PaRt 1: KeNyA...... (really long!!)

How do you begin to sum up pretty much the "MoSt AmAzInG" experience ever? I honestly do not even know where to begin or how to put into words the events, feelings, sights and friendships I have made while spending time in WONDERFUL Kenya!!!

PICTURES ARE WORTH 1,000 WORDS....So enjoy!

Knuckles with the kids...

Deena and I outside O.R.



Video of inside of the pediatric ward...such terrible conditions
and my first steps inside
I will never forget!

Grass area outside of O.R.

Main O.R. room

This was the chart they had hanging outside the O.R.
that gave the cost of services....Don't see that in the U.S.

My Favorite little buddy....James.
He is such a special guy and he totally stole my heart.
Seeing these pictures makes my eyes well up .
When we were checking out all the patients to see who
would be a candidate for surgery when we came across him.
Just look at that face....
We gave him the little green frog on the first day and he had it in his hands
every time I saw him after that...he loved it.

James has a large tumor on his fore arm and the Doc's
were sure they could take it out. Upon prep for the surgery,
Doc's came across a second tumor in his arm pit.....
Therefore, became aware that the tumors were spread though out his body.
He was no longer a candidate for surgery because
his condition is fatal.
The doctor's told me James only has a month or so to live.
It is hard to see such a precious child with something that cannot be fixed.
Every time I was at the hospital I had to run in and give him
a big fat squeeze...
He would giggle and squeeze me back and ask me to play with him and his green frog!

He is such a sweet kid and never once when I saw him did he not have
ThE BiGgEsT Smile
on that cute face of his.
Since I have been home I have not stopped thinking of him
and praying for him and his family...

Kate brought a Polaroid camera and on the last day we were there
we went and
took pictures of the children who were dying
for their families..
I am crying just remembering
the Mothers faces
.... we handed them the pictures and them not knowing that within months
that would be the only memory of their sweet child.

James and his
green frog..

I just
couldn't
keep my eyes off him..

Video of James (you can hear his addorable laugh... I miss it!)
and two cuties playing outside the pediatric building. If you listen closely you can here
Omar's shoe squeak.
It was the funniest thing ever.
He was wearing these girl shoes with flowers on them and every time he would walk they would squeak.
He thought they were the coolest.

They all just loved us...

We visited the Maternity ward and passed out blankets and washable diapers to the new mothers. This was an amazing experience...they were so grateful and emotional. They couldn't put them on their babies fast enough. This sweet woman wanted me to hold he baby and then when I attempted to give her back she put her arms behind her back and
asked me if I could take her angel home with
me and give her a good life and love her.....
I walked out of the ward in tears ......
how thankful I am for all of my countless blessings....I have such a WONDERFUL life!

Suited up to enter the O.R. for a surgery..

Gate outside one of the orphanages we visited and did service for....

The most addorable girl ever!!
I would have taken her home if I could have.
She is the same girl in the header picture. Her parents died from A.I.D.S.
she was living at the orphanage.


This little guy was at the orphanage as well.
His parents died of aids and he was disabled.
The dog, I was told was a stray that entered the orphanage and
instantly became the boys protector.
His dog never left his side
and if anyone got within 3 feet of the boy the dog would growl.
What a sweet boy he was. As long as he had his dog around
nothing could ever get to him or harm him,
What a blessing that little dog is to him.

Travis and I playing red light, green light with the kids....
it didn't take them
very long to catch on and
they loved it....

I just love little donkey's....
aren't they so dang cute?

Girls in the village called
"Muranda"

These three kids and their lamb walked behind my
friend and I for about a mile
giggling and whispering.
Every time we turned around they would act
like they weren't following us...
it was really cute. When I started talking to them
they asked me to take a picture.
The children love getting their picture taken
and then looking at it on the camera.

We purchased a cow
for the village of Shiswa from this family!
These are all brothers and sisters and they live in the home below....

Thanks for those who donated $ we were able to use some
to purchase a pregnant cow for the village of Shiswa.
We walked for several miles to get to the home.
The women from Shiswa in the pink dresses came along
to pick out their village cow.
Once they had chose the cow We had a ceremony were
they sang and blessed the cow.
It was such an amazing experience to be there and witness.
The villagers were so
grateful
and will now have a way to provide some income for other needed
things by selling/trading the milk and eventually eating the meat
when it is too old. The cow cost $700 American dollars.

Village house in Shiswa

McKenzie, Me and Kate at the Shiswa orphange/school.
They put on a soccer game for us
to honor and thank
IOOQW for funding a well to allow them water.

A young girl who took a
break from the field
to check out the soccer game.
She wanted to give me the cabbage,
I told her to keep it and I gave
her a chocolate chip granola bar and
she was all smiles after that!!




How can you not love these kids...
they are so amazing and they can't
get close enough to you.
McKenzie and I sat on a bench at the soccer game
and within minutes
we were swallowed up by the kids...
it was awesome.
I loved every minute of it.

Africa is an amazing place...
I am forever changed by everything I have experienced in the time I spent there,
Life is to short to worry about small things...
LIVE IN THE MOMENT
and never take anything you have for granted....