Divine Providence

My internship at Divine Providence Children’s Home began Monday. The sisters have been extremely welcoming, although it is completely up to me what I want to do each day. I have spent the time dressing and feeding babies, researching infant nutrition, teaching math classes, and most of all, asking countless questions to figure out how everything works. I have really enjoyed being able to do a little bit of everything. I am currently working on trying to find a way to supplement the cow’s milk they feed the babies (they can’t afford formula, and lack consistent donations) with vitamins and minerals from foods they always have around the home. That and trying to make a schedule for helping with classes, since it seems like every teacher wants some help/extra prep time.

The name of Divine Providence seems more fitting the longer I’m here. I went with some of the sisters to visit the bishop yesterday (I get a big kick out of the fact I haven’t even been here two weeks, but have met the bishop). I learned a lot about how the home was started and gained more insight into the way that operates. The thing that struck me the most was that at times, the sisters have come to him begging for any sort of food to feed the children, and he has allowed them to empty the pantries. Sacred Heart Academy that’s next door has also given everything in their store rooms, leaving its 1,000 girls skipping a meal in the service of others. The high of my day, however, came when the bishop casually mentioned to take the lambs home with us for the kids. I thought he was joking, but by the time we left, there were three lambs loaded in the van with us. Divine Providence

Today was Madaraka Day, basically Kenyan Independence Day. School was closed, and as it was Chris’s birthday all of the interns met up for lunch. It was great being able to catch up and swap stories. So much has happened in such a short time! Speaking of divine providence, it was just the break I needed before going in to help some of the students with some math questions later in the afternoon. I am settling in and doing well, but my bed is beckoning!

Kelly