Update

Two of my favorite kids are leaving!!!! :( Jacob-11 and Joseph-12 (brothers) came to Sidai right before I got here. There hasn't been room in the local schools for them. I was going to buy them uniforms, etc. if we could find them a school. I found out this morning, however, that they are going back home so they can go to school. Their mother brought them to the orphanage b/c she's a single mom and didn't have enough money to support them. I REALLY hope they are going to be okay. I'm worried about how things are going to turn out, but, unfortunately, there's nothing I can do. I'm pretty sad and will miss them both a lot.

Good news - it looks like we'll have running water at some point this week!!! We'll still have to haul water from the water hole the boys dug to the garden, but it'll be amazing to not have to carry water up the hill to the orphanage for cooking, bathing, etc. (Thanks NG for your help with the water project!)

We're going to try to hire househelp this week. I think I've written about this before, but the former househelp, Margaret, worked for free in return for staying at Sidai. She got a job as househelp in a home last week, so she's gone. Her kids, Gracee-18 mo and Frances-3 (I'm in LOVE with him) stay at the orphanage, and Margaret comes to visit on Sundays. Anyway, we need to get new help, because I hate seeing the 6-7 year olds using sharp knives to cut veggies, which is what is currently happening. Plus, everything is so disorganized now. They aren't eating dinner until around 9:30. We just need to get new help.

We also need to hire a teacher to teach Class 2 after Rachel and I leave. Lucy is dragging her feet on this one, but hopefully we'll interview some people in the next month.

I'll update again soon!