Tucson CitizenTucson Citizen

Hugs for gifts at orphanage an even trade

Items made by Reach Out girls warmly received in Kenya

Moriah Newhouse holds a baby at the girls home in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

Moriah Newhouse holds a baby at the girls home in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi, Kenya.

Editor’s note: Last month, Tucson father and daughter, Mark and Moriah Newhouse, traveled to an orphanage in Kenya to deliver handmade items created by members of Reach Out Home Arts Club for Girls, started by Moriah’s sister, Jordan. Moriah, 10, kept a journal of their travels. Here are her memories of the journey:

Dec. 4 – Stayed up late cramming scarves, hats, blankets and other handmade things into every nook and cranny of our four suitcases – a total of 131 items made by our club to donate to the needy in Africa! Also filling the suitcases were 10 portable DVD players we’re bringing as gifts for the translators at the Deaf Opportunity OutReach Center (DOOR) in Nairobi. There’s also a lot of bulky video and photography equipment, but the suitcases are within the weight limits.

I was so excited I couldn’t sleep, so I recorded myself reading books onto a tape that my little sister could listen to while I was gone (so she wouldn’t miss me so much!)

Dec. 5 – We left Tucson early in the morning, while it was still dark. The flight to Chicago felt long, but I enjoyed the airport there. I took pictures of the Christmas decorations and did a video chat on the computer with my mom and four siblings at home.

Then it was off to the Netherlands. I had a bad earache when we landed. We checked in via computer with our family again and then got ready for our last flight.

Dec. 6 – Landed in Kenya in the evening. At last – no more airplanes for a while! It was nice having time with Daddy on the plane, but I miss the rest of my family.

My dad spotted our DOOR driver and we were off to load up the van. It was a little bit weird to see the driver drive opposite (on the left side of the road) to what we do in the U.S., but I got used to it.

At the training center, there were many hands reaching for our things and shaking our hands in greeting. I can’t believe I’m really here!

Dec. 7 – I woke up early from all the noise downstairs; Daddy was still asleep. The deaf men make a lot of noise because they can’t hear the noise they’re making, but that’s OK.

Today was the first day of filming. I took lots of pictures with the big camera and helped Daddy videotape. For lunch, we had rice and beef stew and for dinner we had chips (french fries) and chicken. They cooked special meals for us because we were their special guests but we told them we would be happy eating what they usually eat.

There were two tea times every day—they love their tea! It was chai (50% hot milk and 25% sugar?) After dinner, I went to our room to read but fell asleep.

I’m writing this at 2 a.m. because I can’t get back to sleep . . . our bodies are a little confused about what time zone we are in, but it’s not too bad.

Dec. 8 – We gave out the things we made. The girls at the orphanage hugged us when we arrived. Heather, the First Love missionary there, told us they had no idea how to hug when they first got there – they’d never had anyone to love them and hold them. I love to hug!

They showed us their bunks and tried on the hats, scarves, and ponchos that we made them. Heather and another lady showed me some of their African clothes and dressed me up in them – that was very fun! We helped the First Love workers hand out lunch to a bunch of kids there.

We also went to Kibera, the largest slum in the world. Here’s my dad’s description of it: “Visiting the Kibera slum was surreal. It was almost like visiting a movie set. The poverty was so immense, it was impossible to get my head around it. The slum stretches on and on, and there is a constant stream of people. The shacks and shanties are packed in tight. Filth and waste are everywhere, and a train track runs right through the middle of it all.”

The children in the slums kept running up saying, “Howayu?” (how are you) and when we said “Hi” to anyone, they answered “Fine!”

Dec. 9 – Went to church and did some shopping – I don’t like the bargaining you’re forced to do! I miss my family. We do e-mail back and forth and even tried a little video chat – it’s real blurry, though.

Dec. 10 – We had a “tourist day”. . . went to the Giraffe Centre, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (where they have a baby elephant orphanage), the Cultural Center and the Nairobi Safari Walk. We took lots of pictures of all the animals. It was fun and tiring!

Dec. 11 – Today was the big Celebration Day at DOOR. The translators were honored and the finished DVDs of 32 Bible stories in their own country’s version of sign language were presented to them. After the program, we had a party with the translators, staff and some of their families. They talked (signed) and told stories and we laughed a lot. They were so happy to receive the DVD players. And we ate goat, including the liver and heart! Well, I was too chicken to try the organs, but I did taste the goat – it was chewy and kind of like beef.

Dec. 12 – We filmed more of the translators telling their life stories – what it was like growing up deaf and how they heard about Jesus Christ and got involved with the church and this program. I can’t believe it’s our last night here. It went by so fast but slow enough to enjoy it.

Dec. 13 – Today is our last day. We went to a small village called Banana to visit one of the staff members at his home and church. One of them asked if it was like my church and I said “no” because I was thinking of our huge sanctuary and many buildings, and this was just one small room! But now that I think about it, I would say “yes” because we both worship the same God and sing to Him and thank Him. A church is not a building, but it is the people.

Later, we went to a place my mom read about in World Magazine this week called Amani ya Juu (“higher peace” in Kiswahili). It’s a center where women refugees receive counseling, (live in a) community and work. They make beautiful things to sell from their store and online. We enjoyed talking to them and doing some Christmas shopping.

But now it’s time to leave Nairobi. I’ve just loved it here so much . . . the flowers, the people, the animals . . . all of it!

I thank God for the safe trip and for all the experiences He gave me. I wonder when I’ll return to this beautiful land . . .

Girls from an orphanage in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya wear hats, scarves and ponchos handcrafted and donated by girls in the Reach Out program in Tucson.

Girls from an orphanage in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya wear hats, scarves and ponchos handcrafted and donated by girls in the Reach Out program in Tucson.

Moriah is dressed up in authentic African garb.

Moriah is dressed up in authentic African garb.

Mark and Moriah Newhouse pet a cheetah at the Nairobi Safari Walk.

Mark and Moriah Newhouse pet a cheetah at the Nairobi Safari Walk.

Moriah helps serve lunch to about 20 orphans in Nairobi.

Moriah helps serve lunch to about 20 orphans in Nairobi.

An orphan girl wears a knit hat made by girls from Reach Out, as Moriah<br />
and Heather look on.

An orphan girl wears a knit hat made by girls from Reach Out, as Moriah
and Heather look on.

A Kenyan man wearing a University of Arizona
Moriah stands next to a humorus speed limit sign.

Moriah stands next to a humorus speed limit sign.

Moriah talks to one of the women at the Aman ya Juu store.

Moriah talks to one of the women at the Aman ya Juu store.

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