I do the same thing too. When the power cuts, my wifi goes down, my tv with my series I watch is on hibernation mode, and my trusty p3 from many birthday presents ago goes quiet. I can't play my fifa, see the football scores, see what the news is happening outside of Kenya. And somehow we survive. My girlfriend, Millicent stays in an area that has more blackouts than me. And instead of complaining, out come the candles and stories are introduced into the flickering light to her children, and early nights are handed out. I have thankfully gotten to the place that when their is a blackout, especially when it is raining, I use my laptop for awhile, plan for a shower in the morning due to my electric shower head not being able to boil the water, and take an early night. In Kibera there are flickering candles, and is part of life. You see, when you are used to something being a part of life, complaints are not necessary, and you make the best of life that you can. I bitch and moan about my internet or tv not working, when the people I work around, my community, have so so so much less than me, and the children are struggling to do their homework in the faint flicker of light. When there is not enough light for the children to fetch the water, mostly needing to take long walks there and back, This is not safe, but people do what they need to and make it work. And so, when my power cuts out, I am learning quickly not to moan, because that would really belittle the reality of where I am. I am grateful for what I have, internet or not. And shockingly, football or not ;)
August has been a very interesting month. The schools were on holiday for the month, and I had to ensure I was involved in other things until the schools were back and I could reconnect with my children I have grown to love so much. I linked up to 2 new schools in the area of Soweto and Olympic in Kibera, basically one is next to my school and the other is about 20 minutes walk away from the school, opposite direction to where I am staying. These schools are small and have no way of getting money to assist them in the amazing things they are doing to ensure that the children in the area are receiving an education. To ground them in hope, and to keep them off the streets that can easily pull them into bad environments that can set them up for a life of drugs to crime. These schools really touched my heart, and I promised to ensure them a working and well designed website before I left at the end of next month. There are photos still needed to be taken, updates to be written, and the pupils to meet, but things are going really well. This will continue it's work into my school time at St Catherines, but incorporating it into my time is not that difficult at all. Once they are both finished, and up on the internet I will pass on links.
So this week I have been back at St Catherines, besides Thursday due to me learning a life lesson, that is not buy any food around the area of the school because the chapati and bean makers etc. are cooking along the flowing ditch from upper Kibera that sends down all the waste, dirty water and more. So after having a supper on Wednesday of chapatis and red beans, that night and Thursday was not a happy time. Besides that, the week was great. It was fantastic to see the children again, and teaching them hangman and charades was a great way to start the week and bring fun into teaching. We also have time after the lesson has been taught, where they are allowed to ask any question they want. Which at times can be challenging but it is rewarding because it gives them time to be listened to chat about themselves or me. It also opens up an awareness of where they are in life, what are issues or what gets them excited and makes me happy. Very exciting and worth the 25 minutes or so walk through the slum. As in all jobs, I have to kick my butt once in a while to get going, but it's all worth it :)
A final story from the school is that over the holiday the school was looked at for needs and what was damaged. There have been at least 60 to 70% of the benches/desks that were so damaged they had to be thrown out. Also, the plywood wall separations of the classes were so damaged that they had cracked and fallen apart. So now there is no separation between class 6 to 8. Which makes life interesting to teach both classes. And somehow the school continues, teachers still teach and revision is completed. I would not choose another school, no matter what the needs are, and in my small way I am doing my best to do what is needed and I have been called to do. With around 6 weeks of teaching and website design left, I want to end my time here well, leaving 3 schools and children in a far better way than when I first began in February. The last 2 weeks of October are off from school, due to the need to pack and move everything out of the house. So I am praying I can make as much of an impact that I can while I am stay here. I love what I am doing and I am blessed being here. The sponsorship of the 2 children we are involved in, is still in the process of being finalised, but will be completed soon. I will keep you all in the loop of the process.
So "boom there it is" so far. I am missing you all, and am so thankful for
your continued giving into what I am able to do to here. You have all helped to make positive and God filled influences in so so many children and the community as a whole. Thank you and be blessed in all of this awesomeness.
Much Love!
Gareth
