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I ran around this morning preparing for dinner at Margaret and Daniel's this evening. We explained our Canadian tradition of bringing something for the host and hostess when you're invited for dinner. Nicole and I also bought little gifts for Frank, Edwin, Margaret/Daniel and the teachers as a token of our appreciation for taking such good care of us while we've been here. It was only fitting to purchase a bottle of wine each since they so enjoyed the wine we had at dinner. We also bought pop and chips for the kids, a cake for dessert and had many of the photos we've taken over the last week processed and put in an album for the school. We processed a larger photo of all of out for dinner and put them in a frame for each of them. It feels so good to be able to do this little thing for these gracious and generous people. On the way here, I picked up maple syrup and Canadian Polar Bear Droppings (chocolate covered cashews) at the airport in Toronto. We also put these things in their gift bags.
I didn't make it into Tenderfeet until lunchtime today. I was
disappointed to miss, but happy to hear that the kids watched Shrek this morning on the new tv we purchased. Apparently the excitement was at a fever pitch. They just got through the movie when the power went out again. We originally thought it was out in all of Kibera like the other day, but it turned out the preacher at the church next to the school disconnected it on purpose. This is where we ran the wires to earlier last week and this is also the place that Margaret and the children were kicked out of before the school was finished. Margaret explained that the preacher did not want them to stay at the church any longer and was very mean about putting them out before the school was done. Apparently he is jealous about all the great things that have been happening at Tenderfeet. My question is, what kind of man of God is he? Who could do this to a bunch of innocent little kids? The worst part is that he doesn't even own the power himself and is tapping into the same source that the school was tapping into as well. The landlady of the property
did speak with him and apparently gave him heck, questioning how he could what he did leaving the kids with no lights again. It didn't really do any good in the end and an alternate plan is being devised to reconnect to another source. Just another day in what can be an everyday struggle in Kibera.
The kids are so loud this afternoon after lunch and Margaret explains that they are so excited about their trip to Momba Village tomorrow. Their parents are picking them up an hour earlier today so they can go home and rest for their big day tomorrow. We're crazy excited too, especially as Nicole will be able to spend the whole day with us now that work is finished today. I took the bus with Edwin to the supermarket to purchase a battery charger and rechargeable batteries. The digital camera that they are using uses disposable batteries and I can't get over the price of them. This way it won't cost money continually for Edwin to take the photos that Dax uses to update the Tenderfeet website. I cherish the updates on the website to see what is happening at the school and appreciate
the fact that Dax and Edwin go to so much trouble on a regular basis to keep us all informed. This is actually how I found Tenderfeet - their website stands out above the rest in terms of current information and photos.
Nicole finished early today and headed back for a nap before dinner tonight in Kibera. Once we were ready, we headed back to meet at Margaret and Daniels for 8pm. I have not been into Kibera in the evening and I can say it took half the time since there was no traffic, but was shocked about how dark it is. People who can afford it have a flashlight, but otherwise you're on your own. It must be treacherous walking along the roads since they are so rough. It is so dark with little to no light that all you can see are shadows of people, lots of people, still out and about before settling in for the evening.
We made it into Margaret's for what turned out to be one of the best evenings we've had. Edwin and Frank joined us as well and Margaret made an incredible spread for us. We enjoyed a bottle
of wine and everyone was surprised and so happy to receive their gifts. The maple syrup was a big hit and we left the recipe for french toast! Not thinking, we didn't bring a corkscrew and there wasn't one to be found anywhere. So Nicole pulled out one of her pary tricks using a bobby pin to let air between the bottle and corkscrew, but instead of pushing the cork in, we pulled it out with forks no less. Where there's a will there's a way!
We spent the evening talking about everything...especially Tenderfeet's vision of a bigger school with 150 children on a much larger plot of land. We're hoping to help them realize this dream over the next while as the hope that they provide now for the 50 children they have is so incredible.
Great night!
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