Hello,
Sidai has taken in some boys from an IDP camp, and I can't express enough how hard it must have been for them, but how amazing these boys are, and to see them thriving after just a short time is incredible. Some saw they're parents hacked to death, how do you recover from that?
I don't know what else to say, how do you recover?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
TODAY
It's Saturday! I am writing all these posts to catch you up on our travels...PJ and I are great, please do not worry. The footage he is shooting will help KH Project get to a place where more and more funds can be raised with awareness, and help even more. We are on our way to Sidai. I have 50 pairs of flip flops to give the kids, 175 Rosary's, and TONS of first aid! We are going to play with the kids and help out at the orphanage to get them started with packing. I have a meeting with Mama Lucy about the new site, and what they need completed that I can help with.
I am also taking John to the market to get new shoes. It's something I have wanted to do for a long long time, and with love from a great friend, he will have shoes.
We have a lot of plans for next week. Every day will be full and hard work, but KH will complete as many projects as possible. SO far, 1.5 acres of maize and beans, done! A fantastic chicken coop, 90% done! Iron Gates to protect the children, done! A playground, done! Shoes, first aid, done! Evything else will come daily...but do not worry...it will be DONE!!!
Love to you all, I will write next week.
xo
I am also taking John to the market to get new shoes. It's something I have wanted to do for a long long time, and with love from a great friend, he will have shoes.
We have a lot of plans for next week. Every day will be full and hard work, but KH will complete as many projects as possible. SO far, 1.5 acres of maize and beans, done! A fantastic chicken coop, 90% done! Iron Gates to protect the children, done! A playground, done! Shoes, first aid, done! Evything else will come daily...but do not worry...it will be DONE!!!
Love to you all, I will write next week.
xo
Simple Pleasures
It's hard to believe that girls can't go to school when they have their monthly cycle. It's so true here. It's sad, yet reality....and it's amazing that a girl would cry, and say "Praise Jesus", when given the products they need.
It's also incredible when the workers are wearing broken boots and no socks...so you buy socks, and it's like giving them money.
Everyone is so thankful, for things we think nothing of. Even when a sip of water is pured into the mouth of someone who has been working for hours and hours without any...simple pleasures.
The reality is, I will go home to have all of these pleasures. I have been coming to Africa since 2005 with many projects...and I go home to those pleasures...but never a day passes that I do not think about the water I am using to wash with. The water I can drink, or the socks I can wear, and remember the beautiful people here, who don't get to have these things...
Just for a moment after you read thins...or after your shower, or getting dressed...pause and sent your love to Africa, not for me, but for simple pleasures.
It's also incredible when the workers are wearing broken boots and no socks...so you buy socks, and it's like giving them money.
Everyone is so thankful, for things we think nothing of. Even when a sip of water is pured into the mouth of someone who has been working for hours and hours without any...simple pleasures.
The reality is, I will go home to have all of these pleasures. I have been coming to Africa since 2005 with many projects...and I go home to those pleasures...but never a day passes that I do not think about the water I am using to wash with. The water I can drink, or the socks I can wear, and remember the beautiful people here, who don't get to have these things...
Just for a moment after you read thins...or after your shower, or getting dressed...pause and sent your love to Africa, not for me, but for simple pleasures.
Friday, June 18, 2010
TARA Project
It was with great sadness that the TARA project was finishing their time here. Yes, the house is almost done, but we have grown to love all of the Irish who have worked so very hard to build this home for the children. Due to the weather, the Sidai kids may not be able to move in for a few weeks...The walls are still bleeding water, and its very damp inside. The children will get very sick. The cement has to be completely dry, alas, they have an amazing home to move into, that's safe, and has food.
Paddy O'Connor is the founder of TARA, and is someone who I want to partner with for future projects. He has helped me so much...with connections, getting supplies,letting me use his own volunteers...and all of the emotional support, I can't thank him enough. We have run things by each other, and discussed the project for next year...A school for the orphanages in the area to all go to! (I have plans for 2011...to all my friends who want to come, get ready to work hard, and fall in love with Kenya...and Ireland!)
Thank you Paddy, for everything...I aspire to run KH as you do TARA.
You told me your life is better to have me in it...I feel the same way!
Love to your family, safe journey home.
Please tell your lovely daughter...she is an amzing girl!
Love from Sidai
Paddy O'Connor is the founder of TARA, and is someone who I want to partner with for future projects. He has helped me so much...with connections, getting supplies,letting me use his own volunteers...and all of the emotional support, I can't thank him enough. We have run things by each other, and discussed the project for next year...A school for the orphanages in the area to all go to! (I have plans for 2011...to all my friends who want to come, get ready to work hard, and fall in love with Kenya...and Ireland!)
Thank you Paddy, for everything...I aspire to run KH as you do TARA.
You told me your life is better to have me in it...I feel the same way!
Love to your family, safe journey home.
Please tell your lovely daughter...she is an amzing girl!
Love from Sidai
Need VS Want
I awoke the other morning before my alarm...we are up at 6:30...and head to the site until 5:30.
My back was aching so much from leveling the land I could barely roll over. I looked at my hands, blistered, cut, swollen...I felt the burn on my back where I missed with the 50 sunblock, and my skin turned purple with burn, my hair unwashed for 9 days, my skin never truly clean from washing in a bucket...My first thought...I want a massage so badly, I want to sit in a hot tub, I want a manicure to get the dirt from under my nails...
Then I rose from bed, looked out the window and remembered where I was and what I was doing...
No matter the pain or burn or little sleep...I NEED NOTHING!
I WANT nothing but to be here and change the lives of these children.
I NEED to be here, I WANT to be here, I AM! :)
My back was aching so much from leveling the land I could barely roll over. I looked at my hands, blistered, cut, swollen...I felt the burn on my back where I missed with the 50 sunblock, and my skin turned purple with burn, my hair unwashed for 9 days, my skin never truly clean from washing in a bucket...My first thought...I want a massage so badly, I want to sit in a hot tub, I want a manicure to get the dirt from under my nails...
Then I rose from bed, looked out the window and remembered where I was and what I was doing...
No matter the pain or burn or little sleep...I NEED NOTHING!
I WANT nothing but to be here and change the lives of these children.
I NEED to be here, I WANT to be here, I AM! :)
The Site
It's been the most physical work I have done thus far in Africa, and have loved every minute...
We have amazing locals that I am paying to help build the coop...but everything takes a lot longer here...
We are using picks and shovels to dig trenches, to dig the hoes for the posts, to level the earth. The ground is like clay, and hacking into it is hard, but makes your heart strong and full of love with every swing. The TARA project have built the most beautiful house, I can't even describe it other than beautiful. The photos and film will better explain. The coop will hopefully be done early next week...its fantastic!!!!
I paid for 1.5 acres of crops for Sidai. They are growing beautifully and they will be plentiful.
The goat project...well, things change here on a dime. There is no room for a goat pen. We have no land left for the goats, but for now, the chickens and the huge crop will sustain the children. Instead, I bought a huge Iron gate for the front of Sidai to keep them safe. I also bought the children a playground. A swing, see saw and slide. It was all made by hand by a welder in the village. Its amazing what the people do with little tools. At the end of the day, kids are kids. They need to play and laugh, and Kenya Help just added that to the list of food...along with protection, congratulations everyone!
xo
We have amazing locals that I am paying to help build the coop...but everything takes a lot longer here...
We are using picks and shovels to dig trenches, to dig the hoes for the posts, to level the earth. The ground is like clay, and hacking into it is hard, but makes your heart strong and full of love with every swing. The TARA project have built the most beautiful house, I can't even describe it other than beautiful. The photos and film will better explain. The coop will hopefully be done early next week...its fantastic!!!!
I paid for 1.5 acres of crops for Sidai. They are growing beautifully and they will be plentiful.
The goat project...well, things change here on a dime. There is no room for a goat pen. We have no land left for the goats, but for now, the chickens and the huge crop will sustain the children. Instead, I bought a huge Iron gate for the front of Sidai to keep them safe. I also bought the children a playground. A swing, see saw and slide. It was all made by hand by a welder in the village. Its amazing what the people do with little tools. At the end of the day, kids are kids. They need to play and laugh, and Kenya Help just added that to the list of food...along with protection, congratulations everyone!
xo
Monday, June 14, 2010
Red Earth, Hand Made Picks, Pure Joy
I do not even know where to begin! Day one of the building...
Sorry folks...HI, I HOPE THIS EMAIL FINDS YOU WELL.... back to Kenya Help!
Yesterday we went to church with our family from 8:30-11:30...yes, long, but they had a welcoming service for us and it was amazing!
TODAY....what a day.
Picked up at 8am by 35 Irishmen working for the TARA Project and headed to the site. The house will be done by the end of the week. It's beautiful!
I started work right away with a very heavy pick to even out the earth where we are putting the coop. We hired local villages to help us and PJ filmed us working hard...then joined in. It's going to be so big....after the earth was level we dug a trench around the perimeter where we will put the fence posts and wire fence in to protect the hens from animals. HARD HARD work...but we did it for 8 hours and completed it for the construction tomorrow.
The garden is amazing. The neighbors went over the land line when they planted their garden...and planted beans and corn on Sidai land....so...they were paid back for their work...and the crops are about 2 feet high already. I am paying 13 very poor villagers to weed the very large garden this week. Everyone is happy, they have work, they have pay, and they have love, lots of love. We are so happy to help them, help us! They garden is so big...I will let you know next time as I do not know acres vs feet! LOL
The Massaii come and watch the white people work...and its amazing to have them theere. I took a break and taught the children some english songs, what a joy.
PJ is doing a great job of filming, to tell the KH story of Sidai, and helping me with hard labor. It's his first time bathing in a bucket, but I gave him ssome tips. Sunday night we went to the market to help our host mother sell watermelons..what a show! A white girl walking around with melons and an Asian guy yelling...MELONS FOR SALE, Come get your melons!
As for Kenya itself...if you have not seen the news...it's not good. We are lucky we are here now and leaving before the election in August. Therer have been bombings in Mombassa, murders, and villages burned down. The Ngong slums was on the list but was saved...it's so terrible what's going on, but I won't get into it while here, just know that we are safe, and the projects are the best thing we can do. Mama Lucy is thrilled. She said that she was so happy that I actually came back and made true with what I said I would do, to help these children and feed them. She told me that people tell her all the time that they will be back, and they do not come...
SO, on behalf of the children of Sidai, and the KH project, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH and love you all and appreciate all you have done to make this happen.
I am not the Kenya Help project...we ALL are...I am doing the labor, PJ is filming the story, but it is YOU who truly are Kenya Help...and HELP YOU HAVE!
Love to all, thanks for following...
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this hard time of political unrest..and I promise to keep you updated on the projects you are doing.
xox
Sorry folks...HI, I HOPE THIS EMAIL FINDS YOU WELL.... back to Kenya Help!
Yesterday we went to church with our family from 8:30-11:30...yes, long, but they had a welcoming service for us and it was amazing!
TODAY....what a day.
Picked up at 8am by 35 Irishmen working for the TARA Project and headed to the site. The house will be done by the end of the week. It's beautiful!
I started work right away with a very heavy pick to even out the earth where we are putting the coop. We hired local villages to help us and PJ filmed us working hard...then joined in. It's going to be so big....after the earth was level we dug a trench around the perimeter where we will put the fence posts and wire fence in to protect the hens from animals. HARD HARD work...but we did it for 8 hours and completed it for the construction tomorrow.
The garden is amazing. The neighbors went over the land line when they planted their garden...and planted beans and corn on Sidai land....so...they were paid back for their work...and the crops are about 2 feet high already. I am paying 13 very poor villagers to weed the very large garden this week. Everyone is happy, they have work, they have pay, and they have love, lots of love. We are so happy to help them, help us! They garden is so big...I will let you know next time as I do not know acres vs feet! LOL
The Massaii come and watch the white people work...and its amazing to have them theere. I took a break and taught the children some english songs, what a joy.
PJ is doing a great job of filming, to tell the KH story of Sidai, and helping me with hard labor. It's his first time bathing in a bucket, but I gave him ssome tips. Sunday night we went to the market to help our host mother sell watermelons..what a show! A white girl walking around with melons and an Asian guy yelling...MELONS FOR SALE, Come get your melons!
As for Kenya itself...if you have not seen the news...it's not good. We are lucky we are here now and leaving before the election in August. Therer have been bombings in Mombassa, murders, and villages burned down. The Ngong slums was on the list but was saved...it's so terrible what's going on, but I won't get into it while here, just know that we are safe, and the projects are the best thing we can do. Mama Lucy is thrilled. She said that she was so happy that I actually came back and made true with what I said I would do, to help these children and feed them. She told me that people tell her all the time that they will be back, and they do not come...
SO, on behalf of the children of Sidai, and the KH project, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH and love you all and appreciate all you have done to make this happen.
I am not the Kenya Help project...we ALL are...I am doing the labor, PJ is filming the story, but it is YOU who truly are Kenya Help...and HELP YOU HAVE!
Love to all, thanks for following...
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this hard time of political unrest..and I promise to keep you updated on the projects you are doing.
xox
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