Nairobi, Sunday May 1

Trying to catch up this morning while being almost at church!!  The Methodist Guest House has a wonderful praise service that lasts all morning long.  It is wonderful to just “pop in” for a while, but then still enjoy the music while I update you on what has been going on.

Yesterday we took our last trip to Wildebeest to say good bye or more exactly so long to the children and to take some last minute group pictures.  I really believe they had a great time while they finally were faced with the reality that tomorrow or the day after, "I will be on my own".  Our one-on-one career counseling had a big impact.

Children playing games at Wildebeest

The sign reads "We Shout! RHCC Rocks!! Thank you"

From there, we headed for Ray of Hope, a clinic and community center located in Kawangware, another one of Nairobi’s slums.  This center was co-founded by Florence Muyundo, Dr Teresa Gibson and former NBA player Kermit Washington.  Please check their website www.rayofhopeinternational.org for details.  KOP has partnered with Ray of Hope since 2003 as they have provided medical care to our children and continue to do so today.  As you will see on their website, in addition to the clinic, Ray of Hope is also a learning center providing both day school and after-school programs to the children living close by in the slums.  Although it was Saturday the children were there when we arrived, ready to greet us with the usual Kenyan welcome: songs and dances and forever present huge smiles!  We enjoyed an excellent lunch of rice, beef stew and spinach prepared by the staff.  Our group then split in two and we followed the children in the slums to visit their homes and meet their guardians.  It was quite an experience for the team members who had never been exposed to a slum environment.  They had a chance to experience first-hand the poor living conditions and promiscuity that go along with slum life.  However, the warm welcome we received in each home visited made up for the long trek on dirt roads shared by people, cars, vans, cattle and everything from goats, sheep, ducks and geese to cats and dogs!!

So far from home, but surrounded by friends

The children then brought us back to the Ray of Hope clinic.  KOP wanted to recognize the first children ready to take their KCPE (Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education) by sharing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, milk and cookies.  Taking the KCPE is quite an accomplishment for children raised in a slum environment.  We wish them luck and hope they will move on to further their education with four years of high school.  As usual, it was a great time enjoyed by all.

All smiles!

 Today, Sunday, five of our team members are on their way to a safari in Nairobi National Park. Tim is on his way to church and will meet some of his friends here. Sharon, Bob and I have a meeting this afternoon with a lady I met on my previous trip, trying to find a way to get the children their birth certificates without having to pay bribes or go through 20 levels of bureaucracy!

The weather is great here, sunny and warm but not hot during the day and cool and breezy nights.  We do get surprise showers (more exactly downpours) once in a while, but this is the rainy season and a blessing for the people in Kenya.

On this beautiful first Sunday of May we thank God, praise him for His accomplishments and ask for his guidance and blessings in the coming week.

Asante sana Y'all !!!!

 Monique