Elders

The Dan and Elders in our ward came to visit. We had a full day planed. First we eat, teach class and then help the boys do there duties (chores). 

The morning started off bright and early as Megan and I got up early to head into town to make frosting with Katie at her house for the wedding cakes we were going to make the next day. Making frosting took longer then we had planed out. The elders were in Juja which is the next town over and would be in Thika in 15 to 20 minutes. So Megan stayed to finish making the frosting and I went to go get the food for Lunch. The elders asked for chicken. Something they never get. You know for us to cook chicken with our little gas element would take way to much time that we did not have. So we just bought 3 whole chickens made rice some veggies and had fruit. We wanted to give them a little taste of home. After we ate it was time for class. This week we were teaching the boys how to weave. 

After we weaved with the boys we played musical chairs. It was so funny watching the elders and boys fight over chairs. The boys really seemed to love it.

Dan and I, hes like my best friend in Kenya

After class the boys asked if they could show the elders there flips. They are getting so good at flipping.

Then after class the elders broke the news to us that they needed to go home because they had appointments that they set up at 5. It was kind of frustrating. But you really cannot get mad at them for doing the work they are here for. Dan stayed and we played football with the boys. All in all the day was so fun. I love playing with the boys. 

Ilove

I am going to be back to California soon. Dare I say home. Kenya is my home. Thika is my home. Approved is my matatu stop. Thika Children's Rescue Center is my home.  

Everyone in Town knows Megan and I when we go our separate ways in town to divide and concur everyone asks us where the other one is. I honestly cannot imagine life any different. 

I love being the only white person for miles. I love that everyone just wants to be my friend. I love that children get so excited when I come walking down the street. They always yell, "Mzungo, how are you?" I love that all the boys think I eat snake. I love teaching. I love the way we have to squish on matatus. I love the rains. I love the thunder and lightening. I love having to wake up at 6:30 am to make it to church by 9 am. I love the way I communicate with the boys. I love playing football with 50 orphans when ever I want. Most of all I love the fact that I get to wake up every morning to a whole bunch of little faces that just want to love me, be around me, and help me with what ever I am doing. 

Megan and I both have begged our mom to let us say a little bit longer. But, in all honestly I do not think it will happen. Megan has to go back to school and finish up her last semester and I have to you know...do my thing...what ever that maybe. Mom says that we can come back when ever we want. I already want to come back the second I get home. It boggles my mind that in a little over two weeks(yes I said it) I will be on an airplane back to California. I do not want it to happen. Neither does anyone else in Kenya. Every day we get asked if we could stay a little longer...maybe even forever. Oh yes I would LOVE that! But, not this time around. Maybe one day! I have to have faith that the Man up stairs has bigger and better plans for me right now. Till then, God be with you till we meet again!

a few of my favorite things

These photos are so far my favorite that I have taken thus far in Kenya

in no particular order

Toothbrushes

Erina and Taleah's dentist donated 90 toothbrush packets for Megan and I to bring to Kenya and hand out.

 Megan and I have been trying to get someone to come and help us hand them out. But every time someone came we would always forget. We decided that it was time we did it our selves. We talked to the teachers and asked if we could just leave it on there desks while they were at break. They said "No, Let us gather them all together and you will teach them how to use them."

So that is what happened. After Break they had a perfect window. 30 minutes before they were headed out to PE. The teachers called all the boys to come and sit on the grass so we could teach them about brushing teeth. 

In the packs were toothpaste, a toothbrush and floss. I can honestly say I do not think any of these boys have ever seen floss before. Megan heard of a cool way of teaching how to use floss and why it is important. Megan used her hand as the teeth and peanut butter as the food we eat. Then she showed the boys when you brush there is still food in between your teeth, just like your fingers. and so that is why we needed floss to get the extra food from out of our teeth. 

After Megan was done with her demonstration the teachers asked the boys to smell there breath. and they sent someone to get tape and a marker so we could mark there names on the bags before we handed out the toothbrushes. This might have seriously been the funniest thing that happened that day.

(see William, he is in the top left of the photo-his face explains it all)   

Once we handed the tooth brushes out Teacher Roda took over and demonstrated how much tooth past you should put on your brush. 

Teacher Roda told them to hold the toothbrush in there mouth as they put everything else away back in the bag so it would not fall over and get dirty. So you know all the boys were walking around with there tooth brushes in there mouth like this.

Then half of the boys went to one sink to brush there teeth and the other half came with Teacher Hannah and I.

Teacher Hannah made sure all the boys brushed there tongue because studies show that is where bad breath comes from...

After brushing all the boys were gathered together to floss there teeth. I have decided that flossing pictures are very unflattering. 

The boys were SO very happy.  After every meal, 4 times a day, these boys brush there teeth. They love there toothbrushes and could not be any happier. The teachers thanked us over and over and over again for bringing these packets for the boys. They said that it will help them not get sick. (most of the boys are just getting over a little cold)  After it was all said and done all of the boys came up to Megan and would tell me how clean there teeth were and would ask for a picture so they could see.

Thank you Doctor Natalie for donating these toothbrush packets for our boys here at Thika Childrens Rescue Center! They love them so much and there teeth now are cleaner then they have been in literally years!

(our noses say thanks as well!)

We also recorded a video of the boys saying Thank you Doctor... Natalie was to hard for them to say so it just says thank you Doctor! (I will get that video up one day)