Halfway There..

In my head I'm singing the Bon Jovi song and picturing myself screaming the words and dancing to the popular tune with some of my favorite people! I miss you all! :)

But really I am referring to being halfway done with my trip. Frightening really, how quickly the time is passing. My next trip to Kenya will have to be much longer... The time here passes too quickly and there is so much left I want to do! But not to worry, in my head I am already planning a next trip. No clue when I will next be able to afford both the cost and luxury of 'free' time to visit again, but it is in my future plans. I also plan on bringing a few of you with me the next time.. ;)

The week has been a full one. Rested after my weekend safari and day off on Sunday, I hit the ground running on Monday at the project. I spent the day teaching- my 3-7 year-olds are absolutely fabulous. I don't seem to carry much authority though. They become way too excited by my presence and when Teacher Ruth (their permanent teacher) leaves me in charge- even just for a minute- they begin jumping on me or fighting each other to hold my hand and play with my watch (the watch is really a big hit here.. they push all the buttons so I never know what time it really is..). Sometimes I think they don't understand what I am asking them to do (on Monday I taught some basic addition and subtraction to 'class one'- the older kids), but then they astonish me with their quick math or recognizing a word. I think the real issue is the same as with any student, no matter the country- it's far more entertaining to just stare into space or talk with and fool around with your friends.

Tuesday we spent the whole day in the slums visiting the families of some of the new dressmaking students. There was a graduation the day before my visit.. Twenty-six promising women received certificates in dressmaking after their six-month course and passing the exam. So the new students started the day I arrived at the Centre. The families and the students were extremely grateful for our visit (again, I was visiting with Chris, the Operations Manager) and kept repeating how blessed they felt by our presence and to be a part of the Gabriel Learning Centre. In each case, I saw how desperately the families needed assistance. Many of them are families of over ten people living in one-room homes, struggling to pay the monthly house rent and feed the family simultaneously. Also, a good number of the families are single-parent families. Overall, men here do not feel obligated or responsible to the family-unit, leaving the women alone in taking care of the home, raising the children and making the money. The project targets women (and their children) for this reason, but it also started a futbol league for boys and young men to create a positive impact in their lives, hoping to change this implicit attitude.

The rest of the week has been a bit of it all. I have taught reading and basic math to the young ones. I have visited families of both the nursery and dressmaking students. I bounced the ball around in the playground with some of the boys- actually, two brothers-Paul and John- and John was trying desperately to be like his older brother Paul and bounce the soccer ball off his head, but was struggling just a bit because his head was much smaller and his coordination not totally there just yet! I typed and filed family histories and medical records for all of the students. I bought and delivered medicine for a student who was sick and not getting better because her family couldn't afford the last prescription. We've also been getting sweaters for the students (it's their coldest season, though still quite warm to me!) so they look like 'official' students with their uniform and stay warm in the mornings and evenings. Ohh, and another very encouraging moment- I bought shoes for one of the dressmaking students who has a particularly troubling story and was especially down (as I said before, most can't afford dinner, but they can still afford a smile; this woman however was so far without hope). And I could tell the new shoes made her week- she came to school today (she got the shoes just yesterday) all 'dressed-up' and with a smile on her face.. the first I've seen from her so far!!

It's so amazing what just a few dollars can do here. I am anxious to tell you all how we will spend the money you so generously donated. I spoke with Chris and Susan (the program's creator and director) about the money and they thank you, but as Chris says, 'Thank you is sometimes not enough, but there are no words to express it!' As I said, I am anxious to tell you, but really I am going to wait! Just a few more days while we finalize a few more of the details. I want to come to you with the 'official' plan becuase, as you can imagine, there is SO much to do, but we need to prioritize the most pressing needs and the most promising allocation of funds. I can tell you all though that you're money will be going far and doing so much good here in Kenya. I, too, thank you for your wonderful contributions! <3

A few random notes to keep you all enteratined and aware of my activities:
1. I made Mexican last night for dinner with Rosemary. She wanted to try different foods and had never tried Mexican food before. I made one of my staples- Quesadillas- and it was a real success!! Well, they don't have tortillas here, but they have 'chapati' and I am still not sure what the difference is, it was a small difference anyways. She enjoyed it even though I cooked the chicken with so much chilli powder she was coughing up a stormas it was cooking!
2. I ride the boda boda every day to work. Boda bodas are bycycles with a seat attached to the back and you can take them pretty much anywhere for 20-40 shillings (less than 50cents). It's quite an experience though because they drive on roads and here, the one rule of the road is this: The bigger/more powerful the vehicle has the right of way. So, as you might imagine, as a pedestrian- you'd better stay the heck out of the way of a bus! The boda bodas are definitely safe though, you just have to say 'pole pole' which means slowly so you don't fall off the back of one as you pop over a bump! ;)
3. I've gotten really into this Mexican soap opera Rosemary and I watch Monday-Wednesday evenings after dinner. It's dubbed over in English and pretty awful acting, but it's entertaining and I think I will miss it when I am gone!

Okay, that is enough for now. More this weekend after- get this- I play futbol! Yes, despite telling Chris that I quit after only two (or was it three?) seasons- in Kindergarden, mind you- he insists that I will play this weekend with the teams! Should be entertaining. And yes, as my dad requested, I will try to take a video so you can all see my sports glory.

MUCH L<3VE from Kenya,
Cella, Sarah, daughter, friend, Stella, niece, granddaughter..