Mfangano...

On Sunday we went to Mfangano - its an island only accessible by boat and its about as remote as you can get. When we got to the place to get on the boat, all we could smell was fish! The boat we were going on was supposed to be for 20 people and our supplies. Mfangano is where the roof blew off the school so we had lots of school supplies for them. Well, they showed us to our boat and it was more of an oversized canoe and it was taking on water. It took a little deliberating but we decided to take two boats as opposed to canceling altogether. I am so glad we did because Mfangano was probably my favorite experience of the trip. It was also why we raised all that money at Buffalo Wild Wings so I really wanted to meet the people that would be receiving the money and supplies. I wanted to be able to see their faces and bring back pictures so people could actually see what they had done. I also wanted to be there to show them how much people care about them. 

Anyway, so we made it there and it was one of the best days ever. We arrived to children singing to welcome us. It was so moving and of course I cried. 

If you can't understand the words, they're singing "welcome, welcome our visitors. Happy to see you, happy to see you. Welcome, welcome our (two syllables) visitors."

Anyway, here are the pictures from that day with captions so you kinda get what's going on. 

This is where we got on the boat - there are many fishermen there. 

In case you were wondering or worried, I showed the turtle face to every kid I met! They thought it was so funny and I couldn't get enough of watching them try to do it back! These cuties hung onto our boat until we pulled away.

Doing dishes and laundry

My roomie and me on our boat 

Meet Abbas - I have more to post about this guy! This was his first boat ride and he was so brave! 

This was my view if I looked to my right on the way to Mfangano...

This was my view from my left - a guy came with our "captain" to help bail water out of the boat! haha

We walked through this maize field to get to the school 

Our arrival - they really did so much preparation for us. It was truly humbling. 

Meet George - he is the director of St. James Community School. He's pretty remarkable. 

Inside one of the classrooms

The school takes in around 100 orphans each day, feeds them, and gives them an education. There are more orphans that would come but the resources aren't there. Yet. 

George showed us their new school. They are renting the school they are currently in and hope to finish the new school soon. 

George had the whole day planned for us. He typed his speech for us so we could take home a copy - may not seem like a big deal until you consider he took the ferry two hours one way into town to an internet cafe to do this. 

The teachers 

This guy was not as captivated as we were ;) 

These girls recited a poem for us! 

Darren speaking to the kids

This is the only toy I saw the whole time I was in Africa, other than the soccer balls that we took 

The feast they prepared for us...they cooked enough food to last them about a month just because we were coming 

While I did not partake, Teddy told us that the chicken head is the best part of a chicken! 

Going through the shoes we delivered

Giving some of the school supplies to George 

Eating a dum dum :) 

Darren announcing to everyone that we were giving the school $1,000. The roof had been repaired by the time we got there. Someone had loaned the money for the repairs and since they could not have school without a roof, the repairs were made as quickly as possible. The repairs were done on the rental school so the money we raised will be used to complete the floor in the new school. Darren is very smart about giving out money - the entire community was present ensuring accountability. We came on Sunday and by Tuesday, George already had the concrete on its way to complete the floors. There is no better feeling than helping people who truly work hard, deserve the help, and are gracious recipients. 

My favorite - the kiddos. I could eat them up! 

We had to leave by 3 because the lake gets pretty rough after that - the ride home was much rougher than on the way there and I was thankful we left when we did. I was so sad to go though! 

Some of the art painted on the sides of the boats. 

Back to Rusinga! 

*I could never describe how wonderful this experience was and how sweet these people are. I fell in love with the people at Mfangano. They really want a better life for their children and are committed to their goals as a community. They had representatives from the government there to meet us as well as parents and council members. I feel honored to have met them. George devotes his life to these kids, and I admire his resolve for change. We aren't done with our work on Mfangano. I dream of helping them further so stay tuned*

Getting There...

I mentioned in my last post that my passport went missing before we left. Long story but I'm pretty sure it involved a certain 2 year old I know! Thankfully, the other girls from San Angelo were kind enough to leave at midnight and drive literally all night to Houston so I could go to the passport office on Monday. Two of them crashed at the hotel while one of them was nice enough to come with me and wait it out at the passport office. I have to say the Houston office is MUCH nicer than the DC office and the guy even got a good laugh out of me by the time we were done. It really wasn't that painful of a process. I was exhausted by the time we got on the plane and honestly I think the whole ordeal really kept me from being fearful on the plane. 

We stopped in Detroit, then flew to Amsterdam, and then to Nairobi. We stayed the night in Nairobi at a nice hotel - it was the last hot shower I would have for over a week! :) I met my roommate that night who happens to be one of the coolest people I've ever met. She is from North Carolina, about my age, and is a flight attendant for Southwest. She has been all over the world, and told me some must read books. The first one on my list is Radical - she said it really changed the way she viewed a lot of things, especially being a Christian in America. I'm excited to read it. Anyway, we were the best and worst of roomies because when everyone else was sleeping, we were still talking! It was so fun though and I feel like God really blessed me through her! 

The next day ( I have no idea what day it was - Thursday I think!), we went got on a bus for the loooong ride to Rusinga Island. It's a 10 hour drive in Kenya but it'd probably be about 6-7 here. The roads in Kenya are terrible, the driving is even worse, and there are speed bumps randomly all along the interstate. But there are also baboons which made it totally worth it! The journey there was long but my adrenaline kicked in and I really didn't miss a beat! 

9 Suitcases full of supplies...all ready to go!!! See that backpack next to the zebra bag - it was mine. That was all I packed for myself for the whole trip - I am pretty much a new woman! ;) 

The night we got in - do I look tired? I was literally on cloud 9! I loved everything about Africa as soon as I got there! This was taken in one of the vans we had for the week - do you like the fire extinguisher? :) 

Meet Teddy - he is our in country coordinator - nothing works without him! He is an amazing person!

Our room in Nairobi...it was about 9 hours of sheer bliss while we were there! It was really beautiful! 

Clearly, I'm old and like to take pictures of plants! haha 

I had to take pictures of all of it - it was dark when we got there so I snapped all of these on the way out that morning! I wanted to be sure I could remember actually being there! hah

This was next to our hotel...new construction I think. I thought it was hard to tell there what was new and what was dilapidated and waiting to be torn down. Sad but true. 

We stopped at the rift valley on our way - it was quite breathtaking. Pictures really don't do it justice. 

I thought this village was so neat! They told me the name of the tribe that lives there but I already forgot...

More plant life...

This is so I can remember how close to death I was as our van driver would whip out around people on this two lane road and just honk to let them know we're coming. You can't see around the curves and its just a drop off on the side but that doesn't stop them from passing. CRAZY! 

Sorry its sideways - but these cuties were walking down the road when we stopped and they had no shoes. So we opened up our suitcase and gave them some. Their little faces were priceless! 

BTW - it was rainy season while we were there. They only have two seasons - rainy season and not rainy season(?). Anyway, it was in the 80's I'd guess during the day and many of the people were dressed this way - like ready for snow! I guess thats what living on the equator does to you! I loved it!

All they did was stare at their feet - it was so sweet! Oh, the things we take for granted here...

You know me...had to take one of the pup! I couldn't pet any of them while I was there (rabies) so I had to take pictures!