Paris, France- A walk through the city on layover!

On our way back to the United States from Kenya, our flight stopped in Paris, France. We had a 7 hour layover and it was not to be wasted, so we left the airport! We hopped on the train inside of the airport and got off at the different stops around the city. Needham was a little concerned since he did not speak French, but my years of French as a second language and time as an exchange here back in 1997 would hopefully be somewhat useful to us now! We got off the train at our first stop.

Since it was only 7 AM, we decided to have breakfast in Paris. We found a nice little café right next to the Eiffel Tower. We had an amazing breakfast sandwich on fresh baguette bread with coffee and Needham tried to find the closest thing to Western food he could after eating Ugali and chapatti for the last three and a half weeks in Kenya. It was quite funny to me as he looked over the menu in French which he did not understand anyway. We enjoyed this breakfast and then stepped out and down the alleyway to the Eiffel Tower! And.....There she is!  

After we were finished at the Eiffel Tower, we jumped back on the train and went over to La Seine River just as the sun was rising. We discovered the sun rises late this time of year in this region of France. The river boats were not yet running for the day so we were unable to take a ride down the river, but maybe next time! Even at this hour, the streets were starting to get busy for the day with vendors coming out to set up.

We made another stop at Notre-Dame! How beautiful! Notre Dame de Paris (French for "Our lady of Paris" meaning the church in Paris dedicated to the Virgin Mary,  is a gothic cathedral on the eastern side of the river. Even though it is a major tourist destination, it is used as a Roman Catholic Cathedral (Archbishop of Paris). Some consider it the finest example of French gothic architecture!

 

 

The stained glass throughout the Cathedral was amazingly beautiful!

 

 

Notre Dame had a nativity scene displayed, hand carved from various woods. Amazing!

 

 

As we were leaving Notre Dame, we wanted to capture the amazing architecture at the front door!

 

 

Committing Crime in Kenya! We are guilty!

The alarm went off at 4:15 AM! Already? We were up kind of late last night making the breakfast sandwiches which were a triple decker sandwiches of jam and butter (bread, jam, bread, butter, bread). Earlier, we had gone to the market and bought about 30 loaves of bread at about 40 cents each, large canisters of the raspberry and strawberry jam and some large tubs of butter. We created an assembly line to make the sandwiches and we reused the bread bags to pack the sandwiches back up. We set them aside until morning when we were going to make the several gallons of Chai Tea. 

I walked outside and there was a chill in the air and the fire was already crackling, the huge pots were already over the fire heating up. Our host Mom, and the older kids from the orphanage already got it started for us. When the tea was ready, they poured into the transport kettles and we loaded up the van and we were on our way to downtown Nairobi to an alley where the street kids meet to receive food and have some time with us talking. 

Our host Dad, Duncan, stopped the van before the alley way and told me to come on out and help him wake up some of the kids here on the sidewalk. I walked over and saw very small children curled up on cardboard, no parents around, no adults... just..... kids. One teenager even had what appeared to be a toddler sibling with them. As I woke them up, some became startled and we quickly told them that we were doing the feeding and to meet in the same alley (they knew where although I did not yet). The kids nodded yes and started gathering their things and started walking on their way. Did I just see that? Were those children in the street on their own? I get back in the van and just looked at my Dad and he put his head down and nodded. He said this is why we do this, so they have something and can know someone still loves them. We drove on.....

We pulled into an alley way and the older boys from the orphanage get out and tell me to stay there.... I watch them quickly scale the side of a building and I was amazed. I asked Dad where they were going and he said.... to wake up the kids who are sleeping up there. He explained they sleep on roof tops to be out of eye view in the street and the reason these boys at the orphanage know to find them there is because they were once them before they came to the orphanage. 

The boys get back in the car and all I could do is just stare at them with tears streaming down my face and they said.... its okay, we are safe now. I had so many emotions already and we didn't even meet the street kids yet for food and fellowship.  We finally arrive to the alley way that is the meeting point and our host Dad explained he had one more thing to tell us before we do anything at all. He informed us that it is against the law here in Kenya to feed the street children and if the police catch you doing it, they will arrest you for it. I immediately said.... who cares, I am in, let's do this! If I am going to break the law, there is no better way than to share food and fellowship with these kids, so.... arrest me for it! The van door slid open and we were out getting the food ready to distribute. So many hands and very little ones too..... trying to be sure every pair of hands received a sandwich, a banana and a cup of hot chai. Needham passed out cups and I poured the Chai tea trying to be sure there was enough to go around. We passed out a sandwich and banana to each kid and we had enough! THANK YOU GOD! As we were passing out the sandwiches, I noticed that some of the kids had these small bottles in their mouths, they clenched the top of it with their teeth and it appeared to be a glue bottle. 


After watching them for a few minutes, I realized they were huffing glue. My immediate instinct was to take it away and scold them, but Duncan came over and quietly explained they use glue to get high and it cuts the hunger pangs out too so it is why they do it, in addition to masking their other emotional issues. We can't judge or scold, we need to gain their trust right now so they keep showing up. The idea is to gain their trust enough so they choose to come back to the orphanage for a different life.  I just nodded and continued to eat with them and talk with them

After each child had something, I continued to walk around and pour tea, trying to refill the youngest ones first. There were a few bananas left but not enough for every child to have another so when this is the case, we don't pass it out so we can avoid fights over food. I took the additional few bananas and stuffed them into the jacket arms of a toddler so he and his brother would have something for later.

None of other children took note which was good. I will never forget that very moment when I had to put him back down so we could leave. That moment will never leave me, ....Did I just leave this toddler in the street? Did that just have to happen? The ride back to the host home was so quiet, nobody talked, complete silence as we reflected upon what we just experienced. I went into the host house and went right to my bed space and just buried my face in my pillow crying and wondering why. I felt angry, sad, then angry again. Why does God allow this to happen?