SWEET CLEO: KENYA 2003 - part 1

In the spring of 2003 I joined with a humanitarian group and spent four weeks in Kenya. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. To explain what I might have learned about myself and the African culture would, at best, sound trite.

While in Kenya, I spent a considerable amount of my time in a slum called Soweto. There I met Cleo. I don't have a digital photo of her but I do have one I will scan and post later. For me, meeting Cleo was like finding a friend I'd lost touch with. She couldn't have been more then three when we met. She was beautiful and anytime I saw her in the sea of school children I'd snatch her up and we'd cuddle and just look at each other. Her big grin was at once intoxicating.

After being in Soweto about an hour, Cleo walked up to me, held out her arms and that was it. I was one step closer to feeling whole. I think about her all the time. Now she'd probably be nearly seven. One of my greatest desires is to go back to Kenya to spend more time there and do what I can - working along side the locals, connecting with the children. I hope when I do return (ideally with Nate at my side), I'll see a pretty, well-fed young girl and feel, once again, that connection to my sweet Cleo.