. Tears.