Best. Day. Ever.

Well. Today I got to experience the long periods of uneventful waiting punctuated by incredible excitement and yelling that can only be described as......a track meet that your child is participating in. Gave me an interesting new perspective, as I always assumed it was my parents one and only wish/commitment/interest to wait and watch me run in the first and last event of every track meet ;). They had the same events I am used to, but the biggest difference was the kids ran barefoot on grass, and sometimes even in dresses. My absolute favorite was an event that was new to me, and that kept us laughing the entirety of its 6 laps. The kids lined up on the start line, leaning forward, waiting for the wood blocks to be clapped together. Then they were off, in a race of very intense, focused, pocket-to-eye speed walking. If you've ever seen children trying to move as fast as they can without running (it often happens on pool decks), it can be quite a funny site. They assume a stiff-legged swagger that is only accentuated by a look of fierce determination and the pumping of arms to move you forward faster. Every once in a while they would break into a gallop or full-on run, but the teachers were all over that and quickly set them straight.

(Eddah and her girlfriends. She was shy and embarrassed when Dad and I were there taking pics. Embarrassed?! Of me?! Is this what parents feel like?! #loveheranyway :)

As some of you know, I have been waffling back and forth on the name for the children's home, and I am happy to say we have officially settled on Jemo House. It's named after a dear friend of mine, Jim "Jemo" Nowak, because I am quite certain I would not be doing this work today if it wasn't for him. He taught me to really see Kenya; to understand its beauty and its suffering. He showed me the how to serve people well, and how to maintain joy despite frustrations and sorrow. I would have given up long ago if it wasn't for him, so in his honor this home will be filled with happy, healthy, deeply loved and laughing children.

The house is now all finished, and I am so pleased with how it looks. Below is the reading corner (comfy chair to come). Anthony and Caroline free-handed both the world map and the map of Kenya, which turned out perfectly. The tree above is on one of the living room walls, and it has all the names of our little family written on the branches.

After we left Maseno we went to my friend Isaac's home, and visited his extended family. They made us and amazing meal, and gave us such generous gifts of traditional Maasai wraps. We walked all over their property and they taught us about all the things they were growing, and the stories of their family. It was fascinating. The little girls did not leave our sides, and picked us bouquet and bouquet of wildflowers. When we came back to the house Sarah didn't come inside, so I eventually went outside to hunt he down. She was sitting in the ground, with a circle of little girls around her, and they were weaving the flowers from her bouquets into her hair. I've seen few things so lovely. When she stood up in that little ring of sweet girls, with shining eyes, she just whispered, "Best. Day. Ever." And I quite agree.

Maasai girls :)

As always, its getting to be time to go back to the US, and it feels like I just got here. Time moves a little too fast for most people's liking, and having what feels like two lives just speeds up that process even more. There are some days when this makes me incredibly weary, and I even find myself wishing for simpler, slower days sometimes. But then there are days like today that remind me how wildly blessed I am, and make me so grateful for these wonderful lives I have gotten to live so far. And for work that feels worth doing. And for family and friends that would travel across the ocean and back to support and help me. Actually..... I would have it no other way.

 

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Handprints and Hammer marks

Sorry I have been quiet, as they say here, but this last week has been busy. Let me catch you up on all our adventures. We visited two new schools to start the pad project. We started with Hobanaka Primary and Secondary schools, and over the course of 2afternoons we talked to around 430 girls and distributed pad kits to them all. I gave the first talk, and then the girls just jumped right in and did the next two talks. We did it in 3 groups since the biggest room they had only held about 150 girls. I don't think many people have a love affair with public speaking, and even though they are just teenage girls, their power seems to increase as their numbers do. I was so proud of Sarah and Caroline and how they spoke to the groups.

Dad and Anthony came with us to help haul the pads and see the schools. I assumed they would just wait outside while we gave the talks, so I gave them no warning of what happens when we visit schools sometimes. During our first talk I left them with Zach, one of the make teachers. As soon as they dropped the pads in the classroom, they walked outside to find an assembled group of boys. My best guess-about 90 of them. Zach introduced Dad and Anthony with this: "These are visitors from America who have come to talk to you and tell you very important things to help you in your future." I think they started out that epic talk with, "Ummmm........Okay." Even though I have come to expect such on-the-spot-off-the-cuff speaking requests, it still daunts me sometimes, especially when you walk out of an unlit class room into blinding sun and 90 expectant pairs of eyes. Poor dears. I think dad pulled out every motivational topic he had up his sleeves, and they were saved when Anthony finally found his voice and contributed, "Anyone wanna play futbol?" Then were a smashing hit from then on. They had us in giggle fits that evening in the retelling of their awkward tale. The next day there was a rugby game in progress, so they were saved from the on-demand speech, and I think Anthony and his rugby skills will soon become legend.

(Brian working on the shelves)

The house is coming along quite nicely, and the kids are doing their share as well. Even though it takes twice as long and looks half as nice, they've been helping paint and fix their home too. Vincent is quite a good painter actually, and the little munchkins were quickly delegated to other tasks that wouldn't leave lasting handprints and hammer marks on every exposed surface of the house.

(Vincent and Daniel working on the front door)

(Zed, Arnold, Naomi, and Brian with Miss Caroline)

 

Eddah has been arranging and rearranging the sewing kit my mom sent her. When she opened it up she whispered, "Wow, this is for me?" I think it may literally kill Arnold that there is a box of sharp, potentially dangerous, small objects and containers that he is not allowed to play with.....it now has a designated spot on the highest shelf in the house that is conveniently out of his reach.

Fret not, I have also been taking the group to do fun stuff, so it will never be said that traveling with Jess is all work and no play. We've hiked up the hill for sunrises, jumped back and for the between hemispheres, and played chess by candlelight (not so much for the romance of it, but because the power was out).

I will try my best to post one more time this trip to keep you up to date on our final adventures.

Jessie

 

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School Shoes and Street Food

This week we had several exciting goings on. Firstly and most epic; Zed had his first day of school. Ever. A little background on this little peach puff: he's about 8 yrs old, and came to stay with us last October. He did not have much nutrition or stimulation for those first 8 yrs, so when he came to us he was pretty delayed in the walking/talking/potty training areas, among other things. He's started to say quite a few words, he's learning Kiswahili, and his tutor gave us the green flag, so his first day was Monday. We picked up his school shoes and socks on Friday while we were in Kisumu and we showed them to him in the kitchen. He immediately abandoned his flip flops and stuck out his foot to try them on. I had a moment of panic that I had gotten the wrong size when 5 minutes later when we had only managed to wrangle him into one shoe. Jacky kept laughing when she was trying to explain to him in Kiswahili that he needed to point his toes into the shoe and wiggle and step down to get it on. I guess he has been a strictly slip-on shoe (or barefoot) kind of guy up until now. But there is a first time for everything, and now he loves his new kicks.

(Zed in his new shoes, photo bombed by Brian)

Tucked in amongst the hundreds of pounds of pads we brought, I had quite a little stash of books for the kiddos from my Aunt Mary (thank you!). I have been pulling them out gradually as to give them enough time to enjoy them. A newest novelty is a 3D book that came with glasses.

(Arnold being introduced to the wonderful world of 3D).

(Vinicent and Andrew-a neighbor boy-reading on the porch).

(Brian and Daniel. Despite multiple explanations of what the glasses were for, Daniel just liked to wear them to look around the room :).

(Naomi being adorable, per the usual).

My group is doing very well and getting lots done. They are also working with an HIV support group that makes crafts. They are helping them with quality control and marketing, as well as giving them new ideas and strategies to increase their sales. They already jumped right it, and they already had a plethora of new items as of this week.

The one night a week we didnt have dinner cooked for us (I know we're spoiled), we decided to try our luck with some little local hotels (restaurants) and got to experience a little Kenyan street food. Samosas, chips, and sausages. They also got to try Peptang, a neon and slightly gelatinous version of ketchup. Per the usual, we had a lovely walk back home in the rain.

Much love,

Jessie

 

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Tuk-Tuks and Turpentine

The children's home is looking a hundred times better, and my group is settling in nicely here. The kids love Sarah, Caroline, and Anton-as he has been renamed per the children. We're about halfway done with the painting, and despite our best efforts Arnold has not made it through a day without sticking his hand in wet paint somewhere. He has the perpetual lingering smell of mischief and turpentine. Sweet boy.

(Dad and Anthony in a prolonged struggle with the door to make it shut completely without scraping the floor. Dad and Anthony won, but the door did not give up without a fight)

I taught them how to do laundry by hand this weekend, and they excelled in the art of scrubbing. The kids surrounded them and offered chattering advice in Swahili on their technique and thoroughness. Everything came out relatively clean-partly from the the scrubbing, partly from the sunshine.

Dad and I went to Kisumu earlier this week to run errands while the trio painted, and we took the 3 musketeers with us on Friday when we went back to get medical supplies for the hospital. I had planned on using some of my funding to get paint/outlets/new mosquito nets to spruce up the hospital wards, but when I arrived I was more distressed by the fact we only had one thermometer and 2 BP cuffs between 3 wards and 2 clinics..........So I decided to start there. That's why I like to keep my plans loose. Welcome to Kenya, where the plans be always a'changin ;)

(In the back of a tuk-tuk on the way to medical supply store).

I apologize for the lack of pics of the kiddos. More to come on the next post after I get them uploaded. We're in a 24 hr power outage right now, so we're trying to conserve battery life whenever possible until our electronic life blood source is restored.

Love love,

Jessie

 

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Strong and Fat

Oh my......this trip is already an adventure :). Firstly, I am traveling with my Faj, my little sister Sarah (the wildest and free-est of all the sisters), and her two good friends. The three of them haven't traveled much yet, so seeing them experience it for the first time is like watching a baby realizing they have hands. Pure delight.

The adventuring began in Amsterdam, where we had a 12-hour layover. Just enought time to explore the city with 45 minutes of sleep under our belts (how can you sleep on a plane when there is so much to do, like eat snacks and watch movies?!). Of course we climbed the I AMsterdam sign, wandered the canal streets, and sampled treats of a bitterballen nature. We may also have reenacted the wizard chess scene of Harry Potter at a park, narrowly missed a few bike-pedestrian collisions, and unintentionally left the guide (me) at a bus stop. It was all great fun.

On the flight to Nairobi I was given the greatest gift of all......3 seats to myself. Best sleep of my life. It gave my immune system a little time to pull itself together, since it dependably poops out on me right before every big trips like this. We arrived in Nairobi healthy and fresh as daisies, and ready to get to work. The ambulance that picked us up from the airport was literally packed to top with our 15 gigantic bags of mostly maxi pads. It was a quite tight sqeeze on the way to Maseno, but since you've gotta brace your knees against something on that ride, I prefer a bag of pads over a metal bar.

Truly the greatest joy of the trip so far has been introducing my watoto (children) to Sarah, and having Dad see them again after 5 yrs. As the ambulance lumbered into the yard, I had to look twice to make sure the kid running up to us was Zedekia. The shape of his face has changed since his little mouth isn't full of rotten teeth anymore. He's gained weight, he's significantly taller, and much to my relief, his adult teeth are already almost all the way in. He is talking a little and laughing a lot. He can run and climb the hill. I am beyond delighted. They are all taller and healthier, or as they say here, they are all strong and fat. (Fat means well-fed and well taken care of, so its not actually an outrageously offensive comment here-as it would be at home, although I find the term much less endearing when it is applied to me personally :).

(Naomi, Griffin, and Zedekia couldn't wait to get their hands on Sarah's long hair).

It took the kids about, oh.....30 seconds to warm up to this group. I think Sarah was running around with 2 children on her back within the first afternoon, and Caroline and Anthony had a child hanging on each arm as they toured the grounds. We know when school is out because there is suddenly 3-4 little heads peeking over our window sill, beckoning us to come "play chase" or jump rope. They've all been working and playing very hard. I don't know who was more worn out the last few days, my children or my college students :)

I will soon have some more pics of our progress on beautifying the children's home, but until then, enjoy a few more of our travel pics. More updates to come soon.

Jessie

 

 

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Roast Meat and Rescue Girls

Per the usual, we wrapped up our time here with a trip to the Maasai land. In a transportation combination of an ambulance, a bus, and a car, we got there after a mere 8 hours. We spent a night in Narok, which is really the last town before the savannah starts and the paved roads end. Since we had a little more time than I usually do, we took the evening to explore Narok a little bit. We found a cute little hotel (restaurant) that had a second floor balcony that allowed us to overlook the street without being spotted as "mzungu!" From our fly on the wall position, we watched the street activity as the sun went down.

Right when we arrived we stopped to grab some food since we were famished. I've eaten in Narok several times with big groups of students, but we asked my friends Tony to take us to his favorite place because I wanted to see the difference. I had to introduce the girls to the local specialty here, Nyama choma, or roast meat-specifically goat. Like any good meat-based eatery, this one was attached to a butchery. You actually had to walk through this one to get to the seating though, so I was lucky these girls were nurses and no stranger to innards and unpleasant smells ;).

(Every true Kenyan restaurant has a hand washing station, which is good since they are also your utensils;)

We bought the meat by the kilo, and the waitress brought it out on a slab of wood and cut it into manageable pieces for us. It was, of course, fantastic. We complemented our meal with the tradional ugali and sacumawiki, so it was a completely utensil-free meal. And no celebration is complete without room temperature soa in glass bottles. Liz is particularily addicted to Stoney, a spicy, nosing-tingling ginger ale, so she got her daily fix ;)

The next day we visited Masikonde Primary School and gave pads to the 7th and 8th grade girls. Not to brag, but my chalkboard illustration of a uterus and Fallopian tubes is getting pretty good. We had a good chat with the principal and made plans to come back on our next trip and supply the high school as well.

Next came our trek off the beaten path out to the Mara. Its all dirt roads from there on out, but even those were being "improved but not finished yet", so there were large rocks laid across the road every 50 years or so, to "encourage" motorists to use what I would describe as "car paths" through the bush along the side of the road. Yup. That drive took a little longer than usual :)

(55 pad kits y'all-woohoo!)

We stopped at two more schools to distribute pads. We dropped in on one school unannounced, because we had extra supplies. We walked through the school yard and saw a good number of teenage girls, which was perfect because we had over 50 pad kits to distribute. I was surprised to find then, that there were only 12 girls in their grades 6-8. I asked if they also had high school classes. No. Finally I asked why there were so many older girls outside if there were only 12 in class. "Oh, those are the Class One rescue girls"-which means first grade. It turns out the Maasai are one of the most traditional tribes, and one of the last to embrace the education of girls. If families can't afford to educate all their children, the girls are still the ones stay home, which means they are often expected to get married at age 13-14ish. Now that education is more available on the Mara, some girls run away to go to school. This leaves the burden of housing them, feeding them, and covering their school fees up to the schools themselves, which is where the girls usually run to.

I have always asked the schools for their number of girls in grades 6 and above, but I think I will have to change that, at least on the Mara. When we asked them to gather all the teenage girls that had hit puberty, the number jumped to 55. Wow.

We spent our last day exploring the Mara, enjoying the lovely sunshine. No matter how long my life is, I will never get tired of this endless expanse of sky and wild land. Wind tangled hair and sunburned cheeks are such a necessary therapy, I wish it for everyone. I have seen few things as beautiful as these magnificent animals freely roaming, golden lion eyes, and the blazing sunsets that end these days. I wish it for everyone.

#thishappyblessedlife

Jessie

 

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