Hello from Kenya!

Hello to all my friends and family!!

It has been longer than I expected to write to you all, but I have been very busy since arriving and each evening when I try to come it is POURING rain (it's their rainy season here), so I get soaked and just run home trying to avoid. I am going to type quickly today with the hopes that I make it home before the rain.

I wanted to update you all on my first four days here. It has already been an emotional rollercoaster! I arrived on Sunday morning early and my drive to Nakuru from the airport was about 2.5 hours. My driver was very friendly and I enjoyed hearing about his life.. my first glimpse at the culture here! I was a bit jetlagged, but mostly excited. I even saw a Zebra just chilling next to the highway. Well, they were about to cross, but waiting for traffic. It was awesome. (I forgot my camera today, or I would try to post a picture!)

When I arrived at my homestay I met Rosemary for the first time. She is fabulous and sweet and taking good care of me! After a bit of a rest, we explored town- visited the bank, the hotel Merica- a nice hotel in town where I can go swimming (except I didn't bring my swim suit.. ha!). For lunch she introduced me to "Masa Chips" which are- get this- french fries with all sorts of good spices on them. Yes, I managed to find french fries in Africa.. I think it was Pearlstein who assured me I would be safe from my addiction here.. apparently not!

Anyways, Monday I started my volunteer work. I spent the morning visiting the families of the students at the Gabriel Learning Centre. They live in the slums of Kaptembwo and my it was a sight to see. These are some of the most needy families you can imagine, but they have the biggest hearts. The mothers all enjoy our visits (I visit with Chris, the project's operations manager and a wonderful soul!); they say "they cannot express their gratitude in words, it is too much!" In the afternoon, I taught at the nursery and pre-unit school- it's 3-6 year olds and they are just divine. They all call me "Mzwungu" which means "white person" and want to hold my hand and high five me and sometimes they say "teacher, teacher" and want me to check their work. This one boy John, comes over to me every day and says "Mzwungu, Mwzungu" and then goes on in Swahili for quite a bit and I barely understand him, but I adore it! Tuesday I helped on the computer by typing records and taught in the afternoon. And today we spent most of the day visiting the families in Kaptembwo again. We bring them flour for food, sugar for tea and soap to wash- or we give them 200Ksh (about $2.5) which is enough to feed the whole family for a short while. They are so grateful and I love to see them smile. I took some good pictures which I will try to post the next time!! I have met some absolutely wonderful families.

There are also those that have lost hope, but feel enccouraged by the program. We do everything we can to give them hope and love to go one once more. I am so inspired by the wonderful people here.. and of course, but the constant use of their word 'hope' as you all know how much it means to me as a Delta Gamma. I want to tell them about Delta Gamma and the anchor, but I am waiting to explain it further.

Okay that should be all for now. I am off to Masai Mara tomorrow for my safari! AH! I will hopefully see lions and elephants (my favorite!) and all sorts of fun animals! Be back soon.. maybe Sunday or Monday?

Missing you all.
L<3VE,
Sarah, Cella, daughter, sister, friend, niece, Stella, and so on..