Tuesday -Childlike

Day 5 - Childlike Nairobi Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Today was our first day of work at the Ringuti School, a relationship that Covenant began three years ago. Yesterday's school visits had prepared me for much worse conditions than we found. In fact, the campus was quite well equated compared to the two from yesterday. The school consisted of quite a few spereate buildings, each adorned with small flower gardens and connected with cement paths, which greatly reduced the amount of red mud in the classes. Like the other schools the rooms open directly into courtyards. We were greeted immediately by smiling, happy faces. Older students asked for members of last year's team by name, "Where's Deb?". Reportedly one fifth grade girl wept when her favorite person didn't return. She obviously has been looking forward t her return for 15 months. I visited from the constructions site, where we were assisted by fifth grade boys, who pushed wheelbarrows and shoveled, taking the shovels from us girls. Fine with me! They said it was fun, and there wasn't much else to do on the playground anyway. Apparently, on this trip, playing with the kids and relationship building is more important than the construction of the walls, which is just my speed! The children, who were in class until shortly after our arrival, welcomed us with song during an assembly, then spent the rest of the day running free a lung the school grounds. Playing with us was the work of the day! I hugged on preschoolers, kindergarteners, sang in music class, taught a poem, drew with new friends. I did a lot of photography and found capturing perfect images of the medical team quite a challenge. They were housed in a beautiful old sanctuary building made of clapboards with spaces in between each. The darkness inside made getting the right shot a challenge, but well worth it because the characters were so unique: young, old and in between. The clinic was slammed, seeing 129 patients and sending the waiting crowd home to return on Thursday. That's tough when you walked 3 miles to get there! The most interesting patient was a 96 year old woman who saw Dr. Rogers. I helped her out of the clinic and walked her home. During interpretation, Dr. Rogers thought she said she walked 2 miles to get there, but she actually lived across the street. That's my first inside look at a home in the village here. Her family very nice and her son, who spoke English, told me her story. She was born in what is now Nairobi in 1915 and mov to this village when occupation by someone began (he wasn't sure who). She has since lived there and had five children. She was soooooo cute! Covenant's contemporary music director, Daniel, led a music camp and I'll each day while on campus. The children loved it- they made their own instruments with tennis balls filled with beans. They were so loud that, by the end of the day, I wanted to confiscate a few (and would have had a been in America). It was a fun day! Tomorrow we'll tour the methare slum then visit a sewing factory. I'm a little nervous about the sights of that slum! That's going to be a little overwhelming. The emails from home are great! I'm having some trouble sending emails but will keep trying. Will try to FaceTime tomorrow since the kids should be home. Love to everyone!