Lanie, Sam, Molly and Brandon!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Jambo!
Hi Friends!
We are so sorry we have not updated in awhile. We have been so busy. We have been trying to do as much as possible before we have to leave. Hopefully later tonight we will have a full update on the last couple of days. We must leave the internet cafe before it gets dark! Kwaheri!
We are so sorry we have not updated in awhile. We have been so busy. We have been trying to do as much as possible before we have to leave. Hopefully later tonight we will have a full update on the last couple of days. We must leave the internet cafe before it gets dark! Kwaheri!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sasa!
HI Friends,
We have made it back to Nairobi. We left Meru this morning at 9:00pm and got to Nairobi at 4:30 pm.. It should have only taken 4-5 hours. It took much longer since we took a bus which is much like our greyhound. We were very glad to be off the bus! It was a great adventure though. Tomorrow we will be going to church at Nairobi Chapel which is where Molly went while she lived here. Then back to Beacon of Hope. We miss you all!
We have made it back to Nairobi. We left Meru this morning at 9:00pm and got to Nairobi at 4:30 pm.. It should have only taken 4-5 hours. It took much longer since we took a bus which is much like our greyhound. We were very glad to be off the bus! It was a great adventure though. Tomorrow we will be going to church at Nairobi Chapel which is where Molly went while she lived here. Then back to Beacon of Hope. We miss you all!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Jambo Friends! Sam here!
Yesterday was quite an adventure! First we started our journey off taking a tour around KEMU (Kenya Methodist University). We talked to the Dean of Psychology and then walked around taking in all the beautiful scenery. After our visit to KEMU we drove for a while and visited a group of people who were all tested positive for AIDS. We were welcomed by a loving essentric aunt-esc woman who was the leader of the support group. Beside simply loving one another and accepting and encouraging each other, the support group had several projects they were working on. They all made crafts as well as started a small bakery. They planned on selling what they made to towns near by. While we were there, we specifically spoke to a young girl and her father who were both positive. The wife/mother of the two had recently past due to AIDS and the family was left struggling very much to move on, as you might assume. Luckily we were able to chat with the young girl for some time and give her a couple of toys (a ball and a stuffed animal) and play with her. It was great to see a community like theres that joined together and leaned on one another throughout their bought with AIDS. We have been told over and over again that when they are in a group like that, they are not ashamed and can live and love freely. It is so reassuring that love like Jesus' is so evident among these people.
After leaving this group, we went to visit a similar group who was working on a "Poultry Project" (raising chickens and then selling the goods) which would help finance the medicine for their treatment. There we meet a woman named Pricilla who deeply touched all of us. She was an eldelry woman who was tested positive for AIDS and was also suffering from cervical cancer. She was in danger of being evicted from her house because of her inability to work (due to her severe illnesses). She said that she would like to work but she often had to lie in bed because of the pain and the lack of work caused a lack of money. Although she had become sickly thin due to both of her health issues she still beamed a beautiful smile. And this was because, according to her, Jesus was still with her through everything. Brandon inquired as to how much her rent cost her each month and we found out that it was a meer 1000 shillings ( which is approx 15 dollars). Moved by her story, Brandon and Molly were able to gather some money they had on them and give her about 3 months worth of rent money and a couple of leaves of chipati bread ( a delicious African dish). We were so thankfull that we were able to give the little we had, and so was she. Her smile seemed to beam even more brightly than before. Before leaving, we enjoyed a song from the ladies in the group and even got to participate in a dance that accompanied the song.
After hanging with the ladies, we drove out to a school in the far parts of Meru. We were welcomed with lots of shouts and cheering from the young children at the school. (It can go to your head if your not careful. You have to remember that it is not often these children see visitors, let alone "Mizungos", a.k.a. white people) After lunch and a tour of the school, there was a ceremony that took place in the main hall. It seems ridiculous to say that it was in our honor, but it may be lying to say otherwise. The children sang a song to welcome us, and a beautiful young girl read a poem. Afterwards, the chairman of the school gave a short history of how it came to be. Then the former chairman spoke their involvment with AIDS, the people in their community who were struggling with it, and what they were doing to fight it. At the conclusion of the ceremony, we were able to give a dufflebag of toys to the children of the school, which were actually donated by children in the U.S. who realized kids in Africa do not have much to play with (pretty awesome, huh?). After the cerimony we took lots of pictures and then got a chance to play with the kids. I, Sam, was "asked" by about 7 children, one right after the other, to prove my speed in 500 meter races. After we had our fun school was almost out, so we packed up bags and headed back to th Thiiri Center, our home for the week. It was a great day.
Today we stayed at the Thiiri Center to help out around the grounds. Brandon and I, still Sam, worked beside a young man named Martin and an older man named Daniel digging up soil for a new playground while Molly and Lanie gradened. Martin is a 22 year old fresh out of his first year at UK (No not the University of Kentucky, The University of Kenya). He loved to talk about mostly anything and we did exactly that for most of the day. Conversation ranged from his desire to join the Military, Bob Marley, to his favorie books of the Bible. The other gentleman Daniel was present for most of the day, but did not say much. He was not unfriendly, actually quite the contrary. He had a great heart and great spirit, but kept to himself mostly. After lunch, I had the honor of being taught how to make Chipati, the flat bread I mentioned earlier. A 22 year old name Merriam, who cleans the property and assists with meals, was my teacher. She has become one of our favorite people her at the Thiiri Center. She is playful, witty, and quite sassy, not to mention loves the Lord and sings about it often (I may have a slight crush, but don't tell her that). After my lesson, I returned to work with the others where we talked about anything and everything. We spent almost every minute of the day with the staff of the Thiiri Center and grew very close to them. It was a beautiful thing. Stay tuned for more updates. God bye and God Bless.
Love,
Kenya
Yesterday was quite an adventure! First we started our journey off taking a tour around KEMU (Kenya Methodist University). We talked to the Dean of Psychology and then walked around taking in all the beautiful scenery. After our visit to KEMU we drove for a while and visited a group of people who were all tested positive for AIDS. We were welcomed by a loving essentric aunt-esc woman who was the leader of the support group. Beside simply loving one another and accepting and encouraging each other, the support group had several projects they were working on. They all made crafts as well as started a small bakery. They planned on selling what they made to towns near by. While we were there, we specifically spoke to a young girl and her father who were both positive. The wife/mother of the two had recently past due to AIDS and the family was left struggling very much to move on, as you might assume. Luckily we were able to chat with the young girl for some time and give her a couple of toys (a ball and a stuffed animal) and play with her. It was great to see a community like theres that joined together and leaned on one another throughout their bought with AIDS. We have been told over and over again that when they are in a group like that, they are not ashamed and can live and love freely. It is so reassuring that love like Jesus' is so evident among these people.
After leaving this group, we went to visit a similar group who was working on a "Poultry Project" (raising chickens and then selling the goods) which would help finance the medicine for their treatment. There we meet a woman named Pricilla who deeply touched all of us. She was an eldelry woman who was tested positive for AIDS and was also suffering from cervical cancer. She was in danger of being evicted from her house because of her inability to work (due to her severe illnesses). She said that she would like to work but she often had to lie in bed because of the pain and the lack of work caused a lack of money. Although she had become sickly thin due to both of her health issues she still beamed a beautiful smile. And this was because, according to her, Jesus was still with her through everything. Brandon inquired as to how much her rent cost her each month and we found out that it was a meer 1000 shillings ( which is approx 15 dollars). Moved by her story, Brandon and Molly were able to gather some money they had on them and give her about 3 months worth of rent money and a couple of leaves of chipati bread ( a delicious African dish). We were so thankfull that we were able to give the little we had, and so was she. Her smile seemed to beam even more brightly than before. Before leaving, we enjoyed a song from the ladies in the group and even got to participate in a dance that accompanied the song.
After hanging with the ladies, we drove out to a school in the far parts of Meru. We were welcomed with lots of shouts and cheering from the young children at the school. (It can go to your head if your not careful. You have to remember that it is not often these children see visitors, let alone "Mizungos", a.k.a. white people) After lunch and a tour of the school, there was a ceremony that took place in the main hall. It seems ridiculous to say that it was in our honor, but it may be lying to say otherwise. The children sang a song to welcome us, and a beautiful young girl read a poem. Afterwards, the chairman of the school gave a short history of how it came to be. Then the former chairman spoke their involvment with AIDS, the people in their community who were struggling with it, and what they were doing to fight it. At the conclusion of the ceremony, we were able to give a dufflebag of toys to the children of the school, which were actually donated by children in the U.S. who realized kids in Africa do not have much to play with (pretty awesome, huh?). After the cerimony we took lots of pictures and then got a chance to play with the kids. I, Sam, was "asked" by about 7 children, one right after the other, to prove my speed in 500 meter races. After we had our fun school was almost out, so we packed up bags and headed back to th Thiiri Center, our home for the week. It was a great day.
Today we stayed at the Thiiri Center to help out around the grounds. Brandon and I, still Sam, worked beside a young man named Martin and an older man named Daniel digging up soil for a new playground while Molly and Lanie gradened. Martin is a 22 year old fresh out of his first year at UK (No not the University of Kentucky, The University of Kenya). He loved to talk about mostly anything and we did exactly that for most of the day. Conversation ranged from his desire to join the Military, Bob Marley, to his favorie books of the Bible. The other gentleman Daniel was present for most of the day, but did not say much. He was not unfriendly, actually quite the contrary. He had a great heart and great spirit, but kept to himself mostly. After lunch, I had the honor of being taught how to make Chipati, the flat bread I mentioned earlier. A 22 year old name Merriam, who cleans the property and assists with meals, was my teacher. She has become one of our favorite people her at the Thiiri Center. She is playful, witty, and quite sassy, not to mention loves the Lord and sings about it often (I may have a slight crush, but don't tell her that). After my lesson, I returned to work with the others where we talked about anything and everything. We spent almost every minute of the day with the staff of the Thiiri Center and grew very close to them. It was a beautiful thing. Stay tuned for more updates. God bye and God Bless.
Love,
Kenya
Habari!
Hi Friends!
We are so sorry we haven't been able to update more. We work so much during the day then at night all we can do is sleep. We are having such an incredible time in Meru. We absolutely have loved our time at the Thiiri Center. We have done a lot these past few days.
Monday- We arrived in Meru, and went to visit the MCK HIV & AIDS program led by Florence Murungu. We learned all about the program and what they are doing to help out with the HIV & AIDS problem. In Meru it has affected a lot of people. Many children are orphans due to their parents dying. There are a lot of children raising other children in Meru.
Tuesday- this was a very sad day for us, but also very hopeful. We started the day out by going to a fish pod that has been started by a HIV/AIDs support group. All of them are suffering from HIV. They will sell the fish to support themselves and their families. We also were able to help them out by planting grass with them. It was nice to work along side them.
After, we went to St Pauls school. The school has over 360 children. The rooms are very small. We were able to give them a lot of much needed supplies and toys. (Thank you FUMC of Lakeland and Alex Reiter!) The children were so happy to recieve all of the gifts. Most of them had never gotten a gift or toy in their life. We were able to play with them for a little bit, but then soon had to go.
We then went to a Methodist church that has over 850 members, which is very large for Kenya. We were taken to a school that they support and run. When we walked into the gate we all felt like the most famous person in the world. The children were SCREAMING and running to greet us. They loved us being there. They sang to us and it was the sweetest sound in the world. We left a soccer ball with them, and you would have thought we left them with a million dollars. They were so excited! Many of the children are very very poor or orphans. They survive only on the food that the school feeds them.
At each stop we have to make a speech to the people. Its always funny what we come up with.
Our next stop was to a young boy named Wilfred. His parents had died 4 years earlier and left him and his 3 other sibilings alone. They are now being taken care of by a guardian. We were taken to the parents grave sites and it was a very hard moment for us to listen to the young boy tell us about his past and his future. His goals are to be able to finish school and have a house of his own. I cannot even imagine being 14 and trying to take care of his sibilings and just survive day to day. The program we were with had just gotten him a mattress, so that all 5 of them didnt have to sleep on the same tiny bed. Their matresses are very small and thin. When you see the graves of people who have died due to AIDS, and their child is standing above it really hits you and you realize how big of a problem this is.
As we were walking from place to place we came across the sweetest 84 year old woman ever. She told Sam as she was dancing with him that he was known her boyfriend. Her husband is 100 years old and still goes to church every sunday. She super cute.
Next, we went to Stellas house. She had been bed ridden for over 6 months due to AIDS. She had just had a stroke, which had caused her to not be able to use the right side of her body. She was very weak and very skinny. She was such an incredible lady. We asked her what gave her hope to get through everyday. She said the Lord has gotten me through it all and will continue to help me until we meet. We were able to pray with her, which was an incredible experience.
The next house was very hard one for us. George once was a soldier and was at the top. He is know bed ridden and has not been out of bed for over a year. He has suffered from many strokes and is barely able to talk or do anything. He is basically a skelton in bed. It was very very hard for us to see. We were able to spend time with him and he was able to speak a little to us. Mostly he asked all about us and what we were doing in Kenya. When we went to pray Sam held Georges hand, which was barely anything. When we left he told Sam I wish for you the best. It was really hard to someone who has suffered so much from the virus, and once again it shows you how real this problem is.
On Tuesday we came across so many people living with HIV/AIDS. Many of them are now ignored by their family and friends. They have no one but each other. One of the most incredible things is they never lose faith. They have the strongest faith that any of us have ever seen. They praise God daily for everything he has given them. Many of us go a whole day and never once thank God that we are given each day. A day to live for him and for others. Thank you all once again for helping us be able to go on this trip!
We are so sorry we haven't been able to update more. We work so much during the day then at night all we can do is sleep. We are having such an incredible time in Meru. We absolutely have loved our time at the Thiiri Center. We have done a lot these past few days.
Monday- We arrived in Meru, and went to visit the MCK HIV & AIDS program led by Florence Murungu. We learned all about the program and what they are doing to help out with the HIV & AIDS problem. In Meru it has affected a lot of people. Many children are orphans due to their parents dying. There are a lot of children raising other children in Meru.
Tuesday- this was a very sad day for us, but also very hopeful. We started the day out by going to a fish pod that has been started by a HIV/AIDs support group. All of them are suffering from HIV. They will sell the fish to support themselves and their families. We also were able to help them out by planting grass with them. It was nice to work along side them.
After, we went to St Pauls school. The school has over 360 children. The rooms are very small. We were able to give them a lot of much needed supplies and toys. (Thank you FUMC of Lakeland and Alex Reiter!) The children were so happy to recieve all of the gifts. Most of them had never gotten a gift or toy in their life. We were able to play with them for a little bit, but then soon had to go.
We then went to a Methodist church that has over 850 members, which is very large for Kenya. We were taken to a school that they support and run. When we walked into the gate we all felt like the most famous person in the world. The children were SCREAMING and running to greet us. They loved us being there. They sang to us and it was the sweetest sound in the world. We left a soccer ball with them, and you would have thought we left them with a million dollars. They were so excited! Many of the children are very very poor or orphans. They survive only on the food that the school feeds them.
At each stop we have to make a speech to the people. Its always funny what we come up with.
Our next stop was to a young boy named Wilfred. His parents had died 4 years earlier and left him and his 3 other sibilings alone. They are now being taken care of by a guardian. We were taken to the parents grave sites and it was a very hard moment for us to listen to the young boy tell us about his past and his future. His goals are to be able to finish school and have a house of his own. I cannot even imagine being 14 and trying to take care of his sibilings and just survive day to day. The program we were with had just gotten him a mattress, so that all 5 of them didnt have to sleep on the same tiny bed. Their matresses are very small and thin. When you see the graves of people who have died due to AIDS, and their child is standing above it really hits you and you realize how big of a problem this is.
As we were walking from place to place we came across the sweetest 84 year old woman ever. She told Sam as she was dancing with him that he was known her boyfriend. Her husband is 100 years old and still goes to church every sunday. She super cute.
Next, we went to Stellas house. She had been bed ridden for over 6 months due to AIDS. She had just had a stroke, which had caused her to not be able to use the right side of her body. She was very weak and very skinny. She was such an incredible lady. We asked her what gave her hope to get through everyday. She said the Lord has gotten me through it all and will continue to help me until we meet. We were able to pray with her, which was an incredible experience.
The next house was very hard one for us. George once was a soldier and was at the top. He is know bed ridden and has not been out of bed for over a year. He has suffered from many strokes and is barely able to talk or do anything. He is basically a skelton in bed. It was very very hard for us to see. We were able to spend time with him and he was able to speak a little to us. Mostly he asked all about us and what we were doing in Kenya. When we went to pray Sam held Georges hand, which was barely anything. When we left he told Sam I wish for you the best. It was really hard to someone who has suffered so much from the virus, and once again it shows you how real this problem is.
On Tuesday we came across so many people living with HIV/AIDS. Many of them are now ignored by their family and friends. They have no one but each other. One of the most incredible things is they never lose faith. They have the strongest faith that any of us have ever seen. They praise God daily for everything he has given them. Many of us go a whole day and never once thank God that we are given each day. A day to live for him and for others. Thank you all once again for helping us be able to go on this trip!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Sasa
HI Friends,
We are now writing to you from Meru, Kenya. We left Nairobi on Monday morning, and got to see mount Kenya and the equator. It took us 5 hours to get to Meru. We are staying at the Thiiri Center. Unfortunately the internett is very slow tonight and is taking us a very loing time just to type a few letters. We will write a lot more details tomorrow morning. We love you all!
We are now writing to you from Meru, Kenya. We left Nairobi on Monday morning, and got to see mount Kenya and the equator. It took us 5 hours to get to Meru. We are staying at the Thiiri Center. Unfortunately the internett is very slow tonight and is taking us a very loing time just to type a few letters. We will write a lot more details tomorrow morning. We love you all!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Adventure of a life time!
This weekend we got to go on an adventure of a life time. We first started out the journey in the Great Rift Valley. It was beyond beautiful. There are not even words to describe what it looked like. After the trip we will be able to put up pictures of it up. We continued our journey onto the Masai Mara. Masai Mara is a national park that has thousands of acres on it. It has hundreds of different types of animals. On the first game drive we saw gazelle, elephants, zebras, topi, antellope, buffalo, hyennas, many many birds and animals I can't remember, and of course 3 lions eating a buffalo that had just been hunted. Molly wasn't a fan of seeing them pull out different organs or hear the sound of them eating bones. We stayed at a tent camp in the middle of the Mara. It was incredible to be able to go to sleep to the sounds of wild animals in a tent. At the camp we had members of the Maasai tribe taking care of us. They were such wonderful people to be around. We all had so much fun being with them. The boys took a very big liking to the warriors and of course want to be just like them.
The next morning we woke up VERY early to go out in the park. We saw the Kenyan sunrise, which was beautiful!! We saw so many more animals, cheetahs, crocs, lions, giraffee, and many more. In the afternoon we went to a Maasai village to spend time with the tribe. The Maasai live the same way they have always lived. They have not let the western influence them into living a different lifestyle. We were able to dance with them, wear lion manes, and go into their homes which is made up of cow dung and are very small! We were also taught how they start a fire. The boys got the items they use and tried to make fire, but 15 minutes later all they were left with was blisters and no fire (the maasai can make it in about 1 minute.)
Saturday night was a very special night. We first watched the most amazing, beautiful sunset any of us had ever seeen. Then we were able to spend time watching the stars that were brighter than bright with two Maasai men Steven and Ben. We talked for about an hour all about their tribe, American and God. We became so close to the staff at the camp it was very hard for us to leave. Many of them wanted Lanie and Molly to stay to marry their older brothers. The boys spent a lot of time talking with a Maasai Warrior named Sammi. He taught them many things about being a man.
On Sunday, we started out our journey by going to see the Hippos and Crocs. When you go to see the hippos you have to get out of the car to see them. We start off walking with of course a ranger with a very large gun, there was so much mud the whole time we were slipping and sliding. It was really funny, although we were COVERED in mud. On our way back to the car the ranger goes come come come.. so of course we all run to him and he yells at us not to run due to the buffalo running after us. Buffalo are very dangerous in Kenya and a single buffalo makes them even more dangerous. He used his gun to scare off the buffalo, but after that we all walked very very close to each other and right up next to the ranger. Almost being attacked by a buffalo never makes one feel very safe. Sam said that he was more scared about the time our car was completely surronded by elephants. We made the journey back to Nairobi which was a very long 5 hour bumpy bumpy trip. It was an incredible time, and of course we have tons of pictures to show you all.
Right now we are spending time with our guest house staff and watching Kenyan soap operas. They are really interesting. Tomorrow morning we wake up at 5:30 am to begin our journey to Meru. We are excited about getting to work with many different missions. Hopefully we will be able to update again soon. Kwaheri!
Lanie, Molly, Sam and Brandon
The next morning we woke up VERY early to go out in the park. We saw the Kenyan sunrise, which was beautiful!! We saw so many more animals, cheetahs, crocs, lions, giraffee, and many more. In the afternoon we went to a Maasai village to spend time with the tribe. The Maasai live the same way they have always lived. They have not let the western influence them into living a different lifestyle. We were able to dance with them, wear lion manes, and go into their homes which is made up of cow dung and are very small! We were also taught how they start a fire. The boys got the items they use and tried to make fire, but 15 minutes later all they were left with was blisters and no fire (the maasai can make it in about 1 minute.)
Saturday night was a very special night. We first watched the most amazing, beautiful sunset any of us had ever seeen. Then we were able to spend time watching the stars that were brighter than bright with two Maasai men Steven and Ben. We talked for about an hour all about their tribe, American and God. We became so close to the staff at the camp it was very hard for us to leave. Many of them wanted Lanie and Molly to stay to marry their older brothers. The boys spent a lot of time talking with a Maasai Warrior named Sammi. He taught them many things about being a man.
On Sunday, we started out our journey by going to see the Hippos and Crocs. When you go to see the hippos you have to get out of the car to see them. We start off walking with of course a ranger with a very large gun, there was so much mud the whole time we were slipping and sliding. It was really funny, although we were COVERED in mud. On our way back to the car the ranger goes come come come.. so of course we all run to him and he yells at us not to run due to the buffalo running after us. Buffalo are very dangerous in Kenya and a single buffalo makes them even more dangerous. He used his gun to scare off the buffalo, but after that we all walked very very close to each other and right up next to the ranger. Almost being attacked by a buffalo never makes one feel very safe. Sam said that he was more scared about the time our car was completely surronded by elephants. We made the journey back to Nairobi which was a very long 5 hour bumpy bumpy trip. It was an incredible time, and of course we have tons of pictures to show you all.
Right now we are spending time with our guest house staff and watching Kenyan soap operas. They are really interesting. Tomorrow morning we wake up at 5:30 am to begin our journey to Meru. We are excited about getting to work with many different missions. Hopefully we will be able to update again soon. Kwaheri!
Lanie, Molly, Sam and Brandon
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