Boys Dormitory FINISHED!!!

This is a follow up to the recent post about our moving the boys at Good Shepherd to their own dorm.  Thanks to a generous donation from a well wisher, we were able to finish the siding, paint, add a lantern to the room and metal boxes for each boy.   Now they can have a place for the little bit of clothing they possess, some toiletries and such.  It was such a good day!!   My good friend Joe Merrell, who is out visiting, and I threw up the rest of the plywood.  And as I rushed to get a paint brush, Joe worked for a few hours rolling the walls with a good color for boys, Sky Blue.   There was a point when all the children came into the new dorm and you could just see the excitement on their faces.  Jane, the caretaker, told us it now looked like a bedroom.....comfortable.    That statement really did sum it up for me.  Simple gestures of love that mean the world to these boys who have so little.  Good stuff!!!!

Once we were done I brought the boys in to sit with Joe and take a few shots.  I think the smile on Joe's face says it all.  Again, thank you for the donation!!!  You know who you are and it means the world to the boys.  It's gestures like yours that make their lives easier.   Asante Sana!!!!!!  Oh and thanks Joe for coming out and giving your time.  The boys thought you rocked!!!!!  I included a picture of a drawing of Joe and I on the chalkboard.  Yes that is about how we look..

Bosch Boys

So here's the story.  Weeks ago the windshield wipers on the Pajero broke.  Motor went out.  Now in the "West" getting that part and fixing it would be as easy as an appointment.  But just before Joe, John and I were to leave for the trip to the Mara and go on game drives I took it to that "appointment". Which included driving around to every possible Mitsubishi dealer to find a replacement motor.   I think you can already guess, never happened.  Well as this is Kenya and you need to make it work, the boys did.  An idea, inspiration really out of desperation.  Basically, Joe and I figured we could make our own wipers.  You can call us the Bosch Boys.  As you can see from the pics we took a heavy twine and tied a line to each wiper.  Joe held one and I held the other as he was the wingman and I drove.  When it rained I would pull to the right, and Joe pulled back.  Now as crazy as this sounds it actually worked.  Most of the time.  This all assumed Joe and I had our shit together to pay attention.  If one was off the whole system seemed to fail.  So really it all came down to our team.   Oh and another technical problem, it was raining pretty hard on a dirt road.  If you hit a big puddle made in a huge pot hole and it rushes over the windshield, the Bosch System seems to over load.  We're working on that technical issue.  You are more than welcome to use the new system but be warned it is patented so please reference the creaters so we don't have to send the Kenyan Secret Police :)

Masai School Classroom FINISHED!!

Another rewarding day yesterday, Tuesday, as we completed the first classroom at one of the local Masai communities.  This project was first started in July when the Faith and Healing team worked all day to put up the walls and start the rafters.  We ran a bit over budget so had to scramble to make sure the facility was built.  It has taken longer than expected but then TIK "This is Kenya".  And for those of you who have been here or who even read this blog regularly know what I'm talking about.  Sometimes just completing a job is the biggest reward, scrapping the time table is often necessary.  I have included pictures that show the progression of the classroom.  As you can see there is still the room to the left which has not been completely.  Again, this is due to lack of funds.  This too will happen, no time frame :)

We worked all day yesterday, well I should say the fundis (laborers) worked their asses off. As did Rocky, Joe and John.  Spending most of the day on the roof finishing the rafters, securing the roof and then laying the mumbati (tin sheeting).   By the end we had a big classroom that will now house a class of 25 Masai children.   The community is so excited to finally not be sharing the church that is also a tin shed, with the school.  To say things were cramped is an understatement.  Thank you to the first team in July for coming out and working so hard to start the project.  Also, thanks to the donor, no name needed, who funded this classroom.   I hope soon enough to update you on the completion of the second classroom.  

Joe in the Wild

As  many of you know a very good friend and also big supporter of CTC, Joe Merrell, is out visiting until late October.  It's been really good to just hang.  We spent a few days this week exposing Ghetto Joe to the wilds of Kenya, the Masai Mara.   We spent two nights at this fabulous ranch/farm on the edge of the reserve.  The bandas were amazing with Joe even having a bathtub that overlooked the Mara River.  Damn Joe life is good :)  It was a dude trip with another bud, John Mazor, Joe and I.  We spent a full day on drives looking for the big five: lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino and leopard.  And we did it!!!!  I included a few great shots of some of the wildlife, the boys on top of the Pajero and some shots of the place we stayed.  It's truly a blessing to spend time with good friends in a place in Africa that is touched by so much beauty.  The trip was such a gift.  The nights around the fire bullshitting, and if you know me well you know that is A LOT, were some of the best times.  I really also enjoyed watching Joe see it for the first time.  We saw so many Discovery shows on these places and to see them first hand blows your mind.  I think there were many times Joe was left speechless.    

To see these animals in the wild, it hits hard that they should never be kept in zoos.  It's not right as these animals are too majestic for that crap.  OK I'm going to stop writing now, I think the pictures tell the whole story.    Can't wait for my bro to come in December.  You get to see this too LUKE :)

CTC Open House

Sorry this post is a bit late....  Have a good friend from home visiting for a few weeks and we went out to the Mara to see the animals.  I'll post a blog on that subject next.  

But the most important update is to highlight another great day in Maai Mahiu.   A week ago today, Saturday, CTC held it's first Open Day.  The plan was to invite all the stake holders from the community to show the projects and work on growing unity within the town.  It went very well.  I think we would have like to have more people come but there were apprx. 40 community members including several key government officials.  Most importantly the MP for the district came all the way from Nairobi to be part of the day.   He led very good discussions at each program site.  It was wonderful to see the "top dog" appreciating our efforts..  He even pushed the Chiefs representative to give us the rights to use an acre plot in town for an additional community garden.  We are not there yet in actually having funding nor the plans totally laid out but the promise is there.   How amazing could it be if the town had various community gardens producing quality vegetables and employing local people?   Now all we have to do is get it in writing.  I have included a few photos of the MP at the garden and Malaika Moms, Malaika kids in sashes and a few random shots of the day.

Overall the day went smooth and we had various CTC volunteers along with Rocky and Ken working crowd control.  Alison worked her butt off managing the day and gave a few great speeches on what can be done if we all work together.  I think the vibe definitely was one of being impressed.  Many people commented on how much the work is helping the community.  The plan now is to work those relationships to enhance the current projects.  We also need to target working with the community on cleaning up the town, drainage issues, goats eating everything and well the list goes on .  But then what would development work be if there weren't more "to do" on our long list, right?

Friday of Play and BIG HELP

This Friday CTC had the privilege of hosting two groups at the Malaika Kids facility.  Both were there to help in very different ways and each so important.  The first is called Sarakazi.  They are a Dutch/Kenyan Trust who support the performing arts in Kenya.  A good friend of CTC, Fernande Verwiel, brought 3 young men who are amazing clowns, artists, acrobats and really awesome with children.  They entertained a group of the children with puppets, games, songs, skits and many funny performances.  They really were wonderful and kept the children (and adults) laughing constantly.  The children really had never seen anything like those few hours of pure hilarity and fun.  I included a few pics of Mike dressed as a clown with furry glasses.   A few hand puppets and the boys at their best.  Also, a picture of Fernande with some of the Malaika girls.  I personally wanted to thank them for taking the time to drive the hour to Maai Mahiu from Nairobi and donate precious time to the children.  It was a day they will never forget and we hope to work with Sarakazi in the future.  We both have the same goal, taking care of children and creating smiles as often as possible.

The second group is called SEP.  They organize and train special education teachers and caretakers on how to better work with children with unique needs.  They were also wonderful.  Karolien, picture included, brought 3 physical therapists and special needs professionals to the facility to lend their EXPERTISE.  I highlight that word because we do as best as possible but often need individuals who do this for a living, who know the best possible way to improve what we are already doing.  They helped so much.  Simple bits of advice like not feeding the children lying down anymore.  They asked one of the care takers to lie down and  try to eat and drink lying down.  She choked and couldn't do it.  So now all the boys who can't sit up by themselves are fed sitting up and slowly allowing them to ask for food and digest properly.  They also measured the boys who lie on the floor all day for special chairs so we can have them sit up daily and be more involved.  We learned that sitting allows the children to improve motor skills and become more aware of their surroundings.  Also, they asked us to make sure we had tooth brushes and paste, along with tongue cleaners.  Such simple things but with the children who can't brush themselves at least we can assure that they get the proper dental hygiene and this will also reduce sickness.   Further, they gave us ideas on toys, interactive material and ways to improve motor skills.  One little thing that Karolien did say was she was very impressed with our facility.  When Alison worked so hard to set this up with the community there really was very little to model ours off.   And Karolien was very impressed how happy the children were and how nice the facility was as she has seen many in Kenya.  I guess they aren't that nice.    Even with this compliment we realize there is so much more to do and we will do it.  Anyone out there interested in helping with chairs for the kids, toothbrushes and paste, re usable cloth diapers please let us know.    Thanks again SEP we really appreciate all your advice and hope to work with you in the future.  You're a bunch of rock stars :)