Since today is the end of Ramadan we all went to orphanages since our usual places would be closed. I alone went to Kili Center which I found out later to be the first orphanage that CCS helped. At first it was dirty and the kids barely had anything to eat. I went today and you would never know. There is a girls dorm and boys dorm with bunk beds, there is a separate room for the girls dressing room, an office, a dining room, a drama room (filled with toys and bongos), a chicken coop and a vegetable garden. There is a dirt yard for the kids to play in. They were so sweet. I introduced myself ( I had no idea what to do or what to expect), the kids asked me about my dreadlocks. Is it your real hair? Why is the color different at the end? Is your hair like our hair? How do you do it? [My hair is still tightened from my last wash so I had no new growth to show them] I was like of course my hair is like yours and started laughing.
After that we played some American games - simon says,hokey pokey, B-I-N-G-O. Then we played shark (remember that game Jennifer?) but here they call it Simba Mama. There are lions (simba) in the middle and you have to get to the other side where the Mama is. Before you run there is a call and response song from the Mama and the children. It was very fun, the kids were extremely cute. Then we played come and stop - which is red light green light. I taught 1 child a hand clapping game - 'Ronald McDonald had a hamburger'. I think I'll teach them more of those tomorrow and some dancing games.
Kili Center is the closest to Mt. Kilimanjaro and the view from there was spectacular. The roads are horrible to get there - it feels like a slow moving roller coaster. Again in the villages the roads are red and dry but lined with green - in Kili Center it was lined by banana trees as well. Its actually very beautiful.
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Hello Ande, sounds like you're having a lot of fun as well as feeling that you are contributing and helping to fulfill a great need. What an awesome combination. You're right in your element dancing the night away, huh - hahaha. thanks for the pics. they really tell a story of their own. who are the two gentlemen with you in the pic on the swing. Looks like you all are sitting in pure white dirt/dust. Great pic on the camel reminds me of my camel ride in Israel in 1988. what is the stick for in your hand on the camel pic?
All is well here. Uncle Johnny is back with us at the cabin mostly staying alone with my and Roy's close monitoring. Other family are in and out. Lenora and Connie stayed with him yesterday, Wednesday while I retreated. He looks so much better after the nursing home stay. He really needed that. It can be an exhausting endeavor to care for someone who is sick. So we must take excellent care of ourselves. I am beginning to do that better. Went to see an acupuncturist during my retreat. the jury is still out as to how effective it was. I'll take more treatments and see where it takes me. Dr Stephen Zhao,my acupuncturist, is very patient (well he had only me),answers all of my questions satisfactorily - and you know I had numerous. He showed me his herb room where he orders a collection of herbs from China. I told him about my growing herbs and that my dad was an herbalist. He was so excited. I'm still looking into taking holistic med classes.
I am! It seems like such a short time. Those sticks were like handle bars on the camels so that when they sat, I wouldn't fall off! Mine sat fast so they were needed otherwise I would have flipped head first off of him.
The two men on the swing are both from the Maasai tribe.
I'm glad to hear about uncle Johnny. Cool about the acupuncturist, I can wait to hear the effects! You can always come to CA for a bit and do holistic medicine - you know there are tons there!
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