When living in the orphanage, one is not really hit hard by the feeling of poverty, since, thanks to the Hungarian support, much better circumstances dominate here than among the neighboring families. It was during Mwakio’s father’s visit that the cruelty of life outside the orphanage first struck me. Sister Willy gave a sack of rice or potatoes to Mwakio’s father every single time he visited; he needed these even more than the orphanage for survival, for feeding the six hungry mouths at home.

Because of the lack of money, Mwakio’s siblings cannot study, and their chances upon starting out in life are very precarious. As soon as little Mwakio gets home, he too will be afflicted by the cruel squalor; so, in my heart, he will always remain Sister Willy’s little "orphan", one who…

How many years do people live in Kenya? – I asked the older children in relation to a village funeral; they obviously did not understand the question. You can die any time – they explained to me – whenever God decides so. They welcomed death just as naturally as the arrival of life. As a matter of fact, the average life expectancy in Kenya is merely 48 years, as opposed to 72 years in Hungary.

That is: just slowly. Those who are in a rush don’t get far in Africa. But as soon as you get the vibes of the peculiar African pace, its rhythm of time, it is possible to find your joy in the comfortable interchange of holidays and ordinary days. You won’t miss anything, and perhaps you will even manage to hit on one treasure or other.