Saturday, April 4th, 3 p.m.+

Goodness, it's difficult to get to an internet cafe, even though Nairobi is a lot more "cosmopolitan" than Blantyre or Lilongwe....Mostly, I'm spending time at the home/school with Ann everyday, and we want to get back to the house and shower! The home/school is on a plot of land outside Nairobi that was owned by her mother-in-law...now deceased. In fact, she buried on the property, as is custom in Kenya.

The earth is so red and dry that I look like I've been working in a iron mine in MN after two hours there! Apparently, my skin is still of interest to the kids there. I've come to understand that it's not because of the color, but because of the wrinkles! My hair, the softness (read that--no body) continues to attract them....

Yesterday was a very emotional day for Ann, and me by empathy...First thing in the morning was the closing cermony (for the term) to which the neighbor parents were invited and attended. I think I told you that community children come to the school started by Ann for the home. They have been coming free, but she has to start charging some as she was also feeding them lunch as well as morning and afternoon snack. I found it an irony that the children for whom the school was started had no parents in the audience. The children sang songs, recited poems, etc....Children were awarded for achievement and good behavior...small things....a packet of cookies, pens, etc. One of the things that amazed me was the chair persom of the school committee who announced/explained the need to charge a small fee for the community children. His face was so expressive, and although I didn't understand a word he said, I could tell he was connecting with the parents.

Afterwards, I went up to him and commented on how well he spoke to the group and complimented him on his expressive manner. He said, "Well, I know how important that is since I'm an actor and director! Actually, I've just produced a documentary on the lives of orphans." (He has his own child standing by him, so it was the experience from the school that sparked his interest.) Of course, I think everyone knows about Jeff Daniels....hee, hee, so I said, "Are you familiar with the actor, director/producer Jeff Daniels?" "Yes, I've studied international a/d/p...." Of course, I'll try to get him connected to my best friend, Jeff!

At the end of the day, 13 children from the home arrived back after being at another school for standard four. Since the school building is expanding (NOW), there wasn't room to teach them at the home. They looked quite shocked when they got of the "matatu" (mini-van) from the other school, since they had been gone since January. They will be there for two weeks, I believe, then go back. The behavior of four of them has not been good, so Ann is thinking of keeping them back. This is their first exposure to being in an environment where they aren't in a setting where everyone else was orphaned, so I'm sure the emotional toll of their background is beginning to show itself. Ann really wants "her kids" to succeed, so she is going to talk to each one individually to find out why they misbehaved. (Megan, you'll be glad to know that she was talking with her on-site teachers and mothers of the importance of having behavior plans with rewards and consequences.)

There's one little girl, Ann, who is about 8 y/o who I find to be particularly talented, in that she constantly find the old tin bucket on the playground and beats it with a stick and her hand. She really has a marvelous sense of music. Ann told me that she comes from a tribe (one of 42 tribes) that is particularly gifted in art and music.

The car that Ann has borrowed for going back and forth to the school began to sound like the brakes were worn. So, the machanic "made a house call" today! All this sounds strangly convenient, but it turns out not to be the case. He had to come out to the house, determine the source of the problem (worn brake pads), then take public transportation into town to find some, and come back out to put them on!!

Ann brought over a suitcase full of vcr tapes that her colleagues in New York had donated to the school. They only have a DVD player in the small sitting room with a couch, few plank benches, and a TV. So, on Monday, I'm giving the kids a combo DVD/VCR player as a gift from "Auntie Jan." Of course, per usual, this come out Jane.

Fortunately, my new camera is performing well. Ann's baggage went to west Africa first and a few things were missing when she finally received it. So, her camera doesn't have the charged. I'm the school photographer, and on Monday, I'm taking pictures of all the kids (including ones who came back) individually, and also class and home pictures. Monday p.m., I'm coming here to the internet place to have them downloaded and I'll give Ann a copy. She's thinking of starting a magazine (Dan, Again, here's another opportunity in Africa, but it would have to be volunteer!)

Apparently, I omitted an important word in my last posting. There are 2.5 MILLION orphaned children in Kenya alone.

I will be glad to get home, but this is far off, and now I'm feeling like I want to contribute. This is a huge undertaking for one family....and affects so few children. It brings tears to my eyes as the challenge is so daunting and they are so young. One thing for sure, these kids are lucky, and they know they are loved. I hope that's enough to overcome the obstacles ahead.