Week 4: The "Small Things"...like Nail Polish and Nap-time

I cannot believe that I have been in AFRICA for an entire MONTH! Say whaaat?! It's even crazier to think that I will be here for 5 more months! The first few weeks were a bit overwhelming and very different, but I can finally say that I feel at home here.

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

Week 3: Cups of Tea and Avocado Trees

"The buildings are not what is important....The people are." ~Fr. Gregor (Sunday homily)

So this week turned out to be pretty AWESOME! We got the chance to check out two different places where Kate and I will be working. ALSO, we got to visit a village near-by and got a better glimpse of what living in Kenya really looks like.

Monday and Tuesday, Kate and I continued painting rooms and staining floors. Like I said in the past posts, it's been frustrating trying to communicate with the sisters what we want to do. I feel like we are constantly repeating ourselves and the point takes several days if not more to get across. It's a losing battle!

Wednesday was a great day! We painted in the morning as usual. At 3pm, Kate and I went with Sr. Harryberta to visit Mama Susanna, an 80year-old Swiss woman with Multiple Sclerosis who lives down the street. Due to her age and the effects of MS, Mama Susanna is in a wheelchair and is paralyzed from the waist down. However, she radiates joy! She is one of the happiest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting! Although she speaks mostly Swiss, Sr. Harryberta was able to translate so that we could talk. After having tea and pineapples, Mama Susanna's grandson Emmanuel showed us around the compound. Emmanuel is 6years old and already speaks Swiss, German, Swahili, and English fluently! He is so sweet and smart! The compound is beautiful and a lot nicer than most homes in Kenya since it is in the suburbs. The outside courtyard is made of really nice stones and the house where Mama Susanna lives has hardwood floors, electricity (which is a big deal around here!), and really beautiful furniture she shipped here from her home in Switzerland. It was really nice getting to meet someone who lives on our street. It was also interesting especially since Mama Susanna's family had moved there from Switzerland. It just show a different side of Kenyan life- for the upper class that is. Best of all, we even got to see Emmanuel's 4 pet turtles!

Thursday was a very important day for Kate and me. Sr. Rosina took us to "Feed the Children" in Dagorretti and "Cotollengo" in Karen to talk to the people there about volunteering. At "Feed the Children", we met with Mama Jane who gave us a 45mins. talk about the facilities and the work that they do there. She gave us a tour of the cottages where each of the different age groups of orphaned children live. The kids there are so cute! They all kept saying "hello" and wanting to slap us five and shake our hands. The buildings there are really nice, very similar to something you would see in the U.S. Mama Jane said they call the place "little Oklahoma" (if I remember correctly!). Around 11:30pm-1pm, Mama Jane sent us to the rehab center where we got to observe and help out the therapists with the physical therapy sessions for the babies and toddlers with disabilities. So much fun! Even in just one day, I learned a lot about the treatment plans and causes of the disabilities.

Around 2pm, we took matatus over to Cottolengo which is an orphanage for kids with AIDs and HIV. When we got there, we got to hold the babies and toddlers while we waited for Mama Lucy. Mama Lucy gave us a tour of the facilities. The facilities were not as nice as "Feed the Children" but I'm presuming that is because they have less funding and because Cottolengo is a smaller organization run by the nuns.

By the end of Thursday, Kate and I were given our schedule for the next few months! We will be working Mondays and Thursdays at "Feed the Children", Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the convent, and Fridays at Cottolengo. WE FINALLY HAVE A REAL SCHEDULE!! You have no idea how exciting this is!!! After 3 weeks of miscommunication and random mundane tasks, we finally have a real work week figured out!! WOOHOOO!!! :)

Anyways....

On Friday, Kate and I had a half day. We were going to go to Nairobi to visit the guys but decided against it since it had been such a long week. We ended up staying in, watching a movie, and having a "girls night". It was "just the ticket"! ;)

Saturday, Sr, Judy took us with her to the village of Karinde to visit the elderly. We did a TON of walking!! First, there was a Bible study at a woman's house. We all sat outside next to the cows which was slightly distracting. They talked mostly in Swahili so Kate and I had no clue what was going on. Then they proceeded to do business matters. The elderly group works together to make liquid soup to sell so that they can become self-sufficient and raise money for their group. At the end of the session, the owner of the house brought out a HUGE avocado for Kate, Sr. Judy, and I. It was the biggest avocado I have ever seen! And of course we had to finish the whole thing or else the woman would have thought that we were being rude or ungrateful.

Next, we visited the homes of three of the women who were too sick to attend the Bible study. First, there was Hannah, a woman in her 80s who has a heart problem and is very emaciated. She was the sweetest little thing! She told Sr. Judy how happy she was to have visitors and even offered to have someone run into the village to get us sodas. What I found so strikingly beautiful about this woman is that even though you could see how in pain she was, she smiled the whole time we were there.We then left and visited a woman with diabetes followed by a woman with breast cancer.  At the 2nd house, Sr, Judy asked if Kate or I would say the prayer for the group. I ended up doing it which was nerve-racking because I really do not like praying aloud in a group. However, the women at the house seemed very grateful and pleased. At the third house, the woman gave us "Mokima" which is basically potatoes, maize, and beans mashed up. Once again. Kate and I were forced into chowing down on this stuff in order to not offend anyone. I have to admit, though, it was pretty good!

All through Karinde, the little kids would yell "Mzungu" and come up to ask "How are you?" and to shake our hands. At first we would see one little kid, then they would summon all their friends to come see the "mzungus" (white people)! It was hilarious and so much fun! The kids get so excited to see us that all the attention does not seem so strange after a while. We are a walking circus! ;)

Our day in Karinde was such an eye-opener. Firstly, we were able to see what was considered a "nice" village in Kenya. To put it simply, even a poverty level home in America would be nicer than a home in Karinde. In Karinde, the houses are made mostly out of tin sheets. They have a cement floor and cloth sheets on the ceiling to prevent leaks. What was surprising to me was that while these houses were so simple, every house we visited had a television in it. I guess it was the one small luxury the people could afford. It's really hard to explain the living situations as well as I'd like to. However, I must conclude that even though these people live so simply, they are the kindest, most welcoming, and hospitable people I have ever encountered. At each home, we were greeted with enthusiasm and sincerity. At no point, did it seem to me that any of the people seemed ashamed of where and how they lived. Living in Kenya, I am truly so very grateful for my life back home in the U.S. It is so easy at home for me to complain that "there's not enough food" (or food I like!) or that (oh no!) the electricity went out once this year! In Kenya, people are just happy to have clothes on their back, a roof over their head, family and friends to love them, and purpose in life. There is so much that I am learning from this simple way of life. I can only hope that I'm able to explain it the best I can to you and to bring what I have learned home with me after these 6months.

To conclude Week 3's Events...

Saturday and Sunday Harris came to Karen to hang out with us. If you haven't heard yet...he got robbed in Nairobi on the way here. (Check out his blog for that story!) Furthermore, he brought Kate and I tons of movies to download which was literally like having an early Christmas!!! BEST.DAY.EVER. You have no idea how boring it is to sit around every night for hours trying to download movies on Youtube...usually unsuccessfully! Yes...we lead a very lame nightlife! ALSO, Saturday night we ordered pizza! BEST.IDEA.EVER. I was kind of worried that it wouldn't be as good as pizza from home but it was totally worth it!

Sunday was Sr. Harryberta's 80th Birthday and Sr. Michael Marie's feast day...Yup...you guessed it....BIG CELEBRATION! I got to play guitar for the communion song at Mass. Also, Kate and I played one of my songs during the "entertainment" part of the day. We also played "Bunko" which was absolutely hilarious and so much fun! The sisters are so funny! Celebration days are like Christmas x10! Again...you have no idea how exciting it is to have cake, ice cream, soda, and lots of really great food after eating the same things all the time. Although certain people will try to make the argument that I only like white rice (*AHEM*), I would like to clarify the fact that I do in fact try all the food here! Finally, we also got to hang out with the German girls who came to visit which is always fun to see them!

ALL IN ALL...Week 3 was completely awesome and I'm looking forward to my first full week of work!! God is so good. :)



"At every stage of life, the heart must be ready to leave and begin anew." ~translation of a German poem <3

Week 2 Recap: There's a Sunny-side to Every Situation

So this past week has been pretty random, but also pretty awesome! Throughout the week we continued working on fixing up the novices rooms....Yup...more painting and staining!! I'm not going to sugar-coat this one- painting gets really old after doing it for 2 weeks straight. Also, we were told today that there are another 8 or so more rooms that the sisters would like us to paint and stain....Don't get me started on how I feel about this...

Anyways...so Kate and I have made great progress in the past 2 weeks with the novices rooms! This week we are just putting the finishing touches on the shelves and cabinets as well as doing a second coat of staining on the floors. I think the only bright-side of this whole painting situation is that A.) the rooms look really great now and the sisters are soooo excited about the work we have done and B.) we actually got to use a moss green colored paint for the shelves which after weeks of doing "eggshell white" is a nice change. Oh the little things in life!

In other news, for some reason I keep getting sick in the middle of mass. Wednesday I took the day off because I thought I was going to either pass out or puke at mass. The sisters were really kind about it though. It was like having a dozen mothers checking in on me all day! They each had their on diagnosis and proposed treatment which was kind of funny. Even though I felt awful I got to eat some really great homemade chicken noodle soup! Again...there's always a sunny-side to every situation!

My mother would be so proud of this! lol ;)

The rest of the week went by pretty normally. Saturday was a very special day. We had 2 novices- Sr. Christine and Sr. Rosalia- take their 1st vows! Celebrations here in Kenya are a BIG DEAL! On Friday, Kate and I helped out in the kitchen- peeling potatoes, prepping corn, and (how could I forget?) sifting through dozens of bag of rice to check for "stones" (strange...I know). Anyways....on Saturday the families of the 2 novices came- some coming from as far as Uganda. Also, the 2 German volunteers (Catalina and Steffy) who will be staying in Ruarka and Harris were all there for the ceremony and after party.There was lots of singing and dancing during the 2 hour long mass. Sr. Christine's relatives were funny to watch because they kept dancing in the aisle and doing the screeching "Ay Ay Ay" thing that people here do when they are excited. At the party after the mass, there was tons of food and cake! The two families of the new "brides" each got up and sang and danced for all of us. It's really amusing to see how differently people here celebrate! What I like about it is that they don't hold back! People here truly know how to celebrate such a joyous occasion.

Saturday afternoon, Harris was able to convince Sr. Michael Marie to let us go back to stay at Amani Center for the rest of the weekend. For some reason Kate and I are never able to get straightforward answers from anyone around here, but Harris visits for one day and the sisters love him! We ended up hanging out Saturday night with the guys at Amani. We met Mike the other St. John's guy and also the guys' friends Augustine, Vincent, and Dan who are all really awesome! They even taught us how to play "Cardy" which is basically "Uno" using regular playing cards. Thus far, I think Saturday night was the most fun I've had since coming to Kenya. Just a lot of fun hanging out with some really great people. :)

Sunday, we all went to the 11am mass together. We ended up meeting up with the German girls. I got really dizzy again during mass and had to leave early. Yeah...I have to figure out this whole dizzy spell thing. It's no fun. Around 1:30pm we Skyped with Fr. Chris and got to say Hi to some of the monks back home. Miss them!! It was so great to get to hear from them!! Around 2pm, Kate, Harris, and I went into Nairobi and had pizza at this really great Italian restaurant. It was also funny because Henry and his friend ended up at the same restaurant- Happy 51st Birthday, Henry! Then, Kate and I took the matatu back to Karen..We are getting so good at this!

Well, going into Week 3 it looks like it will be more painting and staining for Kate and I! It's been really frustrating trying to communicate with the sisters about what we want to do, but hopefully we will be able to work out some kind of schedule for the upcoming month that does not include maintenance work. All in God's good time! Just have to stay positive and try to be patient no matter how frustrating it is!!

This week I'm going to work on being positive! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and there's no use wasting time on negative thoughts. After all, I'm in AFRICA with a group of really incredible people including one of my best friends ever- the one and only Kate Drinkwater! AND I have a jar of peanut butter, Pringles, and hot cocoa stashed away for when I need to be cheered up! What more could a girl like me need? ;)

It's going to be a long week!! Say some prayers for us! It can get lonely here and Kate and I definitely have been missing home from time to time in the past 2 weeks. And feel free to send us letters or something AWESOME!!! ;)
Here's our address::

Missionary Benedictine Sisters

Sacred Heart Priory

(Windy Ridge 181,Karen-Nairobi)

P.O.Box 24233 Karen

00502 Nairobi

Kenya

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

"I'm preparing a room for you to join us!" ~Sr .Lydia (She is convinced that Kate and I are the new "aspirants".)

"They are delicate people...Not like us...We eat everything!" ~ one of the sisters' responses to me being sick

"Today is a happy day! No one should be sad! If you are sad you will fall on the ground on your face!" ~Fr. Gregor, the visiting celebrant (1st vows ceremony)

"Once in a lifetime is something to celebrate!" ~Sr. Michael Marie (1st vows ceremony)

Firsts

Silly nuns! (Sr. Loice and Sr. Lillian!)

This week has been a week of firsts!

First time travelling to Africa.
First time eating Kenyan food.
First proposal.
First time using a matatu.
First African beer.

etc etc and so forth...

Needlesss to say, this first week in Kenya has been a fun adventure! Each of these "firsts" has brought new perspective and new appreciation for the life I have back in the US. For instance, I appreciate food much more! I thought I was going to go crazy day three from eating the same exact thing every day! As a fervent lover of all and any types of food, I must say that I reached my breaking point this week and resorted to buying Pringles and Coke at the local Nazkumatt (basically the Walmart of Kenya!). I need some flavor here people!

Secondly, I appreciate showering at home- not having to wait 20mins. for warm water and having a shower head that actually hits my entire body! This whole "only sprinkle water on the head" system is not working out so well!

Thirdly, I appreciate transportation back home. I like that at home I have my own car. I can go (for the most part) where I want, when I want. Although riding in the matatus was a blast, I don't think I would want to spend my whole life dependent on transportation where you are crammed into a van with waaaayyyy more people than it should "safely" hold with people's elbows in your side, off-roading down unpaved roads with no rules of the road whatsoever! Fun...Yes fun....but not the "safest" way to go about traveling!

Fourth, public bathrooms! Dear gracious...where do I even begin?! Last night Kate and I went into Nairobi with Harris and Tim. At the restaurant we were at I asked to use the bathroom. I was led to what appeared to be a normal woman's restroom. No locks on the door? Ok...no big deal. Hole in the ground to pee in with no toilet paper, no paper towels, and no soap?? Yup...that happened! Desperate times call for desperate measures! Even in the crummiest bathrooms in America you wouldn't find anything like this.

I could probably think of 5 or so more things...but this is my list for now! Stay tuned for "Week 2 in Kenya"!

Day 2 & 3: Unicorns, Small Tasks, & Africa Time

Yesterday Sr. Cecilia & Sr. Loice took Kate and I to Bomas to watch a traditional Kenyan dancing performance! On the way there a little boy came up to the car window and tried to sell me peanuts. I feel like people see that I'm OBVIOUSLY not from around here so they target me to sell stuff. We also saw 2 baboons running down the street...no big deal, right? The traditional dancing was soooo cool! It was really interesting seeing the different styles of dancing and costumes as well as hearing the explanation of what dance meant. The show ended with a group of acrobats who did cool stuff like make crazy human pyramids, jump through hoops, jump rope tricks, and played with fire.
**I took a lot of videos so I'll try to upload them soon! They are definitely worth seeing!**

On another subject...I have to admit...It is the strangest feeling being the minority in a crowd!! It's not that I haven't noticed how blatantly I stand out in Kenya with my blond hair and blue eyes. However, walking around in a crowd of a few hundred Kenyans, I am quite obviously the odd one out! The feeling is both exhilarating and scary! I admit- my heart was pounding so fast! I definitely got some funny looks while walking around at Bomas. There was no way I was going to be able to blend into the crowd there! I'm practically the unicorn of Kenya!

Last night, my computer died!!! It was four years old and the screen was pretty much cracking off so I figured it would crash soon. However, the timing is less than convenient! Poor "Lazarus"!:(

Also, last night Kate & I ran out of internet! It seems that we didn't buy the right bundle so it only lasted 2 days! Kate ended u forcing me to come sit in the courtyard at 9pm at night in the dark in the rain....Ya...we were pretty desperate!

So for some reason all the sisters think I want to be a nun! I cannot begin to tel you how many time I have been asked that in the past 3 days alone. Today at lunch Sr. Lydia spent the entire mealtime trying to convince me to join the convent and to get Beth, Kate, and Paige (Kate's twin) to all join with me! I told her that I wasn't sure if the girls would be so willing and that their "boyfriends" might not like that. Then I told her that I'd try to convince them that "Jesus is the best boyfriend you could ever have!" which got a lot of laughs from the sisters. ;) Anyways...Sr. Lydia said that if I decide to join she will have my room ready and waiting for me when I do...I really don't have the heart to tell her that I would like to get married if God brought me the right man...It would be nice if God hurried up that process! Hurry it up, Prince Charming!

Today Kate and I also began our first assignment! We are painting all the novices' rooms (8 bedrooms total) and possibly the hallway. I don't know what it is about monasteries and convents but apparently "Eggshell White" seems to be the color of choice! Kate isn't that excited about painting because she is all about going to teach at the kindergarten or working at the dispensary. Me, on the other hand...I don't mind! I figure it's something that needs to be done and it is a small way of helping the sisters. I know that most people think that going to Africa suggests that we will be feeding starving babies and living in huts and all that but the way I see it there are a lot of small works of charity that can be done. Yes, painting is not the world's most exciting task ever but it is a helpful task nonetheless. I'd rather be doing something than nothing.

Well...that is the update thus far! Hopefully, we will continue to get a better idea of what we will be doing in the following weeks. However, we are on "Africa time"...things here are done in a completely different way than in the States! You have no idea...It is truly another world here.

"Do small things with great love." ~Mother Theresa

Day 1: First Impressions (cont.) & Driving in Kenya

Sacred Heart Priory

181 Windy Ridge

Karen, Nairobi

Kenya, Africa

Today was our first official day in Karen, Nairobi! We got up for 7am mass. Mass was really cool! Most of the songs were sung in Swahili but the readings and mass parts in general were said in English which was a relief!

After mass we went to breakfast which consisted of toast and coffee/tea. Kate and I were put at separate tables with the sisters. Breakfast was confusing since I had no idea what the sisters do. Sr. Loice guided me through breakfast…I think she saw the “deer and headlights” look I must have been giving. The sisters eat breakfast in silence which is completely fine for me since I am not a morning person (to state the obvious).

After breakfast, Sr. Loice came over to our little guest house to make sure that we are all settled in. She is so sweet and enthusiastic! She wanted to know about our families and where we are from, so we showed her pictures and talked for a while.

Around 9am, Sr. Benedicta gave us a tour of the convent grounds. She showed us where the animals are kept- 2 cows, lots of chickens, some goats, some cats and dogs, and lots of rabbits!!

Kate & Me: “Oh! Look at the cute bunnies!!”

Sr. Benedicta: “They are excellent meat! Tastes like chicken!”

We also got to see the dispensary/clinic, the cemetery, the laundry room, and the gardens where they grow maise, urgula, carrots, avocados, bananas, oranges, eggplant, etc.

Around 10am, Sr. Serva and Sr. Elizabeth drove us to Ruarka to go see the kindergarten and the maternity ward. Some of the sisters live there and so we sat down for tea/coffee, cake, and fruit. Kate kind of panicked because I was eating the bananas and mangoes that they offered which technically we are not supposed to eat since we aren’t sure what kind of water they are washed in, etc. However, thus far there haven’t been any bad side effects so I’m hoping the fruit won’t  come back to haunt me later!

The sisters showed us around the school and the clinic. Most of the school was locked since it is not in session for another few weeks. However, the nurse at the maternity ward let us go see one of the new babies! So cute!

We left around 12pm and said good-bye to Sr. Elizabeth who will be returning to Germany. We drove around for what seemed like a long time to get to the supermarket down the street from the convent in Karen.

  

Ok…here is where I tell you a bit about Kenyan driving…IT IS INSANE!! You think drivers in the states are crazy…Let me tell you…Kenyan driving is on a whole different level! I’ve seen driving in Boston, in the D.C. area, in N.C., all down the East US coast, and in Italy but I have seen NOTHING…NOTHING I say that compares to this! First of all, there is a major highway that was built recently according to the sisters. However, most of the other roads are either dirt or very poorly paved. Street signs are pretty much obsolete. There are some signs for small side streets and a posting here or there for the speed limit and an occasional “Stop” sign. Speed limit is relative. One minute you could be cruising at a steady 20kph/mi…then the next you could be flying at speeds of 80kph/mi! The steering wheel is on the right side of the car which makes sitting in the passenger seat seem a little odd. Since there are no street lights or stop signs (for the most part), trying to turn or pull into traffic is pretty crazy. People- drivers and pedestrians included- think they own the road! There’s a lot of traffic, so you see cars off-roading along the highway to pass people. Further, people just walk across the highway like it’s no big deal! Although there are some crossroads and speed bumps (which are so much bigger than normal speed bumps) to slow the cars down in the more populated parts of the highway, people don’t think twice about walking/running through the traffic. It is seriously overwhelming/scary!

When we got to the supermarket, Kate and I had our first shopping/money exchange experience! We went to the electronic store and the lady and guy there showed us where to exchange our money and helped us pick out a phone, internet connector, and a plug adapter for my computer. We had no clue what they were talking about when they were trying to explain the cost but they were really patient with us!

We had lunch when we got back to the convent which consisted of 2kinds of rice (white & a brown spicy kind); a mixture of beans, corn, & potatoes; cooked eggplant; and cooked carrots that tasted pretty sweet. At 4pm, Sr. Michael Marie (prioress) showed us the retreat center and some of the gardens around the convent. She mentioned that our first task for next week will be painting the hallway and rooms for the novices…I’m sure Fr. Chris will find this amusing since he had us painting the monastery last week! WE LOVE PAINTING! ;)

Lunch: white rice, brown random spicy rice (which had mystery meat in it), sweet carrots, and eggplant...This is also what dinner looked like...

5:45pm was Vespers followed by dinner. I sat with Sr. Rosett who is a pre-novice from Uganda. We talked about vocations and I got to ask her a little bit about how she decided to be a nun. During dinner, one of the other sisters noticed that I was struggling peeling an orange with the little knife I had…

Sr. Rosett: “She needs a wife…I mean WIFE!”

I proceed to tell her that if she wanted to get me a husband that would be fine as well! ;)

Anyways…right now Kate and I are just chilling. Sr. Loice checked in on us and wished us good night while also telling us how impressed she is at how well we are adjusting. She is so cute! The sisters are so sweet! Many of them have introduced themselves but I'm having trouble remembering who is who.

And on a final note…It is sooo dark in my room right now! I even lit the candle on my desk….I feel like a little hermit…

First Impressions

So here's the scoop! We left Charlotte, NC at 1pm. Flew into JFK airport. From JFK we flew to Zurich, Switzerland. Then from Zurich we flew into Kenya! Swiss Air was pretty awesome to fly! Kate and I watched a lot of movies and they feed you a lot which is great (because obviously I love food). We also met this really cool girl Hannah who was on all the same flights. She was travelling to do 4months study abroad, studying coral reefs and ecosystems. In Zurich Harris left his bag at the security check point by accident, so we had a little luggage scare. Luckily that was the only thing that happened! No passport, luggage, or Visa problems! :)

Bon Voyage!

the guys

Kate's 2nd flight EVER!

                                                 

Here we go!

Oh hello free drinks :)

                                   

Here;s to you, guy who fell asleep within 5mins. of take-off! 

                                                           

                       

Zurich, Switzerland

Henry & me @ Zurich airport

Oh Harris!

 

Flying out of Zurich

Traveling for over 24hrs...nbd!

                                           

Coastline of Africa!

FINALLY!!

Sr. Michael Marie and Sr. Cecilia picked us up at the airport. They were carrying with them a picture Kate had given them from Facebook. Driving from the airport, there was a lot of traffic. Along the highway there were lots of people trying to sell stuff. Among the most random things I saw were a guy selling whips and another man carrying around this huge blow-up chair thing that looked like a pink Tellatubby. We also got to see the matatus drive pass us on the road- think over crowded party bus van with neon lights in the inside. Since it was dark we couldn't see too much, but Sr. Michael Marie tried to point out different places on route.

When we got to the convent the sisters showed us our rooms which are in this little guest house building. We got to check out the main floor of the convent and met some of the sisters. Living next to us in the guest house is little Veronica. From what I understand, she just arrived today. She is 10years old and traveled approximately 700kilometers (I think that's what the sisters said) all by herself because she was being mistreated. She is really cute and unfortunately did not understand anything I said when I tried talking to her in English. I'm not sure how long she will be here but hopefully we will get to spend some more time with her.

Anyways...I'm going to head to bed soon since I've been up for over 24hours. I'm excited about what tomorrow will bring. :)