Christmas is almost here!

I can't believe that Christmas is next week! I've officially been in Kenya for five months. In some ways that is a long time, in other ways it feels like much longer. I would say that it doesn't feel like Christmas here, except that sometimes in Florida it does feel this warm in December.  

A couple weeks ago we had our elementary school Christmas program. My fourth graders played the recorder and rocked it! 

In my classroom we just finished up The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and students are independently reading Mr. Popper's Penguins (just like back home at Wauchula Elementary School). We got to have more in depth discussions about the Christmas story at Rosslyn and students really enjoyed hearing how the Herdmans really got into the story of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. We talked about how Jesus came for everyone. I introduced them to the next book about the Herdmans, The Best School Year Ever and now I have a long list of readers who are dying to read it!

In our Kenyan Culture class students got into the Christmas spirit by making ornaments out of recycled items. If you're still looking for ways to decorate your house or tree, find some plastic bottles, paper rolls, bottle caps, or old magazines to recreate some of these great designs.

Bottle Cap snowmen

bottle cap snowmen

bottle cap snowmen

Fun ornament made out of a plastic bottle and some shredded plastic.

Kids painted the bottom of plastic bottles.

Plastic bags were braided together like friendship bracelets- looks really cool when you have different colored plastic bags. 

Some students used old magazines to make these really neat looking ones. 

Old puzzle pieces were glued together  to make wreaths and other designs. 

These are made from toilet paper rolls...just cut and tie together

Add paint...and lots of glitter!

This was a crowd favorite and so easy!

Another group, Jacaranda Kids, came to assist our students in sewing Christmas stockings. Kids had to trace a pattern on the fabric, cut it out, then use a needle and thread to sew it together.

 

love the tie and shirt combo here

They learned different stitches.

It happened to be wacky tacky/hippy day at school.

They did so great!

such crafty kids!

finished product

Items that Jacaranda Kids makes and sells

Jacaranda Kids items

What's more exciting is that this weekend my parents will visit! I'm very happy to get to play tour guide and show them around Kenya. Merry Christmas everyone!

Kinga Africa, Take Two

From back in November....

Can you imagine dentists coming to a school in the States and after a brief presentation all the kids lined up (single file) and waited to have their teeth checked? I can't. But that's just what happened today when Kinga Africa put on a dental clinic at Garissa Primary School outside the Kiandutu slum in Thika.

lining up for a check up!

I had the chance to go out with Kinga Africa again this morning. This time my roommates, our friend/ coworker/fearless leader Sarah, and I went out to Thika to Garissa Rd. Primary School just outside of a slum area. It wasn't a school day, so kids of all ages where hanging out, but the promise of dentists and new toothbrushes was incentive for folks to come out and see what was happening. Once word got out more and more people showed up.

Lindsey playing

The last time I went out with Kinga Africa (a Kenyan organization committed to educating youth about proper hygiene) a few of us went to a few schools out in villages. On this particular Saturday various volunteer groups were involved in the activities. 

Sweet Amber chatting it up with the kids

The Kinga Africa folks gave the talks about hand washing and brushing teeth. Once they finished, children and parents lined up for their exams. A group of dental students came to do the dental exams. They even pulled teeth if it was necessary. Children proudly carried away new toothbrushes and toothpaste. It was great to see families there to hear what the presenters had to say. 

Another group donated bags and bags of clothing, shoes, and household items. Since we couldn't exactly help with the dental exams, we sorted the clothing into piles in a spare classroom. Once we sorted the items into piles we did an inventory of everything that was donated. 

Sarah sorting clothes

sorted and inventoried 

Some students from one of the colleges in the area came to volunteer and offer their services, too. 

Dental exams

We had fun hanging out with the children and playing games. I enjoyed having my hair done or "cut" by many of the little girls. We also played soccer with some of the boys and hand clapping games with the girls (I need a refresher on Miss Mary Mack). It was fun teaching the kids songs I knew, then playing their version. I learned the Kenyan version of "Down, Macaroni, Athada..." Lindsey played Ring-Around-the-Rosies with a group, Amber had a little one latch on to her, and Sarah Withera literally ran around with kids from one point to another. Outside the room where the teeth pulling was happening children were playing a game like jacks with rocks. 

playing a game of jacks

It amazes me the ingenuity you can see here. Some kids had soccer balls; others made their soccer balls out of grocery bag plastic and rubber-bands. 

sweet girls

I'm thankful to have met Francis and his team of go-getters who are so dedicated to reaching out to the children and youth of Kenya. Today was an amazing effort of teamwork among various groups. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to  participate in what God is doing through Kinga Africa in this beautiful country.