I introduced Michael the other day. He is a local children's worker who often works alongside IcFEM. He is incredibly enthusiastic and a lot of fun to be around. He has a wild streak that is a lot of fun to be around as you are never quite sure what he will do. It was Michael that took us to a children's camp at Matisi Baptist Church which was about 15 minutes drive away. We had spent some time the previous evening planning a short musical number with the puppets, writing short talks and planning some games to do with the children. The church was in a school compound. There were several larger building and small out houses around a playing field of grass and red earth. As we arrived we could hear singing from one end of the field and preaching from the other end. Mike and I went in to the older group and Claire and Michael the children's worker went to work with the younger group. While Mike and I sat through a bible talk Claire gave a talk to the younger children on the promises of God and took them out to play games.

Mike and I went out a bit later with the older group to play games. After a few races we played hockey with rolled up newspaper and an empty bottle. This was great fun and I was pleased to beat Michael and score a goal. After a short break we returned to the church building where we did a short presentation with the puppets. The response from the children was fantastic and though there were a few issues around the music it was a success and a good demonstration of the potential impact they could have.

After this came my talk which I think went well and if anyone wants to hear it feel free to ask. We soon finished the session and it was the lunch break. The local children's leader Nathan, who was running the event very kindly invited us back to his house.

This would be a good time to describe a typical house in Kenya. They are surrounded by a fence and a plot of land on which the family grow maize and other crops to feed the family. They will also keep livestock such as a chicken or a goat. The house is usually made of wood and mud. Bricks are too expensive for most people. The roof is often corrugated plastic or metal. The house usually has two rooms. One for cooking, sitting and receiving guests and another for sleeping. The rooms are much smaller than a room in England. There is an outhouse for the toilet and in the countryside no running water or electricity.

Nathan and his wife welcomed us and served us bread and bottles of coke. The Kenyans had beans and maize which is a staple lunch. We tried some and it was very nice. It is not a good thing to eat if you are not used to it as green maize can upset the stomach.

Once back to the church we led some more games. Some worked, some did not. The favourite was stuck in the mud. The children took particular pleasure in capturing the mzungu's (white people) and I was exhausted by the end of the game. We left after taking a group photo which I hope we can send to the leader. After his hospitality it is the least we could do.