Pizza's For Patrick
Last week, our dear friend Patrick (from SEED Junior Acadamy in Kibera) walked us all around his native home here in Ugenja District not far from where we are staying in Ukwala. First, he took us to the location where his project Seeds for the Planet is in its early stages of development. Quite the hike through some very beautiful landscape! After walking for 2 to 3 hours in the hot sun, we were delighted to finally ‘land’ ( at our destination: a small community full of warm smiles, beautiful children and wild animals.
We met Patrick's family here and were served an extravagant lunch – fresh chicken slaughtered and cooked earlier that day. It didn’t take much for Patrick’s grandmother to put a smile on my face, what a warm and beautiful person. When we arrived to her small village, she was sporting a stylish dollar store green sun hat all the way from Dollarama, Kingston – and brought to her by her beloved orphaned grandson: Patrick. Patrick’s sister was also a gem; extremely religious, warm and gracious – simply delighted we had come to visit. When I placed my red sun hat (I had been wearing at the time) on her head so she could match her grandmother, I was greeted with the most amazing response! She jumped up and down and yelped and bowed and crossed her hands in prayer form, nodding and bowing quite frequently - pure Joey styles. It was amazing. I had no idea that one small gesture could really take someone's breath away the way it did Patrick sister's that day.
Eating freshly cooked chicken and ugali was a definite treat, but my favorite part of the visit came when the community began to crowd their way into the hut to welcome complete strangers to their home! Such an interesting family dynamic – and were they ever thrilled when Alison and I began busting out the jazzy jewelry rings from Oh Anne and the shnazzy Toronto pins from Bill as souvenirs and reminders of their visitors from Canada.
I have decided that I will be organizing a private fundraiser called Pizza's For Patrick when I return to Canada. If you would like to support my friend Patrick - one of the most inspirational people I have ever met - please let me know via Facebook and you will receive a homemade pizza upon my return. Your donation of $25.00 will go directly to Patrick and his family for his continued success in life.
A little bit more about Patrick: At the age of three, he became an orphan and he was left completely on his own to find his own way at the age eleven. He currently has a wife and 2 girls under the age of three. Patrick hopes to one day be able to move back to the rural. This inspirational friend of ours, currently living in Nairobi and volunteering day-in and day-out at SEED Junior Acadamy is an amazing person with so much drive and determination. I know he will accomplish only the most fabulous things in life - but with a little help from his friends - I need your help to give him this boost!
Kisumu & Lake Victoria - this past weekend
This past Saturday, we had a very busy day in Kisumu doing some necessary shopping for the less fortunate, sponsorded students at Lifunga. All this shopping would not have happened so smoothly without the help of Steve Ogola who met us in Lifunga. Over the weekend day we managed to get toothpaste and toothbrushes, school uniform shoes, blankets, lamps for reading at night and a multitude of books!
Kenya is definitely a place where you must be so extremely careful of your surroundings –and possessions as I learned today – all the time. Luke, I love you more for being kind of worried about me travelling to a foreign place for necessary safety reasons. You definitely prepped me to have my radar on at all times. Speaking of which, at the Sunday market in Kisumu, our cell phone was pick-pocketed as I bought kangas and authentic spoons for cooking.
For lunch on Sunday, we sat facing Lake Victoria on the water with some local Kenyans, friends we had met through the Emerging Humanity NGO, and ate delicious fresh fish. (Marth I didn't speak for the entire meal. I finally understand where you're coming from). At lunch, I met a small boy with very sad eyes. Nothing out of the ordinary for the local Kenyans we were dining with, but seeing this sad child standing near our table begging for any small amount of money for his disabled mother I knew he had it rough. His childhood wasn’t that of any ordinary boy’s. His Sunday afternoon did not consist of singing or sport or large family activities, but rather begging for help. I decided to have the child bring us to his mother. The few minutes we shared with this disabled mother were the highlight to my day. Communication was minimal, but her eyes told me she was happy to see me.
I think I am one step closer to deciding my career path: to be a counselor and to help those in need through spreading a positive vibe. I really believe that people who help others, help themselves. I really am inspired by Kenyans. Na penda Kenya! This trip has opened my eyes to all that I am capable of in my life. In fact, it really has taught me a lot about myself! The people that I have met this past weekend in Kisumu are kind and welcoming, full of rich information and observations and, generally, have a very powerful presence. Capis, one of the locals we met, was the Captain of a competitive under 20s football team who may not have made it in competitive soccer, but has an amazing job as an HIV/Aids counselor working behind the scene with affected individuals.
Over the past 2 days, I have met two individuals who have it. The desired qualities of any successful counselor/mentor: an open heart & the desire to listen. Do I have it? Absolutely, I do. I feel it doesn’t really matter where I go with in life, but I know that I just want to hear people’s stories and use my strong and happy heart to help make a positive and lasting change in others lives.
Thank you everyone for giving me encouragement and support to be here. I am nowhere ready to come home in less than two weeks time. So much good is happening here.
LOVE YOU CANADA and I am so lucky to have such amazing friends, family in my life.
I am surrounded by good people in this world.
