26.03.05 Today was a very long day - had to get up at 5.45am for breakfast (fruit, cooked breakfast AND toast!) Saw some giraffes on the way to the airport! Check in was very quick. Flew to Kisumu over the Rift Valley - some lovely scenery - only 1/2 hour flight. Moses met us in the landrover to take us the 2 hour drive to the orphanage in Kosele. We stopped in Kisumu for a while to pick up some essentials (money, food, etc.) There were some street children hanging around - they beg all day. If they get money they spend it on sniffing glue. Sounds awful. So Judi got some bread for them - they all queued up at the landrover (about 8 of them) and were very polite! Driving up to Kosele, the landscape was much greener than I expected - although they do get quite a bit of rain with all of their sunshine. Made it to the orphanage and settled into my room. Quite nice considering - although the loo is just a hole in the ground! :S When we arrived, the children were all standing at the gate dressed in matching green, red and yellow t-shirts singing 'welcome, welcome, our visitors!' Had some time in the afternoon to sit with them - they love singing! 27.03.05 Had a bit of a restless night & missed breakfast, but other than that!... Attended a church service (right outside our bungalow!) The children sang which was nice. Was very hot. A couple of people approached me after the service - saying they loved me! I think a lot of people here see white people as some sort of 'ticket' - not meant in a bad way, just that if they don't ask they don't get kind of thing...It's difficult because there's no way you could help everyone who's in need here. Had fun with the children in the afternoon running around trying to tickle them! Had 'mandazi' (donut-style bread) for tea. 28.03.05 Didn't sleep much again as it rained all night and it's really loud on the corrugated tin roof! Did some running games with Judi and the children in the garden (v. hot though!) then played cards with some of them while one of the girls - Scovia started to braid my hair - nearly made me cry how hard she was pulling! 29.03.05 Similar sort of day today - played games in the garden, got some more braids done! Met a man named Samuels though this afternoon.. he drags himself along on his hands as he can't walk anymore. He was so brave and had a massive smile - Terry and Judi helped build him a new house last year. Was very upsetting to think the way he has to live. Am glad to be involved with people who have such a good heart for the community (long-term) though. 30.03.05 Heard about a woman today who had 5 small potatoes to feed 7 of her family for a whole day. It's terrible. But had a good talk with Judi about it all. They are doing good work here. Spent today driving around - went to the local village of Kosele - it's sooo small! Also went to the nearest bigger town of Oyugis, where there are a few market-style shops for food etc. Scovia finished my braids in the afternoon! All the locals tell me I look 'neat' - I think I'm glad I don't have a big mirror!! Taught some skipping games to the other girls in the afternoon, then joined in on a Luo lesson (local language) which was interesting! 'Oyawore' is good morning and 'Oriti' is goodbye... I volunteered to read the children their bedtime story in the evening - 'Little Red Riding Hood' which George translated - but the rain got too loud in the end and even I couldn't shout over it! 31.03.05 Went to visit the clinic that Terry and Judi are setting up today. At the moment it's just a building, but a mobile clinic comes up to see people at the centre every 2 weeks. Spent the afternoon listening to the children reading 1-to-1 which was nice. Saw the amazing stars here tonight -we're only 11km from the equator! 01.04.05 Went to Kisii today - another 'town' about 1 hour away. Picked up the children's officer on the way - strange man. He was albino anyway, but wore nail varnish, blue sunglasses and earrings! Anyway... Kisii was a pretty mad place, full of crazy drivers, market sellers and dirty looking shops. Had to pack tons of shopping into and onto the landrover to take back to the orphanage. Later on, I went to the house of one of the orphanage workers - it's a common thing - being asked to go to people's houses. You wouldn't believe what she was living in. A mud hut with a tin roof (complete with holes) and really dark inside. There were 2 'rooms' to house the lady and her 4 boys. They had chickens living in the house and the main room was nearly filled with a table and some chairs. This house was quite posh by local standards! She insisted on cooking some ground nuts for us - just like peanuts, but hot! Then she asked us about our funeral traditions! Interesting... 02.04.05 Spent most of today with the children - wouldn't really recommend skipping in Kenyan weather! Played snakes and ladders & scrabble. 03.04.05 Church again today. Upsetting when you sit and think how poor all of the people are sitting around you... In the afternoon the children decided to undo my attractive braids - with thorns from the hedge! :S 04.04.05 Today was with the kids again - did drawings (they seem to like my cartoons!), hand clapping games and hopscotch! (bit difficult when the numbers erase themselves in the dust though!) 05.04.05 Went to Kisii again today - managed to check my emails with the super-slow internet connection... More games in the garden with the children when I got back - taught them the hokey cokey! Sat with them while they had their bedtime story - Noah's Ark. 06.04.05 Last day today but spent some quality time with the kids doing more drawing and hand clapping games! In the evening, we had a 'video eve' (there's a TV hooked up to a generator which works for a few hours at a time powered by fuel). One of the girls - Beldine, sat next to me and held my hand the whole way through!