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