Kenya 2019, We Arrived!

I left my home in Chagrin Falls, Ohio on June 12 at 10:00 AM, flew to JFK and then to London, meeting up with the rest of the team.  We landed in Nairobi, Kenya around 9:30 PM June 13.  

 

Molly, Doneva, and myself after finally stepping
out onto African soil.

Loading all of our luggage onto the van then heading
to The Mayfield Guest House for a good nights sleep. 

Our team of twelve, four who have traveled to Fiwagoh several times, and eight high school students, most of which were traveling to Kenya for the first time, woke up in Nairobi on Friday, June 14 ready for whatever we were called to do.  After 36 hours of traveling and a brief night of sleep, we hit the ground running:  breakfast at the Mayfield Guest House, a quick meeting/introduction and photo with my friend Musa, our usual team photo in front of the Mayfield, a stop in Nairobi to purchase 400+ Bibles (English, Swahili, and mother tongue translations as well as a few large print), a quick lunch at Java House, and then finishing with a two hour drive to Fiwagoh Mission School and Orphanage.  

Musa, myself, and Duncan Okuku taking our, now annual,
photo at The Mayfield Guest House.

Our annual team Mayfield photo less our team captain Ryan.

Heading to Fiwagoh and very happy.

While riding in the van to Fiwagoh, I sat next to Duncan Okuku who now does driving for Fiwagoh. We chatted about the many updates at Fiwagoh: who is no longer there and why, who is married, who has a baby, and many other random topics.  I had lots of questions. We also discussed how the various tribes in Kenya pronounce words differently from one another.  This makes so much sense to me now because on my first trip to Kenya one of my little friends, Lucy,  when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, said “a pirate.”  I was a bit confused. Duncan explained in some tribes the ‘l’ is pronounced like an ‘r’ and visa versa.  So she actually wanted to be a pilot!  I also found out that our team was pronouncing the name of our nonprofit, Unafaa, incorrectly.  In Swahili if a word has ‘aa’ then that syllable is accented.  Instead of pronouncing it Unafaá, which means “you matter.”  We were pronouncing it like Unáfa, which means “you are dying.”  OOPs!

One of my questions for Okuku.  “Does that tree really grow like that or has it been genetically engineered or pruned to look like that?”  Answer:  “That is how it grows.  You often see them in front of houses, used as a landscape wall.”

The interesting palm tree.

We arrived at Fiwagoh at around 3:45 PM, with huge smiles and warm hugs impatiently waiting to greet us. “Welcome, Welcome happy to see you, happy to see you.”  These are the words 200+ kids and staff sing to us as we pull into the compound.  It is impossible not to have tears of joy flowing down your face.  Even as I type now, tears are filling my eyes. We chat and briefly get reconnected, while our luggage was taken to the team dorm.  

Joy fell in love with Tyler instantly.

As we head to our dorm our team found out we would no longer be dining in the team dorm, but would be having all of our meals in the Culinary Arts dining area (in the Trade School). Two of the experienced and licensed Culinary Art seniors from Fiwagoh, whom both work at restaurants outside of the orphanage, have been conducting a class for three of teens at Fiwagoh. These three are looking to pursue a career in catering and/or culinary arts and also hope to pass the Culinary exam after going through this course.  We became part of their training experience.  Lucky us, YUM!

The instructor, Duncan (Senior), and two of his students, Joyce and Angeline, are three of our amazing chefs.
Missing are Peter and Joseph.

The delicious cake presented to us for our first dinner.  I still crave the icing.

The culinary team went all out.  Our table always set with multiple pieces of silverware, napkins folded in creative ways rested on the plates, as we sat down one of the chefs would pull out our seat and place our napkin on our laps. The chef of the day, the one who planned the meal, would introduce the food which would be served. We would pray over the meal and the events to come, thanking God because He is so good all the time and then fill our plates and enjoy!!

The first day ended with the beginning of Sabbath celebration (they celebrate Sabbath from sundown Friday evening to sundown Saturday evening).  We are home!

Growing Pains and Healing

This photo is from my first visit to Fiwagoh in 2012.  I found out in 2018 more
about the boys in the photo and you will too in future posts.  
From front to back: Jacob, Charles, Peter, David, John, and Hilary.

This is Nahashan, AKA Nash, in 2014.  I really liked his work suit, 
so I asked if I could buy it from him and replace it with
a new one.

His answer was yes. I wear it whenever I am "arting."

Nahashan in his new work suit.

     In Kenya, once an orphan reaches the age of 18, he is no longer able to live at the orphanage, but because of the number of orphans in Kenya, it is not closely monitored.  Pastor Benson keeps the children/young adults as long as he can.  He wants all to be prepared when they age out or decide to do life on their own, so besides having a grade school to educate the little ones, he built a trade school so the young adults would have experience in a trade (tailoring, culinary arts, carpentry, and medicine). Later he added a secondary school, so those who wanted to pursue a university education had the opportunity.  This makes Fiwagoh a top-notch orphanage. Having done all of that, the additions came a little too late for the older orphans.

Except for Elmeltar and Peter the orphans in the photos on this post are no longer at Fiwagoh.

Joseph Muhoro, you will never meet a kinder more sensible young man.

2015, Charles and his sister Faith taking a goodbye photo with Ryan and myself.
I have been buddies with Faith since my first year at Fiwagoh and later got to
 know her brother Charles.  He is hilarious, always doing something to make you laugh.
He is not at Fiwagoh anymore and I know, even though Faith visits him, she misses him.

Frazier, learned to sew in the tailoring class
and made these curtains for the clinic.

Anastacia, one of the girls in our first sewing class.

Esther, seated next to me, joined in with every learning experience we had to offer.
Standing is Elmeltar, one of the beautiful girls I sponsor.

Emmanuel did everything to help at the orphanage and he was our tailoring angel.
Whenever a machine stopped working, which was daily, he would
drop what he was doing and come to our rescue!  You can see
he had left a painting job on this occasion.

In 2015 I had an accident and ended up having to go to Kajobi Hospital. 
The day before I was to go to the hospital for foot surgery we took the seniors out
for an adventure.  On the left is Jahari, another angel.  He was like a nurse at Fiwagoh.
 He looks like Usher and his smile is contagious.
On the right is Duncan, we call him Senior.  He loaned me one of his shoes that week
because my foot was infected and swollen so I could not wear my own shoe.

These two of four brothers.  Joshua is on the right and has become an
artist and humanitarian.  I have two of his paintings.  His brother Jacob 
(also in the first photo), played the guitar and sang at Fiwagoh. I called him Michael because I thought he looked a bit like Michael Jackson, especially when he sang.
He aspires to be a video producer, however he still writes songs and sings.

This is Black Beauty, at least that is what they called him.  I asked him if we could take
photo together.  I always leave clothing on the last day of my visit.
It made me smile the next year to see Black Beauty wearing the jacket my son once wore
for soccer.

     During the last three years our team has learned of several seniors and younger ones who are no longer there.  The children at Fiwagoh are not all orphans.  Some are there because of the education and it is a safe place for the child to grow up as the family or relatives can not provide for the child.  Therefore some leave after grade 8 to go back to family.  What happens then, I do not know,  The reasons for leaving vary, some good and some not.  Those who left without permission are not allowed to return.

     Fiwagoh has become a family to our team.  It’s difficult when we find out one of our buddies is no longer there, it's like losing a friend.  It also must be hard for the kids at the orphanage who called this one a “brother” or  “sister” and I know it breaks Pastor Benson’s heart.  But when in Africa you have to be strong.  He is raising 200+ orphans and his choices must be what are best for the whole and not the few.  

Pastor Benson, a saint to the orphan.

     When I arrived at Fiwagoh this past summer, I wondered who would still be there?? I hadn't been there in three years.  Throughout the visit our team slowly found out who was gone and what some were doing outside of Fiwagoh.  It made this trip different from other trips, one that will always hold a warm place in my heart.  More of this on the next few posts.

     Finally, Duncan Okuku.  Trying to find a photo of Duncan Okuku from the early years was impossible.  He is the one with both hands up in the photo below on the left.  This was taken in 2014 when the guys were trying to put a water tank on top of the structure.  Below is Duncan in 2018 with Doneva and myself.  He radiates peace!

 

Duncan Okuku, the older brother of Faith, Emmanuel, Luke, and John.

 I will feature Duncan in my next post.

Peace and Joy,

Krees

Happy New Year and Thank You!

     I am back ready to share more about Fiwagoh, the happenings of past trips, what is currently happening, and what the future holds.  This first post of 2019 is to report on the fundraising event I had this past December.

     The funds first began coming in this past fall when two of my mom's dear friends, Betty and Marge,  both sent generous donations just because they read the blog.  Thank you dear ladies.  Then from my Etsy sales, other donations, and lots of shopping at my Holiday Fundraiser Open House, I was able to raise much more.  My goal was to raise $2000 to supply all the classrooms at Fiwagoh with new chalkboards, whiteboards, and necessary supplies for mounting and use.  Well my friends and family did not disappoint.  I surpassed the $2000 and now will use the extra for the next project (to be announced at a later date). The funds have been wired and I hope to have before and after pictures at some point in the next month or two (Arfrica time).

Fiwagoh's high school classroom with it's first
set of graduating students, Dennis and Lucy. (2015)

     I mentioned I had an Open House fundraiser so I thought I would share with you some of my vintage snowmen that were for sale.  Really who wouldn't want their own snowpeople family.

Vintage snowmen.  Many found new homes.

 \

I will be posting soon with more information about individuals that I have grown to know and love at Fiwagoh.  Until then let me leave you with two sweet things:  a Fiwagoh sunset, and a note written to our team last summer by the girls working in the kitchen (one of which I sponsor).

Peace and Joy, 

Krees

The Special Meal

This is just a regular meal for the kids.

     Fiwagoh's diet  is strictly vegan for various reasons and the only sugar they have is an occasional stalk of sugar cane. I remember being very happy when I learned of this as I am not a huge fan of meat, however they do prepare non-vegan meals for their guests.  The kids are fed twice a day and their bowls (packed full) usually contain one or more of the following:  beans, rice, ugali ( a maize-flour and water mixture), sukuma wiki (collard greens/kale), grain-like cereals, corn, and on special occasions a piece of fruit.  Oh and on Sabbath they eat lots of buns (rolls). The smell of hundreds of buns baking in the ovens the day before Sabbath is so yummy.

Two young men carrying their sugar cane.  We gave them all
their own stalk of sugar cane. This happened on a different 
day from the special meal, but the photo is timely.

     When we visit the orphanage we always try to have a special meal to serve the orphans. This year we did not disappoint. The items were purchased ahead of time and prepared by the senior girls as we were away visiting the school for special needs on the day the special meal was prepared.

The oranges have been quartered to
make it easier to eat.

The watermelon has been sliced and ready for eating.

  When we returned from visiting the school for special needs, we helped set up the huge tubs of food and boxes of bowls and spoons and buns…..  It is always a process getting everything setup and re-setup until it is just right.  

A portion of the feast and when these empty, more tubs are brought in.

     While we are setting up the food, Elvis (now one of the seniors who has always had a special place in my heart) organizes all the kids by age in the courtyard.  He is like a conductor at the symphony, standing straight and tall, dressed in his best, wearing a slight air of confidence, then just like that, the kids are sitting in rows on the rocks by age and the symphony/serving begins.  

Mediums waiting.

Pastor Benson is the one in the black jacket. I have realized I
have very few photos of him.  He is always on the go and when he
is in your presence you just listen, because he is so amazing.

     As I implied, the youngest are always served first and we continue serving food until the oldest have been served.  If we run out of food before all are served, the older ones do not get to partake in that meal, perhaps being given some rice or beans instead.  That is their rule and it happened one year when I was there.  We were serving spaghetti (just the noodles and BTW it looked like mashed potatoes).  They LOVE it and it is a big treat for them.  Perhaps too much was being placed on the plates at first or we underestimated the amount, either way we ran out.  There was not enough for some of the seniors, yet we never heard anyone complain or say a word.  We made up for it on another day, however it was heartbreaking for the team to witness.  Their grace and humility is something to model.

     Back to this year.  Our team members and some of the seniors filled the plates, while other team members served them to the kids, warning them "this is hot, be careful."  Handing the plate of food to a child is the the most rewarding part, therefore we rotated this position so each one of us could experience their grateful smiles and sweet thank yous.  The plates were filled with soy chunk stew, potatoes, rice, 3-4 buns (rolls), a watermelon slice, coleslaw, passion fruit, and an orange.  We were a little concerned that we would run out because the proportions that were being served were HUGE and the amount given was the same for the little’s as well as for the older ones.  However, we did not; all were served!  Next ...the sound of silence.....this is one of the few times it is extremely quiet during the day at Fiwagoh.  They all slowly savored each and every bite sitting on the rocks next to their brother/sister. As they finished, before walking away with full bellies, they threw the peels and rinds in a box for composting and placed all their spoons and plates in containers. How perfectly perfect.

Team in action.

     Here are just some fun photos of the kids.

The special meal is appreciated.

Savoring the moment.

     At 7:00 pm it is pitch dark at Fiwagoh.  I didn't mention this, but the special meal came much later than the kids were used to, however once again you would never know.  Anyway, you can see darkness setting in on the photos below and it was beautiful.  God is good all the time and all the time God is good.

Peace and Joy,

krees (kris)

Trips Outside of the Orphanage (part II): The Special School, St. Ann’s, and The Slums

Parachute play at St. Ann's

Allison embracing time with the kids at Nakuru Hills

Taking bags of food to families in the slums.

Nakuru Hills Special School

     Joshua, one of the seniors who no longer lives at Fiwagoh, is very purposeful about giving back to the community.  He has connected with many wonderful young adults through his church in Nakuru and together they formed a volunteer group that helps out various organizations in Nakuru. They named their group Equip One, the same name of the nonprofit our team used to be a part of when we traveled to Kenya.  So our field trip with Equip One was to visit Nakuru Hills.  It is a boarding school for people, age 6-25, who have either a physical and/or metal disability. When we arrived at the school we met some of his friends that are a part of Equip One.  They are a wonderful group of students and young professionals with a heart for God and the least of these.  The principal, Lucy Kihato, another amazing Kenyan, soon joined us and explained how the school is run and what we would see on our tour.  

A classroom where students who have been taught a skill,
use their talents to create items to sell.

     The children with exceptionalities were so friendly.  They had just finished their lunch and were on a break outside. We hung out with the kids for a while and then moved on to various classrooms.               

The Motto of the school is: DISABILITY IS NOT INABILITY, TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT.

Principal Lucy Kihato and one of the beautiful girls at Nakuru Hills.

Happy campers. These lovely girls showed us how teachers can communicate
with children who can not speak.  There are several sheets with pictures on them.
The child points to the picture(s) to communicate her needs.

The students and staff all met us in the assembly room to receive items we
gifted them and then they sang to us. Smiles were everywhere.

Saint Ann’s Baby and Children’s Home

     St Ann’s Baby Home was founded in 2007 by Irene Wainaina and her husband.   The home is located right down the highway from Fiwagoh.  This was not my first time visiting St. Ann’s. I traveled there in 2015 with our team and met a young girl who captured my heart.  Her name is Salome.  On this visit I was anxious to see how she had changed.  You see all of the children at St. Ann’s have been their since they were infants; this is their home.  There is a school on site and Irene has hired staff to help with cleaning, cooking, laundry, childcare, schooling, etc…

Salome 2015

Salome 2015 before the braids came out.

Salome 2018

       

In 2015 I kept an art journal of my trip
and this is a painting I did of
Salome.

Irene is beautiful inside and out and to hear her tell the
 stories of how the children came to be at St. Ann’s is heartbreaking

Boys will be boys.

They want to be held.  

Our team found some shade and are just hanging out with
the children coloring and reading.

This old van is a playground for some.

Painted on the wall in the living room at St. Ann's.

The Slums

This is the slums.  It is a city of tiny shacks people call their homes.
Look at the view from one of the houses up on the little mountain as 
I will refer to later.

So proud to stand tall above all of this.

     This is the final field-trip our team took outside of Fiwagoh. As with St. Ann’s, I had been to the slums once before.  There are many slums in Kenya and the one we travel to is where some of the children at Fiwagoh are from.  Generally, someone from the slums will report of a child that is being abused or without a home, then Pastor Benson and Mama Grace follow up on the situation.  If it is not good  he takes the child or children to Fiwagoh.  When we travel to the slums we bring children from Fiwagoh who still have a relative living there so they can visit with them.  

     Once we arrived we waited while people gathered.  Some team members walked over to the elementary school, chatted, and danced with the kids who were on a break.  It is always fascinating  for them to see mzungus (white people).  Soon a group of mothers and grandmothers came over and sang to us. We reciprocated by singing a couple of songs to them.  After the hellos and songs, our team lined up to help hand out 100 large bags filled with rice, beans, soap, and other items.  Each bag went to one family who was selected ahead of time by one of the leaders in the slum. So as a family member received his/her bag of supplies the team members paired up and carried it to the person’s home.  They were so, so grateful for this small gift.

Children on break at school in their required uniforms.
Some kids can not go to school because they can not afford
a uniform.

Ashley dancing with the kids.

A small piece of the slum.

Doneva and I are talking with the man whose home we about to walk to.
Lillian is the girl holding tight to my hand.  I will be telling you more
about Lillian in my ACT's posts.

The man's home.  He is unlocking the door.

Doneva and Lillian patiently waiting.

The young girl is the granddaughter of the lady in green.  Together we were walking 
to her home.  She had pointed up towards the sky when we were about to leave, 
but it wasn't until we came close to the base that we realized she lived on top of 
the little mountain. Fortunately, we met up with Jameson and he
 helped carry the bag..

Once we got to the top, there was a mother and father there as well.  I was taking pictures a little distance away so I didn't notice the look on the little girl's face.  Later we found out she was her step-mother, not her mother, and she had abused the little girl, made her sleep outside, and wouldn't feed her.  That is why she is now at Fiwagoh.  I felt terrible that she had been brought back to see her, however I think she was happy to see her grandmother and father. 

I believe this is John and Zachariah and this reunion was a happy one.
As the team was heading back to the van from the little mountain hike, the boys showed us their
grandmother's house and gladly posed for a picture with her.

     In closing I am sorry this is a longer post but I wanted to put the field trips together in a couple of posts.  I didn't want to drag them out as there are more great things to post.  Blessings to all that continue to read and learn of these beautiful children.

Peace and Joy, 
Krees (kris)