Farewell day (Friday 20th January)

Today the team started departing Kenya. First to leave we're Andrew, Sam & Ryan. I dropped them at the airport about 5:30am. To the rest of the team, final packing was the morning priority.
With the packing complete, we headed to the Elephant Orphanage then lunch at Amani ya Juu. Amani ya Juu means peace from above and it is a ministry for marginalised women. They produce beautifully sewn items as well as running a cafe. We decided to lunch there.
After some last minute shopping, etc, it was time for the next split in the team. This time Joey & Louise were bundled into a private taxi to transfer to their next accommodation. Joey & Louise have now arranged to extend their Kenyan adventure by 12 days. I then transferred my belongings to my next accommodation (I'm stay until late Feb - more about that later).
I enjoyed one final Kenyan meal with the remainder of the team before saying goodbyes as they headed for the airport.
The whole trip has been an adventure for all of us in so many ways. We have been stretched physically, emotionally, culturally & spiritually. Thank you to everyone who has blanketed us in your prayers.
Joey & Louise might continue to blog here but I will blog my extended stay on my own blog - http://blog.ozcorners.net

Long Day...

We left the Mara today for the Sarova at Lake Nakuru. After a late start, 7am, then turning back to retrieve a forgotten phone, being held up by Joseph ( truck driver) buying charcoal, the truck stalling and being push started - unsuccessfully by the boys, then more successfully by a passing tractor, the truck window blowing in with Linda and Sam on the receiving end and slow service at the park gate - we finally arrived - about 9 hours later - missing lunch and afternoon tea.

Pete stayed with kids and Davie young ones for a swim while the rest of the team went for a twilight game drive around Lake Nakuru. We saw about a dozen rhino, including 3 babies and a rarely spotted black rhino.

We thought we could cross Leopard off the list and complete seeing the big 5 when Joey spotted one sleeping in a tree, but alas, it turned out to be a lioness. Further on up the road we saw a lioness with 4 young cubs (approx. 2 months old) and spent a good while watching her and her cubs.

Despite not seeing a leopard, it was up there in the top 10 safari experiences, for me anyway!

Safari - Masai Mara (Monday)

Today we were picked up at 6:30am for the long drive to the Masai Mara. After checking into our accommodation & having lunch, we head off for our first drive through the Masai Mara National Park. We saw so many animals for our first day. Camera were clicking non-stop!

Sunday

Since it was the last Sunday that the whole team would be in Kenya we decided to attend Nairobi Chapel which was the church that planted Lifespring Chapel. It is huge and a very vibrant and evangelistic church.

After the service Peter, Tom & I dropped Joey and Louise over to Lifespring Chapel to attend the Youth service. Meanwhile the rest of the team checked out the markets at Prestige Plaza and grabbed some lunch.

The home group that Linda & I attend in Australia sponsor a young girl (Merilah) through Kenya Help and so we arranged to visit her family on Sunday afternoon. Together with Stella (one of our Kenya Help staff in Kenya) we did some grocery shopping and then spend a couple hours visiting Merilah, her sister Julie & their mother.
It was as we expected but still an emotional time. This is a family that has really had a sad history and is in so much need. We thank God that we are able to assist them.

Compassion Project (Saturday)

Today we returned to Lifespring Chapel to join in their Compassion program. 350 children are registered to attend each Saturday although today it was more like about 250.
We ran a series of games with the children divided into smaller groups and then gathered all the children together to show them our puppet show. They loved it!

Kibera Paper (Friday)

Kibera Paper is an ingenious solution that offers a living wage for fulfilling work. Local offices donate waste printed matter and this is pulped down, dyed and dryed, and transformed into beautiful handmade paper. The paper is used to create exquisite greetings cards which are designed by three in-house artists and made by our team of 22 craftspeople. We also provide work for a manager and a book-keeper. Those with young babies bring them to work; the older children attend school, some for the first time, because their parents can now afford the fees.

Thursday at Elyon High School & Heshima

Today we started by dropping most of the team at Elyon High School while a few of us went shopping for supplies to perform a surprise for the girls dormitory (up to 11 girls board in a dormitory about 100 metres from the school. With the shopping completed the girls on our team transformed the dormitory; replacing the mattresses, adding sheets pillows and blankets, bedside mats, stools, posters and painting, and a few personal items for each girl. We also supplied a large quantity of food staples (rice, ugali, etc). We purchased stationary and equipment that is so vital in running a school. While the girls on our team revamped the dorm, some of the guys on team just hung out with the students and a few of us demonstrated how to make a solar powered light using water, bleach and an empty soft drink bottle. We even installed 2 in the school library. We also presented some of the funds raised in Australia to allow the school to purchase much needed science equipment and chemicals. We'd love to have spent more time with them (as with everywhere we have been). On our way home we stopped at Heshima Cente for Disabled Children. (www.heshima.org) Heshima is swahili for dignity. Disabled children and often their mothers are shunned by their families and community. This centre is an oasis in this harsh environment for these special people. Although the children had already gone for the day by the time we arrived we were still given a guided tour by the director (Tracy). While the children receive the occupational therapy each day the mums are employed in a jewellery business that is used to raise funds to both pay the mums and support the work of the centre. Of course the had to visit the centre's jewellery shop - Digity Designs. Individuals purchased items and we also purchased a quantity to sell back in Australia for fund raising. For dinner we visited Carnivore Restaurant. (others will write about that)

Wednesday at Elyon High School

On Wednesday we returned to Elyon High School to again run a series of rotating workshops. Of course, after joining them again for devotions and worship. This time the workshops were Health & Hygiene, Sex Education (abstinence) and also Relationships & Priorities. While these were happening a few team members did some much needed painting around the school. After lunch we all joined in the painting of the classroom desks and chairs.

Birthdays.......

Today has been a big day. Ryan had his birthday, but it started off with him feeling sick at about two this morning. I had to swap beds with mum. Ryan is better now.
Kenyans have this birthday tradition where you throw a bucket of water on the birthday boy or girl. We are planning to wet Ryan today.

Last night we were at Carnivore, a restaurant based around meat. There was three courses, first course was tomato soup then they got us to try lots of different meats for the main. The wiredest thing was ox balls! Makena asked if they were like meat balls, and we said they were but she didn't eat them! For dessert I had gelato. The staff came and sang happy birthday to Ryan and jumbo bwana (hello boss!) I'm so glad my birthdays not this month!

It was a very late night!

Hello everyone, at the moment I'm sitting in the tv room at f.p.f.k guest house.

Today is my birthday. I didnt have the best start to the day as I vomitted this morning. This morning we went to Lifespring and ran the games and did our puppet show for a compassion project at who use the church grounds.

I'm having a great time in Kenya kissing a giraffe!

Yesterday we went to Kibera papers and help make paper as well as giving ideas towards making cards. We also bought cards to sell when we get back so we can continue to support them. The day before yesterday we were at Elyon High school painting and redecorating the girls dorm.