Finishing Up....

This morning I made 4 litres of the best fruit juice you've ever had. I am staying in my dutch friend Ellen's house for the remaining time while she is away and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of her place very much. She has a great blender that I put pawpaw fruit, oranges, mangoes and a pineapple into and it was beautiful.

Christmas is in the air even here. Though it's getting hotter, the people seem slightly more jolly as things are slowing down. This morning on the way to this cyber I was called out to on the street more than usual. It might be a child saying "How ah you?" or a man challenging me, "Coro Madam?!" When I actually reply in Luo I feel like the whole street bursts out in an amused laughter. Kenyans laugh a lot. This I couldn't love more.

Yesterday I was able to meet with the MICH staff and give a brief presentation on effective leadership. It was a very good meeting that helped to point out some of the problems within MICH. It will be interesting to report to CIDA how governance effects the work of an NGO in a developing country. By now, (fortunately and unfortunately) I have a lot to go on.

I'm beginning to form a thesis for my final paper on how the roots of poverty are deeply relational. At first I didn't think I would be able to do much with this but now, I feel like I could write a book.

This past weekend for international HIV & AIDS day, I went out with a group of counselors and testers and we tested hundreds of people in the rural areas. It is a good thing to see that they are working to eliminate the stigma associated with the disease. The boys who have been meeting me for guitar lessons are catching on, the only problem is teaching them to tune it. I have two more days of lessons. I want to make sure I leave knowing it will be put to best use.

Since it seems my work is done with MICH and holiday season starts early here, I think I will try to get to the coast and Mombasa with some Dordt friends who also happen to be on CIDA internships in Kenya. Small world. It will be nice to have a break from the complexities of the organization and start to establish how to bring this stuff home.

Happy belated sinterklass! I wish I could be in Holland now... about 1 week then HOME!!