Experiences of a Lifetime!

These last couple of weeks have been full of exciting new adventures. To start, two weeks ago I went home with my supervisor for the weekend. Life outside of the compound is completely different. I had such an amazing time and learned a ton. Mrs. Catherine and her husband John poured gallons of wisdom into me over the weekend. It was also great getting to spend more time with her children. On Sat., Catherine took me to her shags (the place where she grew up). Her parents are such kind people and they live on a farm. Her father showed me around his coffee field and explained the process of growing and making coffee. The coffee plants seemed to stretch on forever. He also has rows of banana trees and yellow passion fruit. He also has a few cows that provide the milk and allow him to sell the excess in town. Everything on his farm is self-sufficient. Even the cooking gas is produced in a manure well. Catherine taught me how to cook a few Kenyan meals and the weekend flew by very quickly.

            This last weekend we went to Mombasa. Being at the coast was a blast. We stayed at a house that was literally feet away from the beach. We did some touring of the city and I got to take my first Matatu ride! The scenery on the beach was gorgeous and my friend, Nigel, went with me so that I could take a swim in the Indian Ocean. Just a side note, the Indian Ocean is very warm! Our plan was to walk about a kilometer down the beach and explore a small reef and then swim back as the tide came in. However, we didn’t time the tide right and it was already coming in before we made it to the reef. So unfortunately we didn’t get to see it, but we did get a nice long swim in!  It was breathtaking being out in the Ocean away from everything. About 3-4 kilometers away from us was a huge reef that stretches out and protects the shore from the huge waves. From where we were, I could hear and see the waves crashing up against the reef. It was probably the highlight of my trip to the coast. 

          The rest of this week we have been busy in the classroom because the term ends on Wednesday. Sorry that this update is very broad, but some things are impossible to put into words without writing a book! 

Brief Update About the Week

I have had quite the interesting week. This week we went into town and met with my friend, Tray’s, cousins. They made us a late supper and we had a great time hanging out. Then on Tuesday evening we ate supper at Faith House, the apartments here at KKV. Baba Zedee and Mama Mary don’t speak much English so it was really fun and interesting. The children showed us how to play a hand game and we practiced counting to 10 in about 7 different languages. I was also introduced to the Kenyan version of our ABC’s. They have a different song to go with them and they were more than willing to teach it to us. I am going to try to post a video of it soon for those of you who teach that sort of thing. On Wednesday, I got the opportunity to visit a home called “Wings”. It is basically a home for teenage mothers from the slums. They house some of them and feed them. They also watch the babies while the mothers go back to school. The story of this place and how it has gotten started in the last 10 months is truly remarkable! I wish that I could share it, however, that could take pages and still would not do this place justice. So, for now, you will just have to believe me when I say it is remarkable. Aside from our adventures this week, the children are continuing to amaze me in new ways and the thought of leaving is beginning to break my heart. The last few days, I have gotten many questions in regards to when I will be leaving and more importantly, when will I be coming back. It is being brought to my attention the negative impact that I may unintentionally be having. You see, most of these children have a hard enough time letting themselves trust anyone. But then to stay long enough for them to get used to you and begin to trust you just to leave? I already feel as though I am betraying them. Some people may say, “well at least they are used to visitors coming for a few months and then leaving by now.” Unfortunately, that is the problem. They are USED to everyone they care about leaving them and never returning…