Kenya 2015 Photo Book

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Last Day in Kenya

On our last day we took the New Dawn senior class to the baby elephant sanctuary.  The sancturary is in Nairobi and is currently caring for 28 baby elephants who have been orphaned due to poaching (which is on the rise), human interaction, or other unknown causes.

The youngest ones must be fed milk every 3 hours by the keepers, even through the night, until they are about 3 years old.  At about 5 years they begin to reintroduce them into the wild at a nature preserve.  The overall process to rescue, rehabilitate, and release takes a minimum of 8 years.  

After our field trip we had lunch together back at our FPFK guest house, gave out our gifts, and said our goodbyes.  We will miss our students, teachers, families, and all our friends in Kenya. 

I will also miss the amazing team we had this yeaar.  So many wonderful people who all pulled together, watched out for one another, and kept giving their best even when tired.  So blessed to have been with you.  

And that's all for Kenya 2015!

Safari at Lake Nakuru

Our R&R began with a beautiful and scenic (read long) drive to Lake Nakuru.  On the way we stopped at the lookout with expansive views of the Rift Valley.  

So glad it was clear enough to take some panoramic shots.

Ingrid and I enjoying the view!

The terrain around Lake Nakuru nature preserve includes beautiful groves of acacia trees.

Here a few cute water boks. 

Lots of zebras that were pretty close to our vans.

Right at the lake we came upon 4 white rhinos.  We didn't get too close, but they were closer than I've seen before.  

Lake Nakuru is famous for its flamingos.  There are two kinds: Greater and Lesser.  The Lessers are more pink.  The greater ones are bigger!  Here are some greater flamingos feeding at the lake's edge.  The hotel workers said we were very lucky to see so many flamingos as there populations are dwindling.  The lake is also rising at a rapid rate because of increased flow from the inlets and there is no outlet to this lake.  We drove past the original main gate where the water is right at its foot and all the roads leading to it are now under water.  

Toward the end of our safari we stopped at the viewpoint over the Lake.

This picnic area at the viewpoint was overrun with baboons.  This huge one later laid down to top of the picnic table. 

Here's a baby riding along on its momma.

Right at sunset we were headed back.  Other than the flamingos and the rhinos we really hadn't seen too many animals.  Then our driver got a call and we were off to an "evening surprise..."

....two male lions that literally straddled the road, one even walked along in front of us.  Then they both sat down right in front of us and stayed put for multiple photo ops until it got so dark all the vans had to leave.  Amazing! 

I'm still pinching myself that I got to see lions this close.   

New Dawn Healing Arts

This year's healing arts camp at New Dawn High School was another wonderful success.  Judy led the drama portion.  The students had a great time with her opening warm up exercises.

Ann led the poetry part of the program which was phenominal.  Everyone did an intial prompt in our whole group and then several shared their poems.

Our story this year was the story of Joseph and our theme was forgiveness and healing the wounds of our families of origin.  Kay led the devotions which really tied our themes together.  Several students met individually with Kay who is also a wonderful counselor. 

We also invited former New Dawn students to come share their testimonies of healing and forgiveness.  These were very powerful and well received by the current students.  This is Faith sharing her story.  She is now in college and is one of Kizimani's sponsored students. 

I led the visual arts portion and we painted Joseph's coat and other elements of Joseph's life and his dreams.

Kasey, one of the students I have tracked with for 4 years now, came to visit!

The final performance went very well as the students shared what they produced from our four arts groups.  Here is the music and dance group. 

My students sharing our Joseph mural.

The poetry group was very powerful and brought many of us to tears. 

After presenting certificates to each  student, the director spoke and then Hans gave a closing prayer. 

Kizimani Clinic Dedication & Kangundo

The day of the dedication of the Kizimani Mission Clinic finally arrived under very drizzly skies, which didn't seem to deter our mamas from the Manyatta village from coming out to greet us.  

Ann and I are always game to dance along with them.  

Our plans for a simple dedication mushroomed into an extravaganza due to the Govenor of the County (friend and former classmate of Janet's) deciding to attend.  This meant the dedication was now our of our control and advance teams and entourages came to set up seating for about 500, tents, canopies, platforms,  speaker systems, choirs, drapery, flag, and red carpets.  Yes, red carpets.

Ann and Inge were good sports waiting for the Governor Alfred Matua to arrive, who of course was late.  This was one of four events he was planned to be at that Saturday.

 It became clear that both the Kizimani Board and the Kiziman Kenya Boards, plus other officials would need to line up in front of the clinic to shake hands with the Govenor as he arrived to cut the ribbon in front of the clinic.  Dr. Bob and the medical team were expected to then "demonstrate" the clinic in action.  We found a few local "patients" to attend to.  

Here is one of two benches commemorating our key donors and supporters.  Very sweet to see familiar names listed.  

Here is Govenor Matua leaving from the inside of the clinic to then plant a commemorative bush in the new landscaping.  Plus he then went to the school to see the bore hole for a new well that just got put in a day or two before.  This literally came about after Janet visited just three days before the dedication with the Govenor and the Minister of Health, who is a woman, who promised it would be done by the dedication.  And it was.  

After the ribbon cutting, clinic demo, tree planting, and bore hole visit,  we then went back to the field to hear several speeches from the local dignitaries present including the Minister of Health for the county, the Minister of Energy, and of course the Govenor here below who brought up Janet to acknowledge her and the work of Kizimani.  He promised free medicine for the clinic and a fulltime nurse paid for by the government.  Because his motto for his administration is "Chop, Chop!" meaning he gets things done, we will see.  He actually does get things done and is considered the best governor in Kenya, using more money for public works, jobs, health, etc. than other govenors.  Miriam, Janet and their mother Monica were all under the official canopy and each gave a speech. 

Needless to say, it was a LONG day and we didn't get lunch until very late.  Our team was very gracious to be so flexible with a day that was nothing like we anticipated.   We were so thankful to get back to Mamma's compound to have lunch and relax.  Our mammas who come to help cook and take care of us were wonderful. 

After lunch we dispensed food parcels and family gift bags of clothes.  The next day a small team went to visit a few of our sponsored families to deliver bags of clothes that hadn't been given out already, plus gifts of new sheets and a few bed rolls.  

 We had a wonderful time walking the roads of Manyatta village and getting a better understanding of our families.  Here is Stephanie with one of our mamas receiving a bed roll. 

 I also had a few minutes to visit the medical clinic in action (for real.)  Dr. Bob and his crew are simply amazing, practically working non stop.  They were seeing close to 200 people a day.