Support Sought | Director's Blog | Team Blog | News Flash Updates | Sponsors & Supporters List

NLG Trip to Kenya September 2007

The Chance to Change a Life

Team Blog Kenya: Live Update

Monday 17 September 2007

NOTE: Area of travel is too remote for internet access for the team. All reports are via phone.

Several of us huddled around one phone on Monday night listening through the tiny speaker to the stories the team was keen to share. The team was leaving a location at the time, and were in two vans. Christie handled the call and passed her phone to those who were in the van with her. Their report went something like this:

Robyn: “Today NLG visited a Catholic school of 1200 students mainly orphans – where their parents were victims of HIV. Some of the children also have HIV. The work going on at this Catholic school and by its team is truly amazing.

The children were so excited and eager to meet our team that they literally almost stampeded our NLG Team – Tony and Brad had to fend them off.

All the children love Jesus even though they have nothing. We had a personal sharing time with the teachers which was really special. And we've taken heaps of videos to show you all.”

Dani: “We have visited schools with orphans, where the parents died from HIV and the kids have HIV. But the kids have such a beautiful spirit. We have been to the slums, the biggest slum areas in Kenya where people live in mud huts. They have one meal a day, sometimes just lettuce leaves or a cabbage. The school itself was smaller than a house!

Have visited church parish youth groups where the kids have a big heart and spirit, but they don’t have much at all. They need our help, any help that we can give, and our training.

Christie joined in here:

“Kids are always excited and waving to us, If you take one of their hands then you will have 50 hands in a second, so to speak. We have to stop shaking hands. For them, a shower is a bucket of water and the common house is the size of one of our bedrooms. The houses have no fences.

Father Vincent – the priest for the Catholic Church is looking after all us girls. We're staying at his place. He is being so generous. Our girls have hot water/showers. He thinks it is a privilege to take care of us – we think it's a privilege to be with him.

It was an eight hour trip from Nairobi to Eldoret – normally you could expect it to be a four hour trip however the potholes were massive, we would get stuck in potholes and have wheels skidding to get out.

All we have to do is wave to one of the children and we make their day

The traffic is absolutely crazy. The traffic looks like a car accident to us. In the traffic, people just get out of their cars and start talking to each other in the middle of traffic. But the people are fantastic drivers. Very rare to have a car accident and the people look after their own.”

Natalie: “We walked around the slums, the whole place is mud, shops are made of tin walls and plastic is used as a skylight hole. People are very happy but they need support. The only things they receive is what is sent by donations. They eat almost nothing – just lettuce leaves - and need heaps of support.”

Robyn: “As bad as it is the children just sit in the mud and sing. They are so grateful for the love of God. No shoes. There is a church on every corner and on Sunday they all walk to church in their best clothes! Yesterday everybody walked to church – in the rain. It's the most awesome experience in my entire life.

They have already asked us to come back. I am just overwhelmed seeing so many orphaned children. The public school is supported by the Catholic Church. Father Vincent is so hospitable to all our ladies. We have an absolute 'angel' as our driver to look after us.

The people can’t believe we want to be part of them.

The weather? There's been a lot of rain in Nairobi but today we've been blessed with some sun.

Health – basically every one is pretty good but Tasha did have stomach problems … basically not eating as much as she should!

Chrisitie: “The food is good, I am eating more here than at home. Brad is funny. I was feeling sick in the car … so Brad winds the window down and asks people for a paper bag. They say 'food' … because they want food … Brad says, 'No – need paper bag'.

Talicia is fine but I (Christie) had a few cramps, affecting my singing.”

Robyn: “On Thursday we travel ten hours to Kakuma refugee camp, where conditions are more severe and less medical available … people don’t have anything … pray for our team and their safety.

Medical supplies were given to Father Vincent – their smiles couldn’t be any bigger - very valuable – we now have to pray they are not stolen.

God has blessed us with our sleeping quarters. Our women and girls stay at Father Vincent's – we have toast and cereals and a washing machine. Breakfast lunch and tea is made for us; food is very good, eat here more than at home.

The boys stay at Rosemary’s mother house and ‘enjoy’ the open air style – open plan living – they rough it.

We are learning the language – people laugh at us – but they appreciate we are trying.

Nathan: “Talicia has made heaps of new friends, she even had a slumber party. My toe is good! Everyone is so accepting.”

Christie: “They all love Nathan. Courtney is doing fantastic, for her first trip she is fitting in and adjusting so well. Noela – she feels so much at home, people love her. They have heard her ‘story’. They want to steal her – BUT WE WON’T LET THEM.

Gotta go now. Love to everyone. We miss you!”

NEWS FLASH On Wednesday they were at Chesongoch Primary School, North Rift Valley, north of the Equator. Wednesday afternoon going back to Eldoret (6 hours drive) before travelling (10 hours drive) to Kakuma Refugee camp.

Kids wanted to talk to Talicia – they have never seen a white child before.