"I'm Afraid You've Caught the Gobloots... from the Blu-Shoo Bird"

See, thats what I'm NOT trying to hear upon my arrival back home from Kenya.

Although the practice of injecting weakened germs into my body is repulsive and probably damaging in the long run, the alternative is certainly not better.
Yesterday I visited the travel clinic for a consultation on what vaccinations I will need. Here is the prognosis:

A Yellow Fever shot, which I can pay $130 for, or for $30 less come back and be injected with a group of test monkeys.

A Prescription for Malaria, which I can pay $140 for pills that I take once a day w/o side effects, or I can pay $10 for a prescription BUT will have to continue to take for 28 days after my trip, and will cause yeast infection of which I will need medication for as well.  REALLY?!

Hepatitis A, B

And perhaps some diarrhea medicine to top it all off.

Unfortunately I have failed the invincibility test and cannot "will away" dis-ease, so next week I will join the masses and take my injection like a big girl.

I'm so dramatic.

Scholarship Sponsorship Info

http://www.goanddolikewise.org/student_index.html


On this page you will find a list of candidates that have passed the National Test and who's needs have been accessed by the village leadership and GADL's GAD Kenya Board. We have listed them in order, from those highest at risk to those with only the need for tuition fees to be able to attend. All of these students need assistance, so if you would prefer to make a general scholarship donation please click here. Please scroll down through our list of student hopefuls and request that your donation go directly to a particular student. You can choose to fund a year's tuition all at once or through monthly installments. If your unable to offer a full year's tuition, but wish to contribute to an individual students general fund, you also have that option. 

Locked Up Abroad ~ ( A Random Thought)

You know that show on Nat Geo called Locked Up Abroad? I'm having thoughts of double checking any souvenirs I  get to make sure no EXTRA material is coming back with me. Lol! I know, I know.... I'm just  saying though. I'm not trying to be LOCKED UP abroad.. or anywhere for that matter. Huh? What's that extra stuff in there? No thanks!

Am I Excited?

 

So I'm in one of our weekly meetings not really paying attention to the presentation but instead in my head brainstorming things I can do to get me closer to my dream. In the middle of my legal pad I write something to the effect of, Lending Myself to Helping Others in Africa.  I kid you not, after the meeting my supervisor asked me stay behind. He said to me, "I think you should check out this website". He writes www.goanddolikewise.org on his legal pad and proceeds to tell me about the organization. As he is explaining, I turn to my dream steps page and let him read what I wrote. We shared an amazed stare. What a coincidence, I say. He tells me there are no coincidences. I really didn't think so either but I didn't want to come off too new age-ish. Anyway, to get to my point, it was at that moment I became excited. A door had been opened and I knew I was ready to finally go through it. From that day on, a year ago this month, the wheels were set in motion. I've placed myself in the videos, imagined myself in photos, did everything I could to make it as real for me as possible. It feels like I've experienced the journey already! So no, I'm not excited (right now). I'm actually pretty quiet inside. I feel like I've reached the peak of a mountain and there's nothing left to do but soak in the beauty. 

Meet my new friend Raphael Mogendi

I cannot wait to meet him in a few weeks! If you are interested in sponsoring a student, within a week or so we will have the student sponsor page up and a person will be able to go on line and look at and read a bit about the students and 'choose one' or let GAD Kenya assign. A group of us can join together to do this or how ever one may want. If anyone wants to sponsor now, I'll meet the student you'd sponsor as well. I can take your letters and pictures! The school year ends in December so it is just getting started.

The cost of one year education in high school (secondary) is $360.00.  It is as easy as writing a check or as easy as going to the web page and supporting through acceptiva at $30 a month. 

Think about it and let me know if you're interested.

http://www.gadkenya.org

Thanks!

Village Update 2/1/2010

VIA BUD POTTER:


I spoke with Pastor Kiefa Ontiri of Rionchogu village this morning, they are planning our visit, it will be a very busy time for us.  We will be there Easter weekend and there is considerable focus on their spiritual understandings.  On Friday they have a traditional  Easter church service and this should be a new experience for some of you.  They also meet for worship on Sunday and Monday but as we will travel on Monday we will miss that worship.  If we are successful in our attempt to fund a library then on Saturday we will be helping to build that library.
We will be meeting the students who have arrived home for the break and the women and girls will be gathering for a conversation on the advantages of education for women. Also on our agenda is a visit to a Masai village where two orphaned children are currently being  sponsored in school by GAD Kenya, this will be new for all of us.  We will experience the difference between the Masai village and the Kisii village.
There is a plan too for you to visit a family shamba (home) and we will visit families who have just received the newest calves from the cow project.  This project is working very well and the villagers are seeing how working together is such a benefit. We will also have the opportunity to sit and talk with many of the students who are currently being sponsored in secondary school.
Finally we are trying to fit a Tuesday tourist day in Nairobi.  Your trip will be filled for sure