Monday 28th December 2009

I am exhausted today. I was sick yesterday.. although i am feeling better today i just dont have much energy.

Got back on track with my emails etc after being without internet for sometime..

We have 2 new volunteers arriving today which has MAXED US OUT big time. Lucky they are a great bunch of volunteers!

We took 6 of the volunteers down to 'Mission 2' aka Nyota Home today to stay the night and it was great to go and see the kids and see how far the place has come since i was there last year. The children are beautiful and excited to have people visiting.

1 week until i leave! i cant believe its almost time.

:-) and :-(

Tuesday 29th December 2009

A huge happy birthday today to our wonderful visitor Peta!

She is one of a kind and we just love her her... we celebrated in style today.. she deserved nothing less!

AS you may know, it is tradtion to get wet in Kenya on your birthday. so after we tricked her into posing for some photos.. and then getting a jug of water poured on her, she happily stood still to get totally drenched with the hose. The kids loved to share her day and her cake with her!

Then we headed off to Maili Saba for a delicious dinner.. they sang a people birthday song to her which left me in tears (not that hard to do) You can check it out here on you tube. Then we had a great drive home singing away... and some of the crew decided to get off and catch a bike home... what a great crew.

Wednesday 30th December 2009

Today was a busy day running around town getting some last minute jobs done.. also getting that much loved Kenyan coffee for my husband (I have a good supply Jonas)

Then I met up with my 'Kenyan family' later in the afternoon... firstly to take Tracy and Benji (the kids) shoping for Christmas and then to go to dinner... it was very nice to catch up them all again...

Marthas sister Lillian and her father Gideon are now managing our other Mission, Nyota Home... so they are keeping themselves very busy and we had lots to catch up on.

I cant believe i have been here 5 weeks and this has been the first time i have had to catch up with them... its hard to believe but its true. we never get a spare moment.

You can see below we have got all the babies 'sponsor painting' done.. dont they look great???

Also, Mary and i had to go and collect all the school uniforms for the school.. oi oi oi, what a NIGHTMARE... the shops had line ups out the door and down the street. they actually had to close the door and only let someone in as someone left...

it was so out of control busy as school starts next week and i figure people have to leave it to the very last minute to save all their pennies for the uniforms. again, how lucky are we????

Thursday 31st December 2009

Its new years eve and it doent feel like it AT ALL...

Today we went to visit 'Mama Brenda' to deliver her some items.
Her story is a very sad one... Her son Victor has eye cancer and is in hospital in Nairobi. Mama Brenda is a widow and has to often leave her 2 other children, Brenda (9) and Dennis (2), home alone when she travels to Nairobi to see Victor.. They live in the smallest little room and all sleep on a horrible little sponge for a mattress and had next to nothing else in there. Mama Brenda was out yesterday doing some work but Mary and I delivered a nice mattress, a hamper, a cooking kit and lots of food and bedding... They were so excited... the kids were coming from everywhere..

We plan to take Mama Brenda to Nairobi on Tuesday to see her son at the hospital.. they have an outstanding bill of 20,000/=KSH which is approx $300AUD.. Is there anyone out there that could donate towards this amount so we can help her pay this bill?

Friday 1st January 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We had a wonderful night...All the children and staff from Mission in Action Nyota came over to join us for some fireworks...

Some of the smaller kids got a little frightened but after they came to sit with the bigger people they felt ok and we all enjoyed (especially Mary and I!!) the fireworks.. It was a great way to start the new year with all of the children.

I only stayed awake till 1030pm (friends at home - no laughing!) but woke up feeling happy and ready for a wonderful year ahead.

Saturday 2nd January 2010

Catching up on yesterdays pictures of our new baby cow! why is it everytime i come here the cow gives birth???? It was a girl cow so we are happy!

The volunteers were working hard painting the school... We have registration starting next week so we have to get it all ready!

If anyone out there wants to sponsor a child to come to our school now is the time to let me know!! $50 per month to send a child to a great school... the best in fact. (a little bias)