The long safari home

Thank you for sticking with our Kenya blog over the past couple of weeks! We're now just 50 minutes away from touchdown at Heathrow and getting used to the idea that very soon our 'real' lives will be sweeping us up again.

We've had an amazing experience in Kenya with so much to process, memories to think on, situations and people to pray for and new friendships to treasure.

It hasn't all been easy and there have been some frayed tempers and tears. Mostly though, there's been laughter, generosity, kindness, love, more laughter... and lots of singing!

Our last few days have been spent 'glamping' at Sweetwaters. It felt appropriate to end our 'safari' ('journey' in Swahili) with the usual kind of safari, taking rather scary, mud-slidey drives out into the bush to see amazing sights: whole families of elephants, giraffes so close we could almost touch them, a pair of lions lying low, huge rhinos, buffalo, baboons, zebras, impala... and lots more. Incredible!

The views of Mount Kenya swathed in morning mists and beautiful sunsets were breathtakingly beautiful. The vast, panoramic skies were awe inspiring. And the opportunity to share our last few days together in the company of our hosts, Richard, Heidie, Luke, Neve and our firm new friend Lieutenant Patrick has made the perfect wind down to our trip.

Patrick treated us to one last experience of the real Kenya on our journey back to Nairobi. As we pulled into a roadside market, windows tightly shut, our two minibuses were mobbed by banana sellers. Patrick squeezed out of the door and proceeded to barter for the best price, surrounded by women waving bananas, avocado and passion fruit in his face. Apparently having muzungus in the car pushes the price up, but he returned triumphant anyway and we tasted the best bananas ever, fresh from the tree.

We're excited about sharing our photos, stories and experiences with you very soon. We hope that the the things we've learned about ourselves, about the way other people live and the opportunities each of us have to be part of the change we hope to see in the world ripples out into the lives of others. We've been knocked sideways by the faith we've seen in people with so little.

We've realised how very poor we are in so many ways, how our comfort and material wealth often masks our lack of community and trust in God. How dulled our sense of joy in worshipping our amazing God has become.

We're praying that as we share with you and reflect on our journey, our Kenyan 'safari', God's kingdom will come a little closer in your lives and ours.

So huge thanks again for your support, and especially for your prayers - there were some crazily scary moments, particularly on the roads and we have been very conscious of God's hand upon us.

And lastly... special thanks to Richard, Heidie, Moses, Patrick, Carol for stepping in so bravely less than two days before our flight, and the lovely Helen whose vision it was to take this trip and who was, in the event, unable to come. Praying God's most beautiful blessings on each one of you.

Angie x

Last day of painting

Well today was the last day of painting so we woke up nice and early to head off to the blind school. We stopped over the shops I (Goodreach) wanted to get some items to see if I could fix the broken sink in the nursery and we also needed some spare brushes and extra stuff to finish the job .

At the end of the second day we felt a bit clueless - we thought there was far too much to be done and weren't sure wether we could finish the job on time , so at soon as we got to the school we gave each other jobs and a list of all that needed to be done and just got on with it! Beth F, Nyasha and Seb finished painting the windows while Beth Selfe, Angie, Sophie and the rest of the group finished the interior painting .

Whilst everyone was painting I started on the plumbing and with alot of effort we were moving forward very fast . When some people finished painting they started cleaning the windows. Beth f , Angie , Sophie and I did some wonderful
art on the walls and when we finished the class rooms they looked great! The kids now have a newly painted nursery unit which looks 10 times better than it did originally. The plumbing I had done was successful so they had a working hand washing section for the first time in a long time.

We re-arranged the class room to how it was but it just looked so much better at the end of the day we got a vote of thanks from the deputy head teacher and the Captain Leonard who works in the chapel at the school.

We were proud of what we did because the classrooms looked so much better - however, we saw the big difference between their facilities and what we have in England. Even though we worked hard there was that feeling of "umm right we did good but there is still more to be done" . We did a good job I just felt the feeling that I want to come back and do so much more because they are such wonderful children and they deserve so much more than what they have.

Goodreach the Plumber :-)

Just keep painting, just keep painting

Today was another great day in the wonderful place of Kenya! This morning we went to Joy Town which is a school for disabled children.

We were taken to two different classes, first was a class with children who had mild mental or physical disabilities. This class (the sunshine class) were learning life skills such as brushing teeth, simple maths and other skills to prepare them hopefully to be able to attend Variety Village where they would hopefully be equipped with the vocational skills to be able to start their own business. The class presented a song to us which was lovely as they seemed really happy to be joining together in these songs.

The principal of the school then took us to the most severely challenged class of which was tied to the name 'special class' by the sign above the door. 99% of this class had cerebral palsy, and all of them had more than one condition. While some in the class were just entertained with toys or rattles made from water bottles, others were given basic tasks to do such as creating numbers with play dough.

Although I understand these are the lucky children for being able to get into school, I couldn't help but feel these children could have been given so much better quality of life. The children have one building which they eat, sleep and learn in which just doesn't given them any chance for fresh air, new experiences or anything more stimulating. That said, I know that the teachers and volunteers are doing an amazing job with the facilities that they have.

Something that struck me about the teaching and other staff is that their ratio is 10 children to 1 adult, when in the UK it can be 6 children to 1 adult (different depending on their setting and age) and that would be for able bodied children. The people who are caring for these children are amazing, but I can't help but feel like these kids could have more.

After Joy Town we went straight back to Thika School to carry on painting the second cost. The nursery is looking 10 times better than it did, it is clean and is looking more fresh. After we had done our painting slot for the day we went for a meal for lunch, on the way however we saw a car accident so please pray for those people and their families.

It's great to be able to see the things going on with the Salvation Army in Kenya and we have many stories to tell so far, so get ready for it when we get home. Not long now and you will be able to see us again, we know you have missed us.

Love ya all,
God bless
Beth Selfe

April fools!

Today was the feared April fools day, one day in which I was dreading because of a few crafty individuals (or shall I say individual)! After being awake for ten minutes I discovered not only that Mark was very quick at emptying Seb's room but Seb did not take it lightly to say the least! This probably was not aided by the early start before we ventured back to Thika to paint the nursery.

If that were not enough, Mark then decided to have a little switch around, (with the help of Alfred from our Accommodation), of all of the keys to our rooms which resulted in just a little bit of confusion! This is a nightmare of a secret to keep seeing as I cannot keep secrets and when quizzed why Mark was suspiciously talking outside with the staff, I just had to run out of the room!

This was not the last of the adventures we went through that day. After arriving at the blind school for the second time we were confronted with more eggs, this time at a restaurant, when we were served with a full English breakfast (just 30 minutes after we had eaten our own breakfast at the base may I add) followed by huge Kenyan donuts.. We were stuffed!

After this we started scraping and washing two nursery classrooms, all the windows, all the doors and all the walls, and after ten minutes it felt like we needed another English breakfast to keep us fuelled!

This then led to more discoveries. We discovered that Mark cannot paint, Richard was very good at making sandwiches and Beth France was very speedy at painting windows!

The painting went very well and we managed to paint two classrooms and all the windows. Mark and Richard slaved for hours whilst chipping away some 'blackboard' paint whilst good old Captain Moses was stood on a wonky storage unit all day whilst painting those hard to reach places.

After all the painting was over, at Beth's request, we had the joy of listening to the Thika choir again and were utterly blessed by their strong determination to bless others despite of their challenges.

So all in all a good day with lots of laughs (and Seb's distress!)

Happy April fools day!

Sophie