We got up early, loaded into the van and headed for Thika, a town of @70,000 people 120 km NE of Nairobi. Located in the highlands of the mountain range that includes Mt. Kenya and Mt. Kilimanjaro, this is mainly an agricultural region known for coffee and pineapple plantations. It is also home to 14 Falls and Thika Falls, the site of many Tarzan movies. We didn't actually stay in town, instead we were out in the countryside. Our guest house was located in the shadow of Ol Donyo Sabuk - Buffalo Mountain - considered sacred by the local tribe.
After checking in and eating lunch, we drove further out into the countryside to visit churches and schools in several settlements. At last, it was time to hand out dresses! (And shorts for the little boys). This had to be the most fun (and rewarding) part of the trip. The children were dressed in dirty rags and to see their eyes light up when they realized that they were getting brand new clothes was amazing. We visited a total of 4 sites this afternoon and handed out dresses at each one. The children sang for us and we played with them. There was lots of laughter and hugs. By the time we returned to our compound, it was nearly dark and we were exhausted. Before going to bed, I had the opportunity to see the Southern Cross. It had been a GREAT day!
No comments:
Post a Comment