These are the days that are hard for me...the last days leading up to a long, hard goodbye. I came here on a mission, with the help of all of you who supported Kenya Help...The projects are done, they are up and ready to go. The children are thrilled to be moving into the new house soon, with crops growing and chickens to give eggs. Amazing...but also so sad for me. If I had more, I could do more. If I had more time I would stay...but the job is done, there is nothing else I can do...for now. I plan on coming back next June, to do so much more. It's a bitter sweet day...I am saying goodbye to the children soon, yet so happy with the amazing work you have all supported this year.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.I could not have done near this much work without you. From buying timber, tools and fencing, to crops, a playground and water...and everything in between...you all should feel very proud of what you have done for these children, YOU have changed thier lives...all of you!
Thank you so very much for helping my kids!
Asante Sana
Monday, June 28, 2010
Death in a village
Death is terrible, anywhere...
When the three of us were walking towards the Ngong hills, I noticed some people in the near distance that were all gathered around a small man made water hole. I then saw a woman on the ground, screaming and crying, and a man holding her back. Her son was dead. He had fallen into the hole and could not get out. Most people here do not know how to swim. He was dead, and man was holding her back from seeing his body. She was on the ground, crying, and we had no choice but to walk by her.
He was dead...she lost her son, and all we could do was walk by...it was so hard for us to do nothing, but he was dead...and all we could do was walk by...
When the three of us were walking towards the Ngong hills, I noticed some people in the near distance that were all gathered around a small man made water hole. I then saw a woman on the ground, screaming and crying, and a man holding her back. Her son was dead. He had fallen into the hole and could not get out. Most people here do not know how to swim. He was dead, and man was holding her back from seeing his body. She was on the ground, crying, and we had no choice but to walk by her.
He was dead...she lost her son, and all we could do was walk by...it was so hard for us to do nothing, but he was dead...and all we could do was walk by...
Masaii Land
Well, what an adventure!
I decided from home that I wanted to go into the Masaii land to see where some of the children come from...what an adventure. Pj and I, with Moshilla, our guide, walked 6 hours, uphill, into the Ngong hills. We ended day one on the top of the hill with a family to stay with for the night. No electricity, no water. Masaii women carrying jugs on their heads for hours to bring home. A cow being milked, straight into the cup for chai tea, and a mud hut with a fire pit in the middle to cook rice and beans. We slept in our sleeping bags on the dirt floor of a tin shack, beside the cow pen. It was like stepping back in time, and it was incredible. We rose to beautiful, dirty children singing for us becfore we departed on the next leg. We climbed straight up for almost 2 hours...exhausted, hit the top, and took a break. We were soaked, covered in mud, and trying to catch out breath...but the view from the top was amazing. These people do this on a regular basis, for food and water. We could not believe the distance between the people, and how far away everyone was from each other. We started to travel into the Rift Valley, and it was downhill...Great! Well...not as great as we hoped. It was so steep, I was a little scared. Our feet were a mess, and because of my wet sock, the skin started to come off in spots...so we needed a break. We went into the next village to stop for food. Youy can just knock on someones door and ask them for lunch....and we did. We had rice and potatoes with a bit of cabbage. My shoes dried in the sund and I wrapped my feet in toilet paper to protect them when I changed my socks. We made it to thew bottom, talking with Joseph, Masaii man, about his life and how they live. He could run those hiills that took us two days to climb up and own, and he has...amazing.
I am so happy we experienced that way of life, even if only for 2 days. What a gift.
I decided from home that I wanted to go into the Masaii land to see where some of the children come from...what an adventure. Pj and I, with Moshilla, our guide, walked 6 hours, uphill, into the Ngong hills. We ended day one on the top of the hill with a family to stay with for the night. No electricity, no water. Masaii women carrying jugs on their heads for hours to bring home. A cow being milked, straight into the cup for chai tea, and a mud hut with a fire pit in the middle to cook rice and beans. We slept in our sleeping bags on the dirt floor of a tin shack, beside the cow pen. It was like stepping back in time, and it was incredible. We rose to beautiful, dirty children singing for us becfore we departed on the next leg. We climbed straight up for almost 2 hours...exhausted, hit the top, and took a break. We were soaked, covered in mud, and trying to catch out breath...but the view from the top was amazing. These people do this on a regular basis, for food and water. We could not believe the distance between the people, and how far away everyone was from each other. We started to travel into the Rift Valley, and it was downhill...Great! Well...not as great as we hoped. It was so steep, I was a little scared. Our feet were a mess, and because of my wet sock, the skin started to come off in spots...so we needed a break. We went into the next village to stop for food. Youy can just knock on someones door and ask them for lunch....and we did. We had rice and potatoes with a bit of cabbage. My shoes dried in the sund and I wrapped my feet in toilet paper to protect them when I changed my socks. We made it to thew bottom, talking with Joseph, Masaii man, about his life and how they live. He could run those hiills that took us two days to climb up and own, and he has...amazing.
I am so happy we experienced that way of life, even if only for 2 days. What a gift.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Friend, to film maker, to family
This is the first time I have done one of my African projects with a friend, who happens to be here to film my story of the Sidai children...PJ was always interested to hear my tales of Africa, and always had great questions. When it was decided he would be the one to film the story, I was excited that I had someone I knew here. He has worked hard beside me, after filming what he needed, and he has supported me when I needed it the most...when I cried in the bathroom that I couldn't do enough, he was knocking to see if I was ok. When I was counting funds to see how far I could push the envelope, he had his hand on my shoulder, and when I when I woke the morning of my 39th Birthday, he was there to show me the footage he secretly took of the children singing Happy Birthday!!!!...he is my family now...stuck with me! LOL
We spent the morning on a tour of KIBERA SLUMS...800,00 people in the slums...one of the biggest in all of Africa. Incredible...what a contrast to sitting in a cyber cafe now, reading Bday wishes and letters of encouragement....
Tonight we will make a Canadian dinner for the family...no rice and beans tonight and we are excited.
We are happy, working hard, and learning alot...did you know that chickens are really particular about thier beds and have to be vaccinated by a vet, the funds go fast, but we are getting sooo much done.
Be proud of Kenya Help..you are the project!
Love you all!
We spent the morning on a tour of KIBERA SLUMS...800,00 people in the slums...one of the biggest in all of Africa. Incredible...what a contrast to sitting in a cyber cafe now, reading Bday wishes and letters of encouragement....
Tonight we will make a Canadian dinner for the family...no rice and beans tonight and we are excited.
We are happy, working hard, and learning alot...did you know that chickens are really particular about thier beds and have to be vaccinated by a vet, the funds go fast, but we are getting sooo much done.
Be proud of Kenya Help..you are the project!
Love you all!
So much more
Teachers to pay, cooks to pay, beds to be made as there are more and more kids....so mush more...
We toured another orphanage today...TUNZA...so beautiful. Paddy O'Connor and his team from Ireland built them a new place last year and the structure with the board, the social worker, the nurse...AMAZING....
A 4 week old baby was left there the other day. A little boy. I was holding him, and looking at him sleep in my arms...wondering about the mother. How desperate she must ahve been to drop him off. How her heart must have been broken. I fed him a bottle with his tiny black fingers wrapped around mine, wanting to bring him home...knowing one day I will...it may not be him...but one day I will taken the anguish from a mother and be one for her.
We toured another orphanage today...TUNZA...so beautiful. Paddy O'Connor and his team from Ireland built them a new place last year and the structure with the board, the social worker, the nurse...AMAZING....
A 4 week old baby was left there the other day. A little boy. I was holding him, and looking at him sleep in my arms...wondering about the mother. How desperate she must ahve been to drop him off. How her heart must have been broken. I fed him a bottle with his tiny black fingers wrapped around mine, wanting to bring him home...knowing one day I will...it may not be him...but one day I will taken the anguish from a mother and be one for her.
Frustration
It's so hard sometimes...there is so much to be done, everything takes so long as we do it all by hand, and there are so many more things to do...but I am out of funds, and out of time. If only I could stay longer to know that the kids are moved in...but the walls are still wet and they will get cholera..if only I could watch the first egg being collected, but the chickens will not be there until they move in, and that will be 2-4 weeks, and I will be gone. I can't see the first bean picked or corn eaten...because I won't be here...it hurts my heart. I am reminded by PJ everyday that I am working hard, and I should be so proud of myself...and I love him for that...but I hit a wall..and my heart hurts...I want to stay longer ro see the first of everything...but I can't. Alas, I have to stay positive...when I do come back...I can see it all up and running well...I know...and plans for 2011 are for the school, and that's so amazing...I just wish I could stay....
New Shoes
Today was our day off from the site, and a day to spend with the beautiful children of Sidai.
Saturday was a day of new shoes. I carried 2 large bags to Sidai full of Flip Flops for all of the children. It was fantastic. The were so happy to have "slippers" on their feet. I then took 4 boys to the market, John, and Michael, Wilson and Soloman...They all got new proper shoes for school...and so very proud they were. Thank you so much!
Saturday was a day of new shoes. I carried 2 large bags to Sidai full of Flip Flops for all of the children. It was fantastic. The were so happy to have "slippers" on their feet. I then took 4 boys to the market, John, and Michael, Wilson and Soloman...They all got new proper shoes for school...and so very proud they were. Thank you so much!
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