Visit to a School

On a normal Sunday starting at 7:15 I head over to the school to open up a room to let the kids get the sound equipment out so they can set up for chapel. Chapel starts around 7:45 and goes until about 10.  Then I head into town to attend my other church (Pastor Mugo's Church).  Since I enjoy being involved in a church then is my church.  They have a group of youth and young adults that do things from time to time.  At our church we have a lady that is the principal at a school for children with cerebral palsy.  She had asked if we would come to the school to bless the kids.  So this past Sunday after church we went.  Getting there was an adventure in it's self and another whole blog.  Lets just say that nothing was planned when it came to transport to the school or what food we would take.  Always an adventure.

But once we got to to the school it was amazing. There were about 18 kids at the school.  Each had varying degrees of CP.  Some verbal some non verbal.  Two had severe CP along with autism. But what was clear from the beginning was that each kids had much joy. There was big smiles on their faces the whole time.  There was one little boy that had just come and he was 5 years old. The kids started by singing for us and praying for us.  Then we did some singing and speaking.  We had brought cookies for them and handed them out.  The time with them went really well and I was blessed to be there.

This is the principal and the person that attends my church

This is the house mom who spends the nights with the kids

Newest boy who is 5 years old

Visit to a Sister

As many may know Pastor Mugo and his wife are spending time in the USA and Canada for the last two months.  Their youngest daughter June is in class 8 at boarding school here in Kenya.  A few weeks ago we were informed that there was a parents meeting at her school for her class.  So Charity (June's sister) her daughter Imani and Maritha (who goes to PACE but was on break) and myself decided to go.  The cheapest way to get there is by Matatu. This is the way to get around in Kenya.  June's school is just outside of Nakuru which is about a little more then an hours drive away.  So at 8am we boarded our first Matatu.  The cost was about $2 a person.  The first ride went very smooth.  We arrived in Nakuru early so found a place to have breakfast and the purchase come chips (french fries) and sausage for lunch.  We then boarded our second matatu that would take us to the school.  The meeting was scheduled to start at 10:30 am which really means 11.  We arrived at the school around 10:45.  The meeting went well.  I spent some of it with Imani as it is a long time for her to sit.  The meeting was over around 1:30. Then we spent time with June.  We sat on the ground eating our chips and sausage an catching up.  We were at the school until about 3:30 and then made our way home again.  We arrived back at home around 5:45.  I then stayed with Charity for the night as it was too late to travel back home.  It was a wonderful day filled with adventure and more learning on traveling in Kenya.

Niece

I do not think many words are needed here.  She is a beautiful gift from God.

Food

Sometimes I get asked what food I eat when here.  My response usually is mostly Canadian food while cooking for ourselves.  Green (kale) is a common Kenyan food.  We have started to buy it on a regular bases and either frying it up on it's own with onions and garlic or adding it to our pasta, rice or soup.  Very tasty.  Thought I would share a few pictures so that you can see just a few dishes.

Eggs and Weather

Not sure if I have ever shared or not but eggs here in Kenya are not kept in the fridge. If you buy them at the store they are sitting on the shelf.  We buy are eggs at the locate duka (shop) were they are just sitting out.  I also know they are fresh when you see what they look like when you get them.  They do not all look this way but for the most part you are cleaning before eating.

Our Local Duka.  He is just outside the PACE gate.

I also want to thank the Lord for the rains that have started to come.  It has not really rained since I came the they really rely on their crops doing well.  So even though I have to but on a sweater it is worth it to know the crops are getting what they need.

Library

Life with the kids continues to move forward.  Learning more and more (again) each of their personalities.  Getting to know some new ones and getting to know more some I have known now for years.  The last two week I have been using the current art room for lunch library time.  Gives us a little more room.  Class 4 is the biggest class or lunch and it is still crowded but we make it all work.

Coloring Contest

So classes 1-4 were invited to participate in a coloring contest for a candy company called Mr. Berry.  So during my lunch time library time with them that is what we did. They will all be submitted and then we will see what kind of prizes come back. They were pretty excited to see what will come.  We all wait and see.

For now I am using the art room for the kids lunch time library time.  Little more room then in their class rooms.

Class 1

Class 2

Class 3

Class 4

Nursery Time

This week I had a chance to go over to the nursery school classes.  Kids here start coming to school all day at the age of 3.  This is called baby class.  At age 4 it is called middle class and age 5 is top class.  From there they would go to class 1 (grade 1).  The nursery school is just up the road from the main campus of PACE.  It has it's own compound.  They also have a daycare there for kids under the age of 3.  I will be going to the nursery school once a week to read stories and do activities with them.  This week I read (with interpretation from the teachers) the story of Joseph and the story about the Good Samaritan.  After reading the story's I asked the kids to draw a picture of Joseph with his beautifully colored coat.  For middle and top class the teachers drew an example and the kids copied. For baby class the teacher drew on each paper and the kids colored it.  It all went very well.

When I arrived the kids were taking their morning Ugi (Kenyan version of portage that you drink, and yes I enjoy it).

Sitting outside getting ready for the story 

Baby class getting ready to color

Top Class started coloring

Baby class coloring

This child just started at the school this day. He did not know what to do with the crayon 

Baby class finished product

Middle class finished product

Top class finished product