August 1, 2003

Dear Friends,

Of the seven streetboys I wrote of last time, five have managed to stay at the Home and are beginning to learn carpentry. This is no small accomplishment for these boys. The other two went back to the street within days. The lure of drugs and restaurant food (pulled from the trash bins) was just too great.

The five that remain still struggle with these desires, and almost daily one or two sneak off for some chang'aa or glue. This is becoming less frequent as these boys slowly adjust to life in the Home.

On Saturday evening a 12-year old boy came in off the street, and on Sunday one of his friends arrived. They were both given showers and new clothes and some food. By Monday morning one of these boys had gone back to the street.

The other boy, Simon Kumau, was taken to class. At age 12 he was the oldest child in first grade. Watching him unable to do first grad subtraction was heart breaking.

The teacher stayed with him through most of break, helping him to learn the math, and it seemed as if he was beginning to understand it. But the teacher sent him off to play for the last few minutes of break, and he never returned.

Later in the day, though, another boy arrived. This one was only 7 years old. He told us his friend Simon had told him about a place where he could get food and go to school, and that Simon would be coming back shortly. It took a painstakingly long 20 seconds for this boy to write his name -- Joseph Maina.

Joseph was bathed, clothed, and fed, and he started playing with the other little kids at the Home. But by dinner time he too had disappeared.

Wednesday, some of the older streetboys took us to several of the different "bases" to look for these 3 missing little boys, but we could not find them.

Yesterday one of the older boys found Joseph asleep on the street. When the boy tried to bring Joseph back to the Home, he began crying, struggled free, and ran away.

We went out looking for them again, but had no luck. We will look for them again today, and we hope to find them.

In other news, I have decided to extend my trip by 5 days. Frederick Ochieng (for those of you who have seen 'Orphans,' he was the boy who was sick with typhoid, malaria, and dysentary) has a younger brother tending cattle in the west of Kenya. This is very likely an expliotative, if not abusive, situation he is working under, and Auntie decided it was her duty to make sure the young boy is being educated and cared for. This weekend Ochieng and I are going to get him and bring him to Good Samaritan.

best,
Randy

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