January 28th

Not much to report today.  I came into Githunguri to buy soap to wash clothes and get some more credit for my cell phone. so i decided to jump on internet and write an update. 

 

Today is Jan. 28th.  Exactley one more month from today before i come home!  My sister becca has had her adorable child and i cant wait to come home to see my new little neice!! SHe will be so big when i see her for the first time.  I have seen pics and she is beautiful just like her mommy. 

 

Yesterday i spent the whole day at El Shaddai.  It was very hot and i got a little heat stroke but nothing to bad.  just pumped myself full of water and called it good this morning.  I learned lots of new songs and games yesterday from the little girls who are not in school because of the teacher strike.  They are loving my crayons and markers i brought.  theylove to write and draw pictures for me.  i have about 20 pics so far that i am bringing home and its only two weeks in. 

 

i am keeping a very detailed journal while here and its already half full at two weeks i may have to buy anothere journal here in the next week or so.

 

Anyway, things are going goo.  Going hiking this weekend at the Ngong hills in Ngong. Then on sunday i am going to do some major shopping at the Maisi Markets....everything is bargaining here so i need to get some practice before i start buying...but i will be sure to write about how that goes next week. 

 

Hope everyone is doing well. Miss you all

With Love

Safari = Amazing

This weekend I went on a Safari in the Maisi Mara for 3 days!  Most incredible experience i have ever had in my life.  Was so beautiful.  I still cant believe how luck y i am to be able to do something like that while i was here. 

The first day we drove from Nairobi to the Campsite for 6 hours then went out into the park for abuot 3 hours and watched the sun set. isaw so many animals, zebras, giraffes, elephants, warthogs, and so much more.  Then we watched the sun set behind the hills and it was something i will never forget.  Then we headed back to camp and had dinner and fought off the bats swooping around our heads for about 3 hours until i got so sick of it and went to bed.  Our tents were interesting but i had the hottest shower for the first time since i have been here. that was amazing as well.

The second day was even better, we went out at about 7 a.m. and were out for the whole day.  I got to see hippos in the Mara River  as well as some crocs!  And then crazy amounds of zebras and elephants and much much more!  We had a picnic lunch and some monkeys kept trying to steal our food which was halarious when they succeded! After that we headed back to main camp but with a stop to a Maisi Village on the way.  They did some dances for us and sang some amazing songs (got some on video)!!!  They even showed us around our village.

the next day we got up so early and headed our for our last day!  we watched the sun rise and then got a rare experience we saw two lions so we decided to stop and watch.  They got up and walked up to our van it was incredible.... They were so closei  could have reached and out touched them....but i didnt!  was a little nervous but it was still a beautiful thing!

After we had breakfast and then headed back to Nairobi another 6 hour drive that instead turned into 8 becasue our van broke down on way home!  oh well made for a fun experience except i got sunburnt to a crisp waiting in the shade for it to be fixed!

I am heading back to Gythangie in about 20 mins so i will write again soon! 

Love you all
Lora

Taking a walk on the wild side

WOW, its already weekend number two for me.  I am back in Nairobi meeting up with all my intake friends ( people who got here same day as me).  We are all meeting here at the VICDA
 office and then heading over to the Volunteer House in Spring Valley.  We leave for our 3 day safari early in the morning and i cant wait!  I will be sure to update after on how wonderful it is!

My first week at El Shaddai is over and .... it was tough but so amazing.  The children LOVE me.  They love my hair and how soft my skin is.  They are constantly braiding my hair and feeling my arms and my toes.  They also love to have their picture taken.  I was not sure why so i asked one of the workers who i get along with very well ( Flora).  She told me its because I am going home to America and they think that someone will see their picture and they will become famous and rich "like all other Americans".  Oh yeah because i am white i am instantly thought of us RICH!  Wishing i was right now so i could give all the children everything they need.  Its interesting to see however how happy most of them are.  Some dont even know what toothbrushes are.  Its interesting to see how they just live with out the things i am so convinced i need.

I wish i could give most of these children the world but i cannot.  I also wish i could bring some home....also cannot. The worst part is that i feel like i am doing nothing. But i have to stop and remind myself that i am bringing them smiles each day.  When they are smiling it may only be skin deep but its still a laugh and smile. 

Yesterday i spent the day with the infants.  They keep them in a separate room from all the other children for some reason.  SO i went in to play with a couple of them and i...yes got Peed on!  It was so funny.  One minute i was laughing and playing with Joseph a baby who has a muscle disorder and will never be able to walk or talk and is also affected by HIV.  And then the next i was soaking wet.  I went straight home to wash myself and my clothes.  Then back to El Shaddai for me.  I am lucky i live so close the shelter i guess!!!

Each day that goes by gets a little easier for all of us volunteers.  But each day is another day closer to coming home as well! I look forward to their smiles but i also look forward to seeing my family and friends again.  And so so so many things i took for granite before! 

Love you all....Be nicer then necessary to everyone because everyone is going through some fort of trial. (Thanks to my beautiful mother).

Day 1 In my Placement

Hello again

 

I cant believe how lucky I have been here.  I have finally made it to my home and my placement here in a little Village outside of Githunguri.  Its a cute little town and it has interent.  Its about 10 minutes away from my home so not to bad.  To get into town i have to take whats called a matatu.  Very intersting experience.  I get on and then come around and collect money. Its really cheap only about 20 shillings to get into town.  That is only like .30 cents.   I have two roommates that are volunteering at the same place as me El Shaddai Childrens Home.  I have not been there yet. I am going right after my trip to town.  I will be sure to report as soon as i get internet access again. 

 

My host family is great.  George and Lillian are the parents and their daughter and granddaughter live with them as well.  They are considered a very wealthy family here in Kenya. They have cows and chickens, this is a big deal here !!!  I have also been lucky enough to have hot shower and working toilets!  They even have a filter on their running water in the kitchen so i dont have to spend money on any water!  I feel as though i am very blessed and lucky to have such a nice accomidation here in Kenya. 

 

My roommates Julia, Kelsey and Jane are really great and young.  Jane is from New Zealand and is 21. SHe has been done with her volunteer experience for about 4 months.  She just cant get herself to leave.  So she sleeps on the floor in one of the bedrooms.  Julia is from California (central coast). She is 18.  Just graduated high school in june...can you believe her bravery! She leave two weeks after me but has been here for 4 months.  Then there is Kelsey from Oregon.  She is 20 and is going to be leaving in 4 months.  She has been here for two months.  I can't believe how brave these girls are.  I am struggling with my 6 weeks. They are all very caring and very nice and taking good care of me.  Showing me where and how everything works here. 

 

I will be going to my placement at El Shaddai after town today.  I cant wait to meet the children and spend some time with them.  I am very excited to be a part of this. I wont lie it is a challenge but it is an amazing experience as well. 

 

Friday morning THeir daughter (Sharon) is taking me into Nairobi and dropping me off at teh Vicda office.  I am meeting about 10 other volunteers that came out the same day as me and we are all going to the Maisi Mara Safari for three days.  I am very excited and i kno that will be so much fun!  I cant wait to see some of the friends i made from orientation.  Its weird how attached you get to people in 3 days. Some of the girls i met my first couple days are really amazing and have become a life line for me here.  We are all supporting eachother through this and its a very great learning experience. 

 

Ok well. I am going to head back to the house and get a couple things for the kids. Then head over to El Shaddai.  Its only about a 3-5 minute walk from my house!  So thats nice no matatus to work!  They can be a stressful thing! 

 

I am learning so much about myself every minute of every day. Miss everyone...

 

Write again soon!

 

Love you all!!!

So much and much much more

Hello everyone,

 

Things are going very well!  I am already homesick but making lots of friends.  Day one of Orientation was fun much like a classroom setting.  Learned many things about the culture and language and getting around, etc.  After we went to a eat lunch at a chinese place and got to sit in this huge tent with about 20 other new volunteers.  Was very much worth it and fun!  After we went back to our temp. housing.  Our house mom is amazing, her name is Charity and she is the sweetest and happiest person i have ever met!  We sat around and got to know eachother for a while had dinner (which was green peas and noodles and this yummy bread that they eat with almost every meal).  THen after such a long day went to bed.  Today has been long and exhausting but very fun.  FIrst we were picked up and went to a animal orphange.  I got to pet and take pictures with a baby cheetah! It was amazing!  Then after we came back into uptown Nairobi and got to go to this huge market to get fresh water and a cell phone.  ( mom and dad i will be calling soon).  Thun my first real kenyan lunch.  I hate baked chicken and this stuff that looked like mashed potatoes but was not!  It was flour and water!  YUMMMY....JK!!  Now we are back to the Siona House which is where our Vicda Leaders are and I just booked my first safari with them! Next weekend for 3 days!  WIll be very fun.  Also tomorrow i am going to Lake Nakuru for a one day walking safari!  Apparently there are Pink Flamingos everywhere there! 

 

All in all things are going very very well.  I miss home however and Zack very very much!!!  Its weird what we take for advantage in the States. Showering has been the most interesting adventure i stand in a bathtub and poor water out of bottle!! its great! 

 

Anyway I miss everyone and please feel free to email.  But i only get email about once a week probably! 

 

Write again soon!

 

 

One Week To Go!

I have one more week go before I board my plane to Kenya.  I am beginning to get nervous but the anticipation is taking over.   I got my final details from my program advisor last night.  I will be working in the Elshaddai's children home in Githunguri, which is a rural area outside of Nairobi.  My day to day activities are not precise however they will include some teaching, tutoring, childcare, house duties, extra curricular activities, some some maintenance as well.  

Also, while I am there I will be living with a host family.  Their names are Mr. and Mrs. George Muigai.  Their daughter and granddaughter live with them as well.  And I am pretty sure that I will have a roommate or two while I am there as well.  

I am very excited to meet the children and get to know them. I am also excited to meet my host family.  Time is ticking and I feel as though I still have a million things to do before I am ready to go.  

I am not sure what the internet situation will be like however, I will do my best to find access on the weekends on my free time and write everyone! 

Thanks for all the support I received from everyone!  This trip couldn't have happened with out Zack's support and my parents as well!  

I will do my best to keep in touch!