Sunday ....

[Update from Marie in Maseno] .........

After an early rise to a very quiet house, we were walking to church, after 3.5 hours of worship, we walked into Maseno, to visit the girls at the Christian camp.....another 2hours of preaching, volunteers falling asleep, tired with thirst and hunger - all wanting to be back home enjoying Sunday - but here Praying is the most important thing - giving hope to all. The girls were so thrilled to see us, and to the envy of all the othe kids there! Oh they are so gorgeous, so ready to laugh and give a hug - you should hear them as I tickle them........hehehehehe
 
I was fortunate to recieve a very generous donation of $500. I have donated this straight to Edward - head of the orphanage and a wonderful preacher and mentor to these desperate children. They have lost their families to HIV, and the remaining guardians are usually too old and poor to help provide for these young ladies. As girls are so expensive to bring up, these are the first to suffer. Since the emails before I came over the number of sponsored kids has grown by ten. No assistance from anyone - just relying on God and kind donations. They have started a new building extention for another lot of orphans - they are so well looked after and loved - they are always happy hard working and look after each other. Any girl is so blessed to be able to come here. So my $500 went to try to help finish the extention - we have now some cement and the bricks are ready - so we volunteers, 8 of us will get in and help tomorrow - our goal is to try to have it finished before we leave - so pray for us! They are so very grateful for the smallest things, like the elastics to keep their school socks up. They nearly squealed with delight when they recieved back packs and raincoats, pens, exercise books and some sport equipment........so little yet they were SO OVERWHELMED. we take for granted all we have in the west!
 
Yesterday we went to Kisumu, to buy some books for revision for the girls and sanitary pads, as they have none, and use the thinnest rags....
Some of us went down to Lake Victoria, where it was so busy with people washing buses, cars, motorbikes, and themselves??? eeeeehhhhhhhh so much pollution. We ate fresh fish (from the other side of the lake) and ugali with spinach - very delicious! Most volunteers needed pizza!  A lot of homeless kids, sniffing glue to keep them from getting too hungry, oh talk about heart breaking. We had a lot of hassle on our matatu, as someone didnt pay and the bus stopped on the side of the road, and they all disappeared - the guy, the driver, and the ticket man....for about 40min......so hot and cramped, always room for an extra body....so our 1 hour journey ended up about 2.5 or more - passed a horrible accident. we were so relieved to get off and have our walk home in the dusk, gentle breeze and an amazing sunset.
 
Unfortunately 6 of our orphan chickens died last night, the kerosene lamp's switch went to high...3 were saved. Very sad.
We miss the girls - but they will be back on Tuesday ready for school on Wednesday. The last 2 nights havent rained and the star formations are so incredible......as everything here in one way or another.........
Need to go and do some washing - basin! Getting better at aiming in the long drops - its probably the worst thing here!
 
Until my next visit to an internet cafe !!!!!!!
....Marie