Monday 7th December 2009

I have been here over 1 week already. Man, how time flies...
Today our volunteers Beth, Gavin and Erin were super keen to get started in the library at our scchool. Beth and Gavin are hoping to have most of it done by the time they leave. Sounds good to me!

They had the job of getting all of the books that are PILED in 1 of the classrooms and bringing it into the library room and sorting them into different piles.. we have so many wonderful books that have been sento to us from people on the shipping container!

Gavin is stuck in the garage repairing broken shelves and sanding them back to we can get ready to paint them...

Our lovely helper George (below- Anishas Brother) came to help us with the heavy lifting and stopped to try on a school hat that was sent to us. Lookin good ;-)

Tuesday 8th December 2009

They have come so far in the library already. Books piled high everywhere and some shelving up.

Gavin and Beth have sanded back most of the shelves (yes, sarah budulica, with your help as well!) and have applied the undercoat.

We have just returned from town where we purchased 4 tins of very bright coloured paint for them to paint the shelves... Bright Red, Blue. Orange and Green..

A huge thank you to Sarah and Erin for also helping me today with getting the kids one by one to do pictures for their sponsors. This is always a very fun and time consuming job that i just havent had time to start so it is a huge help!

The volunteers decided that they all wanted pizza tonight so we are just waiting for the pizza car to arrive so we can dig in... mmmm pizza and mayooooooooooo

Good night all.

Wednesday, 9th December 2009

Today Ivan, Mary, Martha and Rachie all went to Nairobi - i would rather avoid Kenyan traffic at all costs so i stayed home with mini me (sarah budulica) and the volunteers and of course the 43 angels.

I have spent most of the day on the computer and sorting out the MIA - Kenya office. Lucky organizing is my thing!

I am happy with what i have accomplished but when you complete one task, 2 more arise....

A couple of updated things on the website is 'Volunteer Stories' from past volunteers.. have a read so you can see how great we are.

Also, i have made a page just for photos of our 'Gifts in Action' in Action.. i am sure you will enjoy these photos.. i will update as i get more so make sure you keep checking.

Beth and Gavin are going off with the shelves for the library.. i LOVE volunteers who just get in and go hard ;-)

Thursday 10th December 2009

We are having our Christmas Party this Sunday the 13th. We invite all staff and children along with all of our children and volunteers it is going to be HUGE!

Mary, Fuhara, Doreen and myself headed into town to do the grocery shopping for the house as well as the 'goodie bag' shopping for all the kids for the christmas party. I remember last year we only needed 3 trolleys for grocery shopping.. but this year we needed 4...

Fuhara (sister of Isaac) and Doreen (a child from our other mission) loved coming with us on our excursion into town. They both got a little handbag each from Mary and felt like ladies as we went shopping and then went to lunch. Giggling most of the time...

2 new volunteers arrived today.. the start of the MANY to come.. Welcome Nikki and Diane :-)

We wasted no time in putting them all to work. we had a production line that was ON FIRE.. it took our volunteers about 15 minutes to put together almost 80 goodie bags. awesome work.

it was Martha's fiance Peters birthday recently and the kids were quite annoyed with him that he did not 'share his cake' with everyone so we had to have a special birthday for him last night so everyone could get a bit of cake. We also celebrated Christophers birthday as well...

The kids were much happier with 'Uncle Peter' now that he shared with them. Phew... you never want to get on their bad side.

Friday 11th December 2009

Today was a day we were going into the village to deliver some hampers to some families... 'Mrs Pastor' (who is helping me with the Gifts in Action project) had identified these families who are in need so we can help them with some items they might need...

We could not get to this family by car as the roads were too bad, so they told me that it was going to be quite the walk... my hip and backs dont allow me to walk to far so i gave that one a miss as it would hvae ruined me for days..

They came back with many photos that i thought i would share as I am sure you will enjoy these as much as i do.

Saturday 12th December 2009

Again its Sabbath and time for the kids to dress up for Sabbath School. Its all very exciting for them!

After me, Beth and Gavin washed up after breakfast i went and laid down until everyone came back from church. i could get used to this 'day of rest' !

1 of our volunteers, sponsor and friend left today. We hope you had a nice flight Sarah and will see you again soon!

The kids are busting with excitement as tomorrow is our 'Christmas Party' gonna be a big day.. so i am going to rest!

I hope you enjoy these photos. This is a little boy named Simon who we fostered out to a local Kenyan family who will also soon adopt him. He is very happy and loves his new family I love happy endings!

Will update you tomorrow about our Christmas Party!!!

Sunday 13th December 2009

WHAT A DAY!!

I am exhausted so am writing this quickly before i pass out for the night. A wonderful Christmas party that the kids enjoyed so so so much. Alot of work! but well worth it when you see the kids.

We had all the children from Mission in Action Nyota and all our staff and their children..

They all got a little goodie bag filled with sweets and yum stuff. i can hear them now still buzzing around the house... not sure they quite know what has hit them!

I made a photo album of today at our Photo Page...

Sarah Budulica went riding on the horse this morning and it suddenly fell and toppelled over.. very close to landing on her but it didnt. Threw her off quite hard and she has many grazes on her.. sadly the horse died :-( they think it had a heart attack.. Luckily our Sarah is TOUGH as nails... she is banged up but ok. RIP lovely horse...