Hanging out at Candlelight

This week I've been working at Candlelight every morning. On Monday, I taught science (nutrition) to class 3 and class 5. It was pretty good, but it's definitely a challenge to try and figure out how to effectively teach the students when they don't have their own textbooks to study from. Monday afternoon, I just rested at Fred and Alice's, which was definitely needed. Tuesday morning, I taught English to class 3 and science to class 4. In the afternoon, I went with a friend to his cousin's house near downtown Nairobi. It was nice to meet more people and I had my first matatu ride this trip, which was an experience, as always! Yesterday morning, I decided that I wanted to work in the library with Nancy rather than teaching classes. It was really nice to hang out with her. After that, I went with Jenni to get my hair braided by Christine. It took about 3 hours, but I enjoyed talking to Christine about life in Kenya and dating and relationships in Kenyan culture. Overall, I think yesterday was one of the best days I've had so far just because I learned so much about Kenyan culture and also got to hang out with some great people! This morning I decided to work in the library again, so that was nice.

In case anyone wants my address while I'm here, this is it:

Sarah Evans
Candlelight School
PO Box 28646-00200
Nairobi
Kenya

I hear that mail takes a while to get here, so just remember that I'm leaving on August 20, so I won't get anything after that.

I'm in the process of trying to post pictures on facebook, so look for them there later (if it actually works...)

quick update

A few of us returned to Nairobi last night, which was great. I'm glad we got to sleep in beds again, instead of in the tents (especially since it was raining when we left Naivasha). Right now I'm hanging out in the center of Nairobi. I met Professor Mpesha's daughter, Abanya, here this morning and now I'm waiting for to finish up an appointment before we walk around town a bit. The 1010 group is going to the Masai Market this morning, so I think I'll meet up with them. For the next week, I'll be going to Candlelight most days and probably teaching classes. It'll be good to spend some more time with the kids and hopefully I'll also have time to hang out at the safe house quite a bit too.

So far adjusting to life in Kenya hasn't been too difficult. I think having the 1010 group here now is good, so I can adjust a bit to life here before being more on my own. There are 2 people from Tennessee that are also staying with Fred and Alice and will be there, I think, for another month and a half, so I won't really be on my own much, which is good.

Western Kenya

On Monday, we left Nairobi and traveled to Miwani, which is near Kisumu. This trip took about 8 hours, but the roads are much better than they were 3 years ago. We stayed at St. Luke's for 2 nights, which I really enjoyed. St. Luke's is an orphanage and school that also has income generating projects like farming to help provide food for the kids and also jobs for the community. It was definitely very different from last time I was there, probably because we weren't really there for long enough to really build relationships with the kids. Then, on Wednesday, we drove 6 hours to Lake Naivasha for a few days of relaxing. Yesterday I went on a safari in the morning which was pretty cool. We actually got to walk around with giraffes and zebras! Other than that, I've mostly just been enjoying a few days of relaxation. Tonight I'm going back to Nairobi, which will be good.
The 1010 group is here for another week and a half, but I'm still trying to decide what to do after they leave. I was planning on going to Tumaini orphanage, but it's pretty expensive to stay there, so I may just keep staying with Fred and Alice and help out at Candlelight and the safe house. Please pray for me as I make these decisions.

Just hanging out

So far the trip is going really well and it's great getting to know everyone. On Thursday we went to Candlelight school and got to meet all the students. Candlelight is a school that Fred and Alice run and it's really amazing! Many of the students live in rough conditions and sometimes don't get food other than the lunch they get from the school. It was great to see how much it's grown since I was last here 3 years ago. They have a whole new concrete building instead of the metal buildings they had before. In each class, the student welcomed us and we introduced ourselves. They are all so cute and I can tell that they work so hard in school! The older students told us what they want to do when they grow up and they have such big dreams! Many of them want to be pilots, engineers, or lawyers. I hope that someday they can all fulfill their dreams. We also went to the safe house last night. This is a home that Fred and Alice have for children with nowhere else to go. When we were there, we got to see their rooms, which have a couple beds for probably 8 kids. They also had a worship service, which was amazing. I think that during that service was the first time I've really felt like crying. These kids have been through so much and love God so much. It's amazing!

Right now, I'm just hanging out at the house with Karina and Reva. Most of the team went out, but I decided to just stick around. This afternoon we're going to Mother's Concern, which is a community based organization that makes beaded baskets and I'm excited to see what has changed in the last few years.

I'm here!!

Just a quick post to let you all know that I've arrived safely. The flights were long, but I'm here now. Last night I stayed at a guest house with most of the 1010 team. Now we're at Fred and Alice's, where I'll be staying for most of my first month here.

I'll try to write more when I have more time!

Departure tomorrow!

I can't believe it, but my time in Michigan is coming to an end and I'm leaving for Kenya tomorrow! This weekend has been really fun and a great last time with my Calvin friends (for a while, at least). Val and Mike's wedding was on Saturday and it was so beautiful! They are so cute and it was really great to see many good friends gathered together to celebrate. Yesterday night a bunch of us went out to the beach in Holland, which was really fun!

As the time of my departure approaches, I'm definitely getting excited, but I'm still a little nervous. I think it's a great opportunity that I get to go back to Kenya and see my friends there. I have traveled many places over the past few years, but this is the first time that I will return to somewhere I've been before (other than England). I think my past experiences in Kenya will help shape how I view Kenya now and I hope that this time I can learn even more about Kenya and how God is calling me to use my talents to help people in developing countries. I'm also very excited to stay with the same family that my mom stayed with when she visited Kenya in September. Renewing the friendships I created three years ago will be wonderful, and also continuing the relationships my mom built is exciting.

Thank you all for your prayers - I would not be able to embark on this adventure without all of your encouragement and support.

My next post will be from Kenya, woohoo!!! :)

Preparing to depart

I can't believe it, but I'm leaving for Kenya in less than a week!! This weekend I'll be in Grand Rapids for Val and Mike's wedding and then I'll be leaving from Detroit to Kenya next Tuesday (June 9).

Plans for my trip are coming together and I'm starting to get a clearer picture of what my summer will look like (though there are still many uncertainties...). For the first 3 weeks, I'll be with a group from The 1010 Project (www.the1010project.org). We'll be visiting various community based organizations (CBOs), meeting people and learning about poverty - very similar to the last time I went to Kenya, 3 years ago. After that, I will spend a week visiting friends and then I'll go to Tumaini, an orphanage in Nairobi (www.tumainiministries.org) for the rest of the summer.

As I prepare to depart for Michigan and then Kenya, I have a few prayer requests:

• Safe travels for me as I travel to Michigan and then to Kenya and for the rest of the 1010 group
• Goodbyes - I'll be saying "goodbye for now" to most of my closest friends from Calvin this weekend
• Hellos - getting to know the rest of the 1010 group and our hosts in Kenya
• Adjustments for all of us as we spend time in a culture very different than our own