Wednesday 22rd September 2010
Elise and I are up and ready for our kitchen duty day. Grace is the cook and she is excited to have us help. Basically all our morning consists of is soughting good beans from bad beans and there is massive buckets which takes us hours to sought. Then we help out with the lunch dishes and prepare the spinach for dinner that has been picked fresh from the garden. There are about 50 mouths to feed so you could imagine the size of the pot we are using. We prepare the beans to ensure we aren't eating any rocks or beans with wholes in them from insects. It's a long process but with an ipod handy can be quite medatative.
After lunch a few volunteers arrive back and tell us about a family they have visited today who have a 2 week yrd old baby that has been dumped by it's mother. They have no money and no milk to feed the baby and the impression they got is they don't really care if the child dies. The volunteers pay the farmer nearby to supply a weeks worth for milk for the baby so it can survive in hope the mother returns if not we will have to rescue the baby and bring her to the orphanage. We make plans to visit tomorrow and we travel to the nearest supermarket and buy formula to take there for the baby, just in case. We also get together a big bag of baby clothes we have to take to them.
We hope the mother returns so we are able to chat to her and for that poor little baby.......
Looks like we have another long, emotional but rewarding day ahead of us :-)
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Day 10 Getting down and dirty......
Ok..... so I woke up this morning thinking I would go to the garden for a relaxing day, connect with mother earth and water some plants...WRONG! Today end up being hard farming work, knee deep in mud, we fertilized the whole plantation, manually hoed the ground ready to plant more tomatoes and spinach. Then we planted the seeds and watered by hand. It may not sound like much but it has to be the only day where the sun was directly on us and about 30 degrees and we got really dirty......
After a hard 5hrs in the sun we come to Kenol for lunch and a cold drink with Kally, stock up on the luxury's....chocolate and chill out for the afternoon reading a book until the children come home from school. Then it's all go from there... it's love, play time and homework :-)
After a hard 5hrs in the sun we come to Kenol for lunch and a cold drink with Kally, stock up on the luxury's....chocolate and chill out for the afternoon reading a book until the children come home from school. Then it's all go from there... it's love, play time and homework :-)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Day 9 Mathini, out in the community
20th September 2010
Walking shoes are on and our bags packed. We have soughted through clothes to take to the family’s we will visit today. First we walk the children to school, it’s Susans first day at school Kally one of the volunteers has sponsored her and bought her school uniform. We take her there to pay her fee’s and speak with the principle. The fee’s for a term and uniform total 1400 shillings ($15AUS approx), it’s very little for us but so much for Susan and these children, their education a major part of their future and their outcome.
We then make our way to Mathini and hitch a ride for a $1 each some of the way down a dirt road, we would normally need to catch a Matatu but are lucky enough to find a ride. We are carrying large heavy bags of clothes and some banana’s and we trek up and down hills and across a rocky river for 2hrs to reach these families. With us is Martha who will translate and assist us in distributing supplies.
The first family we arrive at is a Mother who’s roof has fallen down, she has 4 children her parents live there also. She doesn’t know who the fathers are of her children. Martha explains to us she faints several times per week for half an hour each time and men rape her while she is unconscious. She says this is some sought of disease. I try to establish why she faints and what exactly is wrong and also how these men know when she is unconscious to come and rape her. To me this doesn’t add up and I ask a lot of questions which are translated, I thought if this happening then someone must be advising these men when she faints etc. We finally establish a better story its hard for us to understand the translation, it seems though she is prostituting herself. These men promising to feed her children and give her money and then not doing as they say most of the time. We give her some clothes for her children, food supplies and 2000 shillings which will feed them for the next couple of weeks.
We move on to the next family, a mother lives here alone with her 7 children. They live in a 4sq metre hut, where they cook, eat and sleep. The father lives and works in Naorobi, he visits once every 2 months and brings nothing. He might occasionally bring them food to last one day. The mother goes out to work and earns 100 shillings ($1.30) per day for farming, this doesn’t even feed one meal for the whole family. This was a harsh reality for us, when it rains the family curl up in the corner together the rain pours in through the roof and wets all of their clothes and bedding. They sleep on 2 single beds that barely fit in the room. One child sleeps while we take pictures and discuss what we can do to help. We sit outside with the mother while Martha translates, we give her clothes, $5000 shillings ($60AUS) and food we have bought. Elise and I break down when we hand her our donations, it’s a very emotional time for us. It’s the first time I have cried and I’m sure not the last. This woman, so sweet and so greatful. I can see in her eyes, her beautiful soul and her happiness for what we have given.
We then trek up another mountain to find Felix and check out the construction work that has began today. The family of 9 were found by some past volunteers and the project was started to build them a new house. These people were living one room with no roof. Kally brings the family a 50kg bag of beans and a 50kg bag of maize (corn) this should feed the family for some time. Felix and other volunteers will spend the week here building and we will continue with community work around the area. It’s now 3pm we are all exhausted so we start our 3hr journey back to the orphanage. Where we will all have a cold bucket shower, eat our beans and maize for dinner and get the children ready for bed J Home sweet home!!
Day 8 Can't wait to see the kids......
19th September 2010
Woken this time by the sounds of the Local church, it's Sunday morning and the whole of Nekuru is in church singing and chanting at 5.30am. Well I guess it's time to get up, we have our last hot shower and make our way to buffet breakfast for our last real meal, at least for the next week. It's back to the orphanage by monoline (the bus we have our own seat on) and I sit next to an American who I begin chatting to. Turns out he is originally from Mobassa, the place we had talked about visiting on the weekend and he offers us a ride which will only take 7hrs instead of 12. Mobassa is well known for lush beaches and beautiful seafood, we have been told it's paradise and I consider his offer on the way to Nairobi. He offers us a lift back the orpahange, usually a 3hr drive on the Matatu instead by car and lunch in a town along the way. We accept and he kindly drives us back home.
We arrive back, the kids excited to see us and us to see them. We meet a few other German volunteers who have arrived back from Mobassa. Felix is planning his trip back to Mathini tomorrow to start the construction of the house they are building and we make plans to go with him and visit needy families in the community that surrounds Mathini.
We all get aquainted and have dinner together with the children, brush all their teeth, say their prayers and put them to bed. I realize how much I have missed the children and make the decision not to go to Mombassa, as our time here is limited.
As promised I give Saskia, one of the German volunteers a healing and make a list of supplies to take to Mathini tomorrow.
Woken this time by the sounds of the Local church, it's Sunday morning and the whole of Nekuru is in church singing and chanting at 5.30am. Well I guess it's time to get up, we have our last hot shower and make our way to buffet breakfast for our last real meal, at least for the next week. It's back to the orphanage by monoline (the bus we have our own seat on) and I sit next to an American who I begin chatting to. Turns out he is originally from Mobassa, the place we had talked about visiting on the weekend and he offers us a ride which will only take 7hrs instead of 12. Mobassa is well known for lush beaches and beautiful seafood, we have been told it's paradise and I consider his offer on the way to Nairobi. He offers us a lift back the orpahange, usually a 3hr drive on the Matatu instead by car and lunch in a town along the way. We accept and he kindly drives us back home.
We arrive back, the kids excited to see us and us to see them. We meet a few other German volunteers who have arrived back from Mobassa. Felix is planning his trip back to Mathini tomorrow to start the construction of the house they are building and we make plans to go with him and visit needy families in the community that surrounds Mathini.
We all get aquainted and have dinner together with the children, brush all their teeth, say their prayers and put them to bed. I realize how much I have missed the children and make the decision not to go to Mombassa, as our time here is limited.
As promised I give Saskia, one of the German volunteers a healing and make a list of supplies to take to Mathini tomorrow.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Day 7 It just gets better.......
18th September 2010
This place never stops, 24hrs a day NOISE people yelling, people partying and roadworks. So not much sleep for us and it's a big day ahead. We have breakfast and make our way downstairs to meet our driver, my sunglasses were not in there case I realise I had dreamt this last night they had been stolen and I was buying new ones, I knew then they were gone but everyone insisted I go upstairs and look. As I dreamt, no sunglasses anywhere they must have been stolen from my chest where they were tucked into my top. It's all good though we are about to see some amazing animals in their natural habitat and I'm sure the smile will be back on my face :-)
We then spend the next 6 hrs game driving around Lake Nekuru where we see monkey's, rhino's, buffalo, zebra's and pink flamingo's. The lake is so peaceful with the most amazing views I have ever seen from the lookout and below the mountains. We are blessed with the most beautiful day of sunshine, the air so crisp and a little mist lingers over the lake. I sat for a while soaking up the sun's rays and the surroundings, so greatful for this opportunity to connect with nature and mother earth.
On our way out we are stopped by another driver, our attention bought to the tree where a male lion stands proud, glaring at us we are so close we are able to see the reflection in his eyes. This is an unbelievable to our drive we leave excited to show the children our photo's and for our Safari at the end of our trip. I realise I miss the children and look forward to getting back to see them.
This place never stops, 24hrs a day NOISE people yelling, people partying and roadworks. So not much sleep for us and it's a big day ahead. We have breakfast and make our way downstairs to meet our driver, my sunglasses were not in there case I realise I had dreamt this last night they had been stolen and I was buying new ones, I knew then they were gone but everyone insisted I go upstairs and look. As I dreamt, no sunglasses anywhere they must have been stolen from my chest where they were tucked into my top. It's all good though we are about to see some amazing animals in their natural habitat and I'm sure the smile will be back on my face :-)
We then spend the next 6 hrs game driving around Lake Nekuru where we see monkey's, rhino's, buffalo, zebra's and pink flamingo's. The lake is so peaceful with the most amazing views I have ever seen from the lookout and below the mountains. We are blessed with the most beautiful day of sunshine, the air so crisp and a little mist lingers over the lake. I sat for a while soaking up the sun's rays and the surroundings, so greatful for this opportunity to connect with nature and mother earth.
On our way out we are stopped by another driver, our attention bought to the tree where a male lion stands proud, glaring at us we are so close we are able to see the reflection in his eyes. This is an unbelievable to our drive we leave excited to show the children our photo's and for our Safari at the end of our trip. I realise I miss the children and look forward to getting back to see them.
Day 6 Oh My God....I can't believe I saw a Zebra :-)
17th September 2010
I awaken once again to the sound of pigs and covered in red dirt. Today is an exciting day for us, there is a hot shower awaiting us at the end and we can hardly wait.
After breakfast and seeing the children off to school, we pack and set off to Lake Nekuru for the weekend. Lake Nekuru is famous for Pink Flamingo's and beautiful scenery. We catch the Matatu to Naorobi which takes us almost 3 hrs, a journey that should only take just over 1hr. Everything here happens in African time (very slow) so they stop for 15mins at a time and have a chat while you sit there patiently passing out with 25 people crammed into a bus that fits 14. We decide after this experience we would travel to Lake Nekuru by the monoline, which is the same as the Matatu but you purchase 1 seat you don't have to share.We are then pulled over and each of us searched before leaving Naorobi for weapons etc by the Police, then we are on our way and get comfortable for our 3hr trip.
And then....OH MY GOD I see 6 Zebras on the side of the road just grazing, I actually couldn't believe it, it was very unexpected. I turned to the others and said with excitement "Oh my God, We are actually in Africa!!" They were the most beautiful animals I had ever seen with my own eyes, I couldn't wait to see more at the park tomorrow. It began pouring with rain and the temperature dropped the view of the mountains and Lake Nekuru still breath taking, so misty and green.
We arrive at the hotel, anxious to know whether the hot water is working. Often we are disappointed alot of places aren't what they seem, the Lonley Planet sometimes tells lies.But we are lucky this time and you will be glad to know we have a long awaited "hot" shower before having a look around the town centre. Apparently Nekuru is the most up and coming cosmopolitan city in Kenya. As we are leaving a feeling of maybe we should keep our stuff with us and not in the hotel comes over me. So I keep my possessions close by and safe hoping this is just a feeling......
I purchase some beautifully hand painted cards off a local and a young begger about 17 asks me for money for food. I hand the money to the man selling me the cards and then Matthew does the same only for the begger to snatch the money from the man with the cards. I tell him it's not his and he needs to give it back, then a fight breaks out in the street and the money is returned to the man selling the cards. We make a break on our way to get money we are followed by the begger and warned by people on the street. Fortunately he is just a kid and has no weapons on him I figure since he didn't use them in the fight and after some time he appears to give up. This feeling still remains.....
We purchase some supplies from the supermarket and return to the hotel for dinner and an early night. We had earlier organised a driver for the National Park, an early morning game drive. Sweet dreams......or are they??
I awaken once again to the sound of pigs and covered in red dirt. Today is an exciting day for us, there is a hot shower awaiting us at the end and we can hardly wait.
After breakfast and seeing the children off to school, we pack and set off to Lake Nekuru for the weekend. Lake Nekuru is famous for Pink Flamingo's and beautiful scenery. We catch the Matatu to Naorobi which takes us almost 3 hrs, a journey that should only take just over 1hr. Everything here happens in African time (very slow) so they stop for 15mins at a time and have a chat while you sit there patiently passing out with 25 people crammed into a bus that fits 14. We decide after this experience we would travel to Lake Nekuru by the monoline, which is the same as the Matatu but you purchase 1 seat you don't have to share.We are then pulled over and each of us searched before leaving Naorobi for weapons etc by the Police, then we are on our way and get comfortable for our 3hr trip.
And then....OH MY GOD I see 6 Zebras on the side of the road just grazing, I actually couldn't believe it, it was very unexpected. I turned to the others and said with excitement "Oh my God, We are actually in Africa!!" They were the most beautiful animals I had ever seen with my own eyes, I couldn't wait to see more at the park tomorrow. It began pouring with rain and the temperature dropped the view of the mountains and Lake Nekuru still breath taking, so misty and green.
We arrive at the hotel, anxious to know whether the hot water is working. Often we are disappointed alot of places aren't what they seem, the Lonley Planet sometimes tells lies.But we are lucky this time and you will be glad to know we have a long awaited "hot" shower before having a look around the town centre. Apparently Nekuru is the most up and coming cosmopolitan city in Kenya. As we are leaving a feeling of maybe we should keep our stuff with us and not in the hotel comes over me. So I keep my possessions close by and safe hoping this is just a feeling......
I purchase some beautifully hand painted cards off a local and a young begger about 17 asks me for money for food. I hand the money to the man selling me the cards and then Matthew does the same only for the begger to snatch the money from the man with the cards. I tell him it's not his and he needs to give it back, then a fight breaks out in the street and the money is returned to the man selling the cards. We make a break on our way to get money we are followed by the begger and warned by people on the street. Fortunately he is just a kid and has no weapons on him I figure since he didn't use them in the fight and after some time he appears to give up. This feeling still remains.....
We purchase some supplies from the supermarket and return to the hotel for dinner and an early night. We had earlier organised a driver for the National Park, an early morning game drive. Sweet dreams......or are they??
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Day 5 Hanging out with the kids
16th September 2010
Morning!! 6am, late to bed and a not so great sleep. Have breakfast and help get the children ready for school we then plan our day and week to follow. Kally and I have decided we will spend the start of the day planning our visit to Mathini a place past volunteers found approx a few hours in travel mostly walking, where a family of 9 are live in a houe with no roof, the children have one shirt each and no food. We will sort through donations we have and take some to these people along with supplies.....rice and beans etc we will somehow carry. There is a mountain we need to climb so this will limit the amount of supplies we are able to take. We will try to arrange a donkey to take some of it part of the way and the rest of the way we will carry. This will be our hardest day yet.
The 2 American boys have started the project of building them a house and construction should be underway when we arrive. They have been waiting for the bricks to dry and everything seems to be going to plan.
Our day today also spent planning our trip to Lake Nakuru for some of our free time we have on the weekend. Can't wait to see the Flamingo's and we have heard from the others they have HOT showers. Very excited 5 days and still no shower :-(
Back to the Orphanage for dinner...rice, ugali and beans. Hang out & play with the children, feed them, say their prayers and sing songs, before the brushing teeth check list. The kids really make my day, they are just beautiful :-)
Morning!! 6am, late to bed and a not so great sleep. Have breakfast and help get the children ready for school we then plan our day and week to follow. Kally and I have decided we will spend the start of the day planning our visit to Mathini a place past volunteers found approx a few hours in travel mostly walking, where a family of 9 are live in a houe with no roof, the children have one shirt each and no food. We will sort through donations we have and take some to these people along with supplies.....rice and beans etc we will somehow carry. There is a mountain we need to climb so this will limit the amount of supplies we are able to take. We will try to arrange a donkey to take some of it part of the way and the rest of the way we will carry. This will be our hardest day yet.
The 2 American boys have started the project of building them a house and construction should be underway when we arrive. They have been waiting for the bricks to dry and everything seems to be going to plan.
Our day today also spent planning our trip to Lake Nakuru for some of our free time we have on the weekend. Can't wait to see the Flamingo's and we have heard from the others they have HOT showers. Very excited 5 days and still no shower :-(
Back to the Orphanage for dinner...rice, ugali and beans. Hang out & play with the children, feed them, say their prayers and sing songs, before the brushing teeth check list. The kids really make my day, they are just beautiful :-)
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