I would like to begin this recap with a random observation.
I feel like Kate and I are always the last ones to know anything around here! And this is why I say that...Every week it seems that there are sisters coming and going from the convent- leaving for school or other mission work. In the past week alone, both Sr. Benedicta (who was the nun supervising our work at the convent) AND Sr. Michael Marie (the prioress) have left the convent without giving us any heads up! It's like "Oh! Good morning! Did you know so-and-so is LEAVING TODAY?!"...I will say it again and again..."What we have here is a failure to communicate." ("Cool Hand Luke")
So now that I got that out! Here is the weekly recap!
MONDAY
First day of work at "Feed the Children" in Dagorretti!!! It was soooo exciting to finally start work at Dagoretti and to get to play with the kids!! When we arrived, Mama Jane sat down with Kate and I to work out a schedule for the up-coming weeks. From 9am-1pm, Kate and I worked at the rehab center helping and observing the physical therapists as they worked with the babies and kids with disabilities. Most of the kids either have Cerebral Palsy, brain damage, or Rickets. Rickets seems to be the most common. Basically, a baby develops Rickets when they don't get enough of the right nutrients (particularly Calcium) which causes a weakening of the bones which results in painful joints that make it difficult for the child to achieve certain milestones (e.g.: sitting, crawling, walking). I love being able to read the diagnosis and medical reports and watch how the therapists approach each patient's treatment plan. For some kids, they are focusing on exercises that will help the child make a full recovery. However, in some of the more difficult cases, the therapists concentrate on conditioning exercises that will keep the child's condition from deteriorating any more, since many of the patients' will not fully recover from their condition (e.g.: advanced cases of Cerebral Palsy and brain damage).
After lunch, Kate and I went outside to play with the toddlers! They are a busy, crazy bunch of kids! We attempted to teach them "Duck Duck Goose" and "Red Light Green Light". The kids loved climbing on us and putting flowers in our hair. One of my favorite moments of the day was watching the kids get so excited and yell "SPIDERMAN!" whenever they saw a spider in the grass! They are so cute!! I just love them!!
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
Tuesday and Wednesday we worked at the convent. We painted several more of the novices' bedrooms, stained floors, and got the entire hallway painted!! We, also, moved all of the furniture back into the junior novices rooms so that they can finally start moving back in! I actually found it really nice having these 2 days at the convent. It broke up the week and I wasn't as frustrated about being cooped up since I knew that the rest of the week I would be out and about again!
THURSDAY
Back to Dagorretti! Again, Kate and I made it safely to and from Dagorretti- the only exception being the strange man who stood in front of us with his arms up, trying to keep us from passing!! We are becoming so good at riding the matatus! They are crazy, but oh so fun!
In the morning, we worked with the physical therapists. I got to follow Benson. He was really great and let me borrow a Nurses Dictionary so that I could look up different medical terms so that I could better understand the patients' conditions. Most of the kids we worked with had Cerebral Palsy. One of the most interesting cases was that of a young teenage boy who had Cerebral Palsy that left his right side very weak. It was interesting to see the different stretches and activities that Benson had him do to work on his rightside coordination.
Since it was Thursday...that means ZUMBA!! At 1pm, the kids and a lot of the workers have a Zumba class. Most of the kids were more interested in climbing on Kate and I and trying to get us to hold them then the actual dancing. However, it was hilarious to watch the little kids that did get out there and dance. They have some serious dance moves!!
After lunch, Kate and I went and played with the kids. We did chalk drawings and traced each other. Then, we got out the nail polish and everyone (boys included!) had their nails painted! The kids absolutely loved it! They ran up to whoever was walking by and would show them their nails. They are at such a fun age that they get so excited about the smallest things. It brings joy to my heart and a big smile to my face!
On the way home, we got to experience true Kenyan travelling- about 25 to 28 people shoved into a small matatu! People were sitting on eaach others' laps and hanging out the door! I kid you not. It was one of those "How many more people can they fit in here?!" moments. ;)
FRIDAY
First day at Cottonlengo! On the walk into Karen a Kenyan man was following us shouting profanities because we didn't say "hello" to him or something. Essentially he said: "MZUNGUS! Yeah, I'm talking to you! You think you are so high and mighty. F**** you! Go f**** yourself!".....Yaaaa....not the way I wanted to be greeted at 8am! We just kept walking and eventually we out walked him.
When we arrived at Cottolengo, the kids were OUT OF CONTROL! Walked right into a room of screaming babies/toddlers who were throwing their toys and flashing each other. Don't even get me started about potty time: pee being thrown, kids tasting each others' pee, kids running around with their pants down and trying to escape....Need I say any more! Being at Cottolengo wa such a switch from "Feed the Children" where the kids seem to be a bit more disciplined and under control. Don't get me wrong....the kids at Cottolengo are equally adorable and fun to play with...They just have a lot more energy and a lot more gumption than the FTC kids.
I spent most of the day holding little baby Benson who is an absolute angel baby! Ah! He is too cute for words!! (Hence, why I am including a icture!)
There was a really awkward moment where we weren't sure if we were getting lunch. For some reason no one knew whether they were going to feed us for lunch. As for lunch, I will never again complain about the convent food! Lunch at Cottolengo included ugale, "pushing the week" (a green spinach like veggie), and hard boiled eggs. The one great part of the day, however, was the post-lunch nap-time! The "mamas" brought out blankets and sacks for us to lie on outside and I must say it was the best nap ever!
Kate and I ended up leaving early (around 330pm) since it was such a long day. We took the matatu back to Karen center, hit up the Nakumatt for snacks, and had a girls' night. Great end to a long week!
I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!! <3 Baby Benson
SATURDAY
We ended up doing more painting and staining today for Sr. Rosina even though it was technically our day off! It wasn't so bad since we probably would have just been sitting in our little house on Facebook anyways.
From 1pm-4pm, we went with Sr. Stella Maurus to a church nearby to sit in on their lecture readers practice. It was actually pretty interesting listening to the director Tom and Sr. Stella talk about how to be a good reader. They discussed reading techniques, posture, and things like how to keep the audience interested and being aware who you are reading to. We split into groups and had two people from each of the 3 groups practice in front of the group. After, we did constructive criticism which was really great and actually kind of fun! It helped me think about how I present myself and the need to be confident when you are delivering an important message (like God's Word!!).
SUNDAY
This is one of the few Sundays that Kate and I have actually been here for a "normal" Sunday. The past few weeks wee have been either in Nairobi or the Sunday was a special feast day celebration. So, I plan on just hanging out and probably walking into town later to visit our favorite place -Nakumatt!
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This week I've learned what it means to appreciate different kinds of service. I've learned that even though we may not recognize it, the little things we do every day make a big difference! God does not always call us to the "BIG THINGS". To tell you the truth....it's often a small group of individuals that are called to that category of "BIG THINGS". Most of us will live seemingly "ordinary" lives that call us to the "small things". But don't think that makes you any less important than anyone else! These past few weeks I have been called to do a lot of "small things". At first it seemed so menial and pointless. However, the more I've reflected on it, the more I've realized this....
Sometimes it's the small things that make a big difference in someone's life.
Like painting a dozen bedrooms, searching for "stones" in bags of rice, or smiling at a stranger...
It's all those "small things" that become the "BIG THINGS" in life.
You don't have to go to a foreign country or be the next Mother Theresa to change the world! You are already doing it just by being you. Whether you are a student, parent, teacher, doctor, lawyer, plumber, artist, etc etc and so forth, be THE BEST at what you do and do it with great love. Don't waste your life away wishing you were someone else, living in all the "What Ifs" and "If Onlys"...Trust me...I've been there...and I struggle daily to stay away from those thoughts and to live in the present.
To paraphrase something I heard recently:
"The past and the present do not exist. All we have is the present. NOW is what is real!"
I encourage...I BEG YOU!...Live in the NOW. Learn to appreciate the "small things" in life. Learn to recognize the good that YOU DO on a daily basis.
YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. YOU ARE CHANGING THE WORLD.
God is calling you personally to do His will. Our missions are not all the same. However, they are all unique and important in their own way. There are some things that only YOU can do! So get out there and DO IT!! :)
And just in case you need some more inspiration...Here is a little mantra I say to myself...
"Live authentically and Love endlessly." <3
God Bless you in this up-coming week! I hope it's your best week ever!!
Love,
Caitlin
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