Sunday, July 11, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Amboseli National Park
After a very wonderful, but intense week at Mercy Care Centre School, we piled in our three beloved vans with the world’s best drivers and headed for Amboseli National Park. We drove up to our safari camp, and oh my, we are in the lap of luxury! We grew fond of our monastery living at Amani Guest House last week, but the fabulous tents (tile bathrooms bigger than ours at home) and variety of food here made us a bit crazy! We are not only eating marvelous food, we have had two game drives so far that produced hundreds of elephants, scores of zebra, lions, giraffe, a hippo, many gazelle, hyena, warthogs and tons of birds. It is thrilling.
Back to the school…we feel like we had a very successful week at school. The children loved getting a picture of him or herself affixed to a little book we took for each of them with activities. It was a real feat, organizationally and technically to photograph 750 students and keep all the classes straight and then hand them out. The Form Three students (11th grade – 72 in one class!) wrote memoir stories and eight were turned into plays. The subject matter ranged from a fire that swept through the slum, killing and injuring many, to a near rape to a divorce in the family to being an orphan to a revenge murder in the neighborhood to fighting off intruders to having a dream of getting an education and coming to Nairobi to school. These kids live a rough life, but their spirits prevail in such an inspirational way. We have all been very moved. Students in Form Two read a book called Keisha’s House which is American and also deals with kids in rough circumstances. It is written in sonnets and sestinas, so the students did their own versions. They are amazingly smart and talented. (Could our 10th graders pull that off in two days???)
The clinic saw well over 500 children, including some from the neighborhood. Above all, relationships were formed and friends were made and Mercy Care now has an expanded cheerleading squad – be prepared to hear about many other excellent experiences.
So as we nap and read and swim and gaze on phenomenal wildlife – oh, and did I mention that this is all with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background? – we think of our families and friends back home and appreciate this opportunity more than you can know.
Submitted by Miriam Sauls
Today, instead of sitting in our rooms like troglodytes, we ventured out into the African wild and, on the evening game drive with “King David” we were able to experience the wonders of lions, hippos, and baboons, OH MY! We spotted a troop of around 47 baboons, ranging from little bitty babies to grandpas. The babies were carried on the mom’s back, too cute! Our wonderful driver, King David, taught us many lessons on African culture and the ways of the game park – including a welcoming Kenyan song in Swahili. We’re off to bed to get ready for our 4 hour game drive tomorrow. Goodnight world! – Sarah, Gina and Meg
Mada Hotels Kilima Lodge at Amboseli
Back to the school…we feel like we had a very successful week at school. The children loved getting a picture of him or herself affixed to a little book we took for each of them with activities. It was a real feat, organizationally and technically to photograph 750 students and keep all the classes straight and then hand them out. The Form Three students (11th grade – 72 in one class!) wrote memoir stories and eight were turned into plays. The subject matter ranged from a fire that swept through the slum, killing and injuring many, to a near rape to a divorce in the family to being an orphan to a revenge murder in the neighborhood to fighting off intruders to having a dream of getting an education and coming to Nairobi to school. These kids live a rough life, but their spirits prevail in such an inspirational way. We have all been very moved. Students in Form Two read a book called Keisha’s House which is American and also deals with kids in rough circumstances. It is written in sonnets and sestinas, so the students did their own versions. They are amazingly smart and talented. (Could our 10th graders pull that off in two days???)
The clinic saw well over 500 children, including some from the neighborhood. Above all, relationships were formed and friends were made and Mercy Care now has an expanded cheerleading squad – be prepared to hear about many other excellent experiences.
So as we nap and read and swim and gaze on phenomenal wildlife – oh, and did I mention that this is all with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background? – we think of our families and friends back home and appreciate this opportunity more than you can know.
Submitted by Miriam Sauls
Today, instead of sitting in our rooms like troglodytes, we ventured out into the African wild and, on the evening game drive with “King David” we were able to experience the wonders of lions, hippos, and baboons, OH MY! We spotted a troop of around 47 baboons, ranging from little bitty babies to grandpas. The babies were carried on the mom’s back, too cute! Our wonderful driver, King David, taught us many lessons on African culture and the ways of the game park – including a welcoming Kenyan song in Swahili. We’re off to bed to get ready for our 4 hour game drive tomorrow. Goodnight world! – Sarah, Gina and Meg
Mada Hotels Kilima Lodge at Amboseli
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Report from Nairobi (by way of Betsy Garrard)
Patty called this morning to give a brief report on the impossible things in Mathare this week. Each student created a booklet of his life. Julie and her crew photographed each child and attached a picture to the booklets. Patty said they were the talk of the whole valley. Patty taught a novel in poetry form called Keisha's House, about an orphan teenager in New Yrok who creates a home for other orphans. The kids loved it and wrote their own poems. Will and Miriam helped students create memoirs and then they turned them into one-act plays. Hope they filmed them for all of us. Our Medical Team is amazed at how healthy the children are. The young children -- who have been at Mercy Care only briefly -- had the most health issues and low weights, but the older children were in amazing shape with body mass in 90 percentile. Those 6 lunches a week and our wonderful nurse's care are paying off. We all know how a sense of Hope -- a gift from Patrick, all his teachers, and Mercy Care supporters around teh world -- has impacted our 700+ children. Patty described their dinner at the restaurant Carnivore as a love fest. The question is --- will they tell us what exotic meats they ordered. (I personally will never speak to anyone who ate giraffe or elephant.) Patty called from the animal orphanage, which has a lovely open air restaurant looking over a lake where wart hogs play. They were about to go and visit the rescued animals and for $5 you could pet a cheetah. Hope someone gets up the nerve to do it! Tomorrow they leave for an incredible safari. Keep them in your prayers as they continue to process the meaning in the last 6 days. I would stake my life on the fact that all 700 children will never forget Carol and Wayne Brown and the 21 Americans who have showered them with love.
Karen, Celia and Terry hard at work in clinic
They saw hundreds of school children and neighborhood children.
Our Latest Adventures
Yesterday, Peter the music teacher led our crew through the Mathare slum near the Mercy Care Centre. We were met by crowds of toddlers bouncing out of ramshackle houses shouting “wzungu!” (white people) and “how are you!” Between smoking garbage piles and barbed wire fences were street vendors selling fruits, roots, and assorted other goods. Peter and our other guide (‘Other Peter’) taught us the Swahili words for ‘rabbit,’ ‘soccer field,’ ‘kale,’ and other things we came upon. One highlight of the walk was the poignant but beautiful view of the entire slum from an apartment balcony. – Will R.
Last night we feasted at Carnivore, a restaurant that specializes in exotic meats. We were served chicken, turkey, beef, pork spare ribs, lamb, ostrich, crocodile, ox heart and ox testicles from arm-length double-pronged skewers and intimidating swords. Finally, according to Carnivore custom, we waved a small toothpick flag in surrender, signaling that our bellies could hold no more meat. Because Carnivore was the most touristy place we’ve been and because the meals were so large, the final bill was quite hefty. However, we all enjoyed the chance to relax and talk amongst ourselves about the day’s adventures. – Katherine
Today was our last day at the Mercy Care Centre school. It was full of excitement and final moments, and as we said goodbye I could not believe that the past week had gone by so quickly, and that my time at the school was over. Every student poured out of their classroom to hug us, tell us goodbye, wish us a safe trip, promise to miss us, and insist that we return to visit the school again. I will never forget the friends I have made and the fun I have had at the Mercy Care Centre. – Hailey
Once upon a time in a room far, far away, three girls sat in quiet wonder of the week they had just experienced. It had been a week full of dust, traffic, smiles, and enthusiastic children that had taught them to appreciate the love that can be shared around the world…especially through song.
***
Good ole Fanny Pat (aka Mrs. Worsham) was the motivation for our melodious debut. She was also the subject of our second number, but soon we ventured on to another member of our growing Kenyan tribe – Skinny Joe, the van driver. In a glowing comparison of Skinny Joe to the other, more rotund Joe (aka Fat Joe), we highlighted their attributes with our resplendent, angelic voices. There will be many more jingles created on our safari, and we shall certainly report back. Goodnight world! – Sarah, Gina, Meg
It is amazing to be in Kenya in a time when the world is brought together by a sport that is so significant here. “Football” has drawn us closer, there is no doubt about it. Being able to give the kids jerseys and soccer balls to use rather than their tattered shirts and makeshift balls of trash-bags and string has enabled us to enrich their lives but has been almost more rewarding for us. Seeing them in E.C. Glass soccer jerseys that we once wore brought smiles to our faces that were comparable to the grins on theirs. – Gina & Meg : )=
Last night we feasted at Carnivore, a restaurant that specializes in exotic meats. We were served chicken, turkey, beef, pork spare ribs, lamb, ostrich, crocodile, ox heart and ox testicles from arm-length double-pronged skewers and intimidating swords. Finally, according to Carnivore custom, we waved a small toothpick flag in surrender, signaling that our bellies could hold no more meat. Because Carnivore was the most touristy place we’ve been and because the meals were so large, the final bill was quite hefty. However, we all enjoyed the chance to relax and talk amongst ourselves about the day’s adventures. – Katherine
Today was our last day at the Mercy Care Centre school. It was full of excitement and final moments, and as we said goodbye I could not believe that the past week had gone by so quickly, and that my time at the school was over. Every student poured out of their classroom to hug us, tell us goodbye, wish us a safe trip, promise to miss us, and insist that we return to visit the school again. I will never forget the friends I have made and the fun I have had at the Mercy Care Centre. – Hailey
Once upon a time in a room far, far away, three girls sat in quiet wonder of the week they had just experienced. It had been a week full of dust, traffic, smiles, and enthusiastic children that had taught them to appreciate the love that can be shared around the world…especially through song.
***
Good ole Fanny Pat (aka Mrs. Worsham) was the motivation for our melodious debut. She was also the subject of our second number, but soon we ventured on to another member of our growing Kenyan tribe – Skinny Joe, the van driver. In a glowing comparison of Skinny Joe to the other, more rotund Joe (aka Fat Joe), we highlighted their attributes with our resplendent, angelic voices. There will be many more jingles created on our safari, and we shall certainly report back. Goodnight world! – Sarah, Gina, Meg
It is amazing to be in Kenya in a time when the world is brought together by a sport that is so significant here. “Football” has drawn us closer, there is no doubt about it. Being able to give the kids jerseys and soccer balls to use rather than their tattered shirts and makeshift balls of trash-bags and string has enabled us to enrich their lives but has been almost more rewarding for us. Seeing them in E.C. Glass soccer jerseys that we once wore brought smiles to our faces that were comparable to the grins on theirs. – Gina & Meg : )=
Thursday, July 1, 2010
July 1, 2010
Our report to our friends at home from the road as we return from a hike in the Ngong Hills outside of Nairobi: Kevin, training for the San Francisco Marathon, coerced Katherine and Will, to sprint up the first of the HILLS with some Kenyan runners. They made it (this is at least 6500+ feet).
We received wonderful feedback today about the American lunch served yesterday by Lisa and William Cresson from the children at MCC: they loved the "peanuts between two cakes" (PB&J), even the children who were reluctant to try it until they were told the jelly was not blood.
Form 2 (10th grade) has loved Mrs. Worsham's class on poetry, reading Keesha's House, and learning about villanelles and sonnets with the help of Kathleen, Lisa, and Will. The class even begged to continue through their morning break.
Form 3 (11th grade) has responded enthusiastically to Miriam, Will, Kathleen and Katherine's lesson on memoir writing and are working on a Page to Stage segment where they will dramatize some of the memoirs.
Will, Katherine and Kathleen created balloon animals and hats that were a hit at recess; 500 paper cranes have been created despite technological challenges.
Laura has been teaching Excel to the secretaries and bookkeepers at MCC.
Numerous beautiful photos have been taken by Julie, Sarah, Kathleen, Hailey, Meg, Gina and Cullen.
Our clinic helpers have been unfailing, especially Jeanette, William, Hailey, and Celia; Frick and Frack (Yasmine and Kevin) are now running the pharmacy they have totally organized.
We are totally awed by everything from the traffic to the Maasai Market to the grilled goat at the Ethiopian restaurant and most of all with the joy and love we are sharing with these amazing children.
Tomorrow we will continue all our projects at the school and join the kids for a field day. Cheers--your American friend in Africa
We received wonderful feedback today about the American lunch served yesterday by Lisa and William Cresson from the children at MCC: they loved the "peanuts between two cakes" (PB&J), even the children who were reluctant to try it until they were told the jelly was not blood.
Form 2 (10th grade) has loved Mrs. Worsham's class on poetry, reading Keesha's House, and learning about villanelles and sonnets with the help of Kathleen, Lisa, and Will. The class even begged to continue through their morning break.
Form 3 (11th grade) has responded enthusiastically to Miriam, Will, Kathleen and Katherine's lesson on memoir writing and are working on a Page to Stage segment where they will dramatize some of the memoirs.
Will, Katherine and Kathleen created balloon animals and hats that were a hit at recess; 500 paper cranes have been created despite technological challenges.
Laura has been teaching Excel to the secretaries and bookkeepers at MCC.
Numerous beautiful photos have been taken by Julie, Sarah, Kathleen, Hailey, Meg, Gina and Cullen.
Our clinic helpers have been unfailing, especially Jeanette, William, Hailey, and Celia; Frick and Frack (Yasmine and Kevin) are now running the pharmacy they have totally organized.
We are totally awed by everything from the traffic to the Maasai Market to the grilled goat at the Ethiopian restaurant and most of all with the joy and love we are sharing with these amazing children.
Tomorrow we will continue all our projects at the school and join the kids for a field day. Cheers--your American friend in Africa
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