One week down, the start to the next...

It is hard to believe that we have completed one week of classes already and with such great students dedicated to their art. We have continued to see the exploration of their creativity in both their style and their medium. Watching the developments in Oil Paints, is profound and leaves Margaret and I somewhat in shock. Today was a day of lots of great pieces of art being created, watching the process of discernment occur when the students have to step back and reflect on their pieces, sometimes put them away and then comeback to them when they have had time to figure out their issues. It is very refreshing to think that they have progressed so quickly in such a short window. Beatrice came through the classroom this Friday and all she continued to say is that she had no words. She had no idea and no words.

After class, we had our afternoon schedule of lunch, then back to the ranch before dinner with Ken Okoth and the Children of Kibera Foundation scholars. Ken is a dear friend who founded Children of Kibera and the Red Rose Schools, who was raised in Kibera and then as I stated before was off to the US for his higher education. He is great, inspirational and making an impact. He helps get students in to Boarding with Scholarships and then works to get them into colleges and universities around the world. He asked me to be the keynote speaker at the event and it was nerve racking and exciting all at the same time. I had prepared remarks but they promptly went out the door. It was a great and inspiring event and Margaret and I were excited to be included. The students wanted pics taken with us and were really engaging, We sat with a table with three other students and it was a lively conversation. After that, we met up with Franco and had frozen yogurt and then back to the ranch.

Saturday Margaret found herself not feeling well so I ended up working with Forms 4 and Graduate Institute on the book art for the book Anna Celenza wrote "Song of Hope" about Kibera and David Dinda. It was great. Small group, about 8 students, half stayed and did art, the other half went with me to Kibera to take pictures. It was reentry shock for me as the new school is so nice and in a nice setting and the old school is not. Kibera is harsh and sometimes you forget this and since the school is no longer in the middle of Kibera, that was a bit of a reminder of the harsh reality of where our beloved students live. The trek down the muddy path to the old school was dirtier and more harsh then before and sewage was at every turn with kids walking through it. Harsh and hard. The old school repurposed as Foundation of Hope, David's organization definitely has a pulse and heartbeat and is truly serving peer to peer counseling, education, advocacy and peer to peer voice creation and community. It was great. We took pictures of the rooms and the street and books, all part of the art for the book. Harsh realities make me realize why we are here repeatedly, because of the smart, beautiful and important students.

Sunday, Margaret still not 100% ended up staying in to recover and I went to Nyeri to visit my Kenyan Family. It was great to be with The Ndirangu's and going to church with maitu (mom). She was a guest and was raising monies for the new priest home. She was a honored donor and it was nice to be in her congregation. This was also the first time with The Ndirangu's absent Anne Wangari, the daughter and my initial connection, she is working in Dadaab and could not join us but we will join her tonight.

It was nice at how excited maitu was to see me and how expressive she was. She also spoke to me directly as she often spoke through Awa (dad) before he died. Although I knew based on her age, she was raised in british Kenya and used to teach english, she never used it with me, yesterday was another story. She talked about all that God had given her even in the lose of her Husband last year and that she was prospering on the farm, managing it and hiring help to keep it growing. Such pride in her. First we went to church, returned to the home, she walked me to Samuel's grave site to pay respect and then she showed me around her land. She is amazingly adept at farming (duh) and is very organized in her approach. She is using many methods of gardening using the land under the coffee for snap peas, etc etc. She is on fire.

The home has been wired for power and gets electrified in September. The first time having power, we take so much for granted. After the walk through the property, we had roasted chicken, Makimo (a potato, greens and maze combo -yum), vegitables, etc. It was great. Then back to Nairobi...What a great day. Returning to Pedro Arrupe, the sanctuary, the ranch, was a treat to find Margaret feeling much better.

Today is another day, the start of week 2.

Thanks for being on this journey with us.

Be well,

Charles and Margaret.