Laughter, Rain, and Racing Hearts

It was a full and lively weekend, shaped by our time with the children from Sunbeam Children’s Home.

Saturday was bursting with energy. The children had prepared performances, and later in the afternoon we all gathered outside for games. Everyone joined in with excitement. There was laughter, cheering, and a surprising level of competitiveness. After about an hour and a half, we were all happily exhausted.

Then, almost without warning, the sky changed. Dark clouds rolled in, and within minutes the rain came pouring down. We ran back to the houses, laughing and slightly out of breath, and called it a day.

On the way back, however, we had a brief moment of shock. The watchdogs were out, roaming freely near the house just as the girls opened the gate. For a second, everything seemed to freeze. We had been told that the dogs do not hesitate with strangers. Luckily, the watchman had seen what was happening and quickly brought them back. Still, it gave us all a fright. At the same time, it was a reminder of how seriously safety is taken here, and in the end that felt reassuring.

Sunday began much more quietly. We spent the morning drawing with the children. Some of them are truly talented, and the atmosphere felt calm, almost meditative.

Assunta and Polyxena sat with the younger girls, helping them quietly. Later, Polyxena said: “I had to help her. She does not know yet how to hold the pencil.”

Assunta and Julius enjoyed colouring, while Assunta kept slipping away to the baby room, where five little ones, from just one month old to nearly a year, are being cared for. She checked on them again and again, returning each time with a soft smile: “These babies are so sweet.”

In the afternoon, we shared a special activity with some of the older girls, a few boys, and the head of the kitchen. We prepared one of our favourite dishes, pancakes. We showed them how we make the batter and cooked them together on charcoal stoves. In the end, there were enough for everyone to enjoy as dessert.

It also felt like the perfect moment to share the small chocolate eggs we had brought from Switzerland.

While the others helped hand everything out, Julius was completely absorbed elsewhere, gently stroking a turkey. He studied it carefully and said: “This turkey has such nice feathers. Some of them almost feel like a hairbrush, and there is so much skin on his neck.”

He was completely fascinated.

This morning, before leaving, we visited Sunbeam Primary School and handed over some school supplies we had brought with us. The children looked so neat in their uniforms. The school is not only for children from the home, but also for those from the surrounding area. Around 120 children attend, from preschool up to fifth grade.

It felt like a gentle and meaningful ending to our time in Amagoro. I was amazed by what Ellen has built up here in the countryside. One thing that stayed with me is how balanced and grounded the children seem. Some have grown up here since they were babies, others return during their university breaks, and all of them show a remarkable warmth and care for one another. They are happy to be back “home,” or simply to be here.

For me, this is a sign that what is happening here truly makes a difference. Despite the difficult stories many of these children carry with them, they are given the chance to grow, to develop, and to belong. It is something quite special that Ellen has created, a place that offers both safety and space.

We left feeling deeply grateful to have had a glimpse into life at this Children’s Home.

The journey back to Kisumu, however, brought one last unexpected moment.

On the road, we suddenly came across a group of people protesting. Tires were burning, smoke rising into the air, and some were standing with stones in their hands. We could hear tear gas being fired. Our driver calmly closed the windows, and instinctively we all ducked down in our seats, even though, with the tinted windows, no one could really see inside.

For a few tense minutes, everything felt uncertain. Some men approached the car with stones and sticks. Moses carefully opened his window just a little and handed them some money so we could pass. It happened more than once. Each time, our hearts beat a little faster.

And then, suddenly, we were through.

Half an hour later, we reached the airport, relieved and quiet.

Moses simply said that on his way back, he would take a different route.

And just like that, another chapter closed.e

We are now back in Nairobi, safe and full of impressions. Tomorrow, we continue our journey to our final destination near Nanyuki.