Monday 14th December 2009

HUGE DAY! GREAT DAY THO!! heaps accomplished which makes me happy. We went into town and got everything we needed for the 'Christmas Hampers' I had money from many kind people to buy 15 Christmas Hampers but we did so well that we got enough stuff to buy 30 families a hamper each!!

Now we need to sort everything into separate hampers and deliver! (best part) will update with photos when i have some.

We have also been busy trying to sort some of the stuff that is in the containers.. the volunteers are keeping very busy as there is WEEKS of work to do with these containers... we REALLY need to put a roof over the top of them as everything inside is getting steaming hot and its ruining all the stuff... it will cost a couple of grand to build this roof. anyone keen on helping? email me if you are!!

Tuesday 15th December 2009

PARTY AND PRESENT DAY!

Today we celebrated Matthew and Antony's birthday.
2 x cakes = very happy children.

I also had many presents to give out that sponsors had sent to me to give to the children. I love and i hate to do this job.

I love to give the children their presents from their sponsors as they love it and feel so so special but I HATE it when i go and see the children after and all of the rest of the kids that didn't get a present are saying 'sarah! will you take me upstairs to give me a present??' or 'did my sponsor send me something??' aaaarrrrggggghhhhhh heart breaking!

The library is taking shape (you rock gav and beth) and we are sorting through the rubbish and repairing and cleaning chairs and tables.

Its starting to look like a library and i can start to picture what it is going to look like. i cant wait!!

Wednesday 16th December 2009

Today was our day for our 'annual board meeting' most of they day was taken up with this. talking talking talking and my brain is fried. too much to think about!

Diane and Nikki were busy today weighing up sugar and flour for our Christmas hampers as we will deliver these through out next week.

Some of the tables we are making for our baby class at the school have been started which is very exciting. We will paint all of these tables very bright colours when they are complete. we also have the materials to start building shelving in the library and other classrooms... its all coming together!!! yyyyyeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

MIA board members --->>>
Ivan, Mary, Sarah, Martha, John and Nyaundi
just missing Phil and Adam from OZ...

Thursday 17th December 2009

Today we headed into town (me, Tammi, Beth and Gavin) to go to the Masai Markets, and go shopping for our Education Packs and for some more Christmas Hampers that we were given money for today!

HUGE DAY. I forgot how painful the Masai Markets are and i will not be going back again that's for sure. I buy off one stall and then i get a HUGE guilt trip from the next stall as to why i should have bought from him... yuck... i cant handle the guilt!

The we headed on to Gilanis to buy everything in bulk for the hampers.. what a mission. Thanks to everyone who has donated towards the Gifts in Action... we now have over 40 hampers to give out next week to make Christmas Day a very special day for so many families.

Our toilet block for the school is coming along nicely! Thanks to some very kind donations we should be able to get this complete before school starts. The workers loved posing for this picture ;-)

I would like to give a shout out to Gav's father Leigh! and Beths father Les! HELLO!!! thanks for following my diary.. Gav and Beth and LEGENDARY volunteers and we will never allow them to leave.

<<--- Gav looks Kenyan!

Friday 18th December 2009

Fridays are always very busy....

The volunteers went out early with Ivan to go to a family in the village where we were installing a water tank... photos to come!
these are always much needed for the poorer members of our community. Its been so hard lately with not much rain so the water tanks make life a lot easier for the people who have nothing..
I always say it.. but we are so lucky...

Sarah and Rachy put together and painted a trampoline that was in the shipping containers.. the kids have never had so much fun!

Today Mary met with the teachers that she has chosen for the school. They were very excited about their new jobs and we took them over to the school today to show them... 4 teachers hired plus waiting for Belinda (Australian Lady)to come in March.

The children had a medical check up today along with some 'Doongas' to check for HIV. they were all so brave! Great News is that now Purity has tested HIV Negative!! She was tested positive when she was about 6 months old. Fantastic News that made my day...

I was helping Mary upstairs with some cooking and Lillian and I were peeling eggs... I asked Lillian where do the eggs come from and she told me 'from the motorbike' (as the eggs get delivered to us on the bike) she is a smart girl that one...

Lillian telling me that the egg comes first...
From the motorbike that is..

Saturday 19th December 2009

Today is again Sabbath for Mary and Ivan and all of the children here at Mission in Action. A day of rest... quite nice!

I gave myself kitchen duties this morning and at lunch time... didn't have to cook, just heat and serve and deliver and wash up... now that dosent sound like much but it is. i think having 1 or 2 babies of my own will be a breeze...

Other than that I ate and rested today.. so i don't have much else to say except... I miss all of my friends and family at home and my lovely husband Jonas.. see you soon! ish...

I thought i would share with you some photos i have got from some other volunteers from previous days...

Sunday 20th December 2009

I said I would never do it again! so i wonder why i did???
I am talking about going to a Kenyan wedding that is... Last year i went to one and it went for approx 5 hours!! My back was shot by the end of it... so when i heard myself say yes today when Mary asked me to go along to one... i was shocked.

1 hour into it i was regretting it. BIG TIME.

She was 2.5 hours late walking down the isle. It took approx 45 minutes for everyone to walk down the isle... no exaggeration..

This is how it went: Bible Boy, Pillow Boys x 3, Flower Girls x 2, Smelling Flowers x 3 (they smell flowers and thrown them over their shoulder), Sweet Girls x 2 (they throw lollies into the crowd), Spray Girls x 2 (they have a decoration that open and close as they walk down the isle), Way Openers x 2, Candle Girls x 2, Brides Maids x 6, Grooms Men x 6, Best Maid, Best Man, Bride and Groom. OI OI OI!!!

Thats when Mary and I left. 6 hours later Ivan and Martha came home.