Monday, December 9, 2013

When the wonder just isn't there...

In all honesty I have a difficult time finding the wonder in this "most wonderful time of year."

As the holidays are bustling around us, I find myself in a familiar state of melancholy amidst this holiday season. (My real wish is for this time to come and go as quickly as possible and to wake up on January 2nd and start anew.)
Merry and bright, I know ... I said it out loud ... Are you still with me?

The days seem long,
Sometimes the nights feel longer
Yet time is continually marching on...
So I must continually seek my truth in a season that feels void of the wonderful.

There is magnificent wonder in my life and it has nothing to do with this time of year. This is the truth in which I need to fix my eyes and my heart.

My life is blessed beyond measure with family and friends who love me and above all else a God who made me, exactly as He intended me to be for this very time.
Sigh.

Near and far, people have touched my life beyond measure this year alone - From loving the love-less and being graced with infectious spirits in Kisumu, Kenya, to late night talks with old and dear friends, to soul baring & joy seeking on a sofa, to cookie baking / dancing / singing / giggling with my nephews & niece, to bringing out the sassy & classy thirty-something - this is where I MUST find "my" wonder.

There is passion and love and purpose here and inside my heart.
There is also immeasurable gratitude for the love and support that is shown to me, daily.
There is so much more ...

When I feel alone, shrouded in darkness and cannot find my words or hear my own voice - this is where I need to believe.

Joy comes in the morning.








Friday, October 18, 2013

Storytelling... but how much do you want to know?

I've been home from Kenya one week now. Almost back into the routine swing of things so to speak and I'm coming to terms with the idea that it will continue to take time for me to process everything I encountered. 
The experiences were heavy, yet they are real and they are mine.

So many people have expressed excitement and curiosity about this trip and what we experienced. As I've struggled with what to share and how, a wise counselor gave me some much needed advise to preface my storytelling with two questions "How much do you want to know? and Why?"

With that being said, I also want to honor the stories and people who touched my life during my time in Kenya as I sort through all God has laid on my heart.

*Reader discretion is Advised* the below contains brief, yet unimaginable real- life details about the lives & circumstances of innocent children in Kisumu, Kenya. 

A 10 year old boy is abandoned by his mother…he traveled  alone, on foot to Kisumu looking for her, based on where others said she had gone.
He slept under a tomato stand each night after the woman who set-up shop on a daily basis went home.
He met a family one evening in the pouring rain who saw his need for love, shelter and safety...His smile and laugh are infectious. Sometimes he goes to the slum to see his birth mom, but the visits are brief and he doesn't say much once he returns home.
He is 12, he likes hugs and Spiderman.   He is loved.


A 14 year old boy’s mother was so overwhelmed with mental instability or perhaps the reality of her world that she boiled water and poured it over his skin …
He was invited to live with a family in a safe home and continue his education. His “foster” dad sees his mother in the slum and she tells them she will do it again.
He is incredibly smart, waking at 3:30am daily to study. He will hopefully attend a college in America after boarding school. 
Turns out he is 18 years old, he is quiet but he likes riddles.  

A 6 year old boy is rejected by his family. His mother has passed and he lives with his father and step-mother. He is not fed regularly. His age is hard to fathom, because he is the size of an average 2 year old, weighing about 20 pounds. His father gets angry – result is a machete wound to his tiny skull. The stitches have healed over the past three weeks, so it’s just a small visible scar now.
My heart aches for the invisible scars tho… His smile and giggle are imprinted in my mind.
He is 6 years old. 

A 12 year old girl lies by herself in a hospital bed while receiving a blood transfusion. She has sickle cell anemia, this is not her first time in Russia hospital. We sit with her for a while.
Her parents have both died, so she lives with an uncle and aunt. The uncle works all day, the aunt does not come to visit.
She is discharged on a Monday, yet Wednesday she is still there, alone again but looking stronger. Her uncle cannot pay the bill, therefore she cannot leave. There’s a guard at each door.
The total is 7,384 Kenya Shillings - $87 US dollars. Deep breath, we can help her. Her uncle can pay half, so we pay the balance. Thursday she gets to go “home.” 
She has the sweetest voice and smile. She likes storybooks and school. 

They arrive to school each day at 6am. They leave each day at 6pm. Twelve hours a day, Monday through Saturday.  Most of them won’t receive food outside of RingRoad – where they serve three meals a day, plus morning porridge. They do not have electricity or running water at home in the slum.
Most of them do not get hugs or encouragement at home either. After class 8, most of their futures are unknown. It is especially difficult for the girls, a high school education is not common, let alone college or university.
She dreams of becoming a pilot...
She dreams of becoming a teacher...
She dreams of becoming a doctor...



They are 16 months old. They sit and crawl on the dirt outside of their home, she is completely naked and he has on a shirt that is soaking wet. Diapers are expensive and a luxury in Kenya, let alone in the slum.
They are small, undernourishment nearly took their lives a few months ago but they are growing stronger. He is working on his army crawl, maybe he will stand and take a step soon. She cries and wants to be held close.
Their mom is working hard on hand washing clothes, she smiles brightly but her mind is not all there so she keeps scrubbing.
He keeps crawling. She keeps crying.


The life changing impact each one of these sweet souls has left on my heart... Please continue dreaming, keep searching, keep reading stories, continue to learn, keep your hearts open to hope and love and change.
I'm working on this too...

xo,
Mandy



“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.” -Anne Lamott

Friday, October 11, 2013

Safe return

Hi - A quick update to say that I am safely home in Georgia after an amazing time in Kisumu, Kenya.
26 hours of planes, layovers and a little sleep I'm back in the office today sorting through 300+ emails... so fun  :)
Grateful to see my family yesterday and they were all relieved to have me back - I enjoyed sharing with my little nephews about my trip as they scanned photos and videos on my iPhone and inquired about why I was in Africa and why those children needed love & support - Emory has already claimed Obama as a new friend and wanted to make sure the rest of the family knew who about it too. "Papa, look at Obomba"
They have sweet hearts and I am grateful and amazed to see the world through their eyes.

Many thanks again for the outpouring of support - this experience has been life changing in so many ways and I look forward to sharing more in the days to come after some much needed reflection and rest.

xo,
Mandy



Sweet kids from Lake Victoria school - My God is so big





Thursday, October 10, 2013

Last day in Kisumu...bittersweet

Hi everyone a glimpse into my final day in Kenya ... heart is heavy and full but wanted to share some of this day and will add more when I am able to find the words to adequately capture this experience.
Grateful for the journey and know that my life is blessed beyond measure to have been a part of this community and to have met these amazing, brave, strong little souls.

Blog regular ... Obama 
Goodbye hugs with these special new friends at RingRoad

Cancer Ward at Russia Hospital -
Sweet Lameck, Valery, Austin & Gideon

They loved their new coloring books and SOCKS!

Melvine - She was still in the hospital Wednesday to our surprise.
Discharged but unable to pay their bill, so they cannot leave :(

Life in the Nylenda Slum - final walk about

From a Tuk Tuk to the airport & I'm off
Humbled and blessed by all of your support throughout these past two weeks in Kisumu.
I truly felt your love & prayers across the oceans and it carried us through each day.

xo,
Mandy


"Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a moment of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich even when it contains a splinter of sadness. "  Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Tuesday's Photo Journal

A few snapshots from the day - trying to get in as much as I can before I make my way back to Georgia...
Tuesday smiles from Obama

Walking through the slum towards the Support Group
HIV Support Group -
courageous, vulnerable & inspiring group of people 
Elder Mama at the Support Group - she requested a photo!

The women here are so strong - they carry such heavy loads
Nylenda slum


Can't get enough of my Obama buddy - going to miss him :(


Sarah-Chris, Mama Vivian & Heidi 

Meeting little Sarah-Chris (named after the Nicholson's)
She had a rough go with Hydrocephalus but is  recovering
Sweet Lillian - aka Lily of the Valley
She greeted me many days as I walked through the slum towards RingRoad
Margaret & Terry - sweet girls



Hippo sighting on Lake Victoria -
Hippo Pointe

xo,
Mandy

Monday, October 7, 2013

Lake Victoria School & Agape Boys Home


 Today we had the opportunity to visit some kids in other parts of Kisumu. Our first stop was Lake Victoria School for Vulnerable Children. After learning about this little school last week, we coordinated with their director to visit and bring along some much needed necessities for these kids. The director of this school John, along with his son Wycliffe are trying so hard to help these children receive an education and provide a place to attend school within their community where they have very little. Thanks to the generous support from family, friends and coworkers we came to Kenya with 3 suitcases full of donations for the kids in Kisumu. New boys & girls underwear, cloth diapers, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, pencils, sharpeners, crayons, pens, coloring books, markers, sticker books, new & gently used kids shoes, reading glasses and lollipops. These precious kids were the benefactors of your support today and it was a blessing to be a part of paying it forward.

A little means a lot :) These boys were so excited!
Lake Victoria School for Vulnerable Children
(The kids came running to greet us!)

Primary kids at Lake Victoria School

Me, Cassi, Wycliffe & Heidi - Lake Victoria School

Our second visit of the day was at Agape Boys Home in Kisumu. This organization is an outreach ministry to "street boys" in Kenya and provides a safe, caring, and rehabilitative environment. A life on the streets is an acceptable way for many Kenyan boys as a result of family poverty, abandonment and abuse. My friend Vince met a young boy, Derek in Kisumu last year who was living on the streets at age 12 and he has been going through Agape's transitional program for the past several months. We spent about an hour with him today and he appears to be thriving and learning and in a much better place than when Vince last saw him.
I had the opportunity to chat with some other boys while they visited and met some truly bright kids - all ranging in age from 11 - 14. 
Daniel is 11 and he arrived at Agape last night - Both of his parents and uncle have died, leaving him without a nearby relative to look after him. He was happy to be there and to have slept in a bed & eaten a real meal :) 

Daniel - 11 years old
Vince & his buddy Derek 



















Feeling a bit heavy-hearted tonight as my time in Kenya will soon be coming to an end. It is so hard to wrap my head around the whys and what ifs of this world and to make sense of circumstances and situations I have seen over the past 9 days in Kisumu.

Thank you for following my journey and for the outpouring of love and encouragement.


To end on a happy note - a little Obama love from the day!

xo,
Mandy

Sunday, October 6, 2013

A weekend in Kisumu

Friday at school is somewhat of a "free day" for the kids - filled with play time and a whole lot'a dancing! (Videos to come once I return home...) These African kids have some serious dancing skills and tried their best to teach this "mzungu" girl some rhythm : )
Dancing on the dirt - Kisumu style
(this girl does not have what it takes, but wasn't afraid to try!)


The Nicholson Clan -
Iddy , RuthMichael, Sarah, Chris & Oscar - amazing group to say the least
 Friday night we made our way outside of town with a small group of new friends, to a "farm house" situated on a beautiful hillside for some much needed r&r and a little quiet. The getaway was primarily in honor of Heidi (mine & Cassi's gracious host) who is ending her time of service as a nurse in Kenya in a couple of weeks and will be moving back to the U.S.It was a nice little getaway and opportunity to recharge and see a greener more peaceful side of Kenya.
Kenyan hillside 

Enormous tree ... should have climbed it!


Sunset

Sunday was another full and rich day - After not so graciously falling & busting my knee on the way into the slum, things most definitely improved as the day went on :) 
(I dare you to pour alcohol-based hand sanitizer onto a nasty scrape...guaranteed for some intense FUN!)
We started out by visiting RingRoad Church where we enjoyed some beautiful Swahili songs of praise, an inspirational message from one of my cohorts Vince (translated into Swahili by Pastor George) and sweet time with some of my buddies from this past week at RingRoad Orphan Day School.
Sunday church with some of the kids!
(The girls pooled their money and gave me the necklace & earrings AND a headband)
#heartisfull
We all split up for awhile in the afternoon as Cassi is somewhat under the weather today and Vince and some guys from school had plans. I decided to venture back to Russia Hospital and check in on dear Melvine. She is doing so much better and our hope is that she may be discharged tomorrow. I enjoyed surprising her and spending time with her and a few other kids.She was up to taking a little walk, so we went out back into the sun and discovered two old see-saws. A few other kids followed suit and we had some wonderful play time which garnered some smiles from these cute kiddos. Please keep this special girl in your prayers as she does not have much of a support system and most likely does not receive a lot of "tlc" at home living with her uncle(who works all day) and aunt (who has not visited her at all the past 5 days in the hospital). It is such a tough way of life for the majority of kids here, yet her spirit is captivating. She is incredibly bright, gentle and kind and I truly believe God has put her in my life for a reason.
Sweet Melvine - Feeling better at Russia hospital
& impromptu play time with some other kids

Day in the life of an animal in Kisumu...
Kenya Wildlife
Cows on the sidewalk; Chicks in the slum;
Scary "guard" dog at our compound: & Goats about 6 feet away during church!

Happy weekend all and thanks for following along and for supporting me in this journey, along with the continuous love and encouragement.

xo,
Mandy




Friday, October 4, 2013

Sweet baby love & new nappies!

Hi guys - meet precious #1 and #2 ~
This is Idda (girl) and Riala (boy) twins in the slum I met on Tuesday - They are 16 months old and as you can see they are so very tiny. Sarah & Chris have been so great to help this family in such dire need. When they first heard about these babies late last fall, they were about 10 months old and each only weighed about 8 pounds. Sarah now takes them a special porridge several times a month with added nutrients, like soy and protein and on Friday's she gets them and brings them to school for bath time - Today, I got to partake in some sweet baby lovin' (Aunt Panda has been deemed a bath whisperer at times, today was a success as well!)
We walked over to get the babies and sweet little Idda (in my arms below) was not wearing any clothes & Riala was in a little onesie that was soaking wet. They have no money and these babies have never been in diapers.
We showed their mama how to use the new cloth diapers & "nappie" covers that were kindly donated from some of my Alternative gang!


Baby love with little Idda 
Bath time
Priceless moment, Idda - #babywhisperer

Sarah & little Raila getting lotion & new diapers

Me & Idda, Sarah & Railia and our sweet helpers at school!
Thank you Alternative team - MK, Estela & crew for the cloth nappies!
These babies were in great need :)


 Loving on these babies today was truly a blessing and I kindly ask you all to keep these two littles in your thoughts and prayers!

#lovewins

xo,
Mandy

TOMS & other things

Obama the man - Cannot get enough of him! This is his school book!

TOMS shoe fitting with Terry 



TOMS shoe fitting - Amazing to see this in action & the excitement on the kids faces
Fabish & Alex - awesome helpers, along with Cassi & Chris Nicholson 
#TOMS
Tuk Tuk - this is our daily transportation 
A quick update and a few photos to share! Today was another great day! We started out at the school and to my surprise a TOMS shoe representative selected RingRoad kids to become a part of their program. I've followed this organization for a couple of years and I am proud to see it in action - for all of you TOMS fans, all 390 students will receive a pair of shoes this coming week once we complete the sizing AND once they are enrolled in the program, they will receive a new pair EVERY year until they are 18.
Cassi and I had the pleasure of sizing the kids and the look of excitement on their faces was pure joy!

I also had some quality time with my little Obama man - this kid is getting brighter and brighter each day! He had been to class & had completed a few assignments and was excited to show me his school book. We practiced writing his name and working on colors again today.

After lunch I took a solo trip back to Russia Hospital to visit two of the girls I met on Wednesday. I simply could not get them out of my mind, so I gathered a stack of storybooks, got a TukTuk from a trusty driver and off I went. It was a blessing all around and I am so thankful I followed my gut and went back. I went to the Obama Children's Ward first to check in on Melvine, who was undergoing a blood transfusion the day before. She looked a lot better, was sitting up and attempting to eat a little bit. She loves storybooks, so I was most excited to share the animal themed books I was able to bring along. A few other kids in her ward toddled over and we all piled on Melvine's bed and I spent an hour reading aloud and letting them each pick a book to keep afterwards. This sweet girl is so bright and kind and I hope to have the opportunity to see her again before I leave Kisumu.
I then made my way back to the Cancer Ward and was greeted by the three cute boys from the day before - armed with the coloring books we left behind, they each had completed the ENTIRE book in one day. They were so excited to show me what they had done and it was so touching to see how much they enjoyed something so simple and common to us at home, yet a luxury for these sweet African kids. They lead me into their room, where all four of the kids beds and mama's were - Valery, the girl I spent time with the day before was recovering from her chemo treatment. She also had worked so hard on her coloring book as well!

Have to run, Internet is spotty and want to share the highlights!

Xo,
mandy

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Teacher & Friend

Another full day in Kisumu ~
We started our day as volunteers and visitors at Russia Hospital. Chris & Sarah have established a great presence there and usually visit the children every Wednesday. We spent the first hour or so with four sweet kids on the Cancer Ward - They all have Burkitt's Lymphoma, a malignancy most common to children in this region of Africa and is often caused by poor health and sanitary conditions. We came with lollipops, coloring books & crayons and were able to spread a lot of cheer. Cassi & Vince hung out with the three boys in their community space and I had the opportunity to sit in a room with a 10 year old girl Valery, who was receiving treatment. We sat together on a small sofa-like seat and took turns coloring pages in the book. When the nurse realized that I wanted to stay with her awhile during her chemo, they gave me a gown, gloves & mask to suit up - Valery thought it was hilarious and we made the most out of a tough situation.
It was a wonderful experience, moving in every way and I look forward to going back next week to visit again. 
We then moved over to the Obama Children's Ward to visit the other kids staying in the hospital. Armed with lollipops and smiles, we made the rounds through several areas and visited with some very sweet, yet sick kids. Imagine a hospital type setting from World War II and you are fairly close to what this hospital set up is like. Rows of metal beds, side by side - Most of the kids had a mama or relative with them in the bed or beside as they are not supposed to be left alone. The family is responsible for providing their own food, washing the children & washing their clothes. 
Sarah and I both had the chance to sit with the most beautiful girl Melvine (she is 12) and has Sickle Cell Anemia and was receiving a transfusion. She is in the care of her uncle, as both of her parents have died and he works most days until 9pm. She is incredibly bright, loves school and likes to read storybooks. She will most likely be there for one week, which she told me was typical for when she needs a transfusion. I'm hoping to go back and spend some more time with her :)

Cassi and the sweet boys at Russia hospital's Cancer Ward
Coloring books & Lollipops!



Later in the afternoon we made our way back to RingRoad to visit the kids and par-take in some teaching - 
(Yes, they asked me to teach?! go figure :) Cassi and I both spent time in Class 2, where I taught a lesson from their English workbook on completing sentences, correcting verbs, alphabetizing, etc. and she was brave to take on a Math lesson.
Afterwards, I met up with my new buddy Obama and we played in the courtyard for awhile - we worked on numbers, colors (he loves to say Purple!) and we did a few rounds of Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes! He is getting stronger everyday and the staff said that soon he will be ready to go to school. They've been giving him "Plumpy'Nut" several times a day and he is able to eat some solid foods like beans & maize and potatoes too! He has gained a kilogram (about 2.2 lbs) in the past week and a half since they met him. 

Mama & baby walking in the village aka slum of Nylenda
(This is the road we walk each day to RingRoad & back)

Class 2

Teaching an English lesson to class 2
(It was an experience to say the least!)

Class 2 

Sweet Rachel - she was very tired today!

Friends in Class 2


Amazing & life changing experiences all around.
Thanks for being a part of the journey and for the continuous love & support!

xo,
Mandy