We Visited Two Hospitals, A Women's Prison, And Five Houses In Shimo...A Typical Wednesday.

The last full day with the team was just that: full. I woke up early and went straight to Precious Kids Center where I picked up Phoebe and Junior (who was dressed and ready for a CT scan to check that his shunt was functioning properly after he'd fainted a few days prior.) 

I drove us to the hospital (I'm getting pretty good at this opposite-side-of-the-road gig!) and Junior played games on my phone while waiting his turn. We took this picture to send to Sammy while she was in Nairobi...he is a really cute kid.

When we arrived back at the Center, Mike took one look at the car (and the strange angle of the front passenger tire) and told me that I shouldn't be driving this car until it was repaired. So, he dropped me at Steve's to wait for the team, he dropped Phoebe back at the hospital to wait for Junior's test results, and he went to town to get an estimate on the car.

About an hour later, he came back and told me it was going to be about $100 to fix it. I paused (since I don't have that kind of money to spare) and told him I'd have to call Sammy to see how she'd like to proceed.

One of Steve's team members overheard the conversation, ran in the house, and came back with the money to fix the car. I nearly burst in to tears at this generosity! I handed the money to Mike and he took the car to be repaired. I turned back to the team member, with a grateful heart, and said thank you a few more times.

We cleaned up lunch plates (egg salad sandwiches and a huge bowl of stove-top popcorn) and headed to town to pick up Steve. Once the Jeep was full, we made our way over to the women's prison.

I first visited the Kitale prison with one of Steve's teams in 2005. I have so many memories from those visits, including this one from 2007, which is, easily, one of the most memorable Kitale experiences. And, a close second, this one from 2009.

Well, today gave those two memories a run for their money.

We were greeted by Bernard, the prison chaplain, as we unloaded the gifts from the back of the Jeep. He introduced himself and then said to me, "I think this is not your first time, right?" I smiled and said, "Good memory! I've been here with Steve many times!"

He then escorted us inside and introduced us to the female warden who walked us around to the back of the building where we were greeted by a huge crowd of women in stripes singing. Photos are not allowed in the prison, otherwise, I would love to show you the scene: grass lawn, a crowd of smiling faces in grey and blue stripes, with a cornfield and bright blue sky backdrop. It was remarkable.

Bernard began our time together, and introduced Steve who asked how many of the women in the prison were from Kipsongo. Many raised their hands...which made for a perfect transition to Caren's story. She grew up in Kipsongo and is now living her dream of teaching and finishing her credential. The entire time she was speaking, all eyes were on her. The crowd was silent and fixed on her every word. At the end of her story, the women burst in to applause.

Bernard shared a bit again and then I stood up. I am working, really hard, to learn Swahili, so I tried to do my entire introduction in Swahili. It was only about four sentences, but I did it. The crowd stood up and we sang and danced together.

Leila shared her story of accepting Christ and finding freedom a few years ago and then Steve shared about the forgiveness and healing that comes from God's love. He asked if anyone would like to accept Christ today and dozens of women stepped forward. They began to pray, and cry, as Steve spoke a blessing over them. It was a beautiful moment.

Lastly, Steve gave the gifts we'd brought: soap, maxi pads, lotion, and blankets for the mothers. (Children are allowed to stay in the prison with their moms until they are 4.)

The women began to sing as we started to pack up. Kamari and I began to dance with them and, soon enough, even the matrons (guards) were dancing with us! It was a very fun, spontaneous party!

Before we left, the guards asked that Steve stop-in and pray for a possessed woman that had been making animal noises for the entire three weeks she'd been in the prison. (She stole from someone who, apparently, put a curse on her. Since then, she'd been making the same noises day and night for three weeks.) Kamari, Steve and I went in to see the woman. Steve clarified that he'd not taken a course in this, it could just as likely be a psychological issue as possession, and--he stressed this point--we have no power on our own, only the power of Jesus. With that, we began to pray. The woman, held by two other prisoners, became rigid and started foaming at the mouth. She shook and spat and gagged as several of us prayed, loudly and passionately, in the name of Jesus that anything that was not of Him would depart. That the power of God is stronger than any power of this world. That this woman would be freed, healed, whole in the name of Jesus. After a few minutes, the woman stopped shaking and fell asleep. The guard were instructed to bring her food and water, to allow her to sleep, and to make sure that the other girls did not mock her for this, but instead, remember and rejoice that Jesus had healed her.

We prayed once more, dried our tears and headed out to the Jeep. We walked out of the gates and Mike was there with a full repaired van! Such a great surprise!

We took a quick photo together to commemorate the incredible day and then headed out for our next adventure!

Oh, I didn't want to miss my chance to be part of the group shot!

With everyone in the van (which drives so well now!) we made two quick stops: samosas, chapati and sodas at the gas station and then at the house to pick up our supplies and use the restroom. With tubs of house gifts filling the trunk, we drove down the hill to start our tour of Shimo la Tewa slum.

We parked the van at the top of the hill and walked down to cross the bridge over the stream in the middle of the community.

We looked down to see many women and children collecting water.

As precarious as the bridge is, I stopped halfway across to take a picture of this landscape!

There are several families in this area that we've been working with for years, through Oasis of Hope, and many more that attend the Precious Kids Center school. We chose 5 to visit on this afternoon.

The team gifted each family with a large tub, two kinds of flour, laundry soap, bath soap, lotion, salt, sugar, tea, and maxi pads. We introduced ourselves, gave the gifts, prayed over the family and then said our goodbyes. Quick, but after the long morning--and with the rains coming--we had to keep moving!

The first was Rispah, Chris, and Steve-Os house. The younger boys attend Precious Kids Center school.

We made the long walk around to the next set of homes. On the way, we ran in to a few kids from Precious Kids Center school--even one of the laundry women--a few younger siblings of Oasis of Hope kids, and the Principal from Greenfields Primary School. It was a fun little walk!

Peter...the youngest of a family from Oasis of Hope (and one sibling who lives at Precious Kids Center)

Brian (from PKC school) and all of the neighborhood kids

We stopped to entertain the crowd while the rest of our crew caught up. This was a version of 'Simon Says'.

We ended our tour with my favorite family in all of Shimo! Here are five of the seven kids I have known and loved for years: Lucy, Erika, Peter, Mama, Christine, and Ajix.

A tighter shot with all of them!

One more dinner with Steve's team, processing all that we'd seen and experienced (today and this week) and I said my goodbyes. They had a 3am wake-up call to make their flight to the safari park, which I was grateful to not be needed for!

I spent the entire next day at home. I slept in, had breakfast in bed, did some laundry, painted my nails--even shaved my legs like a real woman! That night, I got this photo from Sammy in Nairobi. (Jabal had gone with them to make it easier to get him to the hospital in Kijabe to have his stitches removed. This kid had the time of his life on safari and in Nairobi...with all of this attention. So dang cute!)

When I hadn't left the house all day, my landlord came over to check on me. I told him I was fine, just enjoying my time alone. A few minutes later, his daughters knocked at my door with dinner: chicken and rice! It was a wonderful way to end my day of relaxation (before everything picked up again on Friday!)

Thanks for making it through that marathon post. I promise several shorter posts are in your future. The team is gone and we are back to our "normal" routine...the days are full, but not nearly as long.

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now...

One of my favorite parts of having Steve's team in Kitale is that his schedule always include things that we would never do on our own: he travels to towns we would not typically visit, he has access to places in town where they would not typically let us in, and he's able to be generous beyond what we could afford.

On the Saturday that he was in town, all that we had on our schedule was "Women's Day." Neither Sammy nor I had any idea what this meant...where we would go or what we would do once we got there. But we showed up at Steve's ready to go anyway. And, somehow, we didn't realize we were matching until Kamari pointed it out (and asked to document it) at Steve's.

I was in a dress, classic, which I thought worked well for a women's day. Joke was on me...Steve loaded us up in the back of a lorry, sitting on bags of beans and maize, for the nearly 45-minute drive to the village of Katchebora. (I, of course, sang "Katch-e-bora star and put it in your pocket..." to help me remember the name of our destination.)

We stopped at the gas station and they tossed bags of chapati, samosas and sodas at us and then closed the gate once more.

Steve greeted us when we arrived.

He had pieced together a rough outline of the program on the ride up. Christine, who is running for a government position in the next local election, who is also the one who brought us to this village, began the morning by introducing herself and greeting everyone. Then Sammy said hello and told her story of moving from America and opening the home for kids with special needs.

And then it was my turn. Christine explained that everyone has a heart for different people of the community and that mine has connected to single moms who are prostituting themselves to care for their families. The room cheered. Then she introduced me.

I greeted everyone and read a passage from 2 Chronicles about praising the LORD. I told the women that I love to sing and asked if they would sing with me now. If, as the passage said, our hearts would shout of the LORD's goodness and faithfulness. They cheered again. So I started singing the one song I know in Swahili. (It's my go-to trick when I'm put on the spot.) I could see the women start to look at one another and smile...this white girl is singing in Swahili! The room erupted in song. We sang a few verses and choruses of the song before I stopped and asked the women to please grab an American team member's hand and dance with them. Again, everyone cheered and laughed. We danced a few more choruses and then applauded the end of the song. I turned to Steve and said, "I could do this everyday."

The rest of the team members came up to introduce themselves and Steve shared quickly about his excitement to have been with these women today. He explained that Christine had told us about this church and insisted that we come visit. He told them we didn't want to show up empty-handed...that we had brought gifts for each of them.

Christine pulled a small group of women up on to the stage and had them pose with the gifts: maize, beans, mixed lentils, and two packs of maxi pads.

They set-up an assembly line, the women pulled out bags or scarves and made their way up-front to receive their gifts.

As the line died-down, I felt less of a need to help with security or documentation and I watched the crowd of children grow larger and larger just outside the door. So, I punched two holes in a box, put it on Steve's head, and led him outside to chase the kids around. I was calling him PadMan. They loved it. In the end, Steve caught a kid and gave him the mask to keep the game going.

The sky turned gray and Sammy said, "Steve! We gotta go to beat the rain!" Fortunately, a seat had opened up in the car, so I didn't have to get back in the lorry. Sammy and the other girls bundled up in Oakley jackets, put the hoods on and braved the rain on the drive home. We stopped for lunch (pretty much dinner at that time) and then came home for naps. It had been a long day after a long week...and it wasn't over yet! Everyone was ready for a nap.

Hours later, we bundled up once more and went to Steve's for the blanket drop. Steve and his team purchased 90 blankets, we cut a hole in to each one (to create a poncho effect) and packed up the two vans to head to town and search for sleeping street kids. It's really cold in town at midnight, so we tried to bundle up as best we could. (Neither of us actually wore these outfits to town.)

Sammy knows many of the street kids from years of daily visits in town. She had recently been asking where they sleep, so she knew exactly where to take us. We pulled up and found a line of boys (ranging in ages from about 11-16) sleeping in front of the hardware store. We all climbed out of the vans and each grabbed a blanket. Sammy went first, to show us how it goes. She tapped one boy on the shoulder and said, in Swahili, "Hi. Take a blanket!" The boy opened his sleepy eyes, obviously confused and then said, "Sammy?!" took the blanket with excitement and said, "Thank you!" We went down the line, waking up one boy at a time, handing them a blanket and watching their excitement. One boy said, "Do you have candy?" and I said, "Not now." He replied, "That's okay. Blankets are very good...it's is really cold tonight." So sweet.

We had been instructed to take as few photos as possible. But since these boys knew Sammy and were so sweet, I asked if I could take a picture. They all excitedly agreed. I took one and the other boys said, "And me! And me!" I wandered down the line and took a few pictures before we hopped back in the vans to find another line of kids.

We returned home around 1:30 and I was wide awake. My brain was spinning with thoughts about what we'd just seen and how to help the first-timers in the group process what they'd just seen. I have been on several blanket drops over the years...and it's never an easier to accept what we see. It's never any simpler to understand a bunch of young kids sleeping on the streets, huddled for warmth...and it's especially hard when I can hear the rain pouring during the night. I have some friends who are developing a plan to put an end to this. It goes without saying that I am hopeful for their success. 

This Is Not The First Time I've Rapped For A Room Filled With High Schoolers

On Wednesday morning, we had some issues with the van, (the door had come off of the hinges and was stuck "closed"--you can see from the photos that it was still about 2" open) but with places to go and people to see, we couldn't let it stop us. We grabbed a step-stool (end table) from the house and loaded up the van the only way we could: through the window. Fortunately, it was fixed that afternoon and we only had to suffer this embarrassment three times.

When we arrived at Steve's, they were unloading the tubs of supplies and donations the team had brought in Rubbermaid tubs. At the start of the trip, everything is unpacked and sorted so that each morning, a tub can be filled with items to be distributed at one of the locations we'll be visiting that day. In the midst of all of this, Steve gifted Sammy and I matching Oakley rain slicker coats. I've never been so excited to receive free Oakley apparel...that coat is warm!

Steve's favorite way to begin any trip is with a tour through town. This gives the team a good grasp of Kitale, a chance to shop for any snacks they might want or necessities they forgot to pack, and, as we walk, it allows them to meet the team of Kenyans and Rwandans that will be traveling with them over the next week or so. We begin at one end of town, walk down to the huge superstore at the other end of the main street and then circle back toward the vans, stopping for lunch at the newest center on the way.

One of the first stops is to Mr Shah's. He is a long-time friend of Steve's and is always so happy to chat with him over a Red Bull. Being that the team was still a bit jet-lagged (and a few of Sammy's family and friends had started to feel the effects of staying up until midnight after long days) the 6-pack of Red Bulls was well received.

In the meantime, the stock guys watched from the back as the swarm of Americans chitchatted and drank energy drinks at 10am.

Then we walked across the street to visit a shop owned by our Rwandan friend Juliette. She was a street girl in Kigali when she met Steve with her best friend Hannah (and Hannah's brother Emmanuel.) Now, years later, she and her husband own a shop in Kitaletown and have a beautiful 2-year old daughter.

As we waited for the team to make introductions and look around, Sammy entertained the rapidly growing street boy following that was now traveling along with us.

We finally made it to the superstore with about ten street boys in our pack. Sammy's mom, showing a bit of where Sammy's compassion and care stems from, wandered through the store picking up packets of milk and biscuits, while her friends bought a few loaves of bread. When we walked outside, Sammy called the smaller street boys over to the car and handed out one of each item to the boys. These three sweet kids said thank you and agreed to let us take their photos.

The team followed me to our lunch spot (we bought a bag of about 7 avocados for $2 on the way) where we had the restaurant set a table for 17. (and it was still not enough chairs!) We placed orders and sipped sodas while we waited for the meals to be served. In the meantime, Sammy ran back to the kids house to check on a few things, and brought Allan to town to buy his very first pair of shoes! Allan's cerebral palsy meant that his feet were stuck in a pointed-toe position. The surgery he had a few months ago stretched his Achilles heel so he can begin to learn to walk flat-footed. He was so happy and so proud to show off his new shoes to the team!

After lunch, we brought the team over to visit Sister Freda's Cottage Hospital. Sammy's younger sister had mentioned that morning over breakfast, how excited she was to finally meet Freda. She said, she'd heard about her for years and even did a report on her for school (for which she received an A!) So, when Freda walked out and introduced herself to Toni, I knew I had to capture the moment. Look at her excited face!

We toured the grounds, which include a farm, a nursery school, a small orphanage, a girl's secondary school and a nursing school. It's quite the place. I have been visiting the farm for years and even toured with her late husband in 2009...one of my favorite memories. So, now I had a hard time paying close attention to every second of the tour. (Case in point, this photo here.)

A few of the nursing students came out to say hello to the team, just as the storm clouds settled in. I love this photo because it shows the changing sky, but also because it looks like the girls on the left are doing some sort of choreographed dance, though I think I just caught them in a moment of laughter and they all happened to respond similarly.

The team followed Freda down to the secondary school dormitories where she woke them up from a nap (sorry girls!) to greet us. As they walked in to the corridor, it began to pour rain. I mean POUR. So we all stood in the hallway introducing ourselves, singing and dancing. The acoustics were great and the rain on the tin roof made the whole experience that much more exciting.

My friend Kamari was part of Steve's team. She's been part of recording sessions for television and movies for years, so Steve tried his hardest to get her to sing everywhere we went. On this afternoon, she led the girls in a chorus of Jesus Loves Me...which was such a beautiful moment for both our team and those school girls. I, of course, broke the moment by singing Britney Spears, but then brought it back around with a verse, chorus (and RAP) from Crystal Lewis' "I Now Live." (rap at 2:20ish)

When the rain settled, we packed up and dropped the team at their house and went back to the kids house where Kevin helped Allan take his first few steps on flat feet in his brand new shoes. I poked my head around the corner to watch and Allan immediately asked me to get the camera and take a picture of this moment. He's a really sweet, and determined, kid.

From there, we went home and several team members fell asleep around 8pm. Those of us who stayed awake--you guessed it--played Five Crowns before calling it an early night.

The Day I Sang A Britney Spears Song At The Grand Opening Of A Restaurant In Kitale

In America, I am pretty good at resting. (Let's just say there's typically one day a week that I don't even leave the house--if I can manage it!) But there is always something to do here, some place to be, someone to see...and it's all really fun...so rest is hard to come by.

This morning, the team went back out to Pokot, but Sammy and I decided to stay here and do a few things that have been placed on the back-burner for the last week while we've traveled with the team. You know...laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning the house, unpacking boxes and boxes of stuff that was in the massive shipping container we opened with the first team.

I started the morning with some laundry. Here's the set-up: two buckets, some powder detergent, a spigot and some clothes lines. I'm proud to say that, with the help of a specially-curated 90's playlist, I was finished in under 30 minutes. Not too shabby for having been out of practice!

After the laundry, we rested! I made a sandwich and read a book, did a little sewing, but mostly we just sat and talked and laughed together...enjoying a few hours free from clock-watching or list-making.

And then it was time for the Grand Opening! We headed to town a little bit early so we could run some errands, but then made our way to Ruby Deli where we were warmly welcomed by our (now old) friends on staff.

Sammy had mentioned to the waitresses that I was a singer (her actual line was "She's famous in America...ever heard of Lady Gaga?!" but that joke was lost on them.) The girls told their manager and, today, when I walked in, he said, "You're going to sing for us today, right?!" and, since I had thought the whole thing was a joke, I frantically began to think about what song was appropriate for a restaurant grand opening in Kitale, Kenya. (A few thoughts: Star-Spangled Banner? Proud to be an American? Do I sing a church song? Or Celebrate by Kool and the Gang?)

The MC got on the microphone and announced (to the whole mall, really, with the volume of his mic) that there would be a special treat--a song by "the next singing star of Kitale, Alice!" and I walked up and started singing the only song that I could think of--and knew all of the words to: "Sometimes" by Britney Spears.

The whole restaurant went quiet (well, except for Sammy and Leila who were trying their best to hold in laughter) and about ten people stood up with their phones to record the moment. I did my best to maintain composure, but I definitely broke a few times. Thankfully, they broke in to applause after only one verse and chorus--I don't know that I would have made it through the rest.

You can view a short clip of the video here. I'm hoping to be able to upload the entire thing--including the few times when I giggle over the song I'm singing and the number of cell phone pointed at me--soon.

After the song, the MC announced that I am available for catered parties, weddings and other special events. I pointed out Sammy and told them she is my promoter, so they should contact her with any interest. (I can't wait to see if something comes from this--I would be so stoked!)

We left the restaurant and did some quick grocery shopping before making our daily visit to the kids house.

When we arrived, everyone was awake--and in the living room, so it seemed!

Here's Allan posing and smiling for a picture.

Sammy opened a few more suitcases of new clothes, looking for church outfits for those who will come with us in the morning. While she was searching, she found this adorable headband for Dinah, who absolutely loved it!

A group of us watched, from afar, as Sammy explained some other new clothes to the house moms and kids. And then, of course, Bram and I lead the house in a few choruses of "Baby" by Justin Bieber...which is his current favorite song.

 {Suzie, Ben, Bram and Senge}

{Junior}

{Senge and Suzie}

It's about 9:45pm and Sammy and I just finished the season premiere of Alias...and now Sammy is off to bed. I may spend a few more minutes writing to my High School girls (who I really love and really miss--if you're reading this!) and then grab a book and head to bed myself. We have a full day tomorrow--including a visit to Discover to Recover (a home for children infected with or effected by HIV/AIDS.) I can't wait to see those kids again!!