With a Little L

My body is messed. Ive been constipated about 7/4 of my trip, my nose bleeds from time to time. ive got a bad case of water retention. Children scream and run from my beard. Ive gained like 10 pounds, joints hurt. The list goes on. But her...THIS IS AFRICA!! You would not beleive what i have just seen. Let me start off with what has heppened at the school. The day is July 21.

I started wrapping up with the school since they are beginning exams. One of Mama Asiyo's daughters had come from Germany with her family and a a colleague from the SEQOUIA. They were visiting and doing some research work for their german patrons. I managed to speak to Mary and she brought over 40 jerseys and shorts for the students!! so on tuesday we had a game and presentation of the jerseys to all of the students. Some guests, students, teachers attended and it was great to see students become so excited about the jerseys. Especially after they found out that they were for them to keep, and not return to the school. There was a formal presentation ceremony at the field. I dressed like a coach. We took a team picture and halfway through the game i gave out an award for the player who i felt deserved the Captain position. A boy named Samuel who they all call Engineer. Hes got great ethic and determination, not to mention skill. These boys arent just my students anymore. They are my friends. AT night Mary broke out some Vodka and beer...it was a late painful night. I cant drink anymore. I actually dont like it especially since im not active. My jeans are tighter and my thighs rub together. The sadness.

The next day was another LONGGGG day. Mary had also come with her neice, Sheila to set up a medical clinic in the compound. Along with the nurses from the area, there were areas set up for vision, mens testing, womens testing, childrens testing and a pharmacy. It was so packed that people had arrived at 6 that morning, even though the clinic began at 8. This was the only real medical experience ive had thus far in Kenya. We saw people in real need. But thats how life is and people like Mary are a God send. By 11:30 i was at the school prepping for the art show that the students were to be having. We set up the tissue paper flowers in the shape of a flower on the floor, to emulate a garden. This in fact was their idea. All i did was fascilitate the questions for them to find it within themselves. The other two assignemtns, graffiti names and self portrait using words were then lined up along the walls. While we set up i taught my students a thing or two about art gallery prep. And then it began. Caesar, Mama's son, visited. All were very impressed with what the students had come up with. Then the students talked a little about how they felt about learning art for the first time. This really had me choked up as they thanked me for exposing them to this world. It was a very touching moment and well, you dont know what youve really accomplished until you hear it come from someone else. I have leanred and experienced more here than i had ever imagined. To top things off, i bought some biscuits and juice for the students. But the real icing on the cake was when Ceasar decided to donate 4000 shillings for more art supplies for my students!!! more pencil crayons coming right up.