In the days leading up to this week, several folks from the last trip told me about a phenomenon that happened to them. That a kid from the school would latch on to me and we’d instantly become inseparable. They would quickly become one of the biggest reasons I’ll fall in love with Kenya. It’s only day one but I think that kid is going to end up being a 6th grader named Ezekiel. I can barely remember how we even met. Maybe he saw me taking pictures with my phone or the way all the kids were going crazy to feel my frizzy hair. But he and his friends took turns tugging and pulling on me for much of the day. They laughed at my Swahili but had fun teaching me words and phrases to help me with the other kids. Phrases like, “Bring my glasses back, please.” He took my hand and led me into the dining hall/feeding center so we could keep talking while he ate lunch. We kicked around a soccer ball at the end of the day. His favorite player is Wayne Rooney. There is something about Ekeziel's attitude. In his eyes, it seemed like he was screaming something serious at me all day.

He was so kind spirited and gracious with me—especially with my time with the other kids and with helping me communicate to them in Swahili. Ezekiel spoke English very well. He asked me over and over again if he’d get to see me again. That night we visited the orphanage and the kids put on a similar welcoming ceremony that we saw at the school today. There was lots of singing and the chanting in unison of scriptures and thank you’s to our group. Half way through the evening, I made eye contact with a boy in the back row. Sure enough, it was my lil dude. My heart aches knowing that his story is waiting for me at some point on this trip. I can’t even imagine it. But I won’t learn it tonight. Tonight, Ezekiel climbed up onto some cabinets in the back of the room so he could see me better and we smiled at each other all evening.