Under the Mango Tree

So after many starts and stops I finally have wifi in the yard of the girls school at the Children's Village in Meru, Kenya. I am sitting under a very mature mango tree which gives terrific shade and assists in keeping breezes, which are cool this AM, blowing around me. There are quite a few yellow dragonflies that are hawking around the area and I am surrounded by small hills that vary in elevation.. some 500-1500 feet about me.. but Meru is at an elevation of 1800 meters (approx 5,000'--so think Denver but without the majestic Rockies.. more rolling treed hills... and Mt. Kenya, all 17,000+ ft of her is invisible from here... mostly due to the smoky haze that normally clouds the air. It is not far from here, but you would not know it. There are small fires burning most days as new agricultural land--small plots really--are cleared of vegetation...not so good for the environment and there are plenty of goats around that could do the clearing easier, but that is not what is happening. We had rain on Sunday nite and so it marks the beginning of one of the 2 rainy seasons... so folks are clearing and planting now as spring approaches.


First impressions...beautiful... green...deep green, light green, lemon green, reddish brown soil..
more red than brown... think siena....... smiles and friendly faces everywhere. Openness,
acceptance, love... omg love and non-judgementalness






These children are amazing. Kara and I have worked with the 14-15 year old girls for a total of about 10 hours over the past 3 days .... designing and making dolls... the process is simple but time consuming and they are ever focused... willing to work hard and always getting right down to it.. Their English is good, although more England English than American, so we have to explain certain words and phrases...and their pronounciation is at times tricky for us to understand but when we both speak slowly and clearly we comprehend one another very well.... their willingness and happiness to work at this is inspiring.



Yesterday after working with them from 10:30AM til 1:30.. it was time for their lunch... usually a 1 hour eating and recess time... they were ALL back within 15 minutes!! because they so want to do the work of making this doll. Kara and I then walked to the Boys School, which is just down the road about a 1/2 mile or so to have our lunch and then came back by 3:30... they were still working.... with no supervision....so dedicated students, yes... hard working and smart... yes.... these are high school students devoid of attitude and snarkiness... willing to help one another and very generous with their classmates. It has been a joy..

So much more to say, but I have abandoned Kara and the students and must go back ... more later now that I am connected
again to the world....

Amazing, fantastic and peaceful in a way I have not experienced in many places .....Click on any photo for a larger look..