Kenya isn't in my thoughts every hour but certainly in my thoughts every day. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit such an amazing country and to get to know some of the absolutely amazing people. I must get back.
The gears are turning for my return to Nairobi next July. I have contacted the administrator of the Autism Unity at the Nairobi Primary School and she is agreeable to my return. I may stay a few days to a week longer to be able to do some additional training for the school. I will submit my deposit to Soulfari this week.
I now sleep well and without aids. I continue to be fascinated by the forebearance and creativity of my Kenyan friends. I am reminded daily of how fortunate I am. My blessings have been great...family, friends, health, profession, talents, comforts. As Christmas approaches I realize that I am really not grateful enough...whatever that means.
Andy said in his sermon this morning that we must attend to our need to give as much as to our recipient's need to receive. That need to give is what drives me. I must be careful, however, to give in the forms my recipient needs, not in the forms that I want to give. It gets dicey there, I think. My talents may lie in one area and the needs may be in another. This will require much thought and prayer.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Three weeks after coming home...
I have managed to get myself back to work and can, amazingly, find the words in real time to express some of what the experience has brought me. I am sleeping better and no longer have nightmares. My physical strength and energy are returning. Being back at work I can allow myself several hours a day to be consumed by the needs of disabled children right here in my home town and thus, am marginally less haunted by the little ones in Kenya. They remain dear to me, however, and I won't ever forget them. The idea of returning is not out of my mind.
I am almost daily touched my emails from Julius and his responses to being back here after a month in Kenya. What an amazing man Julius is! The depth, complexity, intelligence, and compassion have been seldom matched in people I have known. I try to comprehend what a challenge it must be to have come to the US (for the love of an equally amazing woman) and maintain such a strong link to his family and friends on another continent. I know that it would have been impossibly difficult for me at that age...and would remain so at this age. I know he must often feel like he is literally being stretched between the two countries/continents.
I am looking forward to a Kenyan style lunch with Sarah, Julius, Jen, Bri, and Josie today. As Bri notes in her blog, it will be good to talk at length with people who have had a similar experience. We certainly have not made the same interpretation of Kenya, Nairobi, Humara, and the Missionaries of Charity in part because we each took such different experiences into it but it will be interesting to compare notes. And to have to explain less.
I am almost daily touched my emails from Julius and his responses to being back here after a month in Kenya. What an amazing man Julius is! The depth, complexity, intelligence, and compassion have been seldom matched in people I have known. I try to comprehend what a challenge it must be to have come to the US (for the love of an equally amazing woman) and maintain such a strong link to his family and friends on another continent. I know that it would have been impossibly difficult for me at that age...and would remain so at this age. I know he must often feel like he is literally being stretched between the two countries/continents.
I am looking forward to a Kenyan style lunch with Sarah, Julius, Jen, Bri, and Josie today. As Bri notes in her blog, it will be good to talk at length with people who have had a similar experience. We certainly have not made the same interpretation of Kenya, Nairobi, Humara, and the Missionaries of Charity in part because we each took such different experiences into it but it will be interesting to compare notes. And to have to explain less.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
I've been home a week now
I don't have myself as much together as I had so smugly thought I would. Days are fine. I occupy myself with mundane tasks of life and they seem appropriately mundane. I have often said that my life is typically blissfully uneventful. At night, however, I seem to often have semi-nightmares that involve being cold, frightened, dependant, and alone. I am sometimes back in Kenya. It's interesting because I seldom, if ever, recall dreams. Hmmmmmmmm.
I pretty much avoid the news and found myself almost sneaking in and out of my office Tuesday when I went in to retrieve a forgotten item. I havn't fully developed my three sentence response to "How was Africa?" and I didn't really want anybody to ask that question quite yet. I have to prepare myself because I go back to work next Thursday.
"How was Africa?"
Let's see. Africa was beautiful, filthy, friendly, frightening, throbbing, charming, moving, disturbing, thrilling, loving, creative, slow, intelligent, forward looking, backward, exotic, comfortable, hot, occasionally boring, amazing, smelly, glorious, eager, simple, defensive, fast-moving, scenic, distastful, different, exquisite, industrious, dark, inconvenient, cold, brilliant, complex, familiar, the very face of God...........Hey, I can say all these things about the USA. And all the world. Now that I've said all that I am more confused than ever.
Somehow this reminds me of a talk I had with my counselor, Joan, in the months after my Thea died. In my grief I had complained that Thea was and was going to be everthing that I had always wanted to be. The counselor asked me what she was that I wanted to be. When I had listed out all of her wonderfulness Joan asked me to list them again. She then said, "Name just one of those things that you are not now already." I really couldn't think of any. It was at that point that I realized that I could not expect to live my life through my daughter and that I didn't need to. Thea's life was about her and my life was about me. Although we had shared a path for a while our paths had now diverged. I could not take her place on her path for her nor could I expect my daughter to somehow walk mine for me, even if she had lived. That realization helped me to refocus my life on making my life the best it could be rather than thinking that everything was about my almost adult children.
Perhaps it is so with Americans and Kenyans. Maybe we need to do what we need to do as Americans such as clean up our own air, and water, and garbage dumps. We need to help American families feed their children and get health care for them. Kenyans will have to do those things for Kenyans. Americans can not do what Kenyans must do for themselves. Certainly we can support them and share resources but we must be very careful not to think that we know what is best for Kenya and Kenyans.
I'm not thinking isolationism here. It is a principle that I will have to think more about in order to determine what I can do to put it into practice.
Why did I wait until I was 65 years old to allow this to happen to myself?
Damn! I still don't have that three sentence response worked out.
I pretty much avoid the news and found myself almost sneaking in and out of my office Tuesday when I went in to retrieve a forgotten item. I havn't fully developed my three sentence response to "How was Africa?" and I didn't really want anybody to ask that question quite yet. I have to prepare myself because I go back to work next Thursday.
"How was Africa?"
Let's see. Africa was beautiful, filthy, friendly, frightening, throbbing, charming, moving, disturbing, thrilling, loving, creative, slow, intelligent, forward looking, backward, exotic, comfortable, hot, occasionally boring, amazing, smelly, glorious, eager, simple, defensive, fast-moving, scenic, distastful, different, exquisite, industrious, dark, inconvenient, cold, brilliant, complex, familiar, the very face of God...........Hey, I can say all these things about the USA. And all the world. Now that I've said all that I am more confused than ever.
Somehow this reminds me of a talk I had with my counselor, Joan, in the months after my Thea died. In my grief I had complained that Thea was and was going to be everthing that I had always wanted to be. The counselor asked me what she was that I wanted to be. When I had listed out all of her wonderfulness Joan asked me to list them again. She then said, "Name just one of those things that you are not now already." I really couldn't think of any. It was at that point that I realized that I could not expect to live my life through my daughter and that I didn't need to. Thea's life was about her and my life was about me. Although we had shared a path for a while our paths had now diverged. I could not take her place on her path for her nor could I expect my daughter to somehow walk mine for me, even if she had lived. That realization helped me to refocus my life on making my life the best it could be rather than thinking that everything was about my almost adult children.
Perhaps it is so with Americans and Kenyans. Maybe we need to do what we need to do as Americans such as clean up our own air, and water, and garbage dumps. We need to help American families feed their children and get health care for them. Kenyans will have to do those things for Kenyans. Americans can not do what Kenyans must do for themselves. Certainly we can support them and share resources but we must be very careful not to think that we know what is best for Kenya and Kenyans.
I'm not thinking isolationism here. It is a principle that I will have to think more about in order to determine what I can do to put it into practice.
Why did I wait until I was 65 years old to allow this to happen to myself?
Damn! I still don't have that three sentence response worked out.
Monday, July 30, 2007
I promised to share something about our safari so here goes...
We left Sunday morning, July 22nd to fly to an airstrip somewhere near the David Livingston Lodge. May I add that "near" is a relative term. I have no idea where the airstrip is in relation to the lodge. It could be half a mile for all I know. We were taken on a three hour "game drive" on our way to the lodge. I am not complaining...just describing. But before I get into that I have to mention that at the air strip there were two interesting structures. One looked very much like a park shelter house and it had a sign indicating that it was the "Arrivals and Departure Lounge." Nearby was a shed with some bleached animal bones outside and a sign that said "Duty Free Shop." Oh, I forgot, there was a toilet.
We saw numerous animals that morning...zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, a couple of different kinds of antelope. One of the best decisions I made on this whole trip was to enjoy the moment and let others take the pictures.
The animals that we saw were absolutely amazing. Seeing them in the flesh and moving freely about is utterly unlike the movies, TV, or the zoo. I have to admit to being a tad disappointed because the migration from Tanzania had not yet started so we didn't see the huge herds of zebras that I had hoped for. They are still incredibly beautiful creatures. On the contrary, the wildebeest (the zebras' almost constant companions) are incredibly ugly.
We arrived at the lodge at straight up noon and had time to check into our rooms before lunch on the lawn at about 12:30. The food at Livingston is reputedly wonderful but I liked the soups and the breakfast omelets the best. Otherwise what we had at Kolping Guesthouse in Nairobi was better.
The lodge is located on a bend in the Mara River. You can sit in the outdoor bar and see (and hear) about 50 hippos in the river about 20 yards away. You definitely don't go down to pay them a visit, however. There is an electric fence and two crocodiles between the lodge and the river. I don't think I realized how noisy hippos are. You could hear them snorting and bellowing even when you went to bed at night. The bellow reminded me of an old man's very low pitched "Har har har" type laugh. As I sat on a bench watching the hippos a three foot monitor lizard appeared in the grass and several spider monkeys ran along the wall. A Masai in full regalia walks around the bar and dining room with a sling shot to keep the monkeys out of the people areas.
I shared a room with two other women...Jen, a delightful and beautiful project manager for Sprint out of Chicago and Jodi, an equally delightful and beautiful lawyer from Colorado. Both are at least 30 years my junior but they were very tolerant of me. Our room was tiny. There was room for the three twin beds with about ten inches between them and perhaps three feet at the foot. Shadrach was our assigned housekeeper and after the first night we had hot water bottles in our turned down beds when we got in. I found the shower to be fairly reliable but unfortunately, the toilet was not. Oh, well. You win some and lose some.
We went on an evening game drive from 3:30 until almost 7:00 on Sunday. Then we saw a mother cheetah and two cubs and 23 lions. The lions were in two groups not far apart so we assumed they were part of the same pride although that seems really
huge. Our driver, Teddy, had never seen so many that close together. As we were watching the second group of 16 when a large tusker (elephant) came strolling in from stage left, soon to be followed by another. We were spellbound.
Of course we saw more antelope (Thompson's, Grants, impala, kopi, and eland), zebras, giraffes, baboons, ostrich, and wildebeest on that afternoon. I cannot describe how awful the roads were. They made the road on which we returned from Lake Nakuru seem like a super highway. But more about that in Monday's episode.
Monday morning we went on another three hour game drive starting at 6:30 a.m. More lions and cheetahs as well as their prey (ho hum). I don't mean the ho hum part, of course.
When we set out on the Monday afternoon drive it looked a little threatening in the far distance. We asked the drivers if it was going to rain. They said no and we believed them. No reason not to. About 45 minutes into the drive it started to sprinkle and within minutes there was a deluge. Within a few more minutes the roads (such as they are) had turned to something slicker than any icy road I have ever experienced. Teddy (our very competent driver) tried driving on the grass when he could but sometimes the boulders were just too big. We got stuck in a nasty mud hole and were dragged out by a passing Land Cruiser (painted with zebra stripes, by the way). We went a little further and got stuck again. I should say here that we were in a rear wheel drive Nissan van while our companions were in a 4 X 4 Toyota van. They pulled us out and we made it back to the lodge three hours later still at the end of their tow rope. Some people in other vans were still out there at 11 p.m. I wasn't sure if it was an adventure or an ordeal. We decided that if nobody was hurt it must have been an adventure.
We cancelled the Tuesday morning game drive.
Mid-morning Tuesday I started feeling a little unwell so I headed back to our room and slept for three hours. Only two of our number chose to go on the afternoon game drive...my intrepid friends from Joplin, Jim and Brenda.
Wednesday morning we set off after breakfast for another game drive on our way back to the airport. It was on this trip that we saw a herd of nine elephants and spied a black rhino through the binoculars Betty had sent with me. Teddy had spotted the rhino from about a mile away and asked for the binoculars. He dragged my backpack out of the back of the van and I dug them out. He was quite excited to see the rhino and we "sped" off (probably 10 mph instead of our usual 5) to get a closer look. Unfortunately we couldn't find it.
Somewhere along the way we stopped at a Masai village and were allowed to visit a home inside for $20 each. Pretty interesting.
Finally back at the Arrivals and Departures Lounge, we ate the huge box lunches that had been sent from the lodge. Then we visited the Duty Free Shop. My plastic water bottle from Walmart was traded for a necklace for Jen and somebody else traded one of my bandannas for earrings, I think. Brenda brought back a handful of stuff in exchange for her $18 watch and a baseball cap. I traded a pair of beaded flip flops that I had bought at a market in Nairobi (and which hurt my feet to wear) for a carved statue of a Masai family and a small beaded basket. I gave Teddy the binoculars. I don't think I have ever given anyone a gift who was more appreciative.
When we got back to Kolping Guesthouse in Nairobi Helen and Gordon had prepared a wonderful feast for us. The tables were set on the lawn and there were streamers and balloons. Our Kenyan friends, Nelson, Kym, Kwami, Obayou (Emmanuel), Gloria, and Marcus were there to eat with us and then accompany us to the airport. Saying farewell to Kenya was really, really difficult. God willing, I will get back there somehow.
I am glad to be back home.
We saw numerous animals that morning...zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, a couple of different kinds of antelope. One of the best decisions I made on this whole trip was to enjoy the moment and let others take the pictures.
The animals that we saw were absolutely amazing. Seeing them in the flesh and moving freely about is utterly unlike the movies, TV, or the zoo. I have to admit to being a tad disappointed because the migration from Tanzania had not yet started so we didn't see the huge herds of zebras that I had hoped for. They are still incredibly beautiful creatures. On the contrary, the wildebeest (the zebras' almost constant companions) are incredibly ugly.
We arrived at the lodge at straight up noon and had time to check into our rooms before lunch on the lawn at about 12:30. The food at Livingston is reputedly wonderful but I liked the soups and the breakfast omelets the best. Otherwise what we had at Kolping Guesthouse in Nairobi was better.
The lodge is located on a bend in the Mara River. You can sit in the outdoor bar and see (and hear) about 50 hippos in the river about 20 yards away. You definitely don't go down to pay them a visit, however. There is an electric fence and two crocodiles between the lodge and the river. I don't think I realized how noisy hippos are. You could hear them snorting and bellowing even when you went to bed at night. The bellow reminded me of an old man's very low pitched "Har har har" type laugh. As I sat on a bench watching the hippos a three foot monitor lizard appeared in the grass and several spider monkeys ran along the wall. A Masai in full regalia walks around the bar and dining room with a sling shot to keep the monkeys out of the people areas.I shared a room with two other women...Jen, a delightful and beautiful project manager for Sprint out of Chicago and Jodi, an equally delightful and beautiful lawyer from Colorado. Both are at least 30 years my junior but they were very tolerant of me. Our room was tiny. There was room for the three twin beds with about ten inches between them and perhaps three feet at the foot. Shadrach was our assigned housekeeper and after the first night we had hot water bottles in our turned down beds when we got in. I found the shower to be fairly reliable but unfortunately, the toilet was not. Oh, well. You win some and lose some.
We went on an evening game drive from 3:30 until almost 7:00 on Sunday. Then we saw a mother cheetah and two cubs and 23 lions. The lions were in two groups not far apart so we assumed they were part of the same pride although that seems really
huge. Our driver, Teddy, had never seen so many that close together. As we were watching the second group of 16 when a large tusker (elephant) came strolling in from stage left, soon to be followed by another. We were spellbound. Of course we saw more antelope (Thompson's, Grants, impala, kopi, and eland), zebras, giraffes, baboons, ostrich, and wildebeest on that afternoon. I cannot describe how awful the roads were. They made the road on which we returned from Lake Nakuru seem like a super highway. But more about that in Monday's episode.
Monday morning we went on another three hour game drive starting at 6:30 a.m. More lions and cheetahs as well as their prey (ho hum). I don't mean the ho hum part, of course.
When we set out on the Monday afternoon drive it looked a little threatening in the far distance. We asked the drivers if it was going to rain. They said no and we believed them. No reason not to. About 45 minutes into the drive it started to sprinkle and within minutes there was a deluge. Within a few more minutes the roads (such as they are) had turned to something slicker than any icy road I have ever experienced. Teddy (our very competent driver) tried driving on the grass when he could but sometimes the boulders were just too big. We got stuck in a nasty mud hole and were dragged out by a passing Land Cruiser (painted with zebra stripes, by the way). We went a little further and got stuck again. I should say here that we were in a rear wheel drive Nissan van while our companions were in a 4 X 4 Toyota van. They pulled us out and we made it back to the lodge three hours later still at the end of their tow rope. Some people in other vans were still out there at 11 p.m. I wasn't sure if it was an adventure or an ordeal. We decided that if nobody was hurt it must have been an adventure.
We cancelled the Tuesday morning game drive.
Mid-morning Tuesday I started feeling a little unwell so I headed back to our room and slept for three hours. Only two of our number chose to go on the afternoon game drive...my intrepid friends from Joplin, Jim and Brenda.
Wednesday morning we set off after breakfast for another game drive on our way back to the airport. It was on this trip that we saw a herd of nine elephants and spied a black rhino through the binoculars Betty had sent with me. Teddy had spotted the rhino from about a mile away and asked for the binoculars. He dragged my backpack out of the back of the van and I dug them out. He was quite excited to see the rhino and we "sped" off (probably 10 mph instead of our usual 5) to get a closer look. Unfortunately we couldn't find it.
Somewhere along the way we stopped at a Masai village and were allowed to visit a home inside for $20 each. Pretty interesting.
Finally back at the Arrivals and Departures Lounge, we ate the huge box lunches that had been sent from the lodge. Then we visited the Duty Free Shop. My plastic water bottle from Walmart was traded for a necklace for Jen and somebody else traded one of my bandannas for earrings, I think. Brenda brought back a handful of stuff in exchange for her $18 watch and a baseball cap. I traded a pair of beaded flip flops that I had bought at a market in Nairobi (and which hurt my feet to wear) for a carved statue of a Masai family and a small beaded basket. I gave Teddy the binoculars. I don't think I have ever given anyone a gift who was more appreciative.
When we got back to Kolping Guesthouse in Nairobi Helen and Gordon had prepared a wonderful feast for us. The tables were set on the lawn and there were streamers and balloons. Our Kenyan friends, Nelson, Kym, Kwami, Obayou (Emmanuel), Gloria, and Marcus were there to eat with us and then accompany us to the airport. Saying farewell to Kenya was really, really difficult. God willing, I will get back there somehow.
I am glad to be back home.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Having had a few hours to reflect....
I am still overwhelmed.
I feel as if I should somehow be able to reflect on all my experiences of the past weeks and come up with something profound to make of it all. But I am unable to do that as of this moment. Stay tuned.
I've slept, had a long hot shower, been able to use a dryer on my hair, and put on makeup. I'm not sure I feel a lot different but I certainly look and smell different. Some things I promise never to take for granted again are: hot showers, hair dryers, and toilets that reliably swoosh away all the waste with one flush. Actually, having grown up with an outhouse rather than a flush toilet, I couldn't have imagined that it would make such a difference to me. Of course, these things don't register at all, really, compared to how I have taken for granted such gifts as adequate food, clean water, reasonably clean air (at least here in Missouri), sufficient heat, a bed, and garbage-free streets.
This afternoon I ventured out into the world to have a pedicure and have my nails done, to buy photo paper, and do a bit of grocery shopping. How spoiled I am!!!
With Kathryn being away at a conference until day after tomorrow and Reed in Springfield or on the road somewhere I have the whole house to myself. Honestly, as much as I enjoyed my travel companions, it is a luxury to be able to retreat into my basement apartment and not have to talk with anybody. I suspect that many, if not all, of my fellow travellers feel the same. I have unpacked, done two loads of laundry, and laid out all the stuff I bought. I haven't even completely sorted the mail. I've listened to NPR while I was in the car but haven't even been tempted to turn on the TV.
I promise that within three days I will put a description of our safari to the Masai Mara on this site. It was incredible! I'm tempted to say "Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!" but there were neither tigers nor bears. But plenty of lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and definitely zebras.
By the way, I have re-read my previous entries and am amazed at the number of spelling and grammatical errors. I was never the best speller but Spell Checker has ruined me...that and slow computers with sticky keyboards at the cyber cafe in Nairobi. Hey...I gotta blame something or somebody. It's the American way.
I feel as if I should somehow be able to reflect on all my experiences of the past weeks and come up with something profound to make of it all. But I am unable to do that as of this moment. Stay tuned.
I've slept, had a long hot shower, been able to use a dryer on my hair, and put on makeup. I'm not sure I feel a lot different but I certainly look and smell different. Some things I promise never to take for granted again are: hot showers, hair dryers, and toilets that reliably swoosh away all the waste with one flush. Actually, having grown up with an outhouse rather than a flush toilet, I couldn't have imagined that it would make such a difference to me. Of course, these things don't register at all, really, compared to how I have taken for granted such gifts as adequate food, clean water, reasonably clean air (at least here in Missouri), sufficient heat, a bed, and garbage-free streets.
This afternoon I ventured out into the world to have a pedicure and have my nails done, to buy photo paper, and do a bit of grocery shopping. How spoiled I am!!!
With Kathryn being away at a conference until day after tomorrow and Reed in Springfield or on the road somewhere I have the whole house to myself. Honestly, as much as I enjoyed my travel companions, it is a luxury to be able to retreat into my basement apartment and not have to talk with anybody. I suspect that many, if not all, of my fellow travellers feel the same. I have unpacked, done two loads of laundry, and laid out all the stuff I bought. I haven't even completely sorted the mail. I've listened to NPR while I was in the car but haven't even been tempted to turn on the TV.
I promise that within three days I will put a description of our safari to the Masai Mara on this site. It was incredible! I'm tempted to say "Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!" but there were neither tigers nor bears. But plenty of lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and definitely zebras.
By the way, I have re-read my previous entries and am amazed at the number of spelling and grammatical errors. I was never the best speller but Spell Checker has ruined me...that and slow computers with sticky keyboards at the cyber cafe in Nairobi. Hey...I gotta blame something or somebody. It's the American way.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Back in Kansas City
I arrived back in KC about 5:30 today. The culture shock will be huge. I'm sure it will take a while to adjust. Something inside me doesn't want to re-adjust entirely. Soulfari is intended to be a transforming experience and it has certainly been so for me.
I'll be more able to process the last few weeks after I have slept. It is about 9:00 p.m. and I think I will go to bed and sleep for about 12 hours, if I'm lucky.
I'll be more able to process the last few weeks after I have slept. It is about 9:00 p.m. and I think I will go to bed and sleep for about 12 hours, if I'm lucky.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Saturday, our last full day in Nairobi
No, Andy, I'm not filled yet. Sometimes my eyes glaze over and I think I can't take any more and then something else happens.
Yesterday was our leavetaking at Huruma. I spent most of the day in the infant room and with the "old dears" as fellow traveler Jim Jackson calls them. I went by and blessed my tiny boy in the handicapped room and said goodbye to Thomas, Baba, Columbo, and Collins.
After lunch all the children from the primary school gathered in the school courtyard and a group of African dancers and drummers from a Dandora parish came and demonstrated their remarkable skills. Again I am at a loss for words. I simply cannot believe what these young people can do with their bodies. Of course, they had some of us join for some of the dancing and I showed them a few of my best moves. :-)
This morning we walked to Kibera, a huge slum about 15 minutes walk from our guesthouse. There we joined several soccer teams of local youth to clean sewers. Yes, I said clean sewers. Honestly, an old woman like me wasn't much help but these young Kenyans worked very hard to get the debris out of the ditches where it backs up and overflows into the streets. They put the solid trash and garbage (it appeared to be mostly plastic and corncobs), bagged it up and trucks came to take it to the dump at Dandora. Julius and a group with him decided to leave the project early because he couldn't see taking trash from one slum and depositing it in another. The dump at Dandora is the only one authorized by the ciy, however. It is a very difficult issue.
Tomorrow we are up at our usual time to go to the airport to the Masai Mara on safari. I may or may not write again until I get home. We hope to rest and reflect and ease ourselves back into the American life. Another difficult issue.
I will be home Thursday evening.
Yesterday was our leavetaking at Huruma. I spent most of the day in the infant room and with the "old dears" as fellow traveler Jim Jackson calls them. I went by and blessed my tiny boy in the handicapped room and said goodbye to Thomas, Baba, Columbo, and Collins.
After lunch all the children from the primary school gathered in the school courtyard and a group of African dancers and drummers from a Dandora parish came and demonstrated their remarkable skills. Again I am at a loss for words. I simply cannot believe what these young people can do with their bodies. Of course, they had some of us join for some of the dancing and I showed them a few of my best moves. :-)
This morning we walked to Kibera, a huge slum about 15 minutes walk from our guesthouse. There we joined several soccer teams of local youth to clean sewers. Yes, I said clean sewers. Honestly, an old woman like me wasn't much help but these young Kenyans worked very hard to get the debris out of the ditches where it backs up and overflows into the streets. They put the solid trash and garbage (it appeared to be mostly plastic and corncobs), bagged it up and trucks came to take it to the dump at Dandora. Julius and a group with him decided to leave the project early because he couldn't see taking trash from one slum and depositing it in another. The dump at Dandora is the only one authorized by the ciy, however. It is a very difficult issue.
Tomorrow we are up at our usual time to go to the airport to the Masai Mara on safari. I may or may not write again until I get home. We hope to rest and reflect and ease ourselves back into the American life. Another difficult issue.
I will be home Thursday evening.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
My Second Thursday in Nairobi
My amazement continues.
Let's see...Monday I went to the Autism Unit at theNairobi Primary School along with Sarah, a young woman in our group who is a special education teacher from Houston. We sort of surprised them so we were only able to do a quick tour and then wait to see the Head Mistress. She was unable to meet with us before we had to go back to the orphanage but we were invited to return the following day. Sarah chose not to return but I did.
I have spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and today, Thursday, at the Autism Unit (AU). These workers are as amazing as those who work at the Missionaries of Charity. The AU is in one wing of a public primary school. Conditions there are primitive there also and the classrooms quite bare. Remember it is Kenyan winter and about 60 degrees, I think. There is no heat in the classrooms nor is there artificial light. There are about 40 children with all degrees of autism and perhaps 15 workers. I think there are five classrooms. A couple of the teachers have some special education training but I believe most don't. I don't know the level of training of the teaching assistants. But they are doing a super job.
Angela is the business administrator and Grace is the lead teacher. They both astound me as do the other teachers. Everyone is eager to learn whatever I can teach them. I have done some demonstration teaching with individual children and the teachers and aides hover around watching closely. I must strongly encourage them to get them to ask questions but when they do their questions are relevant and observant.
I am already thinking about how I might come back again and do a little more teaching and consultation. I have never encountered a group of people who absorb what I try to teach so eagerly.
One slight problem we have encountered is that I speak rapid colloquial (did I spell that right?) American English in a fairly loud voice and they speak rapid formal strongly accented British English in very soft voices. I explain that I am old and deaf and they try hard to slow down and speak up for my benefit. I think they are too polite to ask me to repeat myself. I only hope they understand.
I gave each teacher a special item of teaching material that I had demonstrated for them. Those of you who gave money can take the credit for the suitcase full of materials I gave to them. I chose to give almost everything I brought to the AU because they started using them immediately and will continue to do so. If we gave something so simple as rattles made of plastic pop bottles and beads to the children at the orphanage when we got back the next day they had been put away. Oh, well.
As I prepared to leave today Grace and Angela took me into Angela's small office and presented me with a necklace, bracelet, and ankle bracelet that had been made by the teenage children in their workshop. To say I was overwhelmed is an gross understatement. These people have given me the blessing of working with them and sharing their children with me AND they give me presents. Who can explain such generosity of spirit?
We also took a bunch of the stuff you bought to Villa Teag yesterday. Villa Teag is an orphanage for 50 children and school that the brother of Julius Were, our team leader, helped establish. It is in the Dandora slum which appears to be marginally less populous and deprived than Humara. The children sang and chanted for us. Each child was given either a toy car (sent along with me by Aiden Adair, who is my sweet "adopted grandson" from Smithville), a ball, or a jump rope and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Those who had been there last year were given a portrait composed by a Missouri or Kansas artist from a photo taken last year.
Some children come to the school at Villa Teag from the surrounding homes. Villa Teag feeds 120 children a noontime meal which is cooked in two huge vats. They have two dishes each day. I will share pictures when I get home. They vary the meal according to the day of the week to keep the diet as balanced as possible. I cannot put into words the creativity and dedication of these people.
We then took a walking tour of Dandora. A charming young man (21 years...looks 12) named Joseph attached himself to my elbow. He is a friend of Emmanuel who had asked him and another young man to accompany us around. We were 8 muzurus (white tourists), one African American, and six young Kenyan men riding herd. Julius and Emmanuel took us to the building where they grew up. We went to the roof of the four story building and looked out over the Nairobi dump which starts no further than 20 yards away. It stretches one mile wide and about five miles long. Pigs, goats, giant ugly Maribou storks, and human scavengers pick over the garbage. The stench is incredible. How hard is the heart of she who would not weep at this sight!
Joseph, on the other hand, is cheerful and says he is quite comfortable. He says he wants out but all he can do is "be comfortable, pray God, and work hard." Unemployment is high and he has no job but he volunteers at Villa Teag. He admired my bright gold University of Missouri t-shirt. He rode back to the guesthouse with us and ate dinner with us...probably his best if not only meal of the day. He had a hundred questions about life in the US. When we got back I went to my room, put on another shirt and today there is probably a delightful young Kenyan man walking around Dandora in an MU t-shirt. God Bless him.
More on Saturday, perhaps.
Let's see...Monday I went to the Autism Unit at theNairobi Primary School along with Sarah, a young woman in our group who is a special education teacher from Houston. We sort of surprised them so we were only able to do a quick tour and then wait to see the Head Mistress. She was unable to meet with us before we had to go back to the orphanage but we were invited to return the following day. Sarah chose not to return but I did.
I have spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and today, Thursday, at the Autism Unit (AU). These workers are as amazing as those who work at the Missionaries of Charity. The AU is in one wing of a public primary school. Conditions there are primitive there also and the classrooms quite bare. Remember it is Kenyan winter and about 60 degrees, I think. There is no heat in the classrooms nor is there artificial light. There are about 40 children with all degrees of autism and perhaps 15 workers. I think there are five classrooms. A couple of the teachers have some special education training but I believe most don't. I don't know the level of training of the teaching assistants. But they are doing a super job.
Angela is the business administrator and Grace is the lead teacher. They both astound me as do the other teachers. Everyone is eager to learn whatever I can teach them. I have done some demonstration teaching with individual children and the teachers and aides hover around watching closely. I must strongly encourage them to get them to ask questions but when they do their questions are relevant and observant.
I am already thinking about how I might come back again and do a little more teaching and consultation. I have never encountered a group of people who absorb what I try to teach so eagerly.
One slight problem we have encountered is that I speak rapid colloquial (did I spell that right?) American English in a fairly loud voice and they speak rapid formal strongly accented British English in very soft voices. I explain that I am old and deaf and they try hard to slow down and speak up for my benefit. I think they are too polite to ask me to repeat myself. I only hope they understand.
I gave each teacher a special item of teaching material that I had demonstrated for them. Those of you who gave money can take the credit for the suitcase full of materials I gave to them. I chose to give almost everything I brought to the AU because they started using them immediately and will continue to do so. If we gave something so simple as rattles made of plastic pop bottles and beads to the children at the orphanage when we got back the next day they had been put away. Oh, well.
As I prepared to leave today Grace and Angela took me into Angela's small office and presented me with a necklace, bracelet, and ankle bracelet that had been made by the teenage children in their workshop. To say I was overwhelmed is an gross understatement. These people have given me the blessing of working with them and sharing their children with me AND they give me presents. Who can explain such generosity of spirit?
We also took a bunch of the stuff you bought to Villa Teag yesterday. Villa Teag is an orphanage for 50 children and school that the brother of Julius Were, our team leader, helped establish. It is in the Dandora slum which appears to be marginally less populous and deprived than Humara. The children sang and chanted for us. Each child was given either a toy car (sent along with me by Aiden Adair, who is my sweet "adopted grandson" from Smithville), a ball, or a jump rope and a toothbrush and toothpaste. Those who had been there last year were given a portrait composed by a Missouri or Kansas artist from a photo taken last year.
Some children come to the school at Villa Teag from the surrounding homes. Villa Teag feeds 120 children a noontime meal which is cooked in two huge vats. They have two dishes each day. I will share pictures when I get home. They vary the meal according to the day of the week to keep the diet as balanced as possible. I cannot put into words the creativity and dedication of these people.
We then took a walking tour of Dandora. A charming young man (21 years...looks 12) named Joseph attached himself to my elbow. He is a friend of Emmanuel who had asked him and another young man to accompany us around. We were 8 muzurus (white tourists), one African American, and six young Kenyan men riding herd. Julius and Emmanuel took us to the building where they grew up. We went to the roof of the four story building and looked out over the Nairobi dump which starts no further than 20 yards away. It stretches one mile wide and about five miles long. Pigs, goats, giant ugly Maribou storks, and human scavengers pick over the garbage. The stench is incredible. How hard is the heart of she who would not weep at this sight!
Joseph, on the other hand, is cheerful and says he is quite comfortable. He says he wants out but all he can do is "be comfortable, pray God, and work hard." Unemployment is high and he has no job but he volunteers at Villa Teag. He admired my bright gold University of Missouri t-shirt. He rode back to the guesthouse with us and ate dinner with us...probably his best if not only meal of the day. He had a hundred questions about life in the US. When we got back I went to my room, put on another shirt and today there is probably a delightful young Kenyan man walking around Dandora in an MU t-shirt. God Bless him.
More on Saturday, perhaps.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Recollections of a Powerful and Interesting Weekend
,,,,.....!!!!!?? Put these in where they belong because I'm not even going to proof read.
Saturday we went to an elephant orphanage where they take baby elephants found abandoned for one reason or another in the wild and raise them to about two years of age when they take them out and gradually re-introduce them to a wild herd. Keepers sleep with the babies (a different one each night so that the babies don't pine for a particular one when he has to be gone), keep them covered with blankets, and feed them often from bottles of special formula. This group has been successful in introducing 38 orphans into adoptive families of wild elephants and have 46 that they are currently working with. Some have taken as long as 9 1/2 years and others as little as two years to reintegrate.
From there we went to a giraffe center where we hand fed some giraffes. They are breeding the endangered Rothchild's or White Stockings giraffe. Those tongues are unbelievably long when viewed from close up. And sticky!!!
We went to a sort of suburban shopping center for lunch. Our leaders had thought that there was a street market that day but it had been on Friday. This place, called the Village Market was not dissimilar to an American mall. Except for buying a Tusker beer ball cap for Reed and flowers for our evening's hostess I found it a waste of time.
Saturday evening we went to the apartment of a woman named Gloria who is a friend of Julius. She and two friends had prepared a Kenyan dinner for us. I'm afraid to check my blood sugar. The dinner included a bit of stewed meat, rice, two kinds of potatoes, and two kinds of bread. There was delightful conversation. I spent most of the evening chatting with Nelson, one of Julius's friends from his early 20s. He conducts adventure/outdoor activities for both corporate teams and youth groups. Somewhere in the back of my mind is a combination trip for a few of the kids from our church in which they would spend some time at the orphanage and some time outdoors with Nelson and his brother, Kym.
Yesterday was probably the most amazing day of my life, so far. We left early to drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. To get there we had to go over a high pass (about 8,500 feet) where we could look over into the Great Rift Valley. It was enshrouded in fog so we couldn't see very well. As we drove along there were people walking along with steel milk cans that looked like they would probably hold about two gallons of milk. I assume they were taking them to market somewhere. There were goats, sheep, cows, and donkeys along the highway. Some were tended by children who looked no older the four or five. Some appeared to be untended. So did the children.
The last hour of the 3 hour trip was over the worst road I have ever been on in my entire life. Our leaders had suggested that I sit in the front seat with the driver of the van. I think it was a concession to my advanced age and bad back. As you will note later, that had it's advantages and disadvantages. But the trip there was worth it when I saw my first zebras along side of the road!!! And a short while later we saw several baboons.
We arrived at the park and the top of the van was lifted so the others could stand and look out. I was content sitting. Joseph, our amazing driver, had the eyes of a hawk and could spot animals that were miles away. Among others, we saw giraffe, zebra, water buck, Thompson's gazelle, white rhino, cape buffalo, and a dung beetle. And did I say 10,000 flamingos? Our driver said there are 3.4 million on Lake Nakuru. As I sat overlooking the valley with the acacia trees with a browsing giraffe, a herd of zebra, several rhino and buffalo and the lake tinged pink with flamingos I couldn't help but wish that my father, who had such an appreciation for nature, could have seen this. But, as one of my fellow travelers reminded me, I guess he can.
Our lunch was at the Lion Hill Lodge in the park. It was an excellent buffet but it was the only time we have been among the majority white people. It seemed like something out of Ernest Hemingway or something. I didn't like it much.
The trip back was harrowing, to say the least. Joseph drove like the proverbial bat out of hell. The dirt road would (sometimes)accommodate three lanes of traffic. There were times when Joseph would pull out to pass a bus or a large truck which was passing a car or another large truck. Coming toward us might be another bus or large truck that was passing two other vehicles. I was terrified. And I felt marginally fortunate to be at the front of the van because those in the back were being tossed about like BBs. The road was incredibly dusty and I tied a bandanna around my face like Jesse James to be able to breathe. We eventually hit smoother road but we were battered and bruised by then.
I don't know how to tell about the next part. I will try. There had been many police stops along the way (Julius said it is just a way to get bribes) and as we approached Nairobi there was a big slow down and, thinking it was another police blockade, I asked Joseph why there were so many of these slow downs this afternoon. He pointed slightly ahead and to my left (remember the driver sits on the right and the passenger on the left) and before I could look away I saw the horribly mangled body of a man who had apparently had been struck by a truck or a bus. I will never be able to forget it. This is Africa...incredible beauty, high adventure, and death at every hand.
I will share my today's experiences at the autism unit of the Nairobi Primary School tomorrow.
Saturday we went to an elephant orphanage where they take baby elephants found abandoned for one reason or another in the wild and raise them to about two years of age when they take them out and gradually re-introduce them to a wild herd. Keepers sleep with the babies (a different one each night so that the babies don't pine for a particular one when he has to be gone), keep them covered with blankets, and feed them often from bottles of special formula. This group has been successful in introducing 38 orphans into adoptive families of wild elephants and have 46 that they are currently working with. Some have taken as long as 9 1/2 years and others as little as two years to reintegrate.
From there we went to a giraffe center where we hand fed some giraffes. They are breeding the endangered Rothchild's or White Stockings giraffe. Those tongues are unbelievably long when viewed from close up. And sticky!!!
We went to a sort of suburban shopping center for lunch. Our leaders had thought that there was a street market that day but it had been on Friday. This place, called the Village Market was not dissimilar to an American mall. Except for buying a Tusker beer ball cap for Reed and flowers for our evening's hostess I found it a waste of time.
Saturday evening we went to the apartment of a woman named Gloria who is a friend of Julius. She and two friends had prepared a Kenyan dinner for us. I'm afraid to check my blood sugar. The dinner included a bit of stewed meat, rice, two kinds of potatoes, and two kinds of bread. There was delightful conversation. I spent most of the evening chatting with Nelson, one of Julius's friends from his early 20s. He conducts adventure/outdoor activities for both corporate teams and youth groups. Somewhere in the back of my mind is a combination trip for a few of the kids from our church in which they would spend some time at the orphanage and some time outdoors with Nelson and his brother, Kym.
Yesterday was probably the most amazing day of my life, so far. We left early to drive to Lake Nakuru National Park. To get there we had to go over a high pass (about 8,500 feet) where we could look over into the Great Rift Valley. It was enshrouded in fog so we couldn't see very well. As we drove along there were people walking along with steel milk cans that looked like they would probably hold about two gallons of milk. I assume they were taking them to market somewhere. There were goats, sheep, cows, and donkeys along the highway. Some were tended by children who looked no older the four or five. Some appeared to be untended. So did the children.
The last hour of the 3 hour trip was over the worst road I have ever been on in my entire life. Our leaders had suggested that I sit in the front seat with the driver of the van. I think it was a concession to my advanced age and bad back. As you will note later, that had it's advantages and disadvantages. But the trip there was worth it when I saw my first zebras along side of the road!!! And a short while later we saw several baboons.
We arrived at the park and the top of the van was lifted so the others could stand and look out. I was content sitting. Joseph, our amazing driver, had the eyes of a hawk and could spot animals that were miles away. Among others, we saw giraffe, zebra, water buck, Thompson's gazelle, white rhino, cape buffalo, and a dung beetle. And did I say 10,000 flamingos? Our driver said there are 3.4 million on Lake Nakuru. As I sat overlooking the valley with the acacia trees with a browsing giraffe, a herd of zebra, several rhino and buffalo and the lake tinged pink with flamingos I couldn't help but wish that my father, who had such an appreciation for nature, could have seen this. But, as one of my fellow travelers reminded me, I guess he can.
Our lunch was at the Lion Hill Lodge in the park. It was an excellent buffet but it was the only time we have been among the majority white people. It seemed like something out of Ernest Hemingway or something. I didn't like it much.
The trip back was harrowing, to say the least. Joseph drove like the proverbial bat out of hell. The dirt road would (sometimes)accommodate three lanes of traffic. There were times when Joseph would pull out to pass a bus or a large truck which was passing a car or another large truck. Coming toward us might be another bus or large truck that was passing two other vehicles. I was terrified. And I felt marginally fortunate to be at the front of the van because those in the back were being tossed about like BBs. The road was incredibly dusty and I tied a bandanna around my face like Jesse James to be able to breathe. We eventually hit smoother road but we were battered and bruised by then.
I don't know how to tell about the next part. I will try. There had been many police stops along the way (Julius said it is just a way to get bribes) and as we approached Nairobi there was a big slow down and, thinking it was another police blockade, I asked Joseph why there were so many of these slow downs this afternoon. He pointed slightly ahead and to my left (remember the driver sits on the right and the passenger on the left) and before I could look away I saw the horribly mangled body of a man who had apparently had been struck by a truck or a bus. I will never be able to forget it. This is Africa...incredible beauty, high adventure, and death at every hand.
I will share my today's experiences at the autism unit of the Nairobi Primary School tomorrow.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Friday in Nairobi
I spent very ittle time in the handicapped room yesterday, partly out of self protection and partly becasue I felt I could do more good elsewhere. I did go in to check on my little Madani, whom the sister says is 6 or 7 years old. He may weigh 15 pounds.
I started with a level 3 math class that was learning fractions. The teacher asked me to teach nd I panicked and said, No, I will watch and teach next week." At the end of the lesson the teacher let the children ask me questions and they all applauded when I got the answer right.
Julius has arranged a private room near the handicapped room for me to do some individual work with a couple of the more capable children. I worked individually with Thomas and Colin trying to familiarize them with the letters of their names. Colin is so physically disabled that he has trouble even pointing with much pecision but he appears bright. I will work with them again on Tuesday. Monday I go to the Autism Society. I have no idea what I wil do there.
I took two two year olds, one at a time, out onto the steps outside their room to do some individual work with them. You cannot do it in their cLassroom because when you get onto the floor with one there will literally be three more climbing on your back. It was recess time for the older children and several of them gathered around while I had the little guy sort poker chips into black plastic frozen dinner containers with a similar colored disc velcroed inside. Both boys I worked with caught on quickly and seem shyly proud when I prasied them and tickled their tummies.
I even skipped feeding in the handicapped room and took some Oriental Trading Company type foam crosses with decorations for the women to do. These are similar to some of the things we do in the Upper Room class at FUMCNKC. Only two of the dozen who gathered around were capable of doing it themselves without a great deal of help. For some it seems a physical and others appeared to have a sort of learned helplessness. They were as thrilled with the crosses as with the scarves yesterday.
Two new babies had been brought into the baby room overnight. One was less than a week old, maybe a newborn. The other was a very small and thin boy of about 5 months. Two of the women are unable to pull themselves away from the babies. In fact, an appointment has been made with an adoption lawyer to explore what the possabilities are. I have realized that I am the only one of this whole group that has children. Most of the women are in their early to mid 30's and must hear the biological clock ticking.
In the aftenoon we with to Amani Ya Juh (I hope that is the correct spelling. It sounds like Amani Yazoo and means Peace from Above.) It is a collective of women from different countries who make a wide variety of crafts, mostly fiber art. They have fixed prices and high quality items. I didn't even worry about the shillings to dollar conversion rate and loaded down two bags. Hey, I"m leaving most of my clothes and all other stuff I brought and I have to bring something home in those giant suitcases. After we had shopped they brought us a huge teakettle of rich, spicy Chai-type tea. It was delicious.
Last night for dinner instead of eating at the guesthouse we walked about 15 minutes to an Ethiopian resturant. Food was brought on two foot in diameter trays lined with a spongey bread like stuff with dollops of different foods...lentils, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and some other things that I could not identify. There was a small brazier of goat meat which was, to my surprise, quite tasty. I did set aside the little riblets, however. It was just too much of a reminder of the actual animal, partiuclarly since there were several carcasses and parts thereof hanging nearby. We tore off pieces of the spongy bread and dipped up bites of food. It was delicious. They bring a samovar to wash your hands before and after.
We have decided that instead of spending all the donated money you guys gave on school supplies we will buy some food in bulk, divide it into smaller packets and give one to each of the children from the Haruma neighborhood who come to the primary school operated by the Sisters. We will also give a packet to each of the workers who come from the neighborhood to work with the kids. I may have mentioned this before but forgive me. These women are paid a tiny wage and are given one dress a year.
I must go now. We will go to the Elephant Orphanage and giraffe center and then to a big market where we will experience bargainig with the people there.
I started with a level 3 math class that was learning fractions. The teacher asked me to teach nd I panicked and said, No, I will watch and teach next week." At the end of the lesson the teacher let the children ask me questions and they all applauded when I got the answer right.
Julius has arranged a private room near the handicapped room for me to do some individual work with a couple of the more capable children. I worked individually with Thomas and Colin trying to familiarize them with the letters of their names. Colin is so physically disabled that he has trouble even pointing with much pecision but he appears bright. I will work with them again on Tuesday. Monday I go to the Autism Society. I have no idea what I wil do there.
I took two two year olds, one at a time, out onto the steps outside their room to do some individual work with them. You cannot do it in their cLassroom because when you get onto the floor with one there will literally be three more climbing on your back. It was recess time for the older children and several of them gathered around while I had the little guy sort poker chips into black plastic frozen dinner containers with a similar colored disc velcroed inside. Both boys I worked with caught on quickly and seem shyly proud when I prasied them and tickled their tummies.
I even skipped feeding in the handicapped room and took some Oriental Trading Company type foam crosses with decorations for the women to do. These are similar to some of the things we do in the Upper Room class at FUMCNKC. Only two of the dozen who gathered around were capable of doing it themselves without a great deal of help. For some it seems a physical and others appeared to have a sort of learned helplessness. They were as thrilled with the crosses as with the scarves yesterday.
Two new babies had been brought into the baby room overnight. One was less than a week old, maybe a newborn. The other was a very small and thin boy of about 5 months. Two of the women are unable to pull themselves away from the babies. In fact, an appointment has been made with an adoption lawyer to explore what the possabilities are. I have realized that I am the only one of this whole group that has children. Most of the women are in their early to mid 30's and must hear the biological clock ticking.
In the aftenoon we with to Amani Ya Juh (I hope that is the correct spelling. It sounds like Amani Yazoo and means Peace from Above.) It is a collective of women from different countries who make a wide variety of crafts, mostly fiber art. They have fixed prices and high quality items. I didn't even worry about the shillings to dollar conversion rate and loaded down two bags. Hey, I"m leaving most of my clothes and all other stuff I brought and I have to bring something home in those giant suitcases. After we had shopped they brought us a huge teakettle of rich, spicy Chai-type tea. It was delicious.
Last night for dinner instead of eating at the guesthouse we walked about 15 minutes to an Ethiopian resturant. Food was brought on two foot in diameter trays lined with a spongey bread like stuff with dollops of different foods...lentils, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and some other things that I could not identify. There was a small brazier of goat meat which was, to my surprise, quite tasty. I did set aside the little riblets, however. It was just too much of a reminder of the actual animal, partiuclarly since there were several carcasses and parts thereof hanging nearby. We tore off pieces of the spongy bread and dipped up bites of food. It was delicious. They bring a samovar to wash your hands before and after.
We have decided that instead of spending all the donated money you guys gave on school supplies we will buy some food in bulk, divide it into smaller packets and give one to each of the children from the Haruma neighborhood who come to the primary school operated by the Sisters. We will also give a packet to each of the workers who come from the neighborhood to work with the kids. I may have mentioned this before but forgive me. These women are paid a tiny wage and are given one dress a year.
I must go now. We will go to the Elephant Orphanage and giraffe center and then to a big market where we will experience bargainig with the people there.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Day Four at Missionaries of Charity
I wrote a long message yesterday but the power at the cyber cafe went off just as I was about to send it. I had saved it as a draft and I haven't been able to figure out how to find it again and post it. Oh, well. In the scope of world problems that is not one.
Yesterday was easier for me. I spent the whole morning in the "handicapped room." My precious little one had made it through the night and was still there again today. The first hour yesterday was spent washing the breakfast dishes and pots and pans. They prepare a sort of gruel of rice, potatoes, carrots, greens, and milk. Some can eat it minced but most must have it put through a ricer/foodmill and diluted with additional milk to the consistency of junior baby food. They start feeding the midday meal about 10-10:30 and we all gather to help with that. Yesterday I spent about a hour feeding the diluted food to a child who was probably about 10. He was not enthusiastic about it but he ate most of it.
After eating the little ones are put on a mat on the floor and the noviatiates and neighborhood women who work there (and those of us who volunteer) do a sort of physical therapy with them. Then after helping the workers wash up the dishes and pots and pans from that meal we go sing and dance with the adult women who stay there. Some are retarded, some mentally ill, and some just old and sick. It has occurred to me that many of the "old ladies" are probably about my age. They seem ancient. Yesterday the one American man in our party got one of the old blind ladies up to dance with us and the others said they had never seen her so happy. The favorite songs we sing are Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine, Head Shoulders, Knees and Toes, The Hokey Pokey, and Jingle Bells.I'll tell more about today in a bit.
Today I spent my first hour and a half bathing and dressing toddlers and then going with them to their classroom at the school. Agnes works with at least 22 children who are probably somewhere between 18 months and 2 1/2. After time in chairs singing and chanting they march in a sort of conga line to the toilet...which is really just a drain into which they urinate. The only flush toilet in the complex is adjacent to the room where we volunteers gather to leave our belongings and then to eat our lunch. Back in the classroom we got out about 15 toys...mostly broken and faded Fisher Price items. The children squabble over them a good deal and there is not enouh staff to teach them to share.
By then it was feeding time again and today I fed a girl of about 12 I'd say, who ate with a coming appetite. Actually I think she reflexively opens her mouth at the sight of a spoonful of food. But she ate a whole dish and a half of food. The dishes are stainless steel bowls, plastic spoons, and plastic cups. I wish for metal spoons and cups for sanitary reasons but Josie (one of the group leaders) says they have brought things like that before and they were put away unused. These sisters take the vow of poverty very seriously...for themselves and the children.
I had brought some sheer neon colored scarves and we took some of those along with some tiny bottles of bubbles and balloons to the women's room. That was quite a hit...especially the bubbles. They were just those tiny little bottles that people use at weddings. They were so happy with those things they didn't even ask for the Hokey Pokey.
The two brighter of my ambulatory boys came up to me as I was massaging a little one and were very interested in the writing on my shirt. So we had a little "reading" lesson using the words (and numbers) Salmon Jam 2004. Jammin' in the Park, Cordova, Alaska.. Well, maybe it wasn't actually reading but it was letter and number recognition. I think tomorrow I will take them to a side room and use some of the flash cards I brought to do a little more.
I'd better post this before the power fails again. I continue to support the local economy by having a massage daily. Tomorrow we will go to a Women's Craft Cooperative to shop after "work" so I will miss my massage. I realized when I got to the shop today that I had only 800 shillings with me. There is a Bureau de Change near here but I didn't even have my debit card. The one hour massage costs 1000 shillings and I usually tip the young woman 50 shillings more. So I told her that I could only get a half hour massage today because I had forgotten to bring more money. She insisted that she do the full hour and told me that I could bring the rest on Monday. What a trusting soul! I hope I don't die over the weekend so she won't be sorry she trusted me. 1000 shillings is about $13, by the way.
We have plans to go to an elephant orphanage and some kind of giraffe center on Saturday and to Lake Nakuru on Sunday. I hoped to find a Methodist service to attend but I decided that I would skip it this week to see 10,000 flamingos.
Yesterday was easier for me. I spent the whole morning in the "handicapped room." My precious little one had made it through the night and was still there again today. The first hour yesterday was spent washing the breakfast dishes and pots and pans. They prepare a sort of gruel of rice, potatoes, carrots, greens, and milk. Some can eat it minced but most must have it put through a ricer/foodmill and diluted with additional milk to the consistency of junior baby food. They start feeding the midday meal about 10-10:30 and we all gather to help with that. Yesterday I spent about a hour feeding the diluted food to a child who was probably about 10. He was not enthusiastic about it but he ate most of it.
After eating the little ones are put on a mat on the floor and the noviatiates and neighborhood women who work there (and those of us who volunteer) do a sort of physical therapy with them. Then after helping the workers wash up the dishes and pots and pans from that meal we go sing and dance with the adult women who stay there. Some are retarded, some mentally ill, and some just old and sick. It has occurred to me that many of the "old ladies" are probably about my age. They seem ancient. Yesterday the one American man in our party got one of the old blind ladies up to dance with us and the others said they had never seen her so happy. The favorite songs we sing are Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine, Head Shoulders, Knees and Toes, The Hokey Pokey, and Jingle Bells.I'll tell more about today in a bit.
Today I spent my first hour and a half bathing and dressing toddlers and then going with them to their classroom at the school. Agnes works with at least 22 children who are probably somewhere between 18 months and 2 1/2. After time in chairs singing and chanting they march in a sort of conga line to the toilet...which is really just a drain into which they urinate. The only flush toilet in the complex is adjacent to the room where we volunteers gather to leave our belongings and then to eat our lunch. Back in the classroom we got out about 15 toys...mostly broken and faded Fisher Price items. The children squabble over them a good deal and there is not enouh staff to teach them to share.
By then it was feeding time again and today I fed a girl of about 12 I'd say, who ate with a coming appetite. Actually I think she reflexively opens her mouth at the sight of a spoonful of food. But she ate a whole dish and a half of food. The dishes are stainless steel bowls, plastic spoons, and plastic cups. I wish for metal spoons and cups for sanitary reasons but Josie (one of the group leaders) says they have brought things like that before and they were put away unused. These sisters take the vow of poverty very seriously...for themselves and the children.
I had brought some sheer neon colored scarves and we took some of those along with some tiny bottles of bubbles and balloons to the women's room. That was quite a hit...especially the bubbles. They were just those tiny little bottles that people use at weddings. They were so happy with those things they didn't even ask for the Hokey Pokey.
The two brighter of my ambulatory boys came up to me as I was massaging a little one and were very interested in the writing on my shirt. So we had a little "reading" lesson using the words (and numbers) Salmon Jam 2004. Jammin' in the Park, Cordova, Alaska.. Well, maybe it wasn't actually reading but it was letter and number recognition. I think tomorrow I will take them to a side room and use some of the flash cards I brought to do a little more.
I'd better post this before the power fails again. I continue to support the local economy by having a massage daily. Tomorrow we will go to a Women's Craft Cooperative to shop after "work" so I will miss my massage. I realized when I got to the shop today that I had only 800 shillings with me. There is a Bureau de Change near here but I didn't even have my debit card. The one hour massage costs 1000 shillings and I usually tip the young woman 50 shillings more. So I told her that I could only get a half hour massage today because I had forgotten to bring more money. She insisted that she do the full hour and told me that I could bring the rest on Monday. What a trusting soul! I hope I don't die over the weekend so she won't be sorry she trusted me. 1000 shillings is about $13, by the way.
We have plans to go to an elephant orphanage and some kind of giraffe center on Saturday and to Lake Nakuru on Sunday. I hoped to find a Methodist service to attend but I decided that I would skip it this week to see 10,000 flamingos.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Mama Edna is actually in Nairobi
What an experience this is being. Today was our second day at Missionaries of Charity. I spent all but a few minutes in the room for severely disabled children. I don't think any of my training in autism or anything else has prepared me for this. The toddlers are wonderful and I enjoyed my few minutes bathing and dressing several of them. I also spent about 20 minutes in a second or third grade class having a math lesson.
Only about five of the children in the "handicapped room" are ambulatory. Those include BaBa, Colin, Columbo, and Thomas who rolls around in a wheelchair. I spent time again today with Baba, who is clearly autistic. He says nothing but babababa. Yesterday he hit aother child and snatched the ball from him. I said told him "No!" and gave the ball back to Columbo. At which point Baba bit me on the butt. Actually he couldn't actually get hold of flesh through my pants but he certainly tried. He calmed quickly, however.
Today more wrenching was holding a tiny child whose arms where no bigger than my thunbs. He is clearly starving. He cried when he was placed on the mat for me to massage him. is brow was so furrowed and he was crying in pain. Instead of massaging him I held him in my arms and stroked and rocked him with support for his head which was arched back. He face relaxed and he seemed no longer in pain. The sister came and told me to feed him and gave me a bowl of porriage. He nibbled at it but after a bit he didn't want to open his mouth. She had told me to feed it all to him and I tried. After a bit, however, he vomited it all out over himself and me. When the sister came back she said I should have only given him 4 spoonfuls. They said he vomits all the time. They took him from me and wouldn't let me hold him anymore because they were afraid he would get used to being held and comforted. I can only hope that he doesn't have to suffer for too much longer.
Only about five of the children in the "handicapped room" are ambulatory. Those include BaBa, Colin, Columbo, and Thomas who rolls around in a wheelchair. I spent time again today with Baba, who is clearly autistic. He says nothing but babababa. Yesterday he hit aother child and snatched the ball from him. I said told him "No!" and gave the ball back to Columbo. At which point Baba bit me on the butt. Actually he couldn't actually get hold of flesh through my pants but he certainly tried. He calmed quickly, however.
Today more wrenching was holding a tiny child whose arms where no bigger than my thunbs. He is clearly starving. He cried when he was placed on the mat for me to massage him. is brow was so furrowed and he was crying in pain. Instead of massaging him I held him in my arms and stroked and rocked him with support for his head which was arched back. He face relaxed and he seemed no longer in pain. The sister came and told me to feed him and gave me a bowl of porriage. He nibbled at it but after a bit he didn't want to open his mouth. She had told me to feed it all to him and I tried. After a bit, however, he vomited it all out over himself and me. When the sister came back she said I should have only given him 4 spoonfuls. They said he vomits all the time. They took him from me and wouldn't let me hold him anymore because they were afraid he would get used to being held and comforted. I can only hope that he doesn't have to suffer for too much longer.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
We are finally in Nairobi. We got into bed at the guest house a little after midnight. I don't know about anbody else but I slept like a log.
We went for our first visit to Huruma and the Sisters of Charity home. I don't care how much TV you have watched and how well you think you have prepared there is nothing to prepare you for the level of poverty here in the midst of great beauty. The Sisters are loving and caring and the children are clean and obviously well fed. I must say I have never seen anything quite like a king-size mattress type baby bed with nine severely disabled toddlers in it. Many were clarly delighted when we stopped to pat them and talk to them but others were too disabled even for that. I was most distressed by the flies that crawled on them and they were unable to brush them away. That is not because the place was not clean but there are goats grazing in the garbage dump just outside the gates of the home.
The baby room had at least 20 cribs with very sweet nondisabled babies, all probably under six months. Sister says they are brought to them shortly after birth by the police who find them in the gutters, garbage cans, etc. I fell immediately in love with a cutie named Gregory.
The Todders were in a yard with care givers. When we arrived the were standing at the gates peering out and reaching for us. When we came inside each of us was accosted by at least a couple of children wanting to be picked up. We did that,of course, but it is heart wrenching how they cling to you when you try to put them down...or you are holding one and another is trying to climb your leg.
We start work Monday. There are ten of us in our group including the two leaders.
more when I get a chance. Keep us in your prayers.
We went for our first visit to Huruma and the Sisters of Charity home. I don't care how much TV you have watched and how well you think you have prepared there is nothing to prepare you for the level of poverty here in the midst of great beauty. The Sisters are loving and caring and the children are clean and obviously well fed. I must say I have never seen anything quite like a king-size mattress type baby bed with nine severely disabled toddlers in it. Many were clarly delighted when we stopped to pat them and talk to them but others were too disabled even for that. I was most distressed by the flies that crawled on them and they were unable to brush them away. That is not because the place was not clean but there are goats grazing in the garbage dump just outside the gates of the home.
The baby room had at least 20 cribs with very sweet nondisabled babies, all probably under six months. Sister says they are brought to them shortly after birth by the police who find them in the gutters, garbage cans, etc. I fell immediately in love with a cutie named Gregory.
The Todders were in a yard with care givers. When we arrived the were standing at the gates peering out and reaching for us. When we came inside each of us was accosted by at least a couple of children wanting to be picked up. We did that,of course, but it is heart wrenching how they cling to you when you try to put them down...or you are holding one and another is trying to climb your leg.
We start work Monday. There are ten of us in our group including the two leaders.
more when I get a chance. Keep us in your prayers.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
I Leave Tomorrow!
Everything is done in preparation. It's time to go to bed and wake up tomorrow to leave for Kenya. I can hardly believe it. I'm feeling a little like the kid in the Disneyland commercial a few years ago..."I'm too excited to sleep!"
You guys are awesome! You have helped me raise almost $1200 to support the children and women and families in Nairobi. It will be so thrilling to get there and see precisely what is needed and how your money will be best spent.
Keep checking back over the next three weeks and I'll try to keep you up to date.
Pray for us on our venture.
You guys are awesome! You have helped me raise almost $1200 to support the children and women and families in Nairobi. It will be so thrilling to get there and see precisely what is needed and how your money will be best spent.
Keep checking back over the next three weeks and I'll try to keep you up to date.
Pray for us on our venture.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Only 5 More Days!
I'm getting more and more done in preparation for the trip. I bought some craft things for the women at Sisters of Charity. Sarah tells me that they have little to do so I thought I should take some things to help them occupy their time. I have two laundry baskets full of things I will take for the women and children. I will go to the Teachers' Store Monday for the last few things I will take from here. I will buy the rest of the things I need in Nairobi.
Yesterday I spent several hours with my four year old friend, Aiden. He had gathered together a child's backpack full of toys for me to take to the "children who don't have any toys." I cried. His parents, Jennifer and George, have been telling him about my trip and he has a world map on his table placemat and he could locate where "Miss Edna" was leaving from (mid-USA) and where she was going (Kenya). He is such a smart and kind little kid and his parents are doing such a wonderful job raising him and his little sister, Avery. Jennifer gave me a St. Christopher's metal to wear on my trip. I will wear it all the time.
I am wondering how I am going to move about the airport with my huge suitcases. Once I get them checked it should be okay but even getting them in from the car seems like a huge challenge as I think about it now. I plan to leave most of the clothes I take in Nairobi. That way I will have room for things I want to bring back.
Keep praying for me and my fellow travelers as well as for the Kenyans we will be working with.
Yesterday I spent several hours with my four year old friend, Aiden. He had gathered together a child's backpack full of toys for me to take to the "children who don't have any toys." I cried. His parents, Jennifer and George, have been telling him about my trip and he has a world map on his table placemat and he could locate where "Miss Edna" was leaving from (mid-USA) and where she was going (Kenya). He is such a smart and kind little kid and his parents are doing such a wonderful job raising him and his little sister, Avery. Jennifer gave me a St. Christopher's metal to wear on my trip. I will wear it all the time.
I am wondering how I am going to move about the airport with my huge suitcases. Once I get them checked it should be okay but even getting them in from the car seems like a huge challenge as I think about it now. I plan to leave most of the clothes I take in Nairobi. That way I will have room for things I want to bring back.
Keep praying for me and my fellow travelers as well as for the Kenyans we will be working with.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
I am getting more done...
Today I went to Borders and bought the newest Vanity Fair magazine that is devoted entirely to Africa and is edited by Bono. I've not had time to read much of it however. It looks great. I also used the gift card that I had been given by the family of one of the children I work with to buy flash cards to take with me.
I got the two big suitcases out of the storage unit today and have laid out some of the things that I plan to take. My friend, Barbara, is coming from Columbia for the weekend to help me pack.
I've been using this week to do major house reorganization before I leave. Reed will be moving to Springfield for the rest of the summer on Friday or Saturday so I am using him as much as possible until then. We have cleaned out the garage, I've cleaned out my closet, and he has detailed both my car and Kathryns. Tomorrow we will start on the storeroom. That will be a major ordeal but it must be done.
I've also done some more Africa preparation, though. Today I picked up my anti-malarial medication and the antibiotic that I will have available to take if I need it. I've been shopping for the over the counter meds and first aid stuff I'll need and trying to get my clothing prepared.
Sunday I got up my nerve and asked the good people of my congregation at First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City to pray for me and to provide some financial support for me to buy some of the supplies that I need to take to work with the children with autism in Nairobi. They were so very generous. And I am so grateful.
I got the two big suitcases out of the storage unit today and have laid out some of the things that I plan to take. My friend, Barbara, is coming from Columbia for the weekend to help me pack.
I've been using this week to do major house reorganization before I leave. Reed will be moving to Springfield for the rest of the summer on Friday or Saturday so I am using him as much as possible until then. We have cleaned out the garage, I've cleaned out my closet, and he has detailed both my car and Kathryns. Tomorrow we will start on the storeroom. That will be a major ordeal but it must be done.
I've also done some more Africa preparation, though. Today I picked up my anti-malarial medication and the antibiotic that I will have available to take if I need it. I've been shopping for the over the counter meds and first aid stuff I'll need and trying to get my clothing prepared.
Sunday I got up my nerve and asked the good people of my congregation at First United Methodist Church of North Kansas City to pray for me and to provide some financial support for me to buy some of the supplies that I need to take to work with the children with autism in Nairobi. They were so very generous. And I am so grateful.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Dinner with Sarah and Julius
Last night I had dinner with Sarah and Julius Were, two of the three founders of Soulfari Kenya. It was so incredibly exciting to talk with them. I wanted to know some specifics about what I should take...I'm going to look for some inexpensive crafting items for the women as they have absolutely nothing to do.
I learned that the Sisters of Charity have as their mission being a safe haven for the women and children that they shelter. This is a great and noble cause. Our goal, however, is to nudge them, ever so gently, in the direction of treatment and education of their wards.
I have learned that Kenyan society is a very "top down" sort of thing. Those who carry out most of the work do just and only what has been directed and/or approved by their superiors. We will need to be very careful to honor their system.
I have learned that we need to dress modestly (I think I usually dress modestly, if sometimes flamboyantly). When I go to the Autism Society of Kenya Julius said I must wear a dress or a skirt and closed toe shoes, definitely not sandals. Sandals and comfortable pants or capris are okay when working with the children. Shorts are never ok, at least for women.
They said not to ask as many questions of Kenyans as we Americans are accustomed to asking. Questions such as "What do you do?" and "Where do you live?" and "How many children do you have?" are considered far too personal. They encouraged me to instead of probing for more information from my conversational partner I should talk in general terms about myself...but not my house, car, or job. It is more permissible to make general comments about the environment (as long as it is complimentary) and then lead into a less direct question. This will all be a challenge for me.
I won't be able to take as many pictures of those that I work with as I would have likes. Photgraphs are considered quite invasive and are generally discouraged. I"m hoping I can take some photos of the markets and that sort of thing but I will just have to see.
Only eleven more days and much to do before I go!!!
I learned that the Sisters of Charity have as their mission being a safe haven for the women and children that they shelter. This is a great and noble cause. Our goal, however, is to nudge them, ever so gently, in the direction of treatment and education of their wards.
I have learned that Kenyan society is a very "top down" sort of thing. Those who carry out most of the work do just and only what has been directed and/or approved by their superiors. We will need to be very careful to honor their system.
I have learned that we need to dress modestly (I think I usually dress modestly, if sometimes flamboyantly). When I go to the Autism Society of Kenya Julius said I must wear a dress or a skirt and closed toe shoes, definitely not sandals. Sandals and comfortable pants or capris are okay when working with the children. Shorts are never ok, at least for women.
They said not to ask as many questions of Kenyans as we Americans are accustomed to asking. Questions such as "What do you do?" and "Where do you live?" and "How many children do you have?" are considered far too personal. They encouraged me to instead of probing for more information from my conversational partner I should talk in general terms about myself...but not my house, car, or job. It is more permissible to make general comments about the environment (as long as it is complimentary) and then lead into a less direct question. This will all be a challenge for me.
I won't be able to take as many pictures of those that I work with as I would have likes. Photgraphs are considered quite invasive and are generally discouraged. I"m hoping I can take some photos of the markets and that sort of thing but I will just have to see.
Only eleven more days and much to do before I go!!!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Only 13 more days
I am really getting ready to go now. I finished my last workshop for the school district for the summer and am ready to devote myself to getting ready to go to Africa. Of course, I have to do my taxes and clean my house during this time as well.
Yesterday and today I bought some things to take along...bandanas, carbiner hooks, and a cooling scarf. I will use the bandanas and hooks for trade and gifts to the Kenyans who help us. Tomorrow night I will go to dinner with Sarah and Julius Were. Julius will be one of our group leaders and Sarah is the Occupational Therapist in our Early Childhood Special Education Program. The other team leader will be Josie Mai, Sarah's sister.
Next week I will make some Boardmaker symbols to take along. The ones I usually do have English words accompanying the pictures but I have learned that I can put Swahili words on them instead. That will be interesting.
Yesterday and today I bought some things to take along...bandanas, carbiner hooks, and a cooling scarf. I will use the bandanas and hooks for trade and gifts to the Kenyans who help us. Tomorrow night I will go to dinner with Sarah and Julius Were. Julius will be one of our group leaders and Sarah is the Occupational Therapist in our Early Childhood Special Education Program. The other team leader will be Josie Mai, Sarah's sister.
Next week I will make some Boardmaker symbols to take along. The ones I usually do have English words accompanying the pictures but I have learned that I can put Swahili words on them instead. That will be interesting.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Please help me take the supplies we need
OK. Here goes the begging part. This is an outright request for money to help us on our project at Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity Children's Home. I will carry with me some of the materials and supplies to work directly with the children as well as books and supplies to teach the staff at the Autism Society of Kenya Primary School. We will, however, purchase most of what we need in Nairobi. We are doing that because much of what we need will be difficult to transport but we also want to support the local economy. We know that there is little point in providing materials that cannot be replaced from the local shops. We also want to provide materials that are relevant to the children in Kenya, not those that represent American people and values. Therefore we take and buy the simplest of things, not fancy schmancy stuff like we use in American schools.
This is a partial list of things I will need in my work and what your donated dollars will buy:
$50 will buy one or two books for the staff at the primary school to help them learn more about appropriate ways to teach children with autism. I am taking several books that I have already read and no longer need but we need to buy others that are new and specifically relevant to people who are just learning about autism.
$30 will buy a color ink cartridge to print out teaching materials to take along.
$20 will buy a durable foam alphabet puzzle. (Yes, the children learn English)
$20 will buy a durable foam number puzzle.
$10 will buy two alphabet or number classroom charts.
$5 will buy a dozen thick primary pencils, a set of flash cards, a children's book, or a simple puzzle that a severely challenged child can use to occupy his time appropriately so he doesn't need to be tied down.
$2 will buy a dozen plain yellow pencils, two pencil tablets, or a plastic shoe box to organize the materials to teach the severely disabled children.
We will also supply bedding, clothing, hygiene supplies, paint, and therapy equipment if we have enough money to buy it.
You can send me a check (you know my address) made out to Soulfari Kenya or you can go to www.soulfarikenya.com and make a direct donation on your credit card. Please indicate, if possible, that your donation is to support the autism project.
I have done extra workshops and consultations during the past year to pay for my own travel expenses so not a penny of your donation will go to pay for my travel or expenses. Please help me help the women and children from the slums of Kenya.
God Bless.
This is a partial list of things I will need in my work and what your donated dollars will buy:
$50 will buy one or two books for the staff at the primary school to help them learn more about appropriate ways to teach children with autism. I am taking several books that I have already read and no longer need but we need to buy others that are new and specifically relevant to people who are just learning about autism.
$30 will buy a color ink cartridge to print out teaching materials to take along.
$20 will buy a durable foam alphabet puzzle. (Yes, the children learn English)
$20 will buy a durable foam number puzzle.
$10 will buy two alphabet or number classroom charts.
$5 will buy a dozen thick primary pencils, a set of flash cards, a children's book, or a simple puzzle that a severely challenged child can use to occupy his time appropriately so he doesn't need to be tied down.
$2 will buy a dozen plain yellow pencils, two pencil tablets, or a plastic shoe box to organize the materials to teach the severely disabled children.
We will also supply bedding, clothing, hygiene supplies, paint, and therapy equipment if we have enough money to buy it.
You can send me a check (you know my address) made out to Soulfari Kenya or you can go to www.soulfarikenya.com and make a direct donation on your credit card. Please indicate, if possible, that your donation is to support the autism project.
I have done extra workshops and consultations during the past year to pay for my own travel expenses so not a penny of your donation will go to pay for my travel or expenses. Please help me help the women and children from the slums of Kenya.
God Bless.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Time is Creeping up on me
I am becoming increasingly excited about this adventure. It is hard to imagine that my departure is only about two and a half weeks away. I am working on developing some ideas for what I will actually try to teach the children at the home. I want it to be things that will demonstrate to the staff that these children can learn and don't need to be restrained. This week I will develop a packing list, finish some visual supports that I will take with me, and try to finalize arrangements with the Autism Society of Kenya.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Soulfari Kenya
If you would like to know more about Soulfari Kenya go to this website www.soulfarikenya.com
My First Entry
This is my first entry. It is my very first blog. I have etablished this so that I can communicate with others about my upcoming trip to Kenya. I have lived such an incredibly blessed life that I have decided that it is time for me to start giving back more. This will be a move in that direction.
I will leave July 5 for a three week adventure with my friends from Soulfari Kenya. We will do volunteeer work with a Missionaries of Charity home for disabled and abandoned children and women. I expect to also do some work with the Autism Society of Kenya and the Autism Unit at City Primary School in Ngara.
I have completed all my shots and will start preparing to pack in the near future. Getting the shots made the trip a reality for me rather than just a dream of something that was going to happen in the future.
I met some of the other travelers at the Soulfari Kenya Launch Party on June 1. That helped to make it a reality as well. They seem like really cool people and I will enjoy spending time with them.
I will leave July 5 for a three week adventure with my friends from Soulfari Kenya. We will do volunteeer work with a Missionaries of Charity home for disabled and abandoned children and women. I expect to also do some work with the Autism Society of Kenya and the Autism Unit at City Primary School in Ngara.
I have completed all my shots and will start preparing to pack in the near future. Getting the shots made the trip a reality for me rather than just a dream of something that was going to happen in the future.
I met some of the other travelers at the Soulfari Kenya Launch Party on June 1. That helped to make it a reality as well. They seem like really cool people and I will enjoy spending time with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)