Kitale Show

Yesterday was one of the biggest days for the Oasis kids and most of the school kids in and around Kitale...
Once a year "The Show" comes to Kitale from Wed-Sat. Its like the county fair in America. Its meant to be an agricultural show to display agricultural and farming techniques. But they also have rides, like the giant swing, which looked a little rusty, and games and attrations...all of which you have to pay for.

Cabbage


We had just over 100 kids from Oasis and the various schools around Kitale. Most kids were let out of school so they would be able to attend. We were told all kinds of things before we got into the show, like watch your bags and pockets because there are tons of pickpockets. One student even told me that you could get stabbed...nice. Of coarse they like to exagerate a little, but after Patrick and Manu punched a guy for trying to pickpocket before we even got into the show, everyone was paying attention...

Some plants...


Joseph gave his approval


Timo and Moses





Chris & John


A bunch of agricultural stuff I didn't know about...It was awesome because they would point something out and say "Do you know what that is?"I would ignorantly say "no" and they would explain the whole thing.




Allison, Moses and Timo


These people are making fun of the British colonists...


Omega 1, This is the dance club that stays open 24 hours a day and we can hear from our house, when it wakes me up at 330AM everyday


Stuard


Andrew


Some other attractions on display...



Were not quite sure what happened to this camel, all we know was it somehow ended up head-first down this hole...its one of those trainwreck things where its horrifying to watch but you almost have to look to see for yourself...They said they tried to get it out but I guess they couldn't


If you were ever curious as to how much a pigs head would cost, they could tell you





P.I.G.


Paul & Justus


Dorcas


Joseph


Soccer Stadium



Im going to have to cut it off here and continue tomorrow....

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...