Jambo!

I cant believe that i am writing this from my little maasai village in kenya, africa! i am really not even sure where to begin describing the incredible journey i have had so far and the provision the Lord has had over me! I arrived in Nairobi on monday night after a very very long trip! I absolutely loved the traveling on the way there and met some really neat people and felt like i was in a movie when i got to London and heard everyone speaking! I got to Nairobi safely and after grabbing my bags went to search for my name in a sea of African men holding up signs with names on them. I was thrilled to find my name and was greeted by Antony and quickly told him that we had just one more thing to do before leaving the airport- find the note Amanda left me! I pulled out my little list of clues she sent me and after walking around for about 10 minutes in found it!!! i couldnt believe it at all and Antony was just so confused the whole time and im sure he thought i was nuts! It was so fun to read amanda's handwriting and just have that greeting into africa! As we got into the car and started driving to the house i was going to be spending the first night at, i had such a great peace about my safety and really trusted that the Lord was protecting me and going to get me exactly where i needed to be! We arrived at the house and i was quickly greeted by two girls who lived there and served the volunteers and they came in and out. I was thrilled to meet a few of the volunteers that were just starting out and also a few that had been there for a few weeks! We had some Githeri for dinner and i was suddenly reminded that i was a picky eater. on tuesday we went to the Fadelhi offices for a day of orientation. i got to meet all of the other volunteers that were starting out and learned so much about kenya and all of the different projects that Fadelhi organizes. just in those couple of hours my heart for africa and kenya grew tremendously! we all received our assignments during this time and i found out that i was the only new volunteer at the Saikari village in the maasai lands. we also had the opportunity to sign up for safaris and extra volunteer projects for the weekends. Next weekend i will be going on a 4 day 3 night safari all over kenya with some of the girls i met and i am so pumped! ah! i cant wait to explore and see absolutely everything! the next weekend i will be doing an extra outreach project in the slums (where amanda is working now!) and will find out more about that later! After orientation they sent us on our way in the vans. It was a very long and very very bumpy road all the way out to my village. I kept thinking to myself... no wonder they dont have clean water and food supplies and other resources, there is no way to get it out here! That may be on my list of things i want to do in kenya- build a road! we finally arrived around 10 at night and i stepped out of the car into pitch blackness... they werent kidding with the whole no electricity thing. A maasai warrior greeted me at the van followed by another maasai woman carrying a lantern. They took me inside where i was introduced to the other volunteers who had already been at the site. there are six of us here... three teachers, one is helping out in the pharmacy in the clinic, me and one other nurse. I was completely surprised to find out that it was only going to be me and this one other nurse running the entire clinic but i was SHOCKED when i found out she was only going to be there for one more day!!! yes. that is correct. i am running a clinic by myself. assessing, diagnosing, prescribing, distributing shots, cleaning wounds, and possibly delivering a baby this weekend! what in the world?!? I seriously an so thankful that the Lord placed me here to work with this incredible people group! I feel very appreciated and needed despite my limited experience. Just to paint a picture for you... there is a small "designated area" called a toilet, a small building with some couches and a "kitchen"that resembled a cabin and a small area for the volunteers to sleep. The school is just down the dirt road and I can hear the kids playing outside during recess. My clinic is just right next to where i live and it actually a decent size with an exam room and little pharmacy area and a waiting area outside with some benches. The maasai people travel miles and miles to be seen at the clinic or to bring their children. so far i have seen a huge variety of illness and disease. There have been several cases of malaria, lots of wounds and infections from running around with bare feet, and some basic upper respiratory stuff. Sarah, the other nurse, sat down with me before she left and went over the basic meds they carry and the dose for adults and children which was so helpful! i feel much more confident in being the doctor/nurse/pharmacist here now! she also reviewed with me how i would deliver this baby that is due this weekend. I have a strange feeling that she is just going to deliver at home even though they are encouraged to come into the clinic to give birth just in case there are complications. I surprisingly am not too nervous about this because i know i can only help. They normally do deliver in their house with no trained medical professional so having me there is almost like a tiny bonus. We'll just have to see what happens! Yesterday after we spent a long day at the clinic I found out that it was a regular routine to head to the pub down the street and spend time with the locals. I was so surprised to hear that but definitely wanted to see what a maasai pub looked like! It was this tiny wooden building with a few chairs in it and a pool table. since there was obviously no electricity it was lit with candles everywhere and i was cracking watching everyone play pool by waving the candle across the table and trying to see where all the balls were going! too funny! i love experiencing these new things and learning all about the culture here! The women are beautiful and dressing in fabrics of elaborate colors and covered in beaded jewelry! the men always carry a sword on their belt and a stick in hand and seriously look like they are always ready to hunt. Yesterday I was able to meet one of the biggest and most well-know man of the tribe. He is a legend for killing a lion with his hands and daggar and after taking one look at him i had no doubt it was true! :) I havent seen much wildlife yet but I believe we are going on a giraffe search on saturday! so great cause i LOVE giraffes!!! I have started to pick up on just a little bit of the language but its so hard to understand! we had a women come in today with abdominal pain and after assessing her i decided she was actually pregnant! I measured her and everything and she is 4 months along! try telling someone they are pregnant in a different language... not easy but very entertaining to watch! Ok... I feel like i have written a novel but i just have so much to say! i will have to write more later but until then... JAMBO!!!!

oh and i now have a maasai name... mayana! I was named by a little girl so that is what they call me now! so fun! :)