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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.