Monday, June 20, 2011
KENYA 2011 SIGN OFF -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now we leave the blog to the next Brunswick Missions Team. Enjoy!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
More team members home safe and sound
Lisa, Jenna, Erin, Rebecca, Kevin, Shellie, and Jason are all home safe and sound with no incidents other than one of Lisa's bags getting diverted incorrectly. It will arrive sometime in the next day or two I think. This was an amazing experience that we will be processing for weeks or months. At the moment we all just need sleep and mental/emotional rest. Thank you all for praying!! -Kevin
Saturday, May 28, 2011
On our way :)
Erin, Jenna, Rebecca, Shellie, Kevin, Jason, and Lisa are eating our last dinner in Kenya soon and will be heading to the airport in 3 hours. Pry for uneventful travel. See you all soon!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Nairobi coffee
A day of rest.
Today we are scattered about, trying to sleep in and regain energy. Doug and Tom are going on safari. Most of the rest of us are going to the Giraffe Centre to feed and hang out with giraffes this afternoon. I didn't realize how tired and beat I was until this morning. We're ready to be home but won't leave until tomorrow night.
- Kevin
- Kevin
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Much better day!
Today was a much better day. Today was wonderful. Everyone was healthy and (more or less) full of energy. Doug saw a bunch of children today for dental checkups and some extractions, plus some adults. The doctors and nurses saw tons of patients, plus did some home visits and followups. We all had a marvelous dinner together and told stories and laughed and laughed and laughed... We were having so much fun the chef came out of the kitchen to see what was so funny in his restaurant. Thank you for all the prayers. We are in a great state of mind to face our last day of clinic.
Team A Returns Home
Team A arrived in Kenya earlier than teams B and C and now that I am home I have time to share the experiences of those first few days.
The drive into Kibera was an eye opener. Garbage burning along the streets and poverty like I have never seen.
We attended a meeting of senior citizens in the Kibera Slum. The corrugated metal room was dimly lit. The elders spoke through an interpretor and told us about their group and weekly meetings. Many are caring for young children left orphaned by AIDs. Some of these elderly men and women have received micro loans to begin a small business and be self sufficient. Many have applied for loans and are waiting. We met an elder who has successfully started a basket weaving business and later had the opplrtunity to support her business by purchasing baskets. Carl spoke to the group and expressed to them that we will bring their message back and do what we can to secure funding. They sang and danced ( a part of their regular weekly meeitng). They had rythym!! What great exercise for them. We were truly moved by the experience.
We visited the Salvation Army compound where the clinic would be held beginning on Monday and we began initial set up. Many children were playing on the grounds and were curious when they saw us. They gathered around asking "How are you ?" We soon learned that even those children that do not speak English ask "How are you?" when they see white people.
We were escorted through a part of Kibera. The walk was amazing. We visited a beauty shop that is being assisted by Kath and fundraising from the Orlo School in Albany. Kath was so surprised to find that Olivia had named her business the Orlo Beauty Salon. It was very basic with few supplies, however before leaving Kenya Kath took Olivia shopping and purchased needed supplies.
We drove toNyeri and visited St. Marys boys High School Child Rescue and Training Centers lead by Brother Domic. The school serves approximately 700 boys ranging from nursery to high school. Students are responsible for the daily cleaning of the school compound and farming chores. They grind the maize, chop the firewood, care for livestock and milk and or slaughter the cows/pigs. Academically the school is rated as one of the top of schools in Kenya. It is very basic and the boys sleep dormitory style in cramped quarters with all personal belongings in a metal trunk. The bathrooms were very archaic and the odor pungent. The boys were clean and dressed in uniforms. Many are being cared for for free, some families are able to pay all or part of the $500.00 per year fee. We observed a woman with 3 children who we believe wanted to leave her 2 boys as she could not care for them any longer. However, this was not possible as a wait list exists. The Nyeri slum is close by and many many people are living in desperate conditions. Many children come to the school each day as visitors, just to get food, they are all welcomed. Many are orphans. What a humbling experience!! To learn more go to: http://www.stmarylasalle.org/
We worshipped at New Hope for All Nations Church in Naivasha. The service lasted approx. 2 1/2 hours. We visited the Sunday School and interacted with the children. The people were gracious and offered us avocado juice and snacks. We were cautious about eating. We briefly visited the outdoor market place.
We visited a maximum security mens prison. We were all quite anxious as we were led through the prison yards to the education center, which we toured. We were led into a room with about 400 inmates who were assembled for a church service. The mens choir sang for us. We sat on long wooden benches and faced the inmates. The prison officials spoke to us about the program. Many of these men have received life sentences. We distributed pencils to the men. They were very very grateful as previous to our visit they had been sharing a few pencils to do their school work. Carl spoke through an interpretor and gave a message of hope and told them that the men at Brunswick would continue to pray for them. Our prison experience concluded with a visit to the womens minimum security prison. There were 26 women and 5 children age 4 and under who were allowed to stay with their mothers. We distributed supplies to them that we had purchased earlier in the day consisting of bars of soap, vaseline, panties and other feminie suupplies. The 4 little girls were given a dress and the little boy a new outfit. We were relieved when we exited the prison.
We had been in Kenya for only 3 days and experienced so much. There is unbelievable need everywhere you turn. Our driver returned us safely to Nairobi where clinic would begin on the following day (Monday). Hopefully our presence in Kenya will make a difference for some. The needs are many!!!!!
Barb Darling
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| Elders Meeting in Kibera |
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| Elders seated at meeting |
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| Entrance to Salvation Army compound |
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| Children at Salvation Army gate |
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| Children at Salvation Army compound |
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| Young boys at St. Marys Lasalle school |
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| Dorm style bedroom at LaSalle School |
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| LaSalle school ( boys personal possessions) |
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| The bathroom adjacent to the dorm bedroom |
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| Food preparation (Brother Dominic in background) |
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| Cooking the afternoon meal (one pot meal of corn , potatoes and beans) |
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| Cooking the vegetable scaps to feed to the pigs (nothing gets wasted) |
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| Mamma pig and one of her piglets |
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| Olivia (a new entepreneur) with Kath |
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| A Kibera seamstress |
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| Burning garbage along the Kibera street (it continually burns) |
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| The open air market place in Naivasha |
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| Naivasha open air market |
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| New Hope for All Nations Sunday School building |
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| Barb with a new little friend at Sunday School class |
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| Carl gives a greeting and message of hope |
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| One of 2 collection baskets at church service |
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| Children in Sunday School Class |
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| Shopping cart with supplies to bring to female prisoners |
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| Our prison visit begins!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Being escorted through the prison yard |
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| Attending the prison service (we are seated on a bench facing the inmates) |
The drive into Kibera was an eye opener. Garbage burning along the streets and poverty like I have never seen.
We attended a meeting of senior citizens in the Kibera Slum. The corrugated metal room was dimly lit. The elders spoke through an interpretor and told us about their group and weekly meetings. Many are caring for young children left orphaned by AIDs. Some of these elderly men and women have received micro loans to begin a small business and be self sufficient. Many have applied for loans and are waiting. We met an elder who has successfully started a basket weaving business and later had the opplrtunity to support her business by purchasing baskets. Carl spoke to the group and expressed to them that we will bring their message back and do what we can to secure funding. They sang and danced ( a part of their regular weekly meeitng). They had rythym!! What great exercise for them. We were truly moved by the experience.
We visited the Salvation Army compound where the clinic would be held beginning on Monday and we began initial set up. Many children were playing on the grounds and were curious when they saw us. They gathered around asking "How are you ?" We soon learned that even those children that do not speak English ask "How are you?" when they see white people.
We were escorted through a part of Kibera. The walk was amazing. We visited a beauty shop that is being assisted by Kath and fundraising from the Orlo School in Albany. Kath was so surprised to find that Olivia had named her business the Orlo Beauty Salon. It was very basic with few supplies, however before leaving Kenya Kath took Olivia shopping and purchased needed supplies.
We drove toNyeri and visited St. Marys boys High School Child Rescue and Training Centers lead by Brother Domic. The school serves approximately 700 boys ranging from nursery to high school. Students are responsible for the daily cleaning of the school compound and farming chores. They grind the maize, chop the firewood, care for livestock and milk and or slaughter the cows/pigs. Academically the school is rated as one of the top of schools in Kenya. It is very basic and the boys sleep dormitory style in cramped quarters with all personal belongings in a metal trunk. The bathrooms were very archaic and the odor pungent. The boys were clean and dressed in uniforms. Many are being cared for for free, some families are able to pay all or part of the $500.00 per year fee. We observed a woman with 3 children who we believe wanted to leave her 2 boys as she could not care for them any longer. However, this was not possible as a wait list exists. The Nyeri slum is close by and many many people are living in desperate conditions. Many children come to the school each day as visitors, just to get food, they are all welcomed. Many are orphans. What a humbling experience!! To learn more go to: http://www.stmarylasalle.org/
We worshipped at New Hope for All Nations Church in Naivasha. The service lasted approx. 2 1/2 hours. We visited the Sunday School and interacted with the children. The people were gracious and offered us avocado juice and snacks. We were cautious about eating. We briefly visited the outdoor market place.
We visited a maximum security mens prison. We were all quite anxious as we were led through the prison yards to the education center, which we toured. We were led into a room with about 400 inmates who were assembled for a church service. The mens choir sang for us. We sat on long wooden benches and faced the inmates. The prison officials spoke to us about the program. Many of these men have received life sentences. We distributed pencils to the men. They were very very grateful as previous to our visit they had been sharing a few pencils to do their school work. Carl spoke through an interpretor and gave a message of hope and told them that the men at Brunswick would continue to pray for them. Our prison experience concluded with a visit to the womens minimum security prison. There were 26 women and 5 children age 4 and under who were allowed to stay with their mothers. We distributed supplies to them that we had purchased earlier in the day consisting of bars of soap, vaseline, panties and other feminie suupplies. The 4 little girls were given a dress and the little boy a new outfit. We were relieved when we exited the prison.
We had been in Kenya for only 3 days and experienced so much. There is unbelievable need everywhere you turn. Our driver returned us safely to Nairobi where clinic would begin on the following day (Monday). Hopefully our presence in Kenya will make a difference for some. The needs are many!!!!!
Barb Darling
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Prayer requests
Please pray that the whole team will be healthy tomorrow (lately it seems like a different team member is down sick each day), we will continue to have opportunities to serve people and build friendships, and that the eruption of the volcano in Iceland will not delay our flights home.
The children of Kibera
Hard day
Today was a tough day. We had to spend some time readjusting our expectations and reminding ourselves that the world is a broken place and we are called to be a part of redeeming it regardless of what we run into along the way. Several members of the team have taken turns being sick. Some of the local help have not been incredibly helpful. People we are trying very hard to help and not always thankful and not always ethical. Helping to fix that which is broken requires being exposed to and sometimes immersed in it.
If we were not running into these problems, however, we would have to ask, are we really serving in the right place? If we are seeing brokenness around us, we at least know we are in fact in a place where we can make a difference.
It has been fantastic to have Doug and Tom join us and add humor, energy, and fresh insight to the team. They have done too extractions for at least 76 people so far. Amazing stuff.
We miss team A (Carl, Barb, Kathy, Ari, Elaine, Linda). We've had to alter how we do things a bit to adjust to losing them.
It was magical today to see people get glasses for the first time. The look on a person's face the first time they put on glasses that work is memorable. We think we gave out 150-200 pairs today. We never bothered to count.
What a day. We crashed a bit today, emotionally and physically worn out... But tomorrow is another day and we are ready for it. God is good.
If we were not running into these problems, however, we would have to ask, are we really serving in the right place? If we are seeing brokenness around us, we at least know we are in fact in a place where we can make a difference.
It has been fantastic to have Doug and Tom join us and add humor, energy, and fresh insight to the team. They have done too extractions for at least 76 people so far. Amazing stuff.
We miss team A (Carl, Barb, Kathy, Ari, Elaine, Linda). We've had to alter how we do things a bit to adjust to losing them.
It was magical today to see people get glasses for the first time. The look on a person's face the first time they put on glasses that work is memorable. We think we gave out 150-200 pairs today. We never bothered to count.
What a day. We crashed a bit today, emotionally and physically worn out... But tomorrow is another day and we are ready for it. God is good.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Return to Clinic.
Today we had the chance to walk around the streets of Kibera with the pastor. The streets were filled with garbage and children with no one watching them running around. The air smells of buring garbage/rubber. We stopped first at his home which was a small maybe 10x10 foot metal shack then we went to his day care...this day care was very small and had 17 children age 1-3 sharing two matresses. Most of these children were orphaned. After the day care we stopped in his church which doubled as a school during the day time there were 45 students in a space maybe 20x15. We have to remember we have it good! Best of all the pastor chooses to live here to help others he does not have to. There are good people in the world!!!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
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