Refugees in Wheaton

I have not told you about another way I have been keeping myself busy!

Since July, I have been spending my Sunday afternoons with a bunch of Refugees from Sololia. Guys, it is the highlight of my week. It really is.

There are four families that live in a complex in Wheaton. The main family we go to visit, the Muya's, have 11 kids ranging in age from 1 year to 24. The 24 year old is in a refugee camp in Kenya. The rest are here. The oldest daughter is married and has 3 kids. The oldest is just shy of 3 years old and the youngest was just born! Another family has 4 or 5 and the last family has 5.

I was there yesterday and was finally able to see the long anticipated baby! She is the first American child. It will be interesting to watch her grow. The baby's name is Zenup and she is so tiny and so cute. I did not want to pass her to Kate, but I did. Kate tried to give her back to me 3 different times but each time she offered, the oldest brother, Hamadi, would come to be held. I didn't mind though because Hamadi is so cute. He's my favorite and I know I shouldn't have favorites but I do. He is jsut so cute! He repeats everything you say and has been doing so since I knew him. You can sing and he'll sing along too. He calls Kate "Cake" and all of the kids call me Teresa. I don't know how or why that started. I don't think Tracie is much harder to say than Teresa but I answer to it anyway.

This week I found that I can do leg extensions with the kids. 1-3 of them would cling to my legs as I was sitting on the couch and I would lift them all up. It was great fun...especially for them.

Another time I was there, I put a kid on my shoulders and hopped around the room. They thought that was a lot of fun.

Two of my favorite little girls are Amina and Rugia. Amina is 7 and has the most beautiful eyes you've ever seen and Rugia is 5 and is just a sweet little girl. Actually, she's a crier. She'll cry to get attention but I found that with so many kids around it's hard to get noticed so instead of ignoring her tears I have her talk out her frustrations with me.. I guess becase of this she has become my little buddy.

Two of my favorite of the older kids are two boys Juma (14) and Ali (12). Juma is the sweetest nicest kid. Until yesterday he would always give me a hug but he just turned 14 last week so he must be too old for hugs. Ali is a typical 12 year old and that is why I love him too. He is just obnoxious and trying to figure out who he is. It has got to be hard to be from a 3rd world country adjusting to a new life in America and be in middle school all at the same time.

Kate and I took Juma, Ali, Rugia and Amina to the Lincoln Park Zoo this summer and we had a great time! Rugia made me feel bad when I mentioned that I love hippos and she said that a Hippo killed her friend. Oops. We just happened to see Becca there that day too! That was very random seeing that she lives in Michigan.

I could continue with all of the kids and tell you that each one is my favorite, because they are each so unique. I can totally understand how a mother can love all of her kids the same... and I'm not even a mom yet!