Sour milk, babies, and more Kenyan fun

This week wasn't quite as adventurous or as scenic as last week, but it was nevertheless memorable. We had our hands full of babies (or at least Cheryl did) changing diapers, feeding them, bathing them, and allowing them the priviledge of enjoying our company at 3AM are all part of a day's (and night's) work with the babies entrusted to us. Matt even changed his first diaper all by himself this week (it was a little loose, but at least it didn't leak (praise God for the absorbent power of Pampers).


We got the babies registered with immigration services here, and hopefully we will get them passports in the next week. Belle is planning on going on her first plane ride with Rachel Gallagher for Christmas, and Esther Ruth is going to do the same on a plane ride to the UK with Ruth Major. Otherwise, Cheryl might have to juggle three babies at once during the Christmas season (with a little help from Matt now that he knows how to change diapers all by himself).


We also went through the process of applying as a school over the past month, but this week it seemed to reach a fevered pitch as we were introduced to the bureaucracy of Kenyan government. It seems easier at first because people in government here are too polite to admit how hard it is, but in the end it is just as difficult as American bureaucracy. Ultimately, in the end things were signed, and it looks like, with a little more work, we will be able to start a school in January at the Open Arms village.


Speaking of the village, this week Matt went out to the village several times to check on the progress of the orphanage homes and to assist people from the Public Health Department who were inspecting the village in preparation for the start of the school. After their inspection, Daniel and Lydia, the house parents for some of the children, invited the two inspectors and Matt for lunch. As lunch was set in front of the guests, Daniel proceeded to offer them the local village delicasy to drink...sour milk. They drink it there like we eat yogurt in America. However, as Matt saw the chunks of curdled milk plopping from the pitcher into his cup, he questioned if he would like it as much as yogurt. As he politley slurped down a big gulp into his mouth, the taste of putrid, sour, fermented milk filled his taste buds and his nostrils, and he wondered if he was going to lose the lunch he had already consumed. He tried to sip down a few more gulps and wash down the chunks with a glass of water, but as he looked up, he saw that his guests had already emptied their cups with a smile and he had barely made a dent in his glass.


Well, I think it is back to taking care of babies. I think I hear them wanting more formula, burping up more curdled formula, and wanting Daddy Matt to change some more diapers. Until next week, enjoy a few more baby photos.



God bless you,






Matt and Cheryl Tallman