Dear Grandchildren of Babu Jim and ShoSho Sue,

I just wanted to write and let you know I just got back from Kenya after visiting ShoSho and Babu. They do wonderful work and I know they will share stories about their adventures for years to come. They are very needed where they are and people count on them to do so much. At the same time, I know you missed them while they were gone. And I want you to know they missed you too.

Babu talks about all of you often. He plans to do so many fun things with you when they move home back to the States! He wants to show you how to smell trees, listen to worm’s communicate, and so much more! I think he would be content to have you all visit and leave your parents at home. There were many moments while I was in Kenya visiting that he would sigh and say, “I can’t wait to show the grandkids” and then he would list everything he wishes to teach and show you over the years.

Warning to all of you- many of these things include fly fishing, putzing on a boat, observing animals, and bird watching. Your Grandpa can be a bit eccentric and likes to tell tall tales. Always ask him, “Babu, trust me?” and he’ll let you know if he’s telling the truth or not.

Please know he is working hard at the hospital. He works 60-70 hours a week to help the hospital do its job. It’s hard work! I had no idea how hard it was until I was there. It was hard for me to hear how much he is needed there because I know we need him here too. But trust ME when I say, he wants to come home to you and know each and every one of you.

ShoSho isn’t planning any hard labor for you but she does have her list of things to do once they return to the States! She wants to have all sorts of animals-real and play- for you to interact with and learn from. This may mean she has some sort of ranchi safair- I don’t think she’s thought it quite through yet. She also wants a playhouse that Babu says he can build. ShoSho is thinking Babu should NOT build the playhouse. He can concentrate on other matters on the homestead.

But even more than that, she desperately wants to show you Kenya. She wants you all to visit one day with her so she can show you the hospital and the animals. She wants to help you understand just a bit better why they are doing what they are doing- even though it means they live far away for now. But don’t ever doubt how much she loves you. I’m pretty sure every other paragraph out of her mouth was about all of you when I visited. Sometimes, just sometimes, she’d want me to feel included so she’d let me know how much she loves my Riley the Pug.

She also works very hard. She is showing children who are in the hospital for a very long time how to play. She is teaching them to color in coloring books and play hopscotch and jump rope. A little thing like playing is a very important thing.

Your pictures are everywhere. In their offices, on their fridge, in picture frames in their bedroom, and engraved in their hearts. Everyone who saw me when I was visiting would say, “Are you Ava’s Mom? Are you the twin’s Mom? Are you Cora’s Mom?”. I would say, “No, I’m the Auntie”. Everyone knows Ava, Carter, Micah, Cora, and the soon to be born Ethan. Everyone within those hospital walls have heard stories about you and how much your Babu and ShoSho love you.

They love a lot of children in Kenya. While I was there, they gave one year old Princess, a birthday party. They played with Angel- a little girl I know you’ll hear about. We visited Abigael, a little girl who ShoSho helped so much. And as special as those little children are, they knew they wanted and needed to come home to you. They love you all very, very much.

I know this is probably everything your Moms and Dad have told you before. But as your Auntie, I also want you to know how very proud of your grandparents I am on our family’s behalf. They are doing extremely hard work. Painful work. Backbreaking work. Work that needs to be done with their individual strengths and their strength as a couple. I didn’t quite understand until I was there and I saw the work they do everyday. And even though I miss them more than they or you will ever know- I know they are doing something that brings them fulfillment of a calling and allows them to love and teach others. I hope each one of you is able to do that in your own lives.

They will continue to visit us and I hope we can each visit Kenya with them again in all of our lifetimes! It’s a beautiful place and I know all of you will love it.

I love you Carter, Micah, Ava, Cora Mae and soon to be Ethan. I can’t wait until we can visit Sisters together and be with Babu and ShoSho. In the meantime, we will listen to their stories that they share when they visit us! And please just remember how much they love all of you (and how much I love you too!).

Love, Aunt Nina