"Life in Kenya...Word"

Things I Miss The Most

2009-12-08T06:31:00.002+03:00

So I've decided I need to blog more, I think it's mostly going to be pictures.
I actually think I just want to post a picture a day of something, anything, hopefully containing beauty...

Im going to start with some of the people, places, and things I miss the most, and that filled my heart with the most joy...
Thanks for reading..

Possible Outlet?

2009-09-13T23:56:00.004+03:00

I feel adjusted, I think I'm adjusted to being back in America. But I slowly Ive come to realize Im far from it.
I don't think I ever got to process everything after I got back from the first trip, and then I went on the road for about 2 months before turning right around and hoping on a plane back to Africa.

Since I've been back, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I could snap out of it long enough to see and catch up with friends, but there was and still is this underlying discontentment and unhappiness.

I think that living in Africa, as crazy as it would get sometimes, gave me a sense of stability and normalcy that I've never had before. I miss it. I miss the peace, I miss the contentment that I felt, and what makes it so difficult is not knowing how to make that my life here. Or even a piece of it, I don't need the whole thing.

I struggle with knowing what that looks like. All I can do is pray and take baby steps in the hopes that God has a plan for this time and where He's trying to take me.

My other goal is to post about all the things we did in Ethiopia in July and August with Mocha Club since I couldn't update my blog from there. So that will hopefully come soon.

Thanks to whoever took the time to read this. I appreciate you letting me vent and begin the processing.

Some of the things I miss

Ambo street boys who now have a home. Last year there were only 4, now there's 11!

My little man Elia

The Oasis kids in Kenya

My favorite person in the world, my munchkin

Some of the street boys we worked with in Ambo, Ethiopia through Mocha Club

Mocha Club One Month Team

2009-07-05T22:56:00.004+03:00

Tonight, we went to house 1 for dinner. Normally it's reserved for friday nights, but since Im only here for a short time, the house dad's have thankfully made an exception.
We brought along my friend Emmanuel from Rwanda and my friend Jacinta's 3 boys, Charles, Thomas, and Joseph.

Jacinta and Joseph

Moses working hard on the chipati. While we were in the kitchen, Stone, Moses, and I swapped some great stories and just had some great conversation. I've really missed those times the most.

Charles, Thomas, and Joseph

Cassie's slowly becoming Kenyan, she's practicing her balancing skills, starting with a wide cup.

This baby randomly walked in the front door and made itself at home. Her mom came in to take her home and she won't go...She even ate our chipati...Look at those eyes, she even looks like a thief.

Mose and Paul sitting on top of their well

Saturday

2009-07-05T22:08:00.004+03:00

Yesterday, Cassie and I joined Torie, Delia, Sammy, Kylee and Ashley at the Kitale Club to take some of the girls from Discover to Recover swimming. It was so much fun, but I dont have any pictures because theyre all on Kylees camera. Trust me it was really fun. Most of the girls didnt know how to swim, but it didnt stop them from jumping off the diving board.
They had a lot of fun and it was great to see them having so much fun

After the pool, we went to Lydia's house with all the house kids to just hang out and play games and sports and watch Michael Jackson videos for a while...

Steward and Joseph

Moses can slam dunk, no surprise with those long legs

Martin was trying to balance the ball on his head

Kamau sees the tree...

Kamau in the tree

"Football"

Evani

Little Alice, the ball was bigger than her whole body

I hurt my back so i wasn't so active, but I loved just sitting outside and watching the kids play. Kitale is one of the most beautiful places I've seen, and I'm always so content here. It's tough to leave. I'm really excited to go to Ethiopia, because I have missed it and I'm meeting up with a great team, it's just hard to leave a place I feel has become my home and people that are true friends.

Sister Freda's

2009-07-04T13:17:00.003+03:00

On thursday night we went to Sister Freda's for dinner. She hosted all 18 of us from our house plus a bunch from the hospital. There were so many people!
It was just a great night for community and to spend time outside of "work"

Moses used to live at the hospital but recently moved to Freda's and now shares a room with Davis, whom I love.

I love this one of cassie, i was trying to take a picture of Freda and Richard's backyard and Cassie jumped in front

DAVIS!!! Ive missed hanging out and running around with him. He doesnt talk much, but when he does he likes to correct me in english...

Cassie loves the little kittens, they fall asleep in her lap.

Freda's granddaughter Gail

Davis had some stellar overalls and no teeth

Catching up pt. 2

2009-07-03T22:28:00.003+03:00

We've done so much this week, i can't keep up with the days so im just going to blog about it all as if it were wone big day...plus cassie's camera keeps dying so we dont get to take as many pictures....

One day Freda was having another medical clinic in Kipsongo. I really wanted Cassie to see it after my first experience with it about a year ago. I thought we were only going to get to be around the medical clinic, but we were fortunate enough to get to walk into the village so she could meet some of the people who live there and see their homes.

This little one kept poking his head in through the whole in the clinic

Good ole' Richard, a favorite of mine

Freda put cassie to work pouring syrups and labeling bottles

Earlier in the week we went to a primary school down the road called Shimo La Tewa Primary...which Steve originally told us meant "The Snake Pit" but later found out it means something serene like, "the bridge over the valley"...
There is a water pump that is one of the only fresh water pumps in the area, but it has been dry lately because there has been almost no rain....

Then as if an answer to prayer, this huge storm rolled in and dumped a bunch of rain on Kitale

Theres definitely more updates to come, i just can't stay awake.

catching up

2009-07-03T21:53:00.006+03:00

So theres quite a bit to get caught up on and im not really sure where to start...the last thing I remember not blogging about was our dinner with the house boys last sunday, so i guess Ill start there...
we went over Sunday evening and helped the boys make dinner and watched a movie, plus the usual running around that comes with it all...

Martin in a goofy mood

Joseph and his fake diamond earring...

Paul

Steward has a new hat

Pato made some good chipati

Stone's faces only get better with age

Apparently the boys wrestled a bit while the rest of us were in the kitchen working

Steward

Cassie and I both agree, one of our favorite things is the house dinners, and there will definitely need to be a few more before we go.

House party!

2009-06-27T21:53:00.011+03:00

Yesterday we went to Kitale Family/Lighthouse because they had a Family Sports day. Geoffrey asked us to go and represent some of the Oasis kids' families.
I had no idea what to expect and I was kind of hoping we could just support from the cheering section, but I should have known that wasn't going to be a possibility.
It was Cassie, me, and 3 of our Rwandan roommates that ended up going and we ended up having a really great time.

A view of the field

Our Rwandan roommate Hannah

The bottle race, which Cassie and I came in dead last...Whatever, Kenyan women carry huge bundles on their heads all the time, totally unfair advantage.

They also had this awesome game for the nursery kids where they blindfolded them and then threw candy and them and had them crawl on the ground to find it...hilarious!

I think my favorite was when they had a balloon blowing race and the objective was to blow up the balloon until it burst, problem was none of their balloons were popping so the kids were more likely to passout.

Hannah and her home made binoculars...

We also played futbol, female teachers vs. female parents, and the game ended with us winning and me getting a broken toe...at least we won!

Hannah and Janet liked the music

THEN...

Last night we went to the Girls House to have dinner. 6 of us from the house went over and hung out and had dinner for a few hours.
As usual it was so much fun

I love Arsenal!

Cassie giving a piggyback ride

Oh Rael

Mama Rebekah

It started to rain

The girls loved Cassie

This might be my favorite picture...

There were quite a bit of people in that house

Swimming Swimming!

2009-06-26T14:17:00.005+03:00

Wednesday we went to the Kitale Club with the kids that live at Freda's. I was so excited to take them swimming for the first time in 4 months.

Before we left we stopped by to see Cassie's new BFF, Coche Fantastico :)

I liked him until he ate my skirt...friends don't eat each others skirts...

Time for swimming!
Cassie loved Dottie

The kids loved Cassie, she was like their personal jungle gym

Ester

This kid is too dang cute

Minutes later, Elia walked to the side of the pool, dropped his pants and peed in the pool, in front of the staff...who says people from Kipsongo don't have manners?

Relaxing a little

Morgan!

My other little man

Gail

Swimming was so fun, I can't wait until the next time, and I think Cassie enjoyed it for her first swim.

Monday, Im a little behind...

2009-06-24T20:47:00.005+03:00

Monday we went to Oasis in the morning and then Sister Freda's Hospital in the afternoon.
Martin from house 2 needed to go too, so after being at Oasis for a bit we headed out to Freda's.

But not before we observed Joseph's newest idea...gymnastics...I think it'll be great for the kids. They'll be able to get bunch of energy out and learn some discipline at the same time.

The Oasis kids love Cassie

Onto Freda's...
Freda has about 4 or 5 giant pigs that I wanted Cassie and Martin to see

The pigs would grunt and scare the crap out of her...Martin and I laughed at her.

Cassie went "Ahhhhh, puppies!" when she saw these guys. She's a sucker for animals.

Richard took us on a walk of their farm. They grow everything from coffee, pineapple, bananas, tomatoes, napier grass, and corn to name a few.

Since Martin wasn't feeling too well he took it easy and played with the cat. It had an evil twin that kept trying to scratch the crap out of everyone. I stayed away from both of them just to be safe...

Lunchtime

Cassie finally got to meet the little guy that I want to smuggle home...Elia

High five-a!

Next blog, swimming pool and the biggest bug I have EVER seen...in our house!

Some Things Don't Change

2009-06-22T09:07:00.004+03:00

Sunday was a really full day, so much so that we were too tired to stay up and blog about it, so in a nutshell...
We went to Oasis church in the morning. It was my first time getting to see the house kids since I arrived so I couldn't wait to see all of them. I dont know if they knew I was back in Kitale yet or if i was going to be at church because they looked so surprised. It had already started when everyone got there so we had to save the catching up for afterward.

Stone and Moses

Evans and Pato

It was surreal to be talking to the boys again, but I could tell they had changed, positively, since the last time I had seen them. Some, like Bram and Evans, spoke better English, others it was their personality.

After church we went to the Kitale prison. I have been to the womens prison many times, but never to the mens. Pastor Steve is in the middle of partnering with the prison to help build them a clean water source.
We spent some time with the male prisoners first and then headed over the womens section, but not before Cassie made some little friends.

The cute prison kids...

After the prison we went over to house 2 to have dinner with them and house 1. This is one of those cases where I dont mind saying
Some things never change, they still love to dance and run around and have fun. Which we were happy to take part in. There are a lot of things I miss about living here, but that had to be on the top of the list.
They definitely still love to dance...

One thing I really loved was that they seemed so much closer as a group. It made me so happy to see how they loved and took care of each other so well. And they were so great being friendly and respectful of Cassie and trying to make her feel welcome.

Stone took over the camera for a while and this is what I found...

Cassie helped serve dinner

Can't wait for the next time!

Mt. Elgon

2009-06-20T17:17:00.005+03:00

Today Steve took all of us up to Mt. Elgon, which is about an hour and a half away, to distribute relief supplies of blankets, corn, and of all things maxi pads:) to the community. I hate maxi pads, but they are like gold here.

Cassie enjoyed the car ride. It was a really beautiful.

These kids like the taste of tetanus...

A ton of people turned out for the distribution, which also included a medical clinic from Freda.

As we looked around we notice there weren't many men in the crowd. Steve reminded us that when the clashes happened a year and a half ago, most of the men in the community were killed, leaving the women and kids behind.

Steve called Cassie up and had her help put a blanket on one of the oldest mamas in the village. She especially loved it when they sang and danced because they were so happy to receive the supplies.

A couple of cute mamas...

Matt gave out corn rations.

Cassie loved this baby...

Cute Richard hanging out at the clinic, he's always a hit with the ladies.

On the way home we saw and effective Kenyan way to travel...Don't worry Tooey, Cassie will not be doing this...for a few weeks.

We made it!

2009-06-19T17:17:00.005+03:00

After almost 3 days of traveling, my younger sister and I made it to Kitale, Kenya.
She was absolutely amazing during the incredibly taxing trip, probably having a better attitude than I did. We left Long Beach, CA and headed for NY on a red eye, then transferred to a 12 1/2 hour flight to Dubai (longest in my life, can't even imagine how Cassie felt, it only her 4 or 5 flight ever.)From Dubai, we flew on to Nairobi, where we had to spend a the night and then caught a bus for 8 hours northwest to Kitale...We slept 12 hours last night...

Cassies first shuttle ride in Nairobi...

After a restful night we got up and went to Oasis. Pastor Steve and a bunch of college age students (including Chris and Matt) are staying at the compound for the summer. They were having a street kid washing day for all the kids that attend Oasis and live in the area. It was so great to be back and see everyone, it felt like I had never left. They were even more excited to meet Cassie and she got mobbed by all the kids.

She jumped right in and helped direct the medical clinic line.

Our friend and driver Alan...was board

Cassie dug this kids style

Me and the munchkin

Tomorrow we are going to an IDP camp.
Thanks for all your prayers and support, we'll keep the updates coming...

Stress

2009-06-05T17:34:00.003+03:00

I'm not really sure why I'm writing this other than to find an outlet to let off some steam.
I woke up this morning and realized how little time i have left before my sister and I head to Africa.
Everything is really overwhelming with everything left to be done not to mention financial stress...please pray!

Team EthiopiaAwesome!

2009-04-17T01:24:00.003+03:00

Yes they are...

This was waiting for me when I got home from my last run on the road. God always knows when you need a little encouragement to keep going.
Thank you guys, thank you Melissa for putting it together, it couldn't have come at a better time. I really appreciate and love you all for your support.
Thank you!

I Can't Get Enough...

2009-03-23T05:29:00.002+03:00

So I'm going back.
Yep, I know I just got home, but I just can't stay put.
Since I got back I have been getting my house in order, catching up with friends, and, thank god, working...

I know I haven't even let the dust settle on my shoes, but I was invited to co-lead some teams back to Ethiopia with Mocha Club, as I did last summer. I enjoyed Ethiopia and co-leading so much that I couldn't turn it down.

Old classroom in Ambo...the new one is being built now!

Mahalet and Betty

Our Ambo street boys

I also figured that as long as I'm there I can't not stop by Kenya to visit my family in Kitale, so I will be heading there for about a month as well.

I haven't even been home long enough to go through my pictures and put together my "Thank You" gift for everyone who helped me go the first time (I am working on that by the way, coming soon),
So because I dont feel right sending out another support letter asking for more money when I haven't even been able to even thank those who helped me the first time, I am simply soliciting on my blog...thats fair enough right?:)
In all seriousness I do need help raising money to go back this summer, somewhere around $3,000 to be on the safe side, but no where near what I had to last time.

I am trusting that the Lord will provide a way for this to happen again, but I am also trying to work as much as I can to also ease the burden.
For those of you have supported and been with me through this journey, I can't tell you how grateful I am, and words can't describe what a life experience it was, so "THANK YOU!"
and if this next trip is something that you would like to help me out with, email or call me.
You can also simply send a check with my name in the memo line to

963 Missions
Attn: Mocha Club
10440 N. Central Expwy, Suite 122
Dallas, TX 75231

I am working to pay for the Kenya portion of my trip, so the money sent to African Leadership goes strictly to Ethiopia.

THANK YOU again a million times for all you support for making this past year happen and thank you for your support in this forthcoming trip!
I mean who can say no to the opportunity to see these faces?

Adjusting and Anti-Socialism

2009-03-03T23:14:00.004+03:00

I've been back for about a week and a half now.
I knew it wasn't going to be easy, and at first I felt disconnected, but I was handling it alright.
Well, reality has sunk in and I can't say I'm surprised. I'm happy to be back and see my family and friends. I just can't reconcile the 2 worlds. Maybe its better that I don't, so I'll always want to be there.
I miss the kids, the voices, the faces, the place
All of this thought is making me to be anti-social. Part of me wants to be and the other part knows it's stupid...again, I'm unable to reconcile.

I'm trying...

Moving Day

2009-02-14T09:47:00.005+03:00

Yesterday was the first day in the new center...Oh wait, i guess I forgot to mention that they got the property...I didnt want to speak too soon, but Geoffrey went to Uganda last week and worked everything out with the landlord.
Yesterday morning we got a text from Geoffrey saying that if we wanted to come to Oasis we would have to come to the new center!

As soon as we walked in and saw the students in the new classrooms we cried. It made me so happy to see the kids get to enjoy the new center. They deserve to have such a wonderful place and we were so happy to get to see them there before we left.

Class 1 Classroom

I just couldnt get it together. Especially when I saw the older boys in class. It made me so happy because I felt that these boys had more hope than ever. I was worried that soon they might stop coming to Oasis because they are too old to go to primary school. Their only hope was vocational training, which on its own is too expensive, but now that Oasis has the new center, part of it is planned to be used for vocational training.
Class 5

Hakuna Posta

2009-02-11T17:11:00.002+03:00

I havent been able to post all that much since the team has been here. We've been super busy running all over Kitale. We've done a lot of fun things, which I will post about in the next couple of days as the heads out of town. Trust theres some great pictures

Street Kid Washing Day

2009-02-07T23:25:00.008+03:00

Among other things that happened today that I will post about later, there was a street washing at Purpose Driven Church. Street kids and moms could come and have lunch, see a doctor, and take their first bath in weeks.

How do you make Ugali for hundreds of people? Like this...

The first group to come and eat

Mama

Freda's mobile medical clinic right before it became packed with people

Some of the older boys waiting to get in, plus a random puppy I was given at the last minute. I was so excited, P.I.G., Eato, and Anthony from Oasis showed up.

After they ate, those who wanted a bath were taken outside and bathed.
Washing the street kids

Purpose Driven students in the front, street kids outside the gate

Etao and P.I.G.

Etao and Shaban

Some older street guys, I cant really call them boys.

Shaban and Etao. Shaban and Etao used to know each other from the streets. Shaban is now the prefect for class 7.

Simon even showed up. He left Fredas earlier this week after being told not to, just one of many times...

It was sheer craziness, but I thought it was a great day and I loved that people could come to one place and eat, get medical attention, and be bathed if they wanted to.

Pokot

2009-02-07T22:48:00.008+03:00

Yesterday we went to an area of Kenya called Pokot. Its about 2 hours away from Kitale, on your way to Turkana. We went to visit a school and a church out there, as well as have Freda provide her medical services

This is Pokot...

This is Hannah from Rwanda, she and her brother are staying with us for the next month or so.

Katie and her daughter Abbey led the kids in some dancing

Steve thought he was so clever hiding the ball in his shirt, I thought it was just an infection...

After Steve talked and Katies dancing we went down to a field to play some games before Freda had her clinic

Races

Freda's Staff

The giant tree where Freda's clinic was held

The de-worming line

Jaime got timely marriage advice from Freed's during the clinic, eventhough hes not married yet...

Then we visited a church down the road where they met outside. It was a really beautiful setting...except for when I had an allergic reaction to a bug that bit my ass in the middle of the service

Pokot mamas

Elia

2009-02-05T21:03:00.003+03:00

Anyone know how I can bring this kid home? His laugh is the best.
Taken in Freda's car at the mobile medical clinic today...
Theres video too, I just cant upload it because our internet is too slow...

"About Today"

2009-02-04T15:18:00.004+03:00

10 points to Gryffindor if you caught that National reference...On to business...

Today was spent at the Oasis Center. I just kept thinking over and over again about the kids and the possibility of Oasis getting the opportunity to move to the property we visited yesterday. The more I think about it the more I pray that it will happen.
Of course Im slightly biased because I know and love these kids so much, but at the same time I feel theres no group that deserves it more.

They come to the center everyday. Some from an hour's walk away. They work hard in class and they play hard outside. These kids have added so many unbelievable things to my life, Im afraid Ill feel empty when I go home.

I wont be able to sit and watch P.I.G., Anderson, Etao, Collins, and the rest of the older boys play soccer.
There will be no little Brendas who will come braid my hair with her tiny, dirty little hands.
James wont walk up to me and hand me a picture he's drawn in art class.
No one will understand me when I say "Na ku piga" or "Enda Kipsongo"
No more "gotas" from boney little knuckles.
I wont have to try and figure out what everyone is saying because they'll all be speaking English. (This is both fun and frustrating).

Current Oasis Center

These kids come with nothing tangible to give other than themselves, but Im always fulfilled when Im around them. There's no place I'd rather be than with them. How is it possible to feel so filled with so much when they've done nothing but mile at me?

I want these kids to have this center so bad my heart aches and I tear up thinking about the possibilities they would have in that new center. I know Allison, Steve, and I are not the only ones. I can only imagine what Lydia and Geoffrey are feeling.

Potential New Oasis Educational and Vocational Center

I'm praying and asking that this happens. I pray and ask that the landlord would come through with permission, as well as the funds from donors. Those are the 2 main obstacles that stand right now.
I know I asked for help when the house boys were robbed and Christmas came around, and those who know me know I don't feel comfortable asking for money. But this is something that I believe so much in for these kids. Lydia says the hardest thing when it comes to support is that there is not many long term commitments.

My departing wish is to see these kids get to move to the new center.
I feel that through our blogs you've gotten to know these kids and the faces and
I'm suggesting that if this is something that you think you might want to help at all with, get in touch with Lydia at oasisofhope@mac.com.

Thanks for all your support.

Tuesday

2009-02-03T16:12:00.008+03:00

Steve got in town last night to prepare for the Saddleback teams arrivals on thursday. So last night was spent catching up and hanging out.
This morning we went to Oasis and hung around the center.
Ive been meaning to take pictures of our walk that we take each day to Oasis and have always forgotten.
We leave our compound, walk through Milimani, and walk these train tracks right up to Oasis...

The tracks

Later we took John Ekai, formerly of House 2 to boarding school at Purpose Driven Academy.

After dropping John off and seeing some of the Oasis kids who board there we had lunch at the Alakara Hotel, and then went to see property which could hopefully end up being the new Oasis site. We were super excited to see it and its just around the corner
from our house.

The property used to be a hospital and training center, but the woman who owned it passed away about 2-3 years ago so the property has just been sitting there ever since...

Can you imagine the classes that could be held in here?

Crematory Table, uuggghhh...

Allison and I thought this was the creepiest looking hallway complete with door...Anyone remember the Shinning?

Around the other side

View from inside..beautiful

This was one of my favorite parts...the open field for the kids to be able to play soccer and other games on a field and not have to worry about smashing their toes on the train tracks.

The property is beautiful and would be amazing for Oasis' educational and vocational schools they want to build. It brought tears to my eyes and made me so happy to imagine all the center kids runing around that compound. Especially the older boys who its too late for them to go to regular school but not vocational school. It made me so excited to think of boys like P.I.G., Charles, Babu, Etao, and Collins, who are running out of time, but if Oasis' vocational school works out they can recieve some great training...this is all excited theory right now, but its great to think of the possibilites...so pray

Kamau's First Day

2009-02-02T15:05:00.002+03:00

Today we took Kamau to school for his first day. He was just moved into House 3 last week, and today marked his first day in school ever. And being Kamau, he was of course ridiculously cute.

He was a little nervous...

But after a few minutes he fit right in... Turns out hes in class with Teresa, formerly of Oasis. Let's play Where's Waldo, can you find her?

Because Kamau is now in House 3 and Patrick is in class 4, Patrick was moved over to House 1 and Kitale Forest so he could join Evans in class 4.

Pato's first day at Kitale Forest

Sunday Sunday

2009-02-01T17:58:00.007+03:00

After church today we had Martin, Johnstone, and Bram over to hang out. Steward and Moses come over all the time and these boys hadn't been over ina long time.
We had beans and rice for lunch then watched wrestling with Ayub and played soccer...
It was so fun and of course it was documented with pictures

Martin

Emmanuel

Emmanuel and Bram

Allison and Stone are totally good at balancing

Martin and Stone

Stone loves making this face...

Bram and Stone

We had so much fun. Words can't express how much we love these kids.

Girls House Dinner

2009-01-31T15:17:00.006+03:00

Last night we had dinner at the girls house. It was our last friday night dinner with the girls until we go home. Crazy. Just like these girls...

They sang and danced

This one goes, "Mama in the kitchen, cooking chipati, how many chipatis did she cook?" and then you have to say a number and count around the circle. Whoever it lands on has to put one finger out... The girls kept saying huge numbers like 35 or 42 so it would take forever to get someone out...But eventually it was down to me and Dorcas...I won!

The party then moved outside for a little bit and apparently they all love to pose with the same bush

Janet

I closed the evening with my best impression of an immigrant...

Picture of the Day

2009-01-31T09:16:00.002+03:00

So Im walking from our new house to our old house and I come around the bamboo fence and find this on the other side...

Ayub has never done this and I thought it was hilarious so naturally made him stay put so I could take more pictures...

Ayub is my favorite for reasons such as these.

Update on Simon

2009-01-30T16:41:00.002+03:00

We went to Freda's yesterday to pick the kids up to go swimming at the Kitale Club like usual.
I was hoping that Simon had stayed, after his many threats to leave. I found him as I walked into the hospital, just after he had been treated.
He said he wanted me to take some pictures.
The burns look a lot better than Tues. All the white stuff is just treatment to sooth and heal the burns.

Dinner With Richard

2009-01-29T19:53:00.003+03:00

On Tuesday we went over to Richard's and had dinner with him and 2 of the kids that live on their compound. Freda's granddaughter Ida and a boy named Davis.
Freda has been in America since the beginning of January and comes back next week, so its just Richard and the kids at their house.
Richard and I were talking the other night and he mentioned how he loved Western movies. I asked if he had seen "Tombstone", a personal favorite, Western or otherwise, and he said he never had. So we decided to have dinner and watch Tombstone.

Between power outages and Davis & Ida's playing we had a nice dinner and watched "a cinema." It was a nice evening. Richard said that Davis had a lot of energy but we didnt really believe him because hes so quiet. I guess we were wrong....

I gotta give it to the kid, he's got personality...

I Got Worms, Not Me Actually, Alice

2009-01-29T14:44:00.002+03:00

Alice has ringworm...here's my proof...

It's harmless, she got some cream from Freda's and it will be gone in a couple of days, she says it just itches a lot.

Alice has said the whole time she's been here that she has an immune system of steel because Chris and I got Malaria and she hasn't, well now I can say "False, you got ringworm."

Pictures from today

2009-01-28T20:23:00.006+03:00

So while on break from class 8 yesterday I wandered into class 7 to find cute Joseph talking to himself and working out a huge division problem on the blackboard. Sidenote, he was using a huge piece of sidewalk chalk, which was leaving an amazing amount of chalk dust on his pants, sweater, not to mention his hand.
I said "Joseph, do this" and i put my right hand on my cheek. He copied me and went on about his business, not realizing he now had the pile of chalk all over his face...

I love this kid. Outside of class he messes around and can be a bit crazy, but he's incredibly smart

The chain

Then Bram wandered in from break after playing soccer, so he was all sweaty.

Once we got home from our day, I had to pack up more of our room and its safe to say I cried my eyes out from around 4:30 til i went to bed last night. I cant and dont want to imagine my life without seeing these kids everyday. I dont think they know how much we love them and their personalities light up our days.
Allison and I were talking and I was saying how I didnt know if the teachers strike has been a blessing or a curse. On the positive side, we get these kids everyday and teaching them we've gotten to know them in a different way than before, but now I am that much more attached, which will make it harder to say goodbye...
Ive decided Ill take the pain as long as i get to see them everyday...

Simon

2009-01-28T08:13:00.002+03:00

This is a harsh story so just be prepared before you read...
Yesterday I took a boy named Simon to Sister Fredas. He used to live in one of the houses at Oasis until he ran away.Hes been gone for some time now, but showed up at the Oasis center about 2 days ago with severe burns all over his upper body and head.
And not blistering burns or anything, his skin had been so badly burned that it hadn't even blistered, it had already melted off.
We asked Geoffrey what happened and he said that Simon had gotten into an argument with a another guy and the other man had said some things about Simons mother and sister that apparently really upset him because Simons response was to pour paraffin on himself and light himself on fire.
This didnt happen a couple of days ago, it happened on the 11th, 2 1/2 weeks ago, and Simon has been living in Kipsongo since it happened. By the time he got to Oasis it was so infected and had been so long that he couldnt look at you straight because what was left of the skin had hardened with his head tilted to the side.
At first he refused to be admitted to the hospital but then Jane, the doctor talked with him and convinced him to stay. When I left he had been given some medicine and they were in the process of disinfecting and cleaning the burns. Were going to Freda's tomorrow so we'll get to see him then and see how hes doing.
Whats disturbed us, and even the doctors talked about it, was psychologically what would cause someone to do this to themselves...

packing it in

2009-01-26T21:40:00.003+03:00

We had to start packing our room up in preparation for Saddleback's teams coming in a week and our departure 2 weeks later...Just crazy and surreal, its starting...

House Dinner

2009-01-24T22:40:00.004+03:00

Last night was dinner with House 1 & 2. As usual we had so much fun. I had some great/funny conversations with Joseph and Steward.
The power went out for a while and Moses, Bram, Martin, and Stone sang to us, one of the songs they had written themselves. It was the highlight of Allison's and my night. It was beautiful.

But before the singing there was dancing...

Joseph was so proud of this amazing gold necklace, he let me keep it

The car ride home was a bit packed...

2009-01-24T17:17:00.004+03:00

Today was my birthday and all i really wanted to do was hang out with the kids and have kind of a low-key day. I wasnt quite sure how to accomplish this since once you get the 20-25 house kids together they tend to go crazy. Allison suggested a movie and sodas at the Coffee Shop in town. I thought it was brilliant.
So this morning we went to the Coffee Shop and met the Oasis house kids for sodas and the movie "Enchanted"

Before the movie, we all had sodas and hung out taking pictures and talking...

They loved the movie. I was nervous the older boys might not enjoy it as much, but I sat next to Martin who thought it was hilarious. He even liked the music. I would dare to say the older boys enjoyed it more.

Kamau

2009-01-23T16:08:00.003+03:00

Remember this little guy?

This is Kamau. He's about 5 years old and lives with his mom on the street. Yesterday after Geoffrey talked with his mom and she agreed, he was moved into House 3!
He will now be living with Esokon, Ovito, Wiki, Simiyu, Pato, and Isaya

Getting some shoes

Car ride to his new house

Getting the tour

Cute Kamau

Just Keep Swimming

2009-01-22T20:51:00.008+03:00

We took a break from teaching yesterday so we could take the kids from Freda's hospital to the pool like usual on thursdays

Dottie

Elia

Moses

Elia wouldn't bend his legs to jump so he would kind of just lean into the pool

We decided to bring back an old hairstyle, Kenyans thinkwe have weird hair anyway so why not?
Ladies and gentlemen, the Ben Franklin

Allison and I also had some fun jumping off the diving board for about 20 minutes after the kids were done swimming. Gold medal material really...Cannonballs, Jackknifes, Russians, 360's, you would have been impressed
Today, back to Class 7 Science

2009-01-22T07:41:00.003+03:00

Yesterday was my turn with Class 8 and we literally worked on Science and Social Studies from 9:30AM to 3:45PM.

Allison in her full uniform

I only had the shirt

Break time

Steward and Dorcas

Joseph, who after all this time, we found out his name was Godfrey

Martin, Johnstone, and Justus are crazy with how much they love to learn. It got to be break time and I asked if they wanted to go outside and they refused at least 4 times, so we kept going with the lessons.

It was great though because time flew without even knowing it.
Its great to have such small classes because we can take our time and discuss everything in depth and the kids can ask questions.
We covered some great topics like animals and their different types of defense mechanisms, carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, the different types of teeth, how the different types move, evolution, and archeology. This all lead to discussion of other topics not in the book such as Aero Dynamics, the Amazon, Boa Constrictors, submarines...We are not teaching today so that we can take Freda's kids to the pool, since we didn't get to go last week.
In our place Geoffrey will be teaching Swahili, lessons will continue tomorrow...

In the Streets

2009-01-20T22:35:00.009+03:00

Before Andrew left today he went in town to say goodbye to some of the street kids we see everyday in town. These are the kids who for some reason refuse to come to Oasis. They say they are starving and we tell them Oasis will feed them for free, but they still choose to not come.

So sometimes if we have to go to the supermarket we'll buy an extra bag or two of bread and give it to some of the boys we meet...

This is Joseph, he's one of the older boys who "looks after" and supplies glue for the younger boys...

Sometimes they show up at Oasis, but most times we only see them on the streets. Its crazy and heartbreaking to look at boys like Martin, Evans, Bram, and Moses and know that was once them.

Strike!

2009-01-20T17:54:00.010+03:00

Oasis

The teachers of Kenya have gone on strike to demand more money form the government. This only affects public schools, not private, so there are some schools that are still in session, like Purpose Driven and Kitale Family, where we have quite a few students.
Of course this still affects Kitale Forest and Milimani Primary, where we also have a ton of students. So instead of letting the kids just sit home and do nothing or possibly get themselves into trouble we decided to have the kids report to Oasis and the lower classes would be taught by Manu and Allison and I would teach class 7 and 8. She took Maths, English, and Creative Arts. I took Science, Social Studies, and CRE

All the kids reporting for school this morning

Ajix, Rael, Janet, and Dorcas

David, Pato, Wiki

Moses and Steward

Martin

Evans

Johnstone and Moses

I love Dorcas

Paul

Martin and Joseph

Yes, we actually had class...

The younger classes

Some of the older classes

Class 7

Class 8

Today also happened to be Andrew's last day...

The whole group

Up next is Allison and I...I'm not sure what to do considering I've been crying the entire time Ive been writing this blog...Dear Lord, "Beer me strength."

What Made my Friday Night

2009-01-18T21:35:00.001+03:00

Exactly...
This is how Simiyu is coming home with me...

Sunday

2009-01-18T20:36:00.006+03:00

We went to church at Oasis this morning...photo shoot always to follow...

Charles, Esokon, Justus, and Morgan

Bram and Martin

Ajix and her sister Christine

Martin and Evans

Dorcas and Charlotte

Faith and her partners in crime

Martin

Kamau

Justus, Charles, and Johnstone

This is one of my favorite sequences that I like to call,
The many faces of Evans "Matrix," as he calls himself

Saturday

2009-01-18T00:26:00.006+03:00

This afternoon we took a family from Oasis to the Coffee Shop to get chips and milkshakes, I know real healthy. It was actually 2 sisters and their brother. Elizabeth, David, and Teresa used to come to Oasis everyday, but just recently have been sponsored to go to school. They now attend Milimani Primary. Elizabeth is in class 5, David is class 3, and Teresa is in nursery class...They are such good kids and have worked so hard to go to school. I thought it would be a fun thing, especially since they never get to do anything like it.

The walk home, Teresa insisted on swinging..the whole way...Her poor mother probably thought I dragged her through the dirt.

Afterwards we went to House 2 to watch Arsenal vs. Hull City (soccer) with all of the house boys...Martin had called earlier to tell me that the game started at 3. I asked "are you sure? Because online it said the game was at 5:30, possibly as late as 7:30PM."
And he assured me it was at 3...So we got there around 345 only to find out that the game was actually at 815...Nice. Turns out that Chelsea was playing at 530, so we in the meantime I helped some of the boys revise and do homework...Apparently there was also a photo shoot, because these were found on my camera...

I had to leave before the game was over, but it was still really fun. Watching football in a room full of teenage Kenyan boys is hilarious. Theyre all shouting at the TV in swahili and making fun of the players and talking about how they could do everything better...F-U-N

Clinton

2009-01-15T18:00:00.004+03:00

This is Clinton. He lives with Ben & Christine who run Gilgal High School. I met him when we first got here and had a sleepover at Ben & Christines back in August. Hes the quietest, cutest little kid. He grew up in the village but his mother passed away when he was young. His father was killed last year in the clashes and his grandmother not long after. All that to say he is a total orphan at the age of 11. Ben & Christine have taken him in and say hes a great addition to the family. He's kind and respectful and helps out around the house. Ive loved this kid since the night we had dinner at their house.

Christine told me how after he got his last marks from his previous primary school, they were concerned because they were very low. They said the primary school he attended was poorly run and Clintons education was suffering so they wanted to move him to a better school where he could recieve extra help in his schooling to catch up.

This is his first day at Greenfields Primary. Its a beautiful school and from talking to the head master and some of the teachers it looks like Clinton will get the attention he needs to perform well.

One of my favorite moments was when we were in town getting his uniform and he was just standing by himself staring off into space. I told Ben, "I wonder what he is thinking." Ben asked him and Clinton said he was watching the activity of the street in the reflection of the cupboard glass. He said it was like watching a movie. I think this kid is dam cute.

Gilgal

2009-01-15T08:02:00.006+03:00

Today was our first day back at Gilgal High School. They closed back in November so we havent seen any of the students since then.
The first week of school usually fills in slowly, because the students might be coming from far away or not have all their school fees or books. Yesterday there were only about 6-8 students, more will show up throughout the week. Some are coming from as far away as Sudan.
I have missed the school and was definitely excited to be back and see the students

The girls and Christine

The guys...Edwin, the one with the tie around his head, is Head Boy...He takes it seriously

Tobias pretending to be revising

They really werent working that hard,it was all for show of the camera...

The class was pretty relaxed so the neighborhood kids joined us

This is about the extent of work that was done...quality picture-taking

This is one of my favorite students Silas. I call him "nini" with in Swahili means "what", because he says it all the time instead of actual words... I found out yesterday he wont be coming back, but instead going to a high school closer to where he is. I was really sad that I had to say goodbye, but at least I got to see him.

The girls wanted to show us the river where they get their water from. Its not an actual river, but a pipe that pumps clean water

Chumba...

Some of the neighborhood kids

Women's Prison

2009-01-10T13:18:00.000+03:00

We just got back from an amazing morning at the womens prison where our friend James works at.
Some saturday mornings we go out to the women's section of the prison and just spend time with the women and their babies, whom they're allowed to keep with them until they are around 4 years old, and sing, share from the Bible, and pray with them.
This morning we went and thought we were only going to be there a short time, but ended up staying for almost 2 hours. It was amazing to see the faces of these women.

We each shared one of our favorite verses from the New Testament and why it was a favorite. Allison and Andrew spoke from Ephesians, I spoke from Hebrews 11, Umi's was from John, our friends Felix and James spoke from Philippians and Romans...Between all of us I think we covered the New Testament pretty well...
Then one of the women prisoners shared her favorite verse and then Jane, the women's prison pastor...
Its almost impossible to describe to anyone an amazing moment in your life and get them to understand, but this morning at the prison was one of those moments. At the end 10 women inmates decided to accept Christ into their hearts. I've been present when people decide to become Christians so many times, and not to downplay those moments at all, but there was just something different and super intimate about getting to be there with these women this morning.
We don't see them everyday, in fact, we dont go there as often as we would like, but the prison definitely holds a special place in our hearts, so to be a part of this morning, I feel so blessed. Keep these women in your prayers, they are truly beautiful and wonderful women

Pool Day

2009-01-10T11:59:00.012+03:00

Yesterday was pool day! I have some good news to go along with it...We went to the hospital to pick up the kids to take them to the pool, but we found out that we were going to be a few kids short. Esther and Joyce, the 2 oldest girls, were sponsored and would be at school. We were sad they wouldn't be joining us, but it didn't compare to how happy we were to see them go to school.

Some of the kids at Freda's school/feeding program

Once we loaded up the kids we were off to the Kitale Club for swimming
Morgan and Elia

Cute Morgan

Freda's daughter-in-law Susan and her daughter Gail

Elia

You can barely see Dottie she's so small

Old Man Moses

I call this one "Dottie the refugee"

These kids love to stick their tongues out...notice a pattern?

Again with the tongue

Mine and Moses' feet, I'll give you one guess...

Morgans a born poser

Look at my little man

Im sorry he's just too dang cute

After the pool we dropped the kids back off at the hospitale and put them to bed for their afternoon nap. Richard had to take Freda's mom back to her home in Kiminnini, which is about a 20 min drive out of town, then 30 min off the main road. I had never been there before so we just went with him. Im glad we did. It was a fun little adventure and I got to see another part of Kenya I'd never been to before...
The road to Kiminnini

The view from Freda's mom's house

Richard was explaining how they build houses in her area. He said first they make the structure out of wood, like this, then fill it in with mud and then once that has dried, you plaster the outside with cow dung

Some of the neighborhood kids

Books!

2009-01-09T09:39:00.003+03:00

Yesterday we spent most of the day at our friends bookshop. We have gotten to know them quite well since we go there all the time for the kids school supplies.
Well, were definitely not their only customers and they have been bombarded since school started. We were tlaking to them and they were telling us how they have been losing money because the prices of books has gone up but because they have been so busy they have not had time to change the prices and therefore have had to sell at the lower price...

Allison had the idea of offering our services to help change all the prices...I dont know why but I thought that would be fun...and it totally was. We went for a couple hours and re-wrote prices and re-shelved books, all the while the front desk was going nuts with customers...I hope we helped a little

2009-01-07T14:23:00.006+03:00

Oasis Center

Yesterday was spent running around town again trying to get the rest of all the school supplies for the kids and then going to the various schools to drop them off...After going into town and getting everything we went to Oasis to pick up Sammy and take him to his first day of school ever. He was so excited.

This is who greeted us as we arrived
These are the beautiful girls that live down the street in a slum called Shimo Le Tewa....If we catch them at the right time we all walk to Oasis together

First up Kitale Family

Sammy and all his new school stuff

Look at that smile

Donald and Crydon

Then onto Milimani

Dorcas and Ajix were the only ones out of all the house kids that would come and talk to us...
They say they get teased by their classmates...I say now we know who really loves us...

Look for it on the cover of next month's Hot Rod magazine

Ajix and Dorcas

Ajix and her beautiful face...you should hear her laugh, its the best

Geoffrey and the girls

Stock Me Up!

2009-01-05T15:17:00.008+03:00

Today we finished the rest of the school shopping, well for the most part...we still have to exchange books and pick up a big order of socks...but overall its done...
we got up really early and headed into town to get everything together. Then we brought it back to the house to organize everything for each student...

The organizing process

These pyjamas look comfortable

New pyjamas, theyre going to be huge on the boys, but they can grow into them

The girls nightgowns

What all do you need to start a new school term in Kitale, Kenya? Why toilet paper, shoe polish, vaseline, bar soap, and toothpaste of course!

Allison and I had an interesting time with this part...we had to shop for and put together all the boys underwear...the younger boys weren't so bad cuz they're cute little kids...we just don't really want to think about or know what kind of underwear the older boys like Elvis or Kevin is walking around in...something just doesn't feel right

I took to organizing the clothes while Allison organized all of the cleaning supplies like toothbrushes toothpaste, soap, and shoe polish...About 45 minutes later we had everything ready to go...

A closer look

First school stop, Purpose Driven Academy, where we have about 11 kids in school

"The boot"

This is Shaban, we fight and yell at each other "Enda Kipsongo!" which means "Go to Kipsongo!" (the worst slum in Kitale), but we really love each other...

Allison handing Rael her new materials

Crydon

Donald and Amos

Acdon is a great student...

Kitale Family students recieving their new materials

Acdon and Sheila = brother and sister

Elizabeth, Sheila, Acdon, Donald, Amos, and Crydon

Off they go, they grow up so fast...

January

2009-01-04T15:23:00.002+03:00

Its already Jan. Thats just crazy.
Tomorrow is the first day of school for all the kids since November. It marks the start of a brand new term. We handed out some of the school books and supplies we had prepared last week after church today and the rest of the kids will get theirs tomorrow...
In other news, Allison made me a paper chain to countdown to my birthday. I was super excited about it because she had one for Katie and Ryanne coming back in Nov. and Chris had one counting down his departure. She said we each had to have a paper chain to countdown to something, so mine was my birthday...sweet:)

Swimming

2009-01-03T10:19:00.002+03:00

Yesterday we took Freda's kids to the pool at the Kitale Club...We usually take them every thursday but because Christmas and New Years both fell on thursdays we had to wait. The kids are getting braver every time we go. They used to be afraid and would barely go into the water, now most of them jump right in, except for Elia.

Morgan

Elia actually went into the water this week

Moses and Morgan

Tiny Dottie

Time for chips and soda
Moses was confused by the carrots that were mixed in with his fries...

We love Richard, I think I caught him off guard with this picture...

New Years Rockin Eve...

2009-01-01T12:36:00.004+03:00

For New Years we had intended to go out to dinner and have a big night out...But plans changed and we ended up staying in and having delicious macaroni and cheese and watching Harry Potter 2 until midnight when we rang the new year in by banging pots and pans...This is a tradition that Allison takes part in every year, but I've never even heard of it, so it was my first time...

Self-timer action

Tom Riddle

How many rulers does it take...

2008-12-31T16:04:00.008+03:00

Allison and I spent this morning in town with Geoffrey buying all the textbooks and workbooks that the Oasis kids will need when they start school on monday. There will be 51 kids in primary and 1 in Secondary (high school)...
Allison had prepared lists of what each kid would need and how much it would cost so when we went to go purchase it all we had to do was show them the list and they compiled it from there...It made things sooo easy when it could have been complete chaos...
After loading the books into the taxi we headed home and set to organizing everything...Workbooks, textbooks, and school supplies like pens, pencils, erasers...
We were so excited to get to organize everything for the kids in preparation for school...So a bunch of school supplies, another quick trip to town by Andrew, and a couple hours later we had everything organized...

You'll never guess how much these boxes actually hold...

The mountian of textbooks...

Workbooks

Anybody need a pen?

Elvis better study hard

Look at Allison's organization skills in action...

The finished product...

Call us nerds, but we love organizing, so it was fun...plus we love the kids...Thank you so much to those people who donated, these school books were bought because you gave!

2008-12-30T09:44:00.005+03:00

It's been super quiet around here as you can tell by the lack of posts in the last week or so...With the craziness of Christmas and the holidays, it seems like everyone is out of town or lying low until school starts next week...

I've enjoyed it because I never really let myself relax and I'm almost finished with my last Harry Potter book (yes, Im obsessed), but I've moments of cabin fever, if thats possible on our huge compoud, and run to town for bread...

Like I said school starts next monday, so yesterday, today, and tomorrow will be spent getting all the supplies for the kids who will be going back to school. Yesterday we went to Transmatt and bought all the pens, pencils, rulers, and sharpeners. Today we'll be getting books and some of the supplies for the boarders...

After we had purchased everything at Transmatt we met some the house boys who didn't go home for Christmas at the Alakara for lunch fo Chicken and chips...

Pato

All the boys

Paul and Moses

All that chicken made Paul sleepy

Christmas in Kenya

2008-12-26T11:48:00.011+03:00

Our house at Christmas...

I freaking love my lit up Mary...found it at Transmatt

Our manger

Stockings were hung by the fire with care...

Tonya decorated Emmanuel for Christmas

Dinner table

No matter where you have Christmas Dinner, be it Kenya or America, theres always a mess afterwards

Dinner was followed by a photo shoot....Complete with the cheesy "family photo" Although, I cant say its an accurate family photo because Chris isn't in it, but you get the idea

The whole group...

Christmas Eve

2008-12-25T13:53:00.002+03:00

So last night we had Christmas Eve Dinner with 13 people. Andrew and I ran to the market to get everything we needed, and no surprise it was insane...Insane is actually an understatement...We got mauled in the Khetia's Supermarket...You would have thought the world was ending it was so packed with frantic people.

I have bruises from being hit with shopping carts and at one point I had to abandon some intended items on our shopping list because I literally couldnt move through the crush of people. Ive never seen anything like it...I wish I had taken pictures...

After, we rushed home to start dinner because we were already an hour behind. As we rushed into the house I heard Christmas music and the house was beautifully decorated with all kinds of Christmas stuff. Allison was sitting on the couch just smiling. She had spent the afternoon drawing and decorating the house for Christmas...I just looked at her and started crying. It was the first time it actually felt something like Christmas...I seriously couldn't have asked for anything else...Ill post pics soon of how awesome the house looked like, she might actually have some up on her page already...It made my day...
To be honest I was kind of sad I wasn't home with my sisters and it was starting to hit me I'd never missed a Christmas, so to walk into the house the way Allison had decorated it, I couldn't have asked for more. It was great.

Dinner was a lot of fun and ended with an American/Ukrainian photo shoot...More to come

Christmas at Oasis

2008-12-24T10:42:00.018+03:00

Tuesday was the big Christmas party at Oasis...Long story short I had a full report of the days events ready to post and the damn internet took it so for now Ill express the day in photos...It was unbelievable...

We got up at 5:30AM to get ready for the day and were at Oasis at 6:45AM...Im not quite a morning person, but I love the random times that I do get up at that time just for a change, and especially on a day like Tuesday...

The calm before the storm...

Our Ukrainian roommate Vitalec blew up all these balloons

All the clothes and shoes organized

Alice and Andrew were put to work peeling potatoes and organizing the clothes...

The kids started arriving by 7-7:30...Some of the first to poke their heads into the center were Kamao and Ajix...

"Oh my gosh, shoes..."

Trousers

Joseph handing out the clothes...

Picking out shoes

Look how tiny Kamao is compared to Pato

Pato and his makeshift belt

Jennifer and her new skirt

The kids were so excited we could hardly keep them out of the Center and we loved getting to see the before and after. Kids would come in in their street clothes and come out in their new outfits, they looked stellar!

Acdon

I have a ton of pictures from the day, but I cant get them to post so ill just chose some of the really good ones and hope those can do the day justice until the internet decides it wants to work again...

Fitting room

Elizabeth helped in the changing room

David getting ready to go change

Some of the newly dressed boys

George, P.I.G., Charles, Etao, Collins, and Donald

Kamao's photo shoot...

Christine and her friends waiting in line

Wendy

Donald and Anthony

Moses and Elvis

Anthony and his glasses

Collins and his spiffy outfit, sans shoes...

The boys in their new clothes, They would get embarassed when we told them how handsome they looked

Kevin

Rael likes her shoes

The other Rael approved too

In this picture I had just caught P.I.G. trying to look into the girls changing room, busted...

Teresa and her crew

Rael and Christine

The rest of the days activities consisted of taking tea, watching Home Alone until the power went out, some singing and dancing, as well as reading an email from Lydia that she sent to all of the kids, and topped off by a lunch of Chipati, meat, potatoes, and soda...

Tea Time

Later,
Allison's favorite, Bushuru sang for everyone

All the kids at the end of the day

It was a really fun day and we're pretty sure the kids enjoyed it...

Party Time

2008-12-22T17:30:00.004+03:00

Today was great. We went to town and got the last of everything for the Oasis Christmas party tomorrow. The kids are super excited about it, even getting stoked on us blowing up balloons.

After we went to town, Moses and I took Eunice to the doctors to get her tested for malaria. We could tell even before we went she had such a high fever, but had to get her tested just to be sure. Turns out we were right, so we got her medicine and headed back to Oasis...Seems like everyday theres a new kid with malaria, and I can't say I envy them, it's not fun...

After lunch we were trying to get all the kids to leave the center so we could decorate, but they were all hanging around trying to get a peek and getting their heads shaved for tomorrow. We'll be there bright and early at 7AM to finish and get everything ready...

We're just as excited for the party and there will definitely be more pictures than you can handle come tomorrow night

Arsenal vs. Liverpool

2008-12-22T16:45:00.006+03:00

Last night we went to house 2 to watch the Arsenal vs. Liverpool game with the boys that didnt go anywhere for Christmas. I've always enjoyed futbol (soccer) and would watch a couple matches or read about the teams and players, but never got obsessed about it. Being around these kids, they want you to play with them and they're always talking about the games and the players, so needless to say I've become more invested...

Pato playing soccer...

This is Charles, he goes to Oasis everyday and is a neighbor of the house boys.

Keya

We thought elvis might not be the type to pose like the younger boys...turns out we were wrong, he's just more quiet about it...

Andrew and Keya

This is what happens when you ask Keya to take a picture...Allison even had him do it a second time with no luck...

Elvis and Moses

Justus and Moses

It was a really fun night just getting to hang out and watch the game. Elvis and I kept fighting over who was the better team. He's all for Manchester United and I'm for Arsenal. Granted I still am learning and he knows way more than I do, but he would get so worked up over anything I said, so after a while I just made things up to get him going. He would just keep say "Aye, Bwana...you know..." and then rant at me in Swahili...priceless.
Oh BTW Arsenal drew 1-1 after Adebayor got a red card. Oh well they're still better than Manu U

The Strongest Man in the World...

2008-12-21T20:45:00.005+03:00

Last night I heard a ton of noise coming from Ayub's house on our compound...So I went to investigate and when I got to Ayub's house I found Ayub (basically our Kenyan dad) and Cleophas (our guard and friend) watching, what else but, WWE wrestling!

Apparently it's a regular saturday night even for these two, and I think I may have to join them, it was so much fun. Ayub didn't stop laughing and cheering on the wrestlers. He would say in his Kenyan accent " Wow! Look at this man, have you ever seen such a thing?" While everytime someone got hit, Cleophas would put his hands on his head, grab his hat, and say "A lalalalalala..."

Ayub's favorite part was when there was a "little person" wrestler. Apparently, he's never really seen one, let alone one who wrestles...I wish I could video Ayub's laugh and post it, it's one of my favorites and so contagious. It just makes you happy when you hear it. Oh Ayub...

Home

2008-12-19T15:35:00.011+03:00

Today most of the house boys left to go home for Christmas. They have been talking about it for months, and truthfully we didn't know if it was going to happen because of money. Everything worked out and thanks to a bunch of donations to Oasis, they were able to go at the last minute.

Before they left Geoffrey had a talk with them about traveling, their "activities" at home, and when to be back. We heard that the boys didnt have bibles of their own and we found a huge box of them here at our house, so Allison, Chris, Andrew, and I decided this might be a good gift to give them before they left. We wrote their name, our favorite bible verse, and signed them

The boys in the office with their bibles...

So of coarse as we were saying goodbye we had to take as many pictures as possible...

Wiki & John

Evans & John

Dr. Stone

Esokon, Paul, and Bram before they headed to Lodwar

Evans

Bram

We said goodbye to the house boys and then this awesome photo shoot took place...

Mobsters...

They all wantedto see themselves, so they mobbed Alice

Our littlest ninja Kamao, hes got a wicked Praying Mantis...

Kamao was in rare form today

Seriously looks like an alien...

Cute Teresa

Ovito's brother Isaiah...

Simon

Andrew's workout

Hand check

Who knows...

After we walked into town to get the rest of the Christmas presents. Andrew and I wandered around the street to find some kids we know who hadn't come to Oasis and found these two at the kinyozi...

Yep, it's for real, the Pentagon opened a kinyozi in Kenya...some sort of under cover thing...

Bram wanted to look smart for the fam, and why not? He has 11 brothers and sisters waiting...This kid's 16! He looks like an old man...

Christmas Time is Here...

2008-12-19T14:59:00.006+03:00

Yesterday and today Joseph, Andrew, Allison, and I went to town to start getting things for the Oasis Christmas celebration coming up on Tuesday...
We spent a good amount of time at Joseph's friend's store getting clothes for about 120 kids. Each kid will get a new pair of pants, a nice shirt, socks, and shoes...

The floor of the store was covered, you could barely see joseph's feet.

This is the crowd that began to gather because of all the "Mazungu's" in the shopping center...

Andrew looked like Santa Claus hauling out the bags of clothes...

We can't wait for Tuesday the kids are so excited for Christmas. I'm really thankfull to be here for it. I'm sad I can't be at home this time of year, but getting to see these kids on Christmas will make it more than worth it...
Also, to everyone who sent donations to Oasis for Christmas and to replace what was stolen in the boys homes, a huge THANK YOU for making it all possible, it couldn't have happened without your help...There will be more to show after Tuesdays party, we're keeping everything hidden for now:)

Wednesday at Oasis

2008-12-18T07:49:00.006+03:00

This is what greeted us as we arrived to Oasis yesterday...When asked why he was wearing a band aide across his nose which rested in his actual eyeballs, he said, "It's my style." Oh, Steward how I love this kid... At least he has some I guess.

Kamao and James

Look how properly Donald eats, he looks like an old man the way he's sitting...too cute.

Celinah

Elizabeth

Proof there are cowboys in Kenya, and he's not the only one I've seen hanging around town...

And speaking of lunch, what better time than lunch to pull jiggers out of a little girls feet...poor thing

Safari Njema

2008-12-16T17:59:00.002+03:00

We just got home from dropping Chris off at the airport. He's on the first leg of his trip home. Sadness, for us at least...Safari Njema Chris.

2nd to Last

2008-12-15T14:52:00.003+03:00

Today is Chris' second to last day here in Kenya. He wanted to spend both today and tomorrow at Oasis with all the kids before he left.
It was a typical day with school and soccer, but when it came to craft time, all the kids made going away cards for him. It was ridiculously cute what they all wrote to him, Im sure he will post about it soon.
One of my best friends from America, Jason, called while we were at Oasis and a couple of the kids talked to him on the phone. It was awesome.
So here you go J some faces to put with the voices you heard.
First was Teresa. Shes so tiny and doesn't speak much English so I just had her and her group of friends talk to him in Swahili. Her tiny voice is the cutest thing I've ever heard.

Next was Steward, he has great English and I knew that with his personality he would be hilarious to talk to.

And finally cute Moses who asked Jason, "What time is it?" and when Jason said 4Am he told him "Aye bwana, thats too late, you should sleep." ha!

We are having one final dinner for Chris tonight with the people who work here at the house and some of Chris' closest friends, like Geoffrey, Olivia, James, Freda, and Richard...

Last House Dinner

2008-12-13T08:36:00.006+03:00

Last night was the last house dinner with the all the boys and Chris...
Good thing we had multiple cameras to capture all the action

The boys now have a well just outside their front door...

Inside the well

Lilac armwrestled and proved she was stronger than the boys

Evans danced and played hard to get with me...again

Paul & Justus made dinner

Braum took turns with Martin DJ'ing

Andrew and Paul worked on their posing, sychcronicity

and Steward was trying to teach me something, though Im still not quite sure what

Moses was caught a bit off gaurd

Oh Steward, he was obviously feeling better after his bout with Malaria

Martin loves the ladies

Last group photo with Chris

2008-12-13T07:43:00.005+03:00

Yesterday afternoon was spent at Discover to Recover, well it started there and then we made our way to Patricia Sawa's home for lunch and a big party with the kids

"This party's good!"

Ian

What's a party without Benja's crack?

Andrew loves picking on this poor cow

Benja's photo shoot

Derrick

This kid's pretty damn cute

BFF Derrick and Benja

Stella trying to steal the "sweeties" meant for the kids, its ok I stole one too

Ian, I freaking love this little troublemaker

Lilac

Ian,

Just a kid having lunch with a cow, no big deal...

After Discover to Recover we went home for a bit to get ready for dinner with the house boys...

Freda's and the pool

2008-12-12T08:07:00.004+03:00

I know i havent posted in a couple days, but after my 3 posts at once I figured that it was ok to take a break...We've been at Oasis everyday, which we've loved. One important thing I recalled from the last coupe days at Oasis was Joseph (one of the teachers) and I talking to one of the street boys, Kevin, who comes regularly about why he misses certain days. We got him to admit he still uses glue and hes struggling with giving it up, but he's going to try because he wants to go to school. Its a really hard habit to break, esp. if you live on the street...its around you 24 hours a day and it helps numb the hunger and cold, so we'll see what happens but we're working on helping him.

Yesterday was thursday so that meant it was pool day for the kids that live at Freda's...
Freda had bought them new outfits, so we put them in their fancy clothes to go to the Kitale Club to swim, but first we had a photo shoot...

In Kenya, when you look this good, they say "Iko smart"

Morgan jumped to Chris

I bit Elia

And Alice threw Liliputian Jaci

Really?

Moses

Morgan, who Andrew thinks looks like a Compton baby, so we taught him to yell "Westside!" Not to mention he has somewhat of a lisp so it sounds more like "wessssiiee."

Ca-Liss

2008-12-10T21:07:00.002+03:00

Random thought but Chris leaves 2 days. We don't want him to go, the kids esp. To say they/we love him is an understatement.
Its sad and it sucks. Its going to be so quiet around here.
We went to Lighthouse church this morning for his last service there and they brought him up at the end to thank him and say goodbye and pray a blessing over him...and then I started crying. It made it all too real I guess. There will definitely be more on Tues when we take him to the airport.

2008-12-09T22:03:00.002+03:00

Last night was a huge dinner for Chris with all the Oasis staff at Geoffrey and Olivia's. Its hard to believe/really sad that Chris is leaving in one week...Its come up so fast and we wanted him to get to see everyone before he left
so the next week will be packed with dinners and seeing people.
Allison and I met Olivia in town after Oasis to get all the ingredients for dinner and then headed to their house...
We started watching White Chicks, a ridiculous movie BTW, then Olivia and I got started on cooking while Allison babysat Charlotte...We started around 330 and finally ate around 915...It honestly didnt feel that long and I had a lot of fun in the kitchen with Olivia...
We made Chipati of coarse, Chicken Curry, Peanut Chicken, Pilau (a rice dish), mashed bananas, and homemade macaroni and cheese ( I was proud of that one, esp. since i didn't think it was going to turn out).

The outside kitchen

Where the masterpieces happened

This box only contained a portion of what we made for dinner...

It was a really fun night with everyone from Oasis but sad because it was a goodbye dinner for Chris...I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

Dance dance revolution

2008-12-09T21:36:00.005+03:00

Sunday night Steve invited people over for dinner since it was his last night before he left for the Congo...total there were about 16 people. We ordered a ton of pizza and the night took its own turn...

Geoffrey's daughter, Charlotte, how beautiful is this baby?

Charlotte having a go riding the giraffe

Charlottes got some pretty sweet rhymes

The boys break dancing

Steve went around the room and made each group sing their national anthem...All those represented were America, Ukraine, Uzbeckistan, and Kenya.

Steve also suggested a dance off between the Kenyans...Lilac won eventhough Jacinta was a close 2nd

Chris gave the Kenyans a run for their money

The night ended on this wonderful note...Our Ukrainian roommate Vitalec did a dance to a hip hop chicken song and then bench pressed Chris...Chris said he liked it when he touched his butt...

Steve left yesterday for the Congo, please pray for his safety. It was fun to have him back for a few days, it's like having your dad come and visit. Its always crazy when Steve's in town, because everyone loves him and wants to see him, but it's fun when hes around.

Sunday afternoon

2008-12-09T20:52:00.004+03:00

I haven't posted in a couple of days, partly because we've been really busy, partly because the internet sucks and even more so because my computer sucks at connecting to the internet...So theres a couple posts to catch up on...

First of all Sunday was a lot of fun, a long day, but fun. We just went to church in the morning and then some of the house boys, Moses, Steward, Evans, and Joseph came to the house to hang out for a bit...

Joseph on the way home. Look at that face.

Walking home with Joseph

Typical Moses face

Moses thought he was the only one in the world with "backne" and wanted to prove it

Steward wouldn't admit it but his feet smelled like "mafi" which in Swahili means poop.

Not really sure what Evans is doing, then again, I've never really been sure, which I think is one of my favorite things about him. Steward was narrating a mini movie.

I told you he plays hard to get

Moses thought his armpits needed freshening up...

We played soccer and just hung out. Steward and Evans and I sat in the grass for a while and just talked. They taught me mor Swahili phrases like "Im going to beat you," "I'm dying," and "swallow a razorblade"...all essentials to survival here...
After they left we got ready for our last dinner with Steve before he left for the Congo. Little did we know it was going to be a dinner for 16...

Emannuel

2008-12-07T17:55:00.002+03:00

Yes, this is the same baby... Emannuel was brought to Sister Freda's when we first got here in August. His mother died and he was being taken care of by his grandmother, who would come to Freda's for food, but what Freda found out was that the grandmother wasn't feeding Emmanuel. She was taking the food and eating it herself.
So Freda told the grandmother to bring Emmanuel to Freda's and he's been there ever since. Had he not come to Freda's when he did he would have died. Tonya, one of the Ukrainians who lives on our compound, has kept him on our compound for the last couple of weeks and its been so fun having him around...hes such a great baby.

August 2008

December 3, 2008

Movie Day

2008-12-07T16:35:00.005+03:00

Yesterday we had a movie day for all the house kids at the coffee shop in town. We thought it would be a fun thing to do before Chris left town. We were so excited all the house kids showed up, total we had about 28 kids come.

The movie of choice was Home Alone, the perfect holiday movie right? It was hysterical to watch with all of them...I know I still laugh at that damn movie but just imagine watching it with a bunch of Kenyan kids who might have never seen it...The laughed, screamed, and pointed at the screen the entire movie...I think one of my favorite parts was watching Joseph watch the movie, to say he loved it is an understatement. The best was at the end when the burglers were being taken away in the cop car and Maculay Culkin waves out his window to them and Joseph waved back!

Pato, look at cute John in the background

Evans, Wiki, and Pato were some of the first to arrive. We were hanging out for a bit before and got everyone sodas before the movie started...

Paul and Alice working the glasses

Paul dug my glasses

Wiki in his best blazer

Paul

Evans plays hard to get, but he always comes around

Moses

After the movie we went to a couple stores in town to stock up. Our friend Lilac (pronounced Leelock)is back from high school and will be staying with us for a while during her break from school. Everyone went to Khetias while Lilac and I ran between Soy and the town market. I love going to the local market, they have the best vegatables and for super cheap...there are some great "mamas" there that are so sweet and love to talk to me in swahili (even though I don't know what they are saying half the time). I just nod my head and say "Eehhh" and they think I know what they are saying, it's a great way to communicate...
After the market we waited out front of Khetia's Supermarket (yes they have them here) some of the street boys that come to Oasis found me to say hello and talk for a bit. I loved getting to see them outside of Oasis, but as I walked around town it made me sad to know that those busy, dirty streets were where they slept every night.
Saturdays are so crazy in town that it makes me not want to go there very often, but after seeing all the kids in town I want to go more saturdays to just see them and hang out a little. It makes my day to see these smiling little faces (in some cases not quite so small) coming up to greet me. Despite what most people think of street kids, there are good ones out there who are just victims of circumstance.