Never Going Back 8/21/2019

My boy, Lukazz, has had the WORST trip ever traveling back to Kitale to get a simple document to help him get his ID. It will definitely be his last. He is never looking back, much less going back.

Kitale is where he kind of grew up with his parents (a story for another time). When his parents were no longer viable guardians, his aunt and uncle took over. Unfortunately, they didn't do much better raising him. Lukazz has spent much of his life starving and begging for food. He has never had a bed to sleep on as far as I know, and does not have certain amenities we here in America take for granted. They do not have a stove or oven, no refrigerator, or bathtubs. I don't even know if he had a shower growing up, I forgot to ask about that. When Lukazz was sent off to beg for food...he was pushed away and taunted by the people he was begging for help. Even at home he has never been held, loved on, kissed on, tucked in at night, sung to, read to, or anything else even the poorest of most Americans have experienced at least once in thier lives. In fact, my baby was quite abused. Again.....a story for another day.

Lukazz is a Christmas baby and will be 20 years old this year. When Lukazz was 15 yrs old...the man he is living with and his Christian wife took him in. At the time, he was a scrawney double digit weight, malnourished, dehydrated and half dead. For some reason...the wife is not living with them. I don't know if it has to do with the job she has, or what. I don't know, but this guy housing Lukazz is a teacher and has done a decent job keeping him fed, sheltered and alive. They were living in Kisis, Kenya, but as you can see they just moved to Nairobi. It is a HUGE city, but it is where Lukazz will have the most opportunities to make it on his own and become somebody. Everything he needs is in that big city. All he needs is his ID and doors and windows start opening up for him right and left. Which leads me to his visit to Kitale. The aunt and uncle had his paperwork, and their mail system SUCKS THE BIG D. So, he had to travel all the way there by bus which was an all day affair. If you have been keeping up...the trip didn't start out well in the first place when he accidentally left his money card back in Nairobi. We all have done it. You know what that is like. UUUUUGH. Poor guy.

Anyway...he made it to Kitale to what he thought was family who may be at least a little excited to see him. Unfortunately, they talked him out of all he had (plus some sugar he bought for them), then they were done with him. They apparently had no food or water for him, have him sleeping on the ground with the bed bugs, and have basically ignored him for the past 5 days. On top of that...he had no way to get home. He had no money. So, he was stuck. He has been ready to go since he got there. To pass the time, he helped an old man neighbor mow his lawn to feed the cows, so the old man could rest. What a good boy. This is why he is my good boy. This is who he is.

So today...DAY 6...I finally had $15 to spare so he could get a bus ticket home. This is ridiculous. I had to get that boy out of there. He is starving to death, dehydrated and has had NO rest whatsoever. Time to go home. He jumped for joy, thanked me about ten times, gathered his shit, and was GONE! I haven't heard from him since, and I imagine I won't until he gets back to Nairobi. I imagine he will sleep all the way. Bless his heart. I will update tomorrow. Hopefully, he will give us pics of his new home. They call it a flat. I can't wait to see. We need some pics around here. :)