1 week left at our placement

July 23rd, 2009 by Holly O'Donnell Anderson

Jambo guys, i know it has been a while i’m sorry we have been so busy. So i think the last time we where speaking we where just about to head off on safari, well it was amazing we seen so any animals all of the big five, lion, cheeta, wilder beast, rhino and elephant, it was so weird being so close to wild animals, like 1 m from us where 4 lions eating a wilder beast how amazing! we are just so thankful for the opportunity of being able to go. we also visited the masi village, which was a different world, the masi people live in mud houses made from cow poo and sticks, there diet is raw meat once a week and a mixture of blood, milk and sugar the rest.. sounds lovely? what we experienced just cant be described in words but they are wonderful people and it was fascinating to see such an extreme way of life. So when we came home we went back to work as usual, Teaching at the school from 9-1.30, then we would have lunch at pastor stephens house and help feed the babies, after that we would go t the orphanage and do dishes play with the kids. On wednesday of that week i went with rosabelle my african sister( stephens daughter) to a kenyan gym, lol most random experience of my life but so much fun, very serial!So last weekend past we went to mombassa which is an 8 hr bus journey from niarobi and for the first time since we have been here we got some sun for a while before it started to rain, which was good though because my malaria meds made my skin burn in the sun! so we travelled for 8 hrs through deserty, dusty, slums and then reached what i can only describe as the most beautiful place in the world, the whitest sandy beach, with beautiful clear water, it was very overwhelming to begin with. Connie had a great time, spending the whole day running in and out of the sea, it was also lovely to hang out with the other volunteers as we get on really well. While in mombassa we stayed at a very cool place called the stilton, in treehouses!how cool! Connie and i have both been very fortunate to be able to explore kenya, on safari go down to the coast but what it suprising is that most of the locals, have never been to the caost seen the sea, been on a safari, it is their country but they cant afford to go, crazy. a friend of mine who owns a house in mombassa 20mins from the sea said that until he showed them his massi gaurds even though so close had never seen the sea werid! so back from mombassa and back to work, it has been lovely though we are really starting to settle in here, it feels like home now, all of the kids are so comfortable with us, everytime i sit down i end up with 15 on my knee. We have also aquired a new job of washing the kids feet at about 6pm( all 100!) and shoes its really funny! So rewarding!I am really excited, tomorrow myself and some other volunteers are going to paint the 35 children in my classes faces, then on sunday i am going to give out sem of the toys, balls, toothbrushes, bubbles ect that we brought and thank you to everyone who supported us in raising enough money to bring extras! We have ordered in 150 sodas( coke, fanta) and 150 chocolate bars for sunday aswell for a wee treat for the kids. I would just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us financially, emotionally spiritually because this really has been a life changing amazing beyond what can be said in words experience for both of us. it is so hard to describe! next week the kids are ding there end of year tests( hehe im going to make connie do them aswell to see hw she fairs in the african system!) it has been wonderful teaching, lol possible career change! only joking! not many kids get to go to kneyan school over the summer! im seriously falling in love with the children and if owen would let me i would definately bring some home!Each child has a story of how they have ended up at the orphanage nad as time goes on i am learning more and more of their r stories all heart breaking, it is so encouraging though because el-shaddi is a wnderful place where the children aren’t just fed, educated, washed, given a roof( which is a big deal, very expensive for 108 kids) but they are also loved! i take my hat of to the orphanage directors and i am excited about a long friendship. Anyway i better go, 2 weeks until we are home, looking forward to seeing you all

Love and blessings

Holly Wangiro and Connie Wangiko!