Whirlwind last few weeks

Millions of dollars are generated each year in Kenya with the tourism industry. The lush, sprawling plains of the Masai Mara attract visitors for safaris, the ancient Swahili coastal towns bring people to the beaches and the crystal clear water of the Indian Ocean. Many people go to these places and then leaving saying they "have been to Africa". While this is true, many people don't the opportunity to see the "real" Africa. They see the Africa that the children who live in the slums only see pictures of. The only wildlife these children have seen is the chickens and goats running across the garbage filled streets to avoid being hit by the buses and vans that are barley held together. I have been lucky enough to have had the chance three times now to experience what the people who live here experience. It amazes me upon entering the slums how many young children are running around, some who don't have shoes on, without any supervision. Children as young as five are instructed to look out and carry their even younger siblings. As awful and depressing the slums are at first glance, once you able to look past all of that you realize they are beautiful in their own way. Most people are hard at work either building, transporting goods, selling food and clothes, or trying to get you to take a ride on a bus. All of this under the cloudless sky (at the moment) with the hot sun glaring down on them.
The past few weeks have been filled with trying to figure out how to become a registered NGO so that it would be easier to start bringing over volunteers, looking into buying land for the Robert Henry Academy, finding out how to go about registering as a children's home and what standards need to be met, and finding someone to do the profiles for the children. We have been trying to raise money from back home and a few weeks ago Chris was able to raise £900 in support of shaving his head after 7 years without a hair cut and 5 years with dreads. There is a picture below of him and I after it was all done.

We found out a few weeks ago that one of the boys at Cheryl's who is 12 has cancer. He has started chemo treatment and the tumor on this head seems to be going down but we don't want to start celebrating yet. He goes for treatment on Monday and stays over night and then comes back to the home during the day on Tuesday. He is exhausted most of the time so if he goes to school it is usually just for the morning classes.

Peter a few weeks ago (above); Peter after starting chemo. He has put on weight because of all the water he has been forced to drink. Right now he has an infection and a high fever so he has been in the hospital for the last 4 days and will probably stay there for a few more.

I had the chance to meet some friends that know my cousin from going to the same church in Florida. They were working with World Hope assisting with the medical clinics. I had the chance to see where they were working and where the organization has built up the surrounding community. They have basketball and soccer for children and whoever else wants to join and a huge hall for their church services. Across the road they have built a school for nursery up to class 8 and are in the process of building classrooms for high school. It is inspiring to see what they have done with the area in just a few years time.

World Hope, in the background past the soccer fields, is the primary school and the high school.

Chris and I took 3 of the older boys from Robert Henry and another boy we know who is studying here from Ethiopia to see Invictus at the cinema on Sunday. We bought popcorn and sodas to make it a real cinema experience for them. Since they are the oldest of the home they often do not enjoy the things that the younger children do so much. They really enjoyed the movie and enjoyed being treated like grow-ups. I asked one of the boys, George, if he had ever been to the cinema and he said no. Back home it would be crazy to think that a 17 year old boy has never been to the cinema, but here there are grandparents who have never seen a movie. It felt good for Chris and I to be able to do something for just for them.

This weekend one of the kids from Cheryl's, who I have known since 2007, has asked me to come to his house to see where he lives in Kibera.

Children who live in the surrounding houses

Bathrooms for the people to live in the area to useClinton, Freddy, and I in the alleyway leading to their homes.

The next few weeks are going to be very crucial in deciding what will happen with the future of The Robert Henry Academy is we can find land to build and have a permanent home for these children.