Ok so I'm a bit slow on the update!

I just came back from an amazing week travelling to Uganda (due to the need to renew my visa for Kenya). i somehow got stuck in the oh so lovely town of Jinja, Uganda. Went white water rafting on the Nile River 3 times (an escaped with only a few bruises), quading in the countryside, and a bit too much late night partying at the hostel. It was fantastic! If you are on facebook you can see photos there.

In more work related news I am working on a couple of websites for 2 orphanages- one being for the orphanage in Murang'a that Kenya Network of Women with AIDS runs. they currently have 30 children in their care who range in age from 2 months to 13 years.

Also have compiled a list of 20 orphan and vulnerabel youth who would like to attend secondary school but lack the means to pay the school fees. Some of you should be receiving information about this shortly.

Anyways all is well!
xo Sam

Hey There,

So I'm obviously not much of a writer, but wanted to let everyone know that things are ging great. I've been really busy, doing lots of workshops, and trying to get two websites up for orphanages but internet is sloowwwwwwwww here!

Anyways here is just one picture, Ayub and me with a guilty addiction- Fanta!

Masai Mara National Park

I just came back from a 3 day in the Masai Mara. It was absolutely amazing- better than I could have ever dreamed of. Anyways here are some of the 500+ photos I took. It is the annual wilder beast migration where a couple of million wilder beast migrate through the park along with many other animals.





















These ostriches did everything in unison!





















Do I have something in my teeth?















Lion cubs!















Hippos are huge and EVIL. They wade around in the water waiting for some poor innocent animal to come along so that they can kill it. Once dead they just let it go- the joy is in the kill and much later chomping down on some rotten meat.














A hawk post kill (has something in its' talons)














Giraffes are such sweet, curious creatures. They are also very awkward looking (much like you Carter!)














This lone elephant came stampeding towards us. He was not happy to have the company.














Mama cheetah and baby.

I will post more photos later as it takes a long time to upload them!

KENWA- Starring Maureen and Ayub

1. 
   

Two of my favorite kids! Both are orphans who spend a lot of time at KENWA.

1. 

The kids at KENWA

114 kids came to KENWA last Saturday for support and fun. All of them are affected or infected with HIV. We did face-painting, made a hand print banner, and sang songs. Then they ate lots of food and learned some basics about HIV/AIDS.

Anyways all is well here, and I will try to upload more photos tomorrow. Below is Marua. He is 7 months old and lives at KENWA as his mom passed away the day after he was born. He is so easy-going and very sweet.

Rafiki

Rafiki means friend in Kiswahili

This pup and two other dogs, likely her parents, were trying to cross a busy road when she got hit by a car. We happened to be walking to work along the same road and came upon this scene as a man kicked Rafiki across the road, bunting her 5 feet into the air as she screamed. When we got up to the scene it was obvious that the car accident had broken her leg at the very least.


We carried her to two different vet establishments where the vets were not equipped to deal with her, and then took a cab to the 3rd vet. We thought that she would make it once her leg was fixed, she was so feisty.


As soon as he checked out her eyes and gums I knew that she was not going to live- she was bleeding out internally and the emergency vet treatment that might have been able to save her life in Canada is not available here.


Instead she was humanely put to sleep.

Well I finally found a computer that will upload pictures!

Here are some photos of KENWA, where I work. The 2nd floor of this building is where KENWA is located.











I am working with a group of HIV + women who are making bags to help support their families. If you would like to buy one let me know. The cost is $6 a bag plus a couple of dollars for shipping and handling. They are great for getting groceries, etc.















This is not where we had lunch:
















Here are some of their designs.







































Nyeri KENWA helps support about 40 orphans. Two of them live at KENWA full-time (Marowa and Joki) so I get to play with them quite a bit. Others, such as Marowa's two older sisters stay at school, and many others live with relatives. KENWA provides one meal a day for these kids (as well as adults in need) and covers their uniform and school fees.

This is Marowa, his older sister Maureen, and Joki:
















Marowa post food- this kid is awesome!



















Another of Maureen- she loves my camera