First Kenya Blog!

i'm in kenya! 

downtown nairobi to be exact.  

we stopped into a hotel 

oh my gosh... what an experience.  quick recap:

i worked at the health clinic thursday and friday and loved it.  so far ive only done receptionist work, but its good cause i'm learning some swahili, starting next week i'm going to ask to be more hands on, and i'm pretty sure they'll let me.  the first day i was there, they gave me a tour of the maternity ward and there was a women they thought was in labor, so were checking the fetal heart beat and let me listen!! there is almost NO technology at all... they listen to the heart beat with hour-glass shaped piece of plastic.  and it worked!  turns out it was only false labor, but they assured me there would definitely be a birth while i was there! almost every woman that comes in either has a baby on her back, or in her belly!

i have seen sooooo many babies! but i don't haven't gotten to play with or hold them yet! I am supposed to be at the health clinic for another 4 weeks, but i may have to switch a little earlier just so i can get my hands on those sweet watotos (swahili for children, of course).  

host family:

great. 

the father is Stephen, and he is the sweetest man.  he laughs all the time.  he reminds me a lot of my dad, because everytime we go out somebody stops him to talk cause they know him.  he makes them laugh, and then we leave.  on our way out he always leans over to me and says "he/she knows me... but i do not know her".  sound familiar john tosco?

mary, the mother, is strong but kind.  she didn't love me right away the way stephen did, but i think she's warming up to me.  they have five kids, two are in boarding school, so i won't meet them.  the three that live at home are peter - 22, daniel - 19, and faith - 9.  daniel and i don't talk a whole lot, but he's a good guy.  he teaches at a school that their family owns.  faith is sooo sweet and so quiet.  i didn't hear her talk for the first three days i was here (mostly because nobody talked to her).  when we got home the other day i asked if i could help her and she let me.  mostly i let her read to me, and she taught me a little swahili, which i loved.  we quickly became friends.  ever since then she smiles at me and we play games.  she always runs up to me and gives me a high five, i can tell she's holding herself back from giving me a huge hug.  she is such a blessing for me.  she makes my day.  

peter has been my tour guide.  yesterday he took me to hang out with some of his friends.  that was pretty great.  they are all in a singing group together and were meeting for rehearsal.  they were really good. (i'll post the video).  but the best part was how nice they all were to me.  after their practice, we all walked home together and stopped at their church on the way and met some more nice people.  tomorrow he's taking me to a dance competition, an AFRICAN dance competition.  i am super excited about that!

after much discussion with many people, i think i have to do a safari and go to mombasa.  everyone here is insisting on it.  

the house is pretty good. i have my own room, which is cozy.  but there is no running water.  yikes.  the bathing situation isn't terrible; although i have to use a bucket, its hot water, REALLY REALLY hot water.  but the bathroom.... rough.  they have a toilet, but no plumbing.  so its basically a raised hole in the ground.  

wanna know a secret?? i wait until everyone goes to bed to use the bathroom. oops.  i'm sure that will change soon.

i've already had some pretty great days, but to be honest, the nights are tough.  i'm so glad i brought my computer - i watch an episode of scrubs a night. my new favorite show.  i miss you guys like you wouldn't believe.  it is definitely harder than i ever expected.  but even though i get sad sometimes... their is a strange feeling that everything will be ok.  i'm reading a lot and praying a lot.  there is a mother theresa quote/prayer that has been helping a lot... i'll post it.

i also wanna say thanks for all the emails.  it was great to get on the internet yesterday and have those to read.  really brightened my day.

i send more when i can.

i love you all

everything happens for a reason

there has been a slight hiccup in my trip as is evident by me posting from raleigh, and not nairobi.

in all my preparation for the trip, i overlooked probably the first thing i should have checked!  

my passport was expired.  there... i said it out loud.  my most embarrassing secret posted on the internet for all my friends and family to see. and although i was devastated at not being able to leave for africa, i can now say, with confidence, that i am glad it happened.  having to get a new passport did several things for me; it forced me to take a road trip to washington dc with my best friend.  even though  more time was spent in the car than in dc, it was a great day.  a day that never would have happened, had i gotten on the plane last saturday. but more importantly it showed me what an incredible family and group of friends i have.  feeling completely heartbroken about missing my plane and unsure if i would still be able to go to africa, i was surrounded and lifted up by the support and encouragement of my family and friends.  i can't express the incredible feeling of unconditional love.  everyday i feel more and more blessed to be surrounded by the amazing people in my life.  

whether it was to avoid a plane crash, political uprising, malaria, or to spend a little more time with the people i love before i leave, there is a reason i didn't get on the plane last saturday.  

i'm not longer sad about having to get a new passport, i'm grateful.  i want to go to kenya more than ever, and i believe that on monday i will fully be ready to go.

first blog ever!

Uh-oh... it's happened.  I am now officially a blogger.  But I have a pretty good reason to be!

I've gotten so much support and encouragement about this amazing adventure I'm about to take, that I've decided to keep you all as close to me as possible.  Since I might not be able to call or get in touch with you all on a regular basis, I think keeping up with a blog will be the most practical way to keep everyone informed on all the amazing things I will be experiencing!  I'll do my best to keep it up to date, but I've been warned that there will be so much exciting stuff going on that it will be impossible to keep up with all of it.

Since I leave for Kenya in two days I have been packing and preparing and really soaking up the time I have with my friends and family.  I am definitely scared a little bit, but I am also excited out of my mind!  I will be posting as soon as I possibly can!

I hope you all enjoy!

Thanks again for all the amazing love and support.  It is because of you guys that I am able to make this dream come true!