African Articles

There has been a lot going on in the headlines over here in Africa as far as politics and fighting, and I'm just curious as to how much of it is actually making it over to the U.S...
Let me say that NONE of whats going on makes me feel unsafe. It just seems that in most of Africa's history there have been so many great tragedies that have never even made it to us in the U.S. until it was too late to do anything about it or we've heard just enough to know somethings going on but our government doesn't think it's necessary to act, like the genocide in Rwanda and Darfur, starvation in Ethiopia, or pirates hijacking ships off the coast of Somalia...
Here are some recent headlines...



Deadly car bombs hit Somaliland

At least 29 people have died in a wave of coordinated car-bombings across northern Somalia.





Congolese government troops and UN peacekeepers engage in fierce fighting with rebel forces in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, sending more refugees fleeing






Drought in the Horn of Africa is deepening after the failure of annual rains, and the UN estimates that more than 14.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.



Darfur



This post is in no way meant to be harsh or cause guilt, but maybe raise more awareness and provoke curiosity...I hope it didnt come off negatively

It's Time

So after not being able to sleep all night and feeling like my whole body was on fire, I thought I might possibly have malaria.
I went to Sister Fredas this morning and got tested and found out I had it.
It's ridiculous how fast it came on and from out of nowhere...
Last night we hosted Sister Freda and Richard for dinner and I felt a little hot but i just figured it was because I had been in the sun all day...
Well by about the 5th time of waking up and feeling like I was on fire, I thought just maybe I might have malaria....

Malaria Virus





I have to say it really sucks...It comes in waves. So after I recieved my huge shot in the ass, of which I have 4 MORE to go, I felt better. Then I came home and got hot flashes and a migrane. I ended up just sleeping all afternoon and when I say all afternoon I mean from 12:30 to after 6...I feel a bit better now but theres almost no way to describe it...All I know is is sucks and it comes in waves...Im definitely not looking forward to my series of shots that await me the next 4 days...
At least Im getting it over with right?

Here Comes the Sun, Little Darlin...Do Dun Do Do

Today was such a great day. Nothing too eventful but just a good day all around.
We were at Oasis most of the day. Late I went to Kitale Forest Primary with Geoffrey to drop off some school supplies and talk to the deputy about my PE schedule and the incorrect tests that Allison found.
After, we visited Geoffrey’s wife’s salon across town. Our friend James met us in town and joined us. It’s a really nice salon and Allison and I are going to try and go soon to get pedicures…
James and I left the salon and went to fax some things and then we went to the the World Vision offices here in Kitale. I got to go to WV in Lodwar and just recently have noticed the signs for the World Vision office here in Kitale. Apparently, they don’t have a problem with people just popping in randomly here so we just went.

Our friend James


The director was in Nairobi but we met with the rest of the staff and it again made me so excited. The accountant’s name was Job and he said that he would give me a call as soon as the director got back in town, so we’ll see if I get to do anything with them in the future.
I found out that they just set-up here in August and have programs with about 3,000 local farmers that were affected by the post-election violence last year...Because of the violence they weren't able to plant as usual affecting their crops and livlihood(?)...They also have programs to promote peace in the region.

Once I got home I, with the help of the Ukrainians, started preparing dinner for tonight. We were hosting Sister Freda and her husband Richard. They said they loved Italian food so I decided to make lasagna. I’ve never made lasagna before so I was a little nervous, but everything turned out alright.

Allison and Chris provided the entertainment while we cooked and it carried over to dinner. It was so much fun to just be with them outside of working with them.



Allison was trying to get Richard to make a fish face



Chris really likes Yulia...(not like that)


And she gets really embarrased...


We caught Richard looking at some pretty girls in Allison's photobook...Look at that face, he's so guilty


Freda


We held an impromptu photo shoot after which these are the results…



I taught Richard "the Joseph"


Richard and all his ladies


Tonight was just so much fun because of the company. At one point I just looked around the table and smiled because of the amazing people we were with and each one’s individual personality, life, and talents. Richard and Freda have got to be some of the most amazing people I have met in my life and it never would have happened had I not moved here. The crazy thing is, they’re just being themselves…They’re just being who God called them to be…I hope when I am their age I can be half of what they are.

I haven’t blogged in a couple of days and it feels weird..I wasn’t a blogger before and I honestly didn’t want to have one but being here its fun and its easier than sending a ton of mass emails…Iwas just thinking back on the last couple of days and what I should blog about and the only thing that has been on my mind a ton is the Oasis boys.

Edwin



Jonah



Things have been crazy around here lately. Some have just been acting up in certain ways and not being truthful other times. But even more so 2 of the house boys have run away. For whatever reasons they packed up their clothes and left without telling anyone.. Edwin has been gone for about 3 weeks now and Jonah a little over 1 week…Its just hard to fathom how these boys can just walk away from everything they’ve worked so hard for and been given.




They came from the street, but got an opportunity to learn through Oasis of Hope and then were put into a home and school.
It just shows you never can tell. These boys have been given everything, even by American standards, they are well taken care of, and they still ran…





In the end it's their life and ultimately their decision, but the hard part is, seeing their potential and falling in love with them. You get attached and believe they are more than just street kids. Especially when they have a hard time seeing that in themselves.
I know at some point in the different missions trips Ive taken over the years I know Ive wondered "whats the point?" If they're only going to run away or give up, why try and help?...But I've discovered for the kids that run away, there are so many success stories. Places like Oasis need to be in existence to be the reason the ones who stick with it succeed. Not that these boys are failures, they've chosen to go another direction and I only hope they are ok and I will get to see their faces around Oasis again...

Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was Allison's birthday. All she wanted for her birthday was to go to a place called Capt. Davis' just outside of town because she heard you could ride camels and ostrichs.

It was awesome and very interesting...When we arrived there we thought we had gone to the wrong place. But we decided to explore anyway.
The guide took us to the game park area where you could walk around and get really close to the zebras and impalas...




The is our guide and his outstanding glasses...







It started to pour, so we had to go inside for a while...We ended up running into Capt. Davis himself and spent a few hours with him talking until the rain let up and we could wander around more...
He was an interesting fellow, we found out he was a former Member of Parliament and did something with the governments of East Africa.

The camp grounds...We found some awesome spiders and slugs in the drop toilets...


I loved this tractor, it reminded me of something I would have seen in Tennessee...






We rode some horses...




Meanwhile Chris hung out with the giraffe...



After riding horses, they saddled up the osterichs...




Chris was super excited...


I can't say an ostrich is the most sturdy animal


Before...


After...Yes I kind of fell off at the end...but only because it started running at the end...


Capt. Davis


It was a fun and interesting afternoon, definitely an experience and adventure...I hope Allison had a great birthday even though she was away from home...

Stitch Me Up

Yesterday I spent the day at Sister Freda's. It was great because I got to spend a ton of time with Elia...I wish I had new pictures to post, but my camera has been acting up for the last week and I haven't been able to take any pictures.
He looks so good and he's so smart...only problem is he knows it:)

There was also a boy from Oasis I brought out to Freda's because he was attacked last week by some Turkana's on the street. He went to District Hospital to get stiches and this was the result...





This was probably the weapon, it's called a Turkana Fighting Blade or Turkana Wrist Blade.


His name is Elijah and he used to come to Oasis all the time but has stopped coming recently. He randomly showed up on Wednesday with these deep cuts and stitches. I tried my best to clean it but huge pieces of dried blood and dead chunks of skin came off in the process.
I felt bad for the kid, District Hospital did such a poor job. Geoffrey said that it was probably because the hospital knows that hes a street boy so he wont pay...At least they did something, but he's almost worse off because the wound is still open and getting infected...

I knew Freda could do a better job so I asked him to come so they could look at it...
They said it was too late to put in new stitches but they could clean it properly and give him medicine to fight off infection

I'll go back with him tomorrow to check the infections and see if they can't possibly take the stitches out...

Puppies

Yesterday Ayub surprised us and brought home 2 Rottweiler puppies...
They are for protection a the house




They are 2 girls and they are so cute...I give them 2 weeks before they've chewed through everything, including my hand...


They dont have names yet, were waiting to hear back from Steve as to what he wants to name them...


I have to add that in no way shape or form does this change my love/obsession with my dog, Maximus back home...He's still my favorite little man...