Back Home

I don't understand why we couldn't get into my blog while we were in Kenya. We managed a couple of blogs and then the powers of the universe wouldn't let us in. We have been home a week and I think the team is slowly recovering. For the three who accompanied me, Steve, Ada and Kathy it was an eye opening experience. For me it was a very emotional trip, moreso than in past years.

I found it difficult to watch grandmothers have to come to the food distributions for food. For some it was very humbling and others held their heads high and knew it was for their grandchildren, but it was not easy for them. We gave out a very large mat made of milk bags, and when the grandmother realized the size of it, she literally bent her head in prayer. She and the children would now sleep on something other than the dirt floor. We also handed out blankets to many families so they could be warm in the cool evenings.

We won the lottery by living in Canada and not Kenya. There is really not much that we don't have and compared to the Kenyan women we met- we here are so rich. These women have such hope and faith and that is what sustains many of them.

The more blessed we are I think the more responsibility we have to help others in need.

We are back home

As I write this blog today I have had two ok nights sleep after a very long and tiring flight home. We were so fortunate since no one was sick on the way home and everyone got to go into Amsterdam Square in Holland to walk around and spend a couple of hours before our final flight to Toronto

I am very proud of the team this year. The youth group was amazing. They got along well with everyone on the team and they never complained. I think that each of us on the team was affected by what we did and saw at one time or another and each of us shed tears at one time or another. We each were affected in different ways. I am glad that we had a taxi when we went to visit the Maasai women or we might have lost Sally there. She was so inspired by the women that we met and their way of life. We had to keep checking Sarah's bag to see if she put a small child in to bring home. Children were attracted to her and she spent hours holding them. When Steven is Prime Minister of Canada and can exert any pressure on the Kenyan government I know that he will change their education system so that all children are given the right to a free education. Sandra will move children to be the best they can be and they will follow her like the pied piper and Laura will bring a sparkle and bright light to everyone she meets. Kids and adults alike will enjoy helping her accomplish whatever she chooses to do and I know she will succeed in whatever she does. Emily will make a difference in the lives of everyone that she comes in contact with and will make a difference in this world of ours for the better. Cathy will continue to teach everywhere she goes touching lives with her sincerity and humour and Caren will forever remember this experience and help as many children as she can both here and in Kenya to have a chance at a better life.

With a team like that it wasn't difficult to accomplish all that we did. My hope is to have a write up and pictures on our web site soon. Our friend, Daniel Lipparelli, already has some of the things we did with his group with photos so go to www.transformedinternational.org and go to blogs to see those.

I will continue to blog about our upcoming events and I think the youth on this trip somehow started a facebook page for Hope2Kenya, although I am not sure how to get on it.