More updates from our Young Generation (YG) IMPACT: Kenya delegates. After several days of volunteering at nursery schools and orphanages, the students headed out to Lake Nakuru National Park, which is located north of Nairobi, where they will stay for two nights on safari. View more photos on PTPI’s Facebook Page.
Day 4
Today we as a group spent another day at the Body of Christ school where we finished up priming the walls with a base coat. We even got down painting the first coat of blue in the boys side of the hallway which was a nice accomplishment. At lunch, the kids were extremely hyper and excited to see us. I spent most of my time with one little girl who was very very clingy towards me. She would push and hit other kids that tried to play with me. I tried to teach her that that was bad and told her not to hit other people but she was a very emotional and angry little girl. However, she could be very sweet and loved when I threw her up in the air and spun her around. I taught her how to kiss on the cheek and be gentle. She reminded me a lot of myself as a little girl and I was really sad when she left the school. Another monumental moment during the day was when I accidentally spilled a bucket of paint. Instead of getting angry or annoyed with me Isaac, the man in charge of the paint job, was very understanding. I felt horrible about it and told him I would clean it up right away with which he replied, “No, WE will clean it up, we are a team.” When he said that I felt a sense of unity with everyone in the group and such a warmhearted kindness from Isaac himself. Overall, it was another great day in Kenya.
Rosie McKee
Teamwork with paint brushes
Along with spending a day at Body of Christ school, some of us were able to help at Limuru Children’s Centre. While there, I was able to help with preparing the lunch for the children and cleaning up around the kitchen. Today gave me the sense of being in a family area, even though all of the women and children either came from a broken home or are using the space for food and for school. The area as a whole has a great atmosphere. I came in contact with one woman who truly touched my heart. I heard about her daily life of working and living, and what it is like truly touched me. It made me think about my life and how we all go day to day complaining at times about how we have some issues. Today really made me realize that we have nothing to really complain about. This woman made me realize why I came here and what we were brought here to accomplish.
Rui (AJ) Rodrigues Jr.
Getting to know the giraffes at Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya
Day 5
After a long week of hard work at the Body of Christ school, our group had an opportunity to visit several local attractions. We first headed to an elephant orphanage where we each got to see a group of elephants who were rescued. They were rolling in the mud, howling, and coming up to each of us to be pet. We got to hear how each of them was rescued from either poachers, lions, hyenas, or abandoned. We then headed to see a giraffe shelter where we got the choice to either feed the giraffes by hand or mouth. Many of us chose the latter and got a mouthful. The elephants and giraffes were incredibly friendly and kept in an attempt to raise awareness for local children and tourists. Our group finished our evening by heading to a cultural art center with hundreds of local kids. It was designed to show historic and cultural aspects of the various African tribes throughout the country’s history. Our fearless leader, Steve, was at one point “kidnapped” by a band of African Warriors and “knighted” as one of them. He got to spend some time with the elders and absorb the wonderful dancing of the tribal women. We also saw an African version of the Chinese Flying Circus, who blew our minds with their athleticism, balance, and strength. It this wasn’t enough to end our evening, the hundreds of children ran to the center and danced with each of our teammates. It was a great cultural experience and each day continues to bring new challenges and adventures.
Until next time,
Chase Dunn and Cody Heche
To learn more about People to People International, visit www.ptpi.org
