Chocolate cake & Simplicity

I never know how to start my little write ups. I suppose I'm should write some deep insight but as of now I have none.
This week has been really good and (to my glee) pretty uneventful. We celebrated Julia's birthday!!! We had chocolate cake, which is a very special treat here. Kenyan cake is not sweet at all and they love to put bits of dried fruit in it, yuck.
The weather is quickly changing here. The coolness in the is quickly evaporating and heat is rolling in. I am not complaining, having missed all of my California summer, I crave the warmth. It however does bring the bugs, that I will complain about. They love to eat me alive, it's my sweet blood!
Nearing my return date home I have very mixed feelings. I have found my place here and that makes it hard to leave. I look forward to the one's I love but when I look past that I become concerned. Back to the books, back to the classes, back to work, back to stress.
Here I have found such peace. I woke the other morning and the sun was so bright and the air fresh. I felt I had never been happier than reading my book and enjoying my tea. Simplicity.

The kids were sent some lollipops from our Vineyard Church in Pomona.
The enjoyed them :)
Best story of the week. I was talking to Agnus (our house help), trying to figure out here last name. So I asked her, "Agnus, what is your family name?" My question was answered with a blank stare, she doesn't speak very much English. So to further explain I gave her example, "Ok, ok, Atara...Brown... Agnus...What?" Still looking a bit unsure she stammered, "Agnus......Black!"
Hahahahahhaha o Agie, she thought I was referring to the color of my skin. Miscommunications are great.

Last few days at Mahali

On a lighter note, this week has been super busy with finishing projects, starting new ones, and hanging out with friends! Julia's birthday was this weekend and the girls went out on the town!



This doesn't happen often but this is me working at my desk. Normally I'm out hiking about to find someone's home but now I'm working on putting the kid's files together.




This is a slum community (about a 7 km walk from the school!) where one of our students lives. After the post election violence many had to flee their homes and were placed in villages such as these. One of our students and his family were victims of the violence and don't know if they can ever return home, they live here in a semi-permanent structure unsure of where they will go next.

Where is time going???
This week it my last at Mahali and I am so very sad. The only way I can describe my time at Mahali is beautiful. It truly has been the perfect internship. I have been able to get an inside view of the lives of my children, my co-workers (the teachers) have embraced me as one of their own and I walk away not only having blessed good people but also being blessed in the process.

Somewhat jokingly but half serious I have been offered a job at Mahali as a teacher! (Something to think and pray heavily about) The project I have been working on for them (family data intake) they are now doing each time they get new students, its awesome to see that the work I have been doing has been pratical.

This week has been a series of insights and my heart feel constantly torn now between home and Nairobi. Sometimes I miss home and my loved ones terribly and some days I am so content being here and working. I have realized how strong I am through my time here but also how weak I am and (as my mother put it) interdependent on my family.
It's funny I heard a phrase this week someone said, "I didn't create this world, I was given it." I thought how true that was to my situation here. Unlike home I didn't create my world here in Nairobi I entered into it, unable to control what this world was like around me. But when I thougth about it again I did create the little new world for myself. Everyday I was given a series of choices to close myself off or enter into this new life. With a little help I created a beautiful world here that is not closed to the pain around me but I can acknowledge it and still find hope. And hope I was given, with that hope we are able to find beauty.
-a

Here are some pictures from our climb up Mt. Longonot (an extinct volcano)
1 hour 1/2 up







The hard core people then went 1 hour 1/2 around the crater


The top of the top




Filthy dirty, we were covered head- to- toe in dirt!
What a crazy few weeks it has been. Julia my roommate from LA Term arrived and is staying with me for a few weeks until we can find her a homestay.
Mahali is back in session so I spent some time there this week. It's so good to be back with the kids. I only have about 8 homes to visit and I'm all done there!

This next month I will be working on community networking and mobilizing project. For this project the idea is to do research in a community and connect life giving organizations credit for what they do. Also the research will benefit the community because they now know what organizations they have in their area. I'm very excited to continue getting out into the neighborhood and interviewing more residents.

Besides that life feels pretty normal here. Which is funny because I feel like that is a sign that I am doing well and fitting in. It's hard to believe I only have 2 months and I head home. Very bittersweet I miss home (well the people I love anyway) and I do miss the ease of life. But it is true what they say about Africa grabbing your heart. I know that when I leave Nairobi I am going to realize how much this place has taught me.
Keep you posted
a