Emannuel

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

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.

Girls House Dinner

Last night was dinner at the girl's house. We always have ridiculous amounts of fun while were there and after the night started out like this...

We knew we wouldnt be disappointed. Steve and Geoffrey joined us for the first time and it made it really fun...







Just a backyard BBQ


Centrine


Nancy


The number of rings represents how many boyfriends Centrine has...only kidding...she got so embarassed when we were naming them...Steward, Elvis,Timo...


Rael always provides great pictures




Dorcas and Janet




Nuff said


House mom Rebekah


I have more but i cant figure this internet/external hard drive thing out just yet...so there might be more random posts to come

Discover to Recover

Today we went to Discover to Recover. Allison and Chris go every friday, but I taught at Kitale Forest and the last couple of times have been to tired to go, so it's been a while since I have been there.
It was a lot of fun and the kids are great. Allison and I had an eventful piki piki ride to the center and when we got there we discovered there were some people shooting a documentary on Patricia Sawa and the Discover to Recover Center.

The kids also had graduation and at the end of the day they got all their marks. They were so excited.



Peter working the video camera


Mary


Peter


one of the teachers


Shiro



Little trouble maker Ian





Elias and Mary


Hoscar


Monica posed for a series of pictures in her pretty dress







Monica

Here are some pictures from wed. when we went and visited the house boys at a youth retreat in Kipsongo, it was at a really nice church that was actually afiliated with Pastor Bonifus and his church that we visited in Lodwar..

Esokon


This ones for my boss at World Vision


Evans, who when i greeted him happened to accidentally injure my toe, I beat him up and then we were square



Esokon


Elvis and Esokon.


Timo before

Timo after



Johnstone


Yesterday was spent with Richard and Freda and the 7 kids that live at her hospital, we took them to the pool at the Kitale Club which I think is a favorite not just for the kids but us too. Steve just got back into town for a couple days before he heads to the Congo, so he joined us for the day.
The car ride to the Kitale Club


Moses


Elia


Tiny Jaci and Ester


Joyce


This is our new friend Andrew, he got in Tuesday morning and will be here until March. He's jumped in with everything and the kids already love him.


Gail


Morgan


Elia


Moses was getting his praise on poolside


After the pool we had some chips (french fries) and hung out before we headed back to the hospital for lunch. Elia fell asleep on me during the car ride home. He can be a bit of butt, but its moments like that that make me want to take him home...
At Fredas we just had lunch and I cut Richards hair before we headed home to make dinner for our friends who run the Gilgol High School I teach Geography at, Ben and Christine...We haven't seen them for quite a while, since school's been out, so it was nice to catch up.
Today is Oasis and Discover to Recover...I can't believe Im just getting up and everyone else is just about to go to sleep...
I also think Im figuring out my system for blogging and emailing, hopefully my Computer will return to normal soon