My collection of children's books

One word: ridiculous!

This is after purging a lot of them!

A tale of two classrooms

Classroom 1: A private Christian preschool in Arlington, Virginia

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Classroom 2: A public preschool in Bartlett, IL

This whole land is calling out for You

July 13, 2007

I woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. I didn’t have a thermometer so I am not sure how high it was but I was having massive chills, body aches, the whole bit. I was terrified so I called my mom, took some Tylenol, and went back to sleep. Thankfully in the morning I felt a bit better because we did a game drive all day!

We saw tons of animals once again- giraffes, a male lion, hippos, warthogs, hyena and rhino. That night we took a tour of the Maasai village. They did dances for us and showed us their homes. I got to wear a hat they made out of a real lion mane! 

July 13, 2009

I went with another volunteer to a school with kids who are orphans but live mostly with family members. It was a small school, with only preschool, kindergarten and a 1st/2nd grade combined class. They have 1 teacher for both preschool and Kindergarten, which are 2 small classes connected. I taught “baby class” (preschool) for the morning. I played with all of them during break.

I carried two 5 liter jugs of water, and helped make chapatti. Then we ate with the kids and did the dishes.

We went to 40 thieves and I swam in the ocean. The water was shallow and warm, it was really nice. Then we walked down the beach, checked our email, and took a matatu home. 

We took our host families out to dinner at this place called African Pot. The food took forever to come but it was good. 

I was thinking a lot today about my purpose, and accomplishing some good in Kenya that would be sustainable.

She swore to not forget

July 11, 2007

It was my last day teaching at the school. I handed out stickers, pencils and crayons. They had an assembly to say goodbye to me. I thanked all of the teachers, and said goodbye to the kids, which was bittersweet.

the 3 classes I taught all together

July 11, 2009

I met up with some other volunteers, and we drove to Shimoni beach. From there we took 2 boat rides into the ocean. On the one boat, they served us tea and biscuits, and sang us some songs! They showed us how to snorkel and also scuba dive. We put on wetsuits and snorkeled for almost an hour. It was amazing. We saw tons of coral, anemones, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. Of course there were tons of fish of all different kinds, and some in big schools. Some we got really close to! It was so peaceful and beautiful. Then we got ready to scuba, which was more difficulty but incredible. We went 8 meters down to the ocean floor (the sand at the bottom felt dry!). We saw sting rays, clams, and more fish, coral, etc. Then we went to Wasini Island for a delicious meal of crab legs, chapatti, and rice with curry coconut sauce. They served me a whole tilapia fish that had its head, eyes, fins abs everything still on it! Then we took the boat back and toured the slave caves. 

 We saw dolphins off the boat!

Ready to dive!

where we ate

“I really have nothing to complain about after being reminded of the poverty here. God uses everything for His good”

still I judge success by how I'm dressing

July 10, 2007

I spent the morning at school, and had the kids draw pictures of me. I also helped out the teachers. Then we had lunch with Pastor Rasndy, who came from the US and has been living in Kenya for the past 10 years or so. He is really cool, and we talked. He has a mix of a southern accent (he’s from Gerogia) and a Kenyan one, haha. Then we went to use the internet, and I set up an email for Wanja, who is my age and had never used a computer before! We also went to the market.

This is the outside of the school I had been volunteering at

July 10, 2009

We left early in the morning while it was still dark, and boarded a bus for Mombasa! The bus was like a charter bus. They played horrible R & B music through the speakers above our heads and some creepy Kenyan guy was staring at us during the whole ride. It started getting hot when we got near Mombasa but this lady who was all wrapped in scarves like she was cold yelled at us when we opened the window. It was a long ride! Luckily I slept some, and listened to music. 

We took a ferry to the place where we were staying (Ukunda) which was outside the city of Mombasa. We were staying with some host families there. I asked to take a shower, and they gave me an ice cold bucket of water! We had dinner and then went to this place called 40 thieves, which is a restaurant/bar. We got there, and I was happy and surprised to find it was right on the Indian Ocean! There were tables outside and couches right in the sand, and warm waves rolling in. We walked out on the beach (it was nighttime by now), and there were all these sand crabs crawling around! It was so cool!

I'm blessed as the poor

July 9, 2007

I took a picture with each of the classes at school. I had brought a stuffed cat to keep me company on the trip, so I showed it to the kids. Most of them do not have toys or stuffed animals, so they loved it. They were hugging and kissing it. 

In the afternoon, I visited the homes of some of the kids who are orphans. It was crazy. Luckily they all have extended family members to live with, but all of their family members are also poor and have their own kids to look after and support. In one house, 4 kids and 2 adults lived in 1 tiny room that had 1 bed. In another, 15 kids were living with a 100 year old grandmother. All the families were so hospitable and thanking me for coming.

July 9, 2009

We slept in and had fresh mandazi (donuts) for breakfast! Then we went to this really nice place to use the internet (there are a lot of “internet cafes” around Kenya where you can use the internet for 1 shilling, which is a between 1 and 2 cents, a minute). Then we went to Nakumatt Junction for lunch. We stopped at the market and monkey park. 

We got to the orphanage at night to have a “party.” Some of team 1 was leaving for safari so it was their last day. The kids sang songs and did dances, and talked about what an impact the volunteers and Jump for Joel have made. The kids have had such hard lives, yet they have so much joy and faith. We had dinner with them and passed out some donations we had brought (clothes, shoes, stuffed animals, candy). We got home really late!

and faith my eyes

June 8, 2007

We went to church.

After church, we went to City Park. This is one of my favorite places! It is right on the outskirts of the bustling city of Nairobi. Then you get to the park, and there are all these beautiful trees, flowers, and plants! And there are monkeys running around everywhere! There are no walls or fences or anything. If you feed them peanuts, they will climb and sit on you! 

June 8, 2009

I was staying in a town called Kikuyu, and then we drove to the orphanage Shana has been helping which is in Gathiga. I got to tour the orphanage and nursery school there, and meet the kids. 

Then we walked to the Primary school where the older children go. 

Then we came back to the orphanage. They had donated 474 books for the kids and built a bookcase to store them in. I helped organize them which was great, and the kids were so happy. 

We had dinner back at our host family’s and did devotions. 

“There is so much need…Everywhere in Kenya it is the same story…I want to help but it is overwhelming..”

The end is where we start from

July 6, 2007

The three classes I normally taught had a chapel service. I read them the verse about being the light of the world and taught them the song “This Little Light of Mine.” I was left alone with pre-unit (kindergarten) again. We did some math and I had them draw. 

“I hope I accomplished something. Between yelling at them every 2 seconds and chasing them around the room, I couldn’t really teach them.” (again, this is a lot how I felt teaching here in the states too!)

After lunch we jumped rope, which was fun, and I chatted with the 8th grade girls. After school I watched Spider Man 3 with Cody and Dylan but the power went out and I missed the last 20 minutes of it!

July 6, 2009

It was my Dad’s last day in Kenya. We went to the elephant orphanage. I met another volunteer there who was born in DeKalb! Then we got to see the baby elephants, and also a baby rhino. They were so cute! 

After dinner someone came to take my Dad to the airport. Everyone went to go see the new Harry Potter movie but I stayed home.

“Just me and God now.”

and I mistake my happiness for blessing

July 5, 2007

I took a walk with the kids and had them use their senses to explore their environment. I was left alone with the pre-unit (Kindergarten) class, and they were not listening to me! “Between discipline problems and searching for supplies (books, pencils, erasers), I had no time to help them with their work. I do not want my classroom to be like this.” Hahaha, too bad my classroom in the states was just like this. Is teaching always 90% classroom management? Do I just suck at working with kindergartners?

 July 5, 2009

My Dad and I went to Nairobi chapel, which is a huge tent church. I saw some people there from NIU’s Intervarsity group! What a small world! The pastor used a clip of Lord of the Rings as a sermon illustration on spiritual warfare. Eugene was 2 hours late to pick us up (ah Kenyan time) but he took us to lunch and gave my Dad a present.

“I have a strong feeling I will be back here, I just don’t know when or with whom or for what purpose…I know God has me but it is hard to let go of trying to be in control…I think a lot of this trip is about me learning to ‘let go and let God’ and realize that I am not in control of planning my life or my future…”

I get turned around

July 4, 2007

I taught about the 5 senses. I brought in cotton and wood for them to touch, salt and sugar them to taste, and spices for them to smell. This was a fun lesson! Then they had PE. After that I sat with 10 of the older students who are orphans. About 10% of the kids at that school did not have parents. They told me heartbreaking stories of witnessing their parents get sick and die (they mentioned causes such as pneumonia, and malaria. Even though AIDS is present here, they do not talk about it, and when they do they say that it is becoming less of a problem), then being abandoned by their other parent. All of them lived with other family members (aunts/uncles, grandparents).

July 4, 2009

We went to Lake Nakuru National Park. When you get to the lake, you see this sea of pink, and as you get closer you realize there are thousands of flamingos in the water, as well as pelicans. We saw some other animals there too-white rhino, baboons, vervet monkeys, giraffes, zebra, and a leopard that was hiding in the trees. We went to Naivasha and the Rift Valley, then to Grace’s for pizza at Nakumatt junction and pirated Office DVD’s! 

Maybe I should marry a Kenyan?

July 2, 2007

At school I taught about the body, and how to stay healthy. I sang some songs with them. In the afternoon, I was with 4^th and 5^th  grade. They asked me a lot of questions about America.

“One of the male teachers was telling me the easiest way to become a Kenyan citizen is to marry one, haha. They are beautiful people but I don’t think I could live here. It’s exhausting being stared at all the time or trying to understand what they are saying...There are kids who are abandoned by their parents and go picking in the garbage for food… It’s so sad. It makes me want to do more-build an orphanage, make this my life’s work, but I don’t know. It is a big job (money, time, travel. I’m not Oprah!"

I didn’t take any pictures today

July 2, 2009

We took a safari game drive all day! We saw elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, wildebeest, buffalo, birds, monkeys zebra, hippos, crocodiles, and gazelles.

“It was a fabulous day. It is gorgeous here.”

We had delicious food all day. After dinner, we went to the Maasai village. The men and women did some traditional dances for us, and we got to see where they live. The Maasai are the most famous tribe in Kenya because they have held on to their traditions rather than becoming westernized like the other tribes. They live in huts made of cow dung. They herd cattle and goats. They have multiple wives sometimes. Traditionally to become a man in the Maasai tribe you have to kill a lion with just a spear. Anyway, I got to hold a goat there that was 1 day old! It was so cute! Ione of the Maasai said I could stay and keep it, and offered my Dad 10 cows for me, haha. 

I took over 200 pictures today!

But He lets us put our hands in

June 30, 2007

“Today was amazing!”

We visited the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, where they take care of baby elephants and eventually release them into the wild. The elephants were right there, with only a small rope dividing them from the crowd of trourists. The elephants were so cute and funny, and I even got to touch one of them! After that we went to the giraffe center, where we got to touch, feed, and kiss giraffes! They are so beautiful and gentle. I could have stayed there all day.

“Seeing the elephants and giraffes was like a dream come true…” 

 I kissed a giraffe! And I liked it!

 Elephants love soccer too

June 30, 2009

James took my Dad and I to visit the school where I volunteered at last time. Eugene, my host Dad, was there, it was great to see him again and for my Dad to meet him. At the school, they had an assembly and then I visited all of the classrooms. A lot of the kids were the same ones I had taught, and most of them remembered me :) A lot of the same teachers were there, too. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly. That school (Riri Junior Academy) is doing a lot of great things- they had added a playground and dining hall since I had been there last, and have a boy/girl scout program now as well. All of their students go on to secondary (high) school. 

 "Good morning Teacher Rachel!"

 it's okay to have 2 Dads

He doesn't need us

June 29, 2007

The three youngest classes I normally taught gathered together for a chapel type of service. They same some songs and had a Bible story. I taught them the song “Our God is an Awesome God” with motions. Later while I was teaching, I had them draw self-portraits. In the afternoon, the entire school gathered for a game of soccer. Kenyans love soccer and will play with balls of trash in the streets! Most of the kids watched while the older ones played, and most of them crowded around me :) “These past few days these kids have gone straight to my heart”

When we came home, there was a lizard in our room! Ashley and I were screaming and asking them to get it out, but the grandmother just calmly told us that is was good because it would eat the mosquitoes! Well, thankfully it did get out of our room and the next time we saw it in the house it was less upsetting!

June 29, 2009

It was my Dad’s last day at the orphanage (and though I didn’t know it yet, it ended up being my last day there too!) My Dad came to school with me and when we got there they were having an assembly. The head mistress put us on the spot and asked us to make a speech. In the afternoon it rained so the roads were muddy but we made it back into town that night. 

But Jesus keeps them standing

June 28, 2007

When I came in to teach, the kids were chanting “Teacher Rachel ni mzuri!” which means “Teacher Rachel is good!” :) All of them are so fascinated by my skin and hair, and constantly wanting to touch me and shake my hand. At first, this made me feel a little uncomfortable, but then I learned to embrace it.

I set up centers for the kids today. I was worried this would be a complete disaster, but it worked really well. I made 5 stations where they could copy numbers and count, copy words and letters, use crayons and pencils to draw/write, look at/read books, and use clay. They rotated around the room so everyone got to do each thing. And for one hour, they got to be a bit creative in their learning without getting hit or yelled at. The other teachers liked my ideas and I felt very successful.

June 28, 2009

I took a hot splash bath and then piled in a matatu with 30 kids to go to church. My Dad and I each had 3 kids in our laps. They sang on the bumpy, hilly ride. We went to Pastor John’s church which was at the bottom of this beautiful hill. The worship was in Swahili. The kids from our orphanage sang one of my favorite Kenyan songs:

Cast your burdens unto Jesus

For He cares for you

Higher, higher, higher Jesus higher

My Dad shared the story of the man who was paralyzed and his friends lowered him through the roof so Jesus could heal him. Then he illustrated by having the kids pick each other up and him up on a blanket. 

Some kids from the orphanage:

 Simon & Jack, twins

Lydia

When we first arrived, she would never talk or smile. I have never seen such a serious baby. She would cry if a white person came near her. But even in the short time we were there, we saw her begin to smile, laugh, and talk. 

Jane, who was 10 and a foot shorter than me, giving me a piggy back ride

kids from the church lookin like homies

after you learn you shapes, colors, letters and numbers in Kenyan school, you learn the birth of Jesus and the parts of a cow. Both very important!