Extra Extra Read All About It! ( North Maragoli That Is!)

Good Afternoon Everyone! It's Blake and Gillian here, blogging for Mama Louise. She is Sitting here resting and enjoying a lovely cup of Chai as she had a very busy morning. This morning was spent purchasing chickens and a rooster for George's Chicken coop and are very excited to try his eggs. Mama Louise also spent the morning doing her laundry which given the sheer amount of rain that we get every day here should probably be brought inside soon! it seems to be just our luck that we always get caught in the rain on either Market or Laundry days (today happens to be both!) We are currently baking a cake as it is our last night with Daniel and Teddy before they head back to Canada this weekend - so we thought we would try to make a somewhat festive dinner. We are also having Rose make her excellent Chipati as it is really the only local cuisine that the boys have taken a liking to. They have made some wonderful little friends at the school and are currently there working and playing with all the children. Yesterday we went to visit a very special little baby, her name is Esther, at an orphanage quite far away from Kiritu it was a long journey by Matatu and Piki Piki, Mama Louise is hoping that she will be able to bring the baby back to her home in North Maragoli in the near future. Our dog Georgia (locally known as Simba) - I (Blake) am training her good manners which is tricky given her surprising intelligence which she uses to get herself into some mischief. As for the Yoghurt Kitchen, we are still waiting on electricity to be hooked up - which SHOULD be by the end of he week. We are very optimistic about this and once it is in we will be able to start training the Women's group in yoghurt production & Business skills, as well as Maggie and Lavender in the Lab work. All our equipment for the lab and kitchen has been purchased and we are ready to go as soon as the power is switched on! We have a lot to do in these final weeks in North Maragoli! Mme. B also said to greet all her little friends from Jean Sauve. Thanks for taking the time to read the blog! -Blake & Gillian

Back From Masai Mara Safari

Habari everyone! I just came back to Nairobi yesterday from the Masai Mara. The lodge was right inside the park with no fencing around so many monkeys and other little creatures came to visit my porch during the day and night. I went for drives through the park early mornings and just before sunset. Getting up at 5 am is a little trying but it is well worth it to see the sunrise on the Mara. I was able to take many pictures of zebras, elephants, giraffes, impalas, lions and I even saw the wilderbeasts coming from the Tanzania border. It is amazing to see hundreds of them lead by a pack of zebras. They are beginning their migration to the Masai Mara where the food is plentiful right now. I also saw many beautiful birds and butterflies closer to my lodge. A few meters away from where I stayed I was able to watch the local hypos swimming with their babies. The dad bull was enormous and the babies just so adorable! The drive back to Nairobi was long and bumpy but we all arrived safely. Marg is leaving to go back to Canada tonight and yesterday I picked up Daniel and Teddy, two McMaster students who will be visiting for two weeks. The two other interns, Blake and Gillian are staying with us as well. We will take the bus to the villages tomorrow morning at 7am. 8 to 10 hours on dusty bumpy roads but I know that the interns will enjoy the ride and it is the cheapest way to travel to North Maragoli. Work is still in progress to set up the yogurt kitchen but I hope that most of it will be completed soon. The kids are amazing and their smiles always remind me of my mission here. I am building a chicken coop for my young friend George. Hopefully we will be able to have more eggs. There is a real shortage of eggs in the community. I also have a beautiful two year old female dog. I named her Georgia, she is looking a bit like a cross between a white lab and Chiwawa! She has a wonderful temperament and will be the Muungano dog. I will teach the children how to care for her and I know that she will be a great asset to our school. I have made some community visits and need to purchase mos nets for many homes. I have also some mamas who need medical treatments. I hope to go to Kisumu early next week to visit the orphanage where one of our little baby has been taken to. The grandmother would like me to try to bring her back to North Maragoli, I will do my very best. I have supplies as well to take to the children there. I am very tired but very thankful to be here on behalf of all of you to take care of our children and mamas. I will write more later, Mme B.

Sunday morning in Kiritu

Good morning everyone! Finally back to my home in North Maragoli! It was wonderful to visit some of the mamas yesterday and to see the children! Thanks to all my little friends at Jeanne Sauve for the stickers, it made the children very happy and all had a big smile for "mama" Louise. I am doing really well and ready for all the work to do next week. We will have a big celebration at the school on Monday, the children will perform dances and songs and I will meet our high school girls as well. Can't wait! Au revoir, Mme B.

Packing And Repacking

It is really late and I am still trying to sort out all the stuff that I need to take on my journey. I have a lot of great supplies for the school thanks to my little friends at Jeanne Sauve!! I am also bringing 3 beautiful books in Braille given to me for Lydia by my dear friend Graciella. Once again, I am overwelmed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of my friends and family..... I can't wait to be back home in North Maragoli. Lala Salama

A clean body and clean clothes!!

Greetings to all of you!
After a very long and dusty trip (10 hours) on a local bus I am back in Nairobi. First shower since I left Canada! How wonderful to feel the water on my body this morning and to be able to wash my hair.....
I will leave for Lamu tomorrow morning for about 4 days to meet with the Serodio Family who visited me in North Maragoli last week. I have been really busy with all the meetings and documents necessary to register the school since my arrival. the walls of the dorm are coming up as you read this e-mail and the children continue to warm my heart every time I see their smiling faces!! Nothing is easy and I did not expect it to be otherwise but the children are giving me courage and determination to continue.... I have some wonderful pictures and videos of them singing and dancing, can't wait for all of you to see them!
The weather has been good, it rained most nights but not nearly enough. The draught has already affected so many people close to the borders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. Unfortunately, I expect it will only get worse.
Everything is so much more expensive here this year. The price of certain food items has almost doubled but we are feeding our children very well regardless although the diet is quite plain the children have full bellies and of course "mama" Louise always has "sweets" in her pocket when she visits the school.
We have made beautiful models with the "beannie babies" that I brought from Canada. Thank you Miguel!! The children are in awe of the colours and shapes!

OH LA LA!!!

Bonjour!
After three days of travel I reached Maragoli on Wednesday late afternoon. All went well with the trip and I have managed to stay healthy and able to work. The children at the Muungano school had a special presentation for me and I was greeted with so many "OH La La!! The children danced, sang and played the drums while another student played the guitar. I was so amazed to see them all together so engaged in the concert. My heart was simply bursting with joy and regardless of all the other problems I am facing with the work here they are giving me the energy and courage to follow throught. Tomorrow I will be dressing everyone in a soccer shirt for a special "sports day" the first for our school.
I am spending too much in meetings since I have arrived and I am really looking forward to spend more time with my children. The process to register the school is very long and complicated so I need to be patient.
The dorm is in construction and I am hoping that all will be completed before I leave in August.
My cat Maxi Puss is still around with two of her new babies. Wee Puss and Charlie Puss. They keep me company at night. I also have been taking care of a dog in the neighbourhood who just had 6 puppies but unfortunately only 3 survived. The puppies are so cute!!! I go by once a day to feed them and they all come to me waiting for the feeding.
I hope to write soon,
the internet connection is really bad so is the power in the area at this time.
"mama" Louise

July 1st, Being Thankful

As I am feverishly packing and repacking my bags tonight I cannot help but feeling so thankful for all the wonderful support I received again this year from all the Jeanne Sauve community and friends of Muungano. As I reflect tonight on the adventure that began 5 years ago I am reminded of all the wonderful people that I have met through my work and not to forget the wonderful Canadian children who have open their heart to their friends in Africa. If you were to ask the following question to many of the little ones I taught at Jeanne Sauve "What does it mean to be a humanitarian?" They would tell you that it simply means to "Open your heart and share". I am a very proud and thankful teacher indeed!
Mme B.