Thursday in Kenya

The day was started by sorting the 3 huge suitcases full of school supplies, maps, pens, pencil sharpeners, stickers, toys, medicine, and countless other things we brought the kids.  The teachers said over and over again it was like an early Christmas.  The children had huge smiles on their faces and we were thrilled to be able to provide them with things they can't get in Kenya or cost too much to buy.  The teachers were completely out of pens, and seeing their faces light up because of something so simple was great.  We also recorded the heights and weights of all of the kids in school.

One thing we learned is still needed are bandaids.  So, if any of you would like to purchase a box and send it to Humble Hearts by yourself, or send it to Angel Covers and we'll mail it for you, that would be great.  All sizes are needed.

The afternoon was spent at the Dagoetti School.  This is a school of approximately 590 children with very little outside financial support.  Another suitcase full of items was given to them and they were equally pleased.  Angel Covers has started chicken projects and purchased cows for the school, which were feeding 300 of the children 3 days a week.  However, with the recent post election violence, the cows were stolen and most of the chickens have died due to disease because vaccines had to be missed because of the turmoil.  The stories the men tell of tribal members hiding in the woods to burn houses, churches, and kill individuals just for the sake of killing are simply beyond anything I've ever heard before.  The teachers are grateful to be alive for sure.  The cow shed and the chicken coops remain, but funds are not available or another cow and there are only funds for 100 chicken, rather than the 500 they previously had.  If you would like to help with this great need, please go to the donation page  Textbooks and funds for teacher's salaries are also needed.

After visiting Dagoretti, we went shopping!  It became clear that the children of Angel Cottage are in great need of boots for the rainy season.  We were able to give each of them a new backpack yesterday morning, along with many of the secondary kids.  So, the evening was spent buying rain boots, more backpacks, toys, and sanitary pads for the older girls.  Many of you have asked me how much those are.  Right now the cost is 70 or 75 shillings depending on what is purchased and the exchange rate is 68 shillings per dollar.  So, for just over 1 dollar a girl can stay in school each month.

Tomorrow will be spent gathering bios and photos of children who still need sponsors, interviewing teachers, sorting textbooks, and taking pictures of sponsored children.  Even though school started for the term on Monday, not all of the children have reported.  We are hoping they will all report by Monday of next week so we can get pictures of everyone.

Internet is spotty at best, but feel free to email any questions or comments to kari@angelcovers.org  I'd love to hear from you!

Kari