tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34145009287899369702024-03-13T16:35:11.686-07:00Katie in KenyaKathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-56420645682523785842011-07-13T02:50:00.000-07:002011-07-13T02:50:41.974-07:00“A Prayer for Children” - Ina J. Hughes<i>(This poem was shared with me today by my good friend and fellow volunteer, Katie McCann. I feel that it is very poignant and speaks clearly to the work we have been doing here.)</i><br />
<br />
We pray for children<br />
who sneak popsicles before supper,<br />
who erase holes in math workbooks,<br />
who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food,<br />
who like ghost stories,<br />
who can never find their shoes.<br />
<br />
And we pray for those <br />
who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire,<br />
who can’t bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers,<br />
who are born in places we wouldn’t be caught dead in,<br />
who never go to the circus,<br />
who live in an X-rated world.<br />
<br />
We pray for children<br />
who sleep with the dog and bury the goldfish,<br />
who bring us sticky kisses and fistfuls of dandelions,<br />
who get visits from the tooth fairy,<br />
who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money.<br />
<br />
And we pray for those <br />
who never got dessert,<br />
who have no safe blanket to drag behind them,<br />
who watch their parents watch them die,<br />
who can’t find bread to steal,<br />
who don’t have any rooms to clean up,<br />
whose pictures aren’t on anybody’s dresser,<br />
whose monsters are real.<br />
<br />
We pray for children<br />
who spend all their allowance before Tuesday,<br />
who shove dirty clothes under the bed, and never rinse out the tub,<br />
who don’t like to be kissed in front of the carpool,<br />
who squirm in church or temple and scream in the phone,<br />
whose tears we sometimes laugh at and<br />
whose smiles can make us cry.<br />
<br />
And we pray for those<br />
whose nightmares come in the day time,<br />
who will eat anything,<br />
who have never seen a dentist,<br />
who aren’t spoiled by anybody,<br />
who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,<br />
who live and move, but have no being.<br />
<br />
We pray for children who want to be carried<br />
and for those who must,<br />
for those who we give up on and<br />
for those who don’t get a second chance,<br />
for those we smother . . .<br />
and for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind <br />
enough to offer it.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-53043915637859990342011-07-13T02:43:00.000-07:002011-07-13T02:43:03.281-07:00Baby Laughs Cure All!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday, Madame Sharoya, the principal of the secondary school, took us to The New Life Home Trust in Kisumu. This “Home” was started by a British couple in Kenya. Their motto is “Caring with Compassion”. The organization takes in infants from the area that are been abandoned after birth. These babies are found in dumpsters, in the bush or just left on their door step. The home is currently caring for 50 babies.<span> </span>The organization began with the intent to aid abandoned children with AIDS and HIV and that is still their mission though they do also accept babies who are not diseased. They have wonderful staffing round the clock to care for the children’s needs. <span> </span>Madam Sharoya informed us that the home is always looking for volunteers to just come and hold the babies or help feed them. Clearly, we jumped at the opportunity to play with more children!</div><div class="MsoNormal">When we first arrived I was overwhelmed and had to hold back tears.<span> </span>These children do not have any family. None at all. No mother. No father. No grandparents. No family. They were unwanted and so they were discarded. The children can be just days old when they enter the home.<span> </span>When we arrived there were three children who had been brought in earlier this week. One of them was in an incubator and the other two in basinets. Others stay in the medical care room much longer because they have complications. There are nurses and physicians at the home who care for their illnesses. </div><div class="MsoNormal">The woman and men who work at The New Life Home are all blessings. They are caretakers and angels to these little, innocent children. <span> </span>These babies are shown so much love and attention. They are played with and sung to by the nurses and volunteers. They laugh and they smile! All toys, clothing, food and supplies at the home are provided through donation. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Like so many of the children at OLG, these babies are orphans. The difference between many of them is that the orphans at The New Life Home never knew their families where as some of the children at OLG knew their parents or guardians and then suffered their loss. I do not know which would be more difficult; To have loved and lost family or to never have been loved by them at all.<span> </span>I suppose there really is no comparison between the two.<span> </span>At the end of the day, both situations are incredibly heart breaking. The commonality between the two is, however, that the innocence of these children in both “homes” shines through. They are just that, children. They did not choose these lives; they were merely born into them. It is not the choices that they have made throughout their lives that has brought them to their current situations, they inherited them.<span> </span>They have no shame, guilt or sin, they are just innocent children. And for that reason my heart goes out to them. </div><div class="MsoNormal">When we arrived at the home we were first taken on a tour to see all the children and their facilities. First we saw those that were younger than 6 months. They were all lying on mats and in bouncies or in the arms of nurses in their “play room”.<span> </span>Two young British girls and their mother were singing and playing guitar. They have been volunteering at the home for about a year. The next room we entered was designated for “the crawlers”. These babies were between 6 months and 18 months. They too were playing when we came in. Two little boys crawled over to me and used my legs to stand themselves up. With wide smiles they tugged on my skirt as they bounced before plopping down on their bottoms. I fell in love! I had to tear myself away from them to finish our tour. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We then ventured down stairs to where the children with special needs play and sleep. There are 7 children at the home with special needs. Lenorah, was our tour guide through this section of the home. She showed us her classroom before running outside to play. As we walked into the playroom we were greeted by 5 year old Kurt. Kurt was lying on the mat as a nurse held his hand and swayed with him. Kurt is blind and cannot talk. His nurse, with a smile on her face, was bestowing the ministry of presence. She sang to him softly and was there with him. She was showing him love and care which, I am sure, was what he needed most. </div><div class="MsoNormal">After finishing our tour I was itching to wash my hands so I could go play with the kids! I headed back into “the crawlers” room. The British family had made their way over and were now singing and dancing with the nurses and babies in this room.<span> </span>I spotted a boy sitting alone and went over to him. I sat and placed him on my lap and we began to sing and dance too. He was a bundle of joy with the sweetest smile and bright sparkling eyes beneath long curling eyelashes. His name was Peter! Peter has the most infectious giggle I have ever heard! He made my heart happy. I spent the rest of my time at the home with him and his friends. Tommy and I fed three babies dinner (mashed beans with white bread) and helped them drink their milk before we took them for baths. All 12 of them were bathed and while they waited for their baths they sat on their individual training potties singing to each other! It was quite a sight! After baths we joined the assembly of nurses who dry, diaper, clothe and put the children in their cribs. </div><div class="MsoNormal">When we finished I went to each other cribs and spoke to them before I left. I wanted them to know that they are angels and thank them for playing with me. Leaving was very difficult. I hope to get back their before we leave in two weeks. How fast this time is flying! Though my heart ached for these children, I can smile knowing that The New Life Home shows them love and compassion. These babies are so loved! They are given big doses of the best medicine each day; Love. <span> </span>When the babies are stable (medically, emotionally, etc.) and have reached a certain age they will be available for adoption. If the kids are not adopted then they will be taken to another home associated with New Life and taken to school. </div><div class="MsoNormal">God Bless the men and women that give these children new lives. </div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-40907452490867291442011-07-12T01:10:00.000-07:002011-07-12T01:10:26.638-07:00Look Closely<div style="font-family: inherit;">There has been a constant theme throughout my time in Kenya; "Look Closely". So much is missed in simply passing by. Yesterday the 5 of us (Katie, Tommy, Anna, Kevin and myself) were taken on a hike of the surrounding area by the novices' here at the Dominican compound. The novices' are in their second stage of becoming Dominican priests. Most of them are from Kenya and those that are not have been here for almost a year now and so they know their surroundings very well. On our hike we walked through a corn field. I pass this corn field every day on my way to school. In my rush, it has always appeared to be as a blur of greens and browns, never anything more significant than maize. Yesterday when we walked through the field, not past it, I noticed the most beautiful shades of deep purple in the leaves of the stalks. There were delicate orange and purple flowers mixed in among the maize, each one more beautiful than the next. The field was like a painting I had never taken the time to look at. </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IEHAo7D12ZlofVTx0BksHzwpkKMWK6zLuFYjeejCkgIHhX_Qpnab3FTrNdar7GM3rO8FxCwFeFbZMAVU6I0kSomEp_TiAEhwRXZ84DVM2kxDLX7kYL1GjIB67xJOzYLnBpS08GJpSRAs/s1600/Kenya+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IEHAo7D12ZlofVTx0BksHzwpkKMWK6zLuFYjeejCkgIHhX_Qpnab3FTrNdar7GM3rO8FxCwFeFbZMAVU6I0kSomEp_TiAEhwRXZ84DVM2kxDLX7kYL1GjIB67xJOzYLnBpS08GJpSRAs/s320/Kenya+087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;">Reflecting upon my time here, a similar thing happened while I was hiking Mt. Kenya. As we would hike and look up ahead at the stretch of land that we had yet to cover everything just appeared green. Slowly as we approached different landscapes they became much more vivid. Beautiful exotic plants each with a special purpose. Some plants looks like flowers and were used to collect rain water, what an ingenious natural invention. Other plants bore fruit and had unique striations in their color, mixtures of golden yellows and chartreuse greens. Just like the maize field, I would have missed out on this beauty if I had not taken the time to notice and "look closely".</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">In all honesty, I was very nervous about being able to learn all the kids names and even more nervous that I </span>would not be able to tell them apart. They all have deep, rich, beautifully dark skin and each of them, boys and girls, have short buzzed haircuts. On my first day, I thought for sure that I would need them to wear name tags for the next 4 weeks so that I could distinguish between them. STUPID ME! The children of OLG, like the stalks of maize and the plants of Mt. Kenya, do appear very similar when you quickly pass them by. Fortunately for me, I have been able to “look closely” at each one of them. They are each so unique with their own stories, their own aspirations, their own quirks! They are such individuals all bound together as brothers and sisters in this school. My ignorant worries of not being able to tell the people of Kenya apart have surely vanished. It may not be their skin color or haircuts that distinguish them from one another but it is their eyes. Their smiles. Their souls. </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></div></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-79505169045287232152011-07-12T00:23:00.000-07:002011-07-12T00:23:13.821-07:00A New National AnthemThere are two boys at OLG that are from Sudan. On Saturday their birth certificates had to change to read "The Republic of Southern Sudan" as their home nation. It has been incredible to be this close to Southern Sudan for this momentous point in the countries history. The most beautiful part has been to see the joy and pride streaming from these two boys, "C" and "J". "C" and "J" have brought me up to speed on the issues in the Sudan that led to this necessary split. I knew some information about Darfur regarding Sudan but that was pretty much the extent of my knowledge on the subject. The boys have shared the stories of violence and war that they have experienced as a result of the struggles and conflict within the borders of the former Sudan. "C" had to stop his education multiple times because of the violence; it was simply too dangerous for him to leave home.<br />
<br />
It has truly been a gift to witness these young men during this time. What a gift to be with two people as they celebrate the joy of independence from oppression and war. It will not be an easy road for Southern Sudan, these boys recognize that, but it is a start and it brings much hope. "C" and "J" do not have much access to news so they have been asking us about what we are reading online regarding the birth of their homeland. They do have a radio which they can get updates on but they are yearning for information. I have been doing what I can to look things up and report back to them. Two days ago "C" asked me if I could look up his new national anthem. He wants to have it memorized for when he returns home to Southern Sudan during his December break from school. Katie and I looked up the lyrics that night and in my best penmanship I wrote down the words on a sheet of journaling paper. I included the country's motto: Justice, Liberty and Prosperity. The next morning after mass I handed both boys a copy of the tune. They beamed with appreciation.<br />
<br />
I spoke to "C" later that day about what was to come for Southern Sudan and for his own future. I told "C" that based off the statistics I found online, he is in the top 25% of the most intelligent people in his country. He is 20 years old. 75% of all adults in Southern Sudan cannot read or write and 10% of children don't live past the age of 5. He knew these things. I asked if he felt any responsibility as part of that minority to go back to his country and help them progress. He responded, "Anything I can do for the betterment of my country, I will, God willing." We spoke of how the responsibility for the future success of his country now falls upon the shoulders of his generation. He smiled proudly and said, "I know."<br />
<br />
My citizenship is something that I have taken for granted; something that I have never questioned. Witnessing these boys gain new citizenship this past week and viewing the celebrations of a country I am so currently close to has been an incredibly humbling experience. The US too was once a new nation like Southern Sudan. Though it there have a long road ahead of them, I am hoping and praying for the future success of the people of the world's newest free land.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-83990923724501491212011-07-06T02:02:00.001-07:002011-07-06T02:02:49.683-07:00"That is the Reality of Life"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">This morning we slept in because it was pouring rain outside. We have been excused from rosary and mass if needed occasionally due to weather or health reasons. After waking around 7:30 I got ready for my day. I was scheduled to teach handwriting to grade 5 at 8:05am. I have become particularly close with the 5<sup>th</sup> grade at Our Lady of Grace. They were the first class I taught at the school and were the first to embrace me into this community. As I crossed over the road toward the school from the Dominican compound I heard girls crying. I looked up to see two girls, one of whom is in the 5<sup>th</sup> grade and the other in 2<sup>nd</sup>, being escorted by teachers across the school grounds toward me on the road. My pace slowed as I watched them wondering why they were crying and where they were walking to. One of the teachers looked up and waved to me but the group kept walking. As I passed them heading toward the primary school I saw Mr. Okoth walking toward me. Mr. Okoth is the principal of the primary school. As we approached each other he stuck out his hand and said, “Good Morning Kate.” I shook his hand and returned the welcome and asked about the girls who were weeping. Mr. Okoth informed me that he was just going to join them. He said the girls had just been informed that the mother had died this morning. I lost my breath. My hand shot up to my chest as I reflected on what I had just heard. Mr. Okoth continued and told me that their mother had been ill with terminal cancer and had been a patient at the hospice run by the Hawthorne Sisters down the road. The children were going to view her body before the burial ceremony began. He also told me that their mother was their only living parent, and that their father had died some years earlier. My heart broke. I cannot fathom what it would be like to lose one parent but to have lost both before the age of 12, unthinkable to me. The two girls also have an older brother at the school in grade 8. These three children became “true orphans” this morning. As Mr. Okoth continued to speak I lost all words to reply. I said, “I cannot imagine what this is like for them; to lose a parent. I am so sorry.” Mr. Okoth looked into my eyes and said, “That is the reality of life.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Such an incredibly hard reality for anyone in life, let alone children. As I walked to my classroom I prayed for those children and their mothers’ soul. <span> </span>Before I started class, I asked the students to pray for their classmate who was going through an incredibly difficult time. We all bowed our heads and prayed for our friend. About 45 minutes later there was a knock at the open door to the classroom.<span> </span>When I looked up from the blackboard “Iris” (the 5<sup>th</sup> grade student who lost her mother) was standing there asking permission to enter. (That is a school rule that they must be granted permission before entering the room in the middle of a lesson) I looked at her, her eyes all swollen and bloodshot and nodded my head. All the students fell silent as she walked to her seat in the back of the room. I was at a loss. Do I just continue with the lesson? Do I stop and speak to her? Have all the kids hug her? I turned back to the board and gave the children an assignment. As they began working I walked over to “Iris’” desk and knelt next to her. She just stared straight ahead as I told her that she did not have to stay in the classroom. As soon as I said it, I realized she had nowhere else to go. <span> </span>I suppose she could go to the principal’s office and sit alone but as she looked over at me I knew she needed to be with people. I asked if she had been sent back by the teachers who took her to see her mother’s body and she nodded. As I told her not to worry about the lesson or her work in my class I rubbed her back and clutched her arm. Tears streamed down her face as she silently wept. I took some tissues from my bag and gave them to her to use throughout the day if she needed them. I also told her that it was okay to cry and to be sad. I told her that although she may not understand why this happened, her mother was no longer in pain from being sick and that she was now with God looking over her. She nodded and looked away.<span> </span>It is difficult to console adults who loose parents and that is normal.<span> </span>Consoling a child who has lost her only remaining parent maybe one of the most trying things I have faced. I just wanted her to know she was loved and cared for and so I just knelt next to her and rubbed her back letting her know I was there if she needed anything as her classmates worked. At the end of class some of the girls came around and stood near her. Open affection is not something I have witnessed in Kenya and I don’t think the girls first reaction would be to console through hugs and touch. They just stood near “Iris” and I told them to take care of her while she was going through this difficult time. The other girls nodded. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will never be able to forget “Iris’” face today for as long as I live. I have been surrounded by these children for almost 3 weeks now hearing stories of their deceased parents and knowing that they were orphans but today put all of that into perspective. I witnessed a child become an orphan today. Those three kids will have to live the rest of their lives without either of their parents. There is nothing that can replace the love you receive from your parents but maybe with love and care from others these children can continue to grow and move forward. For now, though, it is their time to grieve. </div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-65505943385007688142011-07-04T02:22:00.000-07:002011-07-04T02:22:06.342-07:00Freedom's are Privledges<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">On this birthday of independence for my nation, I reflect on my own life and freedoms in relation to where I am here in Kenya. I so take for granted my feeling of security in our great nation and it is not until I stepped outside its walls that I realized just how lucky I am to have those rights and freedoms. Though we often argue about corrupt politicians, nothing we have compares to the level of corruption in this country. You cannot trust the police here because they can often be bought off. The judicial system is also faulty. The central system of government here is faulty and corrupt and as a result many Kenyan citizens are often not taken seriously outside of their countries borders because they are taken as a reflection of their home land and its problems. Kenyans have a difficult time acquiring visas and green cards to leave the country and head to America or the UK. I on the other hand, coming from America, did not need to get my visa for Kenya until my arrival in the country. I am so fortunate to come from a country that is well respected and taken seriously in the world. It is so easy for me, in terms of documentation, to travel the world because I have the luxury of an American passport. That is something I will no longer take for granted! Tonight we will celebrate the 4<sup>th</sup> of July with the Dominicans. They have promised us a BBQ and fire. It will be a 4<sup>th</sup> of July unlike any other! As we celebrate tonight I will be sure to reflect upon my Mim’s latest words of wisdom are from an email I received from her this morning … “As I sit here, I hear the fireworks going off somewhere close and am thankful always that this noise is one of celebration and not of anger or war. We are so blessed in this wonderful land. I pray people of good will not lose sight of that!! and to support and defend Her!” Today, like every other, I am proud to be an American and to be able to use the privileges that come along with that to fulfill my responsibility of helping others. </div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-60914988159479220672011-07-04T02:13:00.000-07:002011-07-04T02:13:17.005-07:00Fr. Tom's Kids<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Located on the other side of the hedge behind the boy’s dormitory are the graves of Fr. Tom and Fr. Lewis, two Dominicans who lived here at the compound and were involved in the school.<span> </span>The Dominicans founded a sponsorship program, The East African Children’s Fund, later named in memory of Fr. Tom (“Fr. Tom’s Kids”) that seeks and provides sponsorship for children to attend school and gain an education; an opportunity some of the students would not otherwise have. All the students at Our Lady of Grace are funded through Fr. Tom’s Kids. Therefore, the school would not exist without the organizations sponsorship. Many of the sponsors for these students live in America or the UK and provide what they can for individual students. The organization also funds students who have graduated from high school and have the grades to attend university. In Kenya, all 12<sup>th</sup> graders take what is called the National Exam. If boys receive an A- or higher or girls receive a B or higher the Kenyan government will pay for them to attend a university. If students do receive grades even just below this mark they must find their own private funding for their education. Students loans are also not something that really occur in Kenya so it is often very difficult for qualified, hard working kids who have done well in school but just miss the mark on this exam to go on to higher learning. Fr. Toms Kid’s (FTK) helps provide for those kids as well. This organization, however, is in dire need of funding. Much of what we are doing here in Kenya is gathering information to create presentation to give upon our arrival in the US to help FTK and OLG get funding to continue providing for their students.With God's grace our efforts will be fruitful. </div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-79432578642707269552011-07-04T02:08:00.000-07:002011-07-04T02:08:25.439-07:00Sunday, FUNday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday was a great day! Sunday’s at OLG are very leisurely. We started our day by sleeping in! Mass on Sundays does not start until 7am so we were able to sleep until 6:30 instead of our usual 5:30 wake up! Waking up after the sun has risen is so much easier than starting your day in the dark. There is just something about knowing that the world is up and ready for the day that helps you to do the same. I saw the most beautiful view of the burning sun over the hills near our compound on my walk to mass. Mental pictures are a gift and that image will be imprinted in my mind for a long time. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sunday service at OLG is much more of a celebration than regular weekday masses. Some students wore long sarongs and preformed as liturgical dancers for the procession and offertory during the service and the music was African worship songs sung in their native Kiswahili. Fr. Charles, head of the Dominican priory, celebrated the mass and the children were very responsive to his homily on being a gentle person and the need for it in our world. He spoke of how youth often think that they have to be hard to be successful but that gentleness and a softened heart will bring you close to God and help you go far. He mentioned how young ladies when looking for a mate should look for a “gentle”man who will step aside and let them walk through a door way first. All the girls cracked up and I did notice a few boys after mass taking Fr. Charles’ advice and stepping aside for their female counterparts. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After mass we took our breakfast back at the house where we stay on the Dominican compound. We enjoyed oatmeal, bananas, peanut butter and tea while the birds chirped outside our windows. The weather was beautiful! After eating I headed over to the basketball court. I had told some of the boys after mass that we could play later in the morning.<span> </span>The court is located behind the older boys dormitory on the other side of the hedge. When I got to the dorm I found one of the boys digging up a HUGE tree trunk that is located next to their building. He was using a spade and clearing the dirt from the root. When I asked him why he was doing it he told me that he had been assigned to dig at the trunk as punishment for disrespecting his teacher. I nodded and told him to join us when he was finished. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We played three on three and had a great time in the hot African sun! The boys and I had a lot of fun. Their court is dirt and the hoops don’t have nets but basketball is basketball where ever you are. Some times sports can be a language when you cannot communicate. My time here in Kenya and earlier in Barcelona has taught me that there are many ways to engage and interact with people that are unspoken. You can learn so much about other people through taking part in activities with them.<span> </span>Whether it is watching a football match in Spain with Ana Maria, my host mom, or playing basketball with the high school boys here in Kenya – sports are bonding! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After the game we sat under a tree for some shade and enjoyed conversation. The kids had to head back to school for lunch so I joined them. Lunch was ugali, sacumawiki and scrambled eggs with vegetables. YUMM!! After lunch I wandered back to the compound with the intention of journaling. I sat in the hut in front of the prior to write. The inside of this hut painted in a black and white zebra pattern and the stone table in the middle is mustard yellow with blue paintings of African trees (similar to the “Tree of Life” in The Lion King) and Massi warriors.<span> </span>The benches are painted in a blue, red black and white diamond pattern and it is the perfect place to sit and think! I was only there for a few moments before Brother Dominic joined me. Brother Dominic arrived to the compound last Friday from Washington, D.C. and will be here for the month of July. I had a wonderful conversation with him about the children, the Dominicans and the Church. I look forward to hearing more from him over the next month. We sat and spoke for about an hour and then it was time for us to pick up dinner from the priory. Each day, the cook at the priory, Antoni, prepares us our dinner which we collect around 6:15pm or so and bring back to our house to eat. Our house is located about 100 paces from the priory and the novices’ house. On the weekends Caroline cooks for us and last night she prepared stewed chicken, sacumawiki, ugali, pepper salsa and cabbage for our supper. She is a WONDERFUL cook! We had pineapple slices and freshly baked banana bread for dessert! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All in all yesterday was wonderful! I was even able to call home and wish my brother a very happy 17<sup>th</sup> birthday! I missed him very much yesterday but I know I will see him again soon! It is difficult to not have guilt in missing my home and family which I have only been away from for 3 weeks now when the majority of these kids only get to see whatever family or guardians they do have every 4 months or so. Keep the prayers coming!</div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-14966645579285578292011-07-04T01:57:00.000-07:002011-07-04T01:57:07.636-07:00"Life Skills"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:DoNotShowComments/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--> <m:smallfrac m:val="off"> <m:dispdef> <m:lmargin m:val="0"> <m:rmargin m:val="0"> <m:defjc m:val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440"> <m:intlim m:val="subSup"> <m:narylim m:val="undOvr"> </m:narylim></m:intlim> </m:wrapindent><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">This past Thursday I was assigned to teach "Life Skills" to grade 5. This is a course that is on their syllabus weekly but doesn't have a consistent teacher or program. I decided to base the class on motivation and reputation, two words the kids had never heard before. After explaining to them that motivation is something that pushes you toward your goal, sometimes it even is the goal and that reputation is what you are known as we began to talk about how these two things applied to their lives. The concept of motivation went over well and the kids went around and told me each what they wanted to be when they grew up. Some wanted to be nurses, some pilots, some bank managers and one a mechanic. We also talked about the things they would need to do along the way to get to their goals; difficult things that their motivation would have to help them through. Some of the "steps" to their goals were working hard, studying math and English and having courage! Motivation, covered. Next we began discussing reputation. This concept was a bit more difficult. I explained that your reputation is a group of words or phrases that others know you by. They are adjectives and characteristics which other people would use to describe you. I told them how having a good reputation is important for their future because they will need the relationships they make at the school to help them go on to attend university. I decided to ask the kids to describe me using word and phrases and we would compile my reputation on the black board. <span> </span>They liked this idea and hands shot up immediately calling "teacher, teacher!" for me to call on them for their word. The first couple responses were what I expected..."teacher", "American", "long hair". Then a girl raised her hand high and proud. I called on her and with a big smile on her face she looked at me and said "Fat!" She was so proud of her response. I started to laugh right away. Her response was not an insult in the least. It was first an observation and second a compliment. If someone is FAT is Kenya than they must have money to eat enough for them to become fat. It was so cute how happy she was to participate with that answer in our conversation. From there I decided to have the kids do an acrostic poem to come up with their reputations. I had them write out their names and fill in words that began or contained the letters in their name. <span> </span>Some had a very hard time coming up with words to describe themselves. I think there are a couple reasons for this. First their knowledge of English is limited. Most speak very well (especially for it to be there second language) but some still have trouble even in the upper grades. Secondly, I do not think the kids have been complimented much in their lives and so they may have never been called “Kind”, “Intelligent” or “Creative” before, therefore they would not think they were. My favorite response was from a boy named Paul. His response was <b>P</b> - Peaceful. <b>A</b>- African. <b>U</b> - Useful. <b>L</b> - Loving. So great!!! The kids really enjoyed the lesson and all of them volunteered to come up and write out their names and words on the blackboard (which they loved!!). Self confidence is something they all need more of so hopefully they can take these poems and work to make them their reputations so that others can see what they see in themselves. I know I now do!</div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-73031492943796119222011-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:002011-07-02T13:00:37.212-07:00GOALLLLLL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW7qm9CDacA8h9vNVxsW5xULBsznb2DP4HpveStg0IPBRCpOrskkFOgNDfbpcN2wrrWsREzklqpwqR_2N3DSmUDglnTNJzfMuztYzxYAGS6lhfH-SmnsNyUuekBWiU66sK-ba7eejsjRA/s1600/Kenya+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW7qm9CDacA8h9vNVxsW5xULBsznb2DP4HpveStg0IPBRCpOrskkFOgNDfbpcN2wrrWsREzklqpwqR_2N3DSmUDglnTNJzfMuztYzxYAGS6lhfH-SmnsNyUuekBWiU66sK-ba7eejsjRA/s320/Kenya+071.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Today we went to see both the boys and girls high school soccer teams play in their district games. We started at the girls game which they tied!! The culture shocks, though not as "shocking" are still visible everyday. Today was no exception. We arrived at the field off the highway where the girls would have their match. The goals were just posts, no net. The field had not been mowed in a long time. There were large rocks scattered throughout the field and tire tracks through it which the ball bounced off when it hit. None the less, our girls warmed up and got ready for there match! Their conditions were no surprise to them though they were to us foreigners. Some of the girls on the other team played barefoot and some that started the game with cleats ended up barefoot because they could run better that way. I could NEVER imagine the AYSO for 10 year old let alone my St. Joe's (my high school) girls soccer team playing in such conditions but at the end of the day the game is all the same no matter if you have Nike's or nothing. The importance of the event was that the girls had something to work toward together; winning. They had a sense of pride at the end of the day with their tie, as well they should! After the girls game we went over to the field where the boys were playing. That atmosphere was very different from the first. There were over 300 hundred people watching this game! At the girls venue, we were some of the only viewers. Walking in the venue of the boys game was the first time in my life I have ever walked into a social setting where I was the clear minority. All eyes were on the 5 white kids. We soon realized that people were turning around to see us and who we were with. Vuvulezas stopped making noise, people looked up from the game...all eyes were on us as we made our way to the OLG team. It was one of many first I have faced in Kenya. Both humbling and eye opening. When we reached the team I whispered to one of the players, "Now you will be known as the team with the mazungu friends". (Mazungu means "white person" in Shwahili). He smiled and replied, "then we will be feared". I was surprised at his remark and left it at that. The afternoon was wonderful! We had a great time watching the boys win their first game and celebrate! We joined them for their lunch of bread and soda in between games and cheered them on to a draw in their second match. Another memorable day in Kisumu! (Picture of the OLG Boys High School Team after their victory)Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-1444448554110501182011-06-30T11:58:00.000-07:002011-06-30T11:58:37.483-07:00Curious 5th GradersSince we have arrived at OLG, slowly by slowly the kids have opened up to us and begun to trust us more and more each day. As I have mentioned, the children here are wonderful! And though their backgrounds differ drastically from my own they are still just children. As my grandmother gracefully stated in an email today,<span style="font-size: small;"><i>"<span>Children are the same the world over joyful, sad, curious, funny, shy, mischievous. It is the circumstances of life that ultimately form them. Children can be amazingly resilient and strong.</span>"</i></span> Mim is right! These children are all of those things! Last night they were VERY curious! "B" my good friend (or Rafiki in Swahili) asked if I could meet him after supper so he could ask me some questions. When I arrived under the mango tree where we would meet there were 6 boys eager with questions for me! Their curiosities ranged from American politics and Osama bin Laden to the schooling system and what we typically eat in the US. They all told me that they hope to come there some day, possibly for university. One boy "S" was very interested in my skin color. He asked me "If he were to come to America and gain citizenship, would my skin color change from black like I am now to brown like you are?" "No", I said, "you would still be black." "But what about if my parents were African but I was born in America, then would I be brown like you?", "S" asked. I proceeded to tell "S" and the other boys that it did not matter what country you were born in or where you had citizenship, your skin color is based on your parents and your DNA. "But you should be proud of your beautiful dark skin! You are very handsome boys" I told them. "S" smiled shyly and looked away. The concept of a true black American is unknown to these boys. They have so many questions! After they ask me questions they allow me to ask them some about their history, families, and culture. We are learning together. We are learning from each other. 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JAMBO! and thank you to all of you that are following my blog! I will try and keep it as updated as my schedule allows and be descriptive! I am still trying to figure out how to post pictures and how you can leave comments....if you know, help me out please!!<br />
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Aunt Laur - to elaborate on the delicious food!! We have been enjoying some awesome Kenya grub these past 10 days! We eat UGALI almost every day. It is a staple Kenyan dish and is very similar to thickened grits. It is similar to the consistency of thick mashed potatoes and is made from maize flour and water. It doesn't have much flavor but is eaten with other food to give it flavor. Kenyans do not typically use utensils to eat with but instead form three fingers around the ugali and make a "thumb print" in the middle where they push in the other contents of their plate making perfect flavorful bites! We also have SCUMAWIKI every day (some times for lunch and dinner). It is dish of sauted or braised kale or spinach (or both!) with onions and garlic. It is my favorite! Goes really well with the ugali. We have also had lots of stewed meats. Super flavorful! Twice now we have been served eggs scrambled with stewed tomatoes and peppers. It is a saltier dish but still really good. Rice is also common and we almost always have fruit for dessert! Pineapple or mango typically. I will try and post pictures of meals when I figure out how to do that! :) <br />
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</div>Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-27563770644898042322011-06-26T08:14:00.000-07:002011-06-26T08:18:57.593-07:00Question of the DayOn my walk to school the other day I was approached by one of the Primary school boys who I have started to befriend. He is a VERY sweet and timid boy who I have taken a liking to. His kind nature makes him very easy to be around and he has begun to feel comfortable around me and so, unlike some of the more shy students, he has started chatting with me. As we and the other fellows and students walked down the dirt path to the school, "B" (for privacy I will give only the students initials) tugged on my skirt and asked me a question. "Sister, may I ask you a question", he asked. (Some of the students think I am a nun and so they refer to me as a sister, though I have told them I am not, I don't think they understand. Most of their encounters with white women have been nuns.) "Yes B.Of course you can ask me a question", I responded. B looked up at me with all the innocents in the world and asked, "How do children in America survive?" He stopped me dead in my tracks. How do I answer that? How did his little twelve year old brain conceive that question? What has he experienced in his life to have a thought like that even come into his realm of reality? I thought for a moment and decided to answer him as honestly as I could. I told "B" that I was a very blessed child and I had both of my parents and grandparents to raise me. They brought me up and took care of my needs. "B" nodded and looked at the ground. I also explained to him that there are children in America, similar to him, who are raised by other adults that are not their family members but who love them and care for them very much. "They, like my parents, only want what is best for you", I told him. I told "B" that we have to take the lessons that our loving care givers tell us and use them and hard work to succeed in life and that it can be hard for children all over the world to do that. "Did that answer your question?", I asked hopefully. "B" nodded again and walked by my side the rest of the way to school.<br />
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It is incredible the things these children have faced in their sweet young lives. So many of the children are dumb founded when they discover that myself and the other fellows still have both of our parents alive and that we live with them. That concept is more foreign to them than the moon. And despite all that they still have hope and love and ambition. They generally have a good outlook on the world and dreams of succeeding in it. Much of that I give credit to the wonderful work done by their teachers, administrators and the Dominicans. These children are gifts! They are wonderfully insightful and have seen more hatred, anger and violence than I ever hope to in my life. Please keep them in your prayers.....Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-36649467281923879772011-06-26T07:58:00.000-07:002011-07-02T13:02:42.099-07:00A Big 'Ole Slice of Humble PieComing into this trip, I was repeatedly told what a great person I was for going to Kenya and helping all those less fortunate than myself. I cannot speak for the other fellows but I imagine they encountered some similar salutations. I was getting praise (not deserved because I hadn't actually even done anything at that point...I was still "going") and now reflecting upon it, and put on a white horse. I was like the knight coming into save the poor helpless princess. Even when we were introduced to the students at OLG on our first day during mass, Fr. Chris introduced us as "Gifts from God". While I do think we will be able to help a bit while we are here, by no means do I feel as though these children and this organization are "blessed" to know me. Fortunately, I got a beautiful reality check soon after my entrance into Kenya. On our car ride down from Mt. Kenya there were many people gathering and farming very near to the road. We, in the car, could see them and they could see us. Some adults watched and some children waved. I loved waving back to the little kids. This again was encouraging the idea that me and the fellows were like some kind of celebrities here to preform or put on a show; MUCH more important than we are. As I was waving out the window to these Kenya children I got a waive back from a young boy, between 6 and 8 years old. His wave, however, was only with one finger.... (Hopefully I don't need to spell out which finger that was). He had a scowl on his face and stood and watched the van pass with his finger high in front of his face. For a split second I was taken aback. I didn't know how to react. That was the last thing this girl and her high horse was expecting. Then I just began to laugh. This boy was just the gift I needed! I quickly realized a very important thing about service that would apply to not only my trip in Kenya but much of the service I will do in my future; not everyone wants help. As an American, it is very difficult to shut off the part of your brain that believes that your way is best. I am very proud of my nationality and believe that as a nation we provide much service throughout the world to needy people everyday, but I also recognize that many people outside of our country are getting along just fine without us and our help. When serving it is very important for those you are giving to, to want what it is you are giving. If people are not receptive to your service, they will not benefit from your service and it may even worsen the situation or relationship you are working to help. Thank you and God Bless! to the little boy who gave me my very early wake up call! I hope that in learning that lesson I will be able to serve more effectively in my future.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-39753100518886085682011-06-22T10:03:00.000-07:002011-06-22T10:03:24.869-07:00First Days at Our Lady of GraceWe have arrived at the school!! Being greeted by Fr. Chris and Anna, our new friend from Dartmouth, at the Kisumu airport was a very warm welcome to this amazing place. Our Lady of Grace and all affiliated with it have welcomed us with open arms. The Dominicans had us over for a delicious meal our first night consisting of ugali (similar to Kenya polenta or stiff grits), beef stew and lots of fruit for dessert. We began our next day as we will begin all of them here at the school, with rosary at 6:10am followed by mass at 6:30am. Following mass we toured the grounds and got to know those we would be working with. The children were a bit timid around us the first day but have since warmed right up to us. Hand shakes are very important in Kenya and are a sign or peace and respect. The children love to give and receive them. Our second day at the school has been a bit more productive in the sense of getting things accomplished. We have begun our schedules, teaching classes and working on promotional information. Today I taught handwriting to the 4th grade class. We worked on our alphabet in print and in cursive. After class, I helped Kevin teach the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade how to play kickball. They took to the game like fish to water and are all natural athletes. I was also able to spend a lot of one on one time with different kids today which I really enjoyed. I spoke to a few girls who are in their senior year of high school about what they want to do after they matriculate. One wants to be a special needs teacher to the deaf and blind, another wants to be a surgeon and the third wants to be a science and math teacher. The girls are taking their national exams later this year to see if they can qualify to get government subsidies to study at university. These days have left much time for reflection and my mind races with all that can be done to help here. I pray that I am spending my time here efficiently because I know these next 5 weeks will fly by. Please keep my fellows, myself and the children in your thoughts and prayers.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-19117047505930385372011-06-22T08:15:00.000-07:002011-06-22T08:15:16.100-07:00Mt. Kenya - By the hands of God and RichardLast week we climbed Mt. Kenya, base to summit. Our adventure began when we left Nairobi for a 3 hour car ride out to the mountain. Our drive took us through the capital city. It was hard to believe that this was their "Washington, D.C.". After driving through the construction of the city and passing many large farms and a few open markets we finally reached Nanyuko, Kenya (the town that we would leave from to drive to the base of the mountain). There we met with our guides who brought us to the mountain where we began our climb. Benson, our cook, Richard, our guide and our 4 porters led the way. While Benson and the 4 porters hurried up the mountain before us with all our gear and cooking tools to the first camp, Richard took his time with us as we "pole, pole" made our way up the mountain. "Pole, pole" is a phrase in Kiswahili which means "slowly by slowly". This phrase became our mantra for our journey. Slowly by slowly we made our way to the first camp, Old Moses. There we had an amazing meal and spent our first night. The next morning we woke up around 5:45am to begin the second leg our our hike. We hiked 16 kilometers (6 of which were through rain) to our next location, Shipton Camp at the base of the summit. That night was difficult. We were all very cold, wet and exhausted from the days hike. We doubted that we would even be able to climb the next day. However, we were there for each other and at 3am the next day all four of us, Tommy, Katie, Kevin and myself set out for the summit. About half way up, I felt that I couldn't go any further. My breaths were short and I was physically exhausted. I asked Richard if he thought I could go on or if he thought it best for me to go back down the mountain. He said that I needed more water and to do what I thought because I knew how I was feeling. He also said he believed I could do it "pole, pole". Richard believed in me when I stopped believing in myself. I was praying and repeating the words of the Little Engine that Could but even that did not seem to be enough. I needed the encouragement of someone else. I needed someone else to believe in me when I did not have to confidence myself. Richard took my hand and walked me up to the summit "pole, pole". We made our own pace as the rest of the group went on with another guide. Richard held my hand the rest of the way as we both climbed to the summit. We reached the summit at sunrise and saw the day began in Kenya from its highest point. I was so proud of myself and even more greatful to Richard for all his guidance. The climb was a test of my faith, trust and ability to surrender. I had to surrender over to God and let Him and Richard guide me to the top. I was so overcome with emotion and gratitude that I wept on the summit! It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen (and one of the hardest I have ever had to work for)! When I climbed back down and reflected upon what I had done I was stunned to think that this journey had yet to begin. It would now be my turn, for the next five weeks, to "take the hands" of the children at Our Lady of Grace, like Richard did for me. I hope to remind them that they can do it! That they should believe in themselves and that if they dream it, it is achievable!Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-81135880917870156552011-06-16T05:17:00.000-07:002011-06-16T05:17:42.724-07:00In Nairobi !!We are safely here! After a 9 hour flight to Istanbul, a 3 hour layover and a 6 hour flight to Nairobi...we are finally in Kenya!! Our long day of travel left us very tired. We got we greeted at the airport with a big "JAMBO!" from John, one of our guides on our hike, who drove us and our 6 bags and guitar case to our hotel. By the time we were settled in to our rooms the clock read 4am. We tucked ourselves into our mosquito nets and called it a night. Around 1pm today we forced ourselves out of bed and went to the restaurant in the hotel for lunch. I enjoyed a hot cup of pumpkin soup and some rice! A delicious first meal in a new country! We are all still pinching ourselves to make sure this is real! Some more rest and we will be ready for our hike tomorrow! Prayers and love xoxo.Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3414500928789936970.post-87373406813339765572011-06-06T08:38:00.000-07:002011-06-06T08:38:42.189-07:00Preparations We leave for Kenya on June 14th. Just 12 short days away from the adventure of a lifetime. When we arrive in Kenya our first activity will be climbing Mt. Kenya. After a 3 night 4 day hike we will head out to Kisumu to the Our Lady of Grace School and Orphanage where we will be volunteering for the following 5 weeks. When our time in Kisumu is done myself and the other three fellows will be going on a safari. Please keep the 4 of us and all those at OLG in your prayers. KENYA HERE WE COME!Kathrynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17700781953448209739noreply@blogger.com0