Today was less about having fun with Kenyan kids and more about getting a deeper understanding of daily life for the children and families in this community. Soccer games and puzzles were replaced with walks along foot paths through stunning landscape to visit the homes of a half dozen children who are current or former participants in the MB-Chesina partnership program.
On the way home, Izzy’s jolly ranchers proved to be particularly exciting as she tossed them out to kids walking home from school, which has become a ritual of our vans on our ride back to Rondo. Kristen always gives careful instructions regarding how to properly hand food to the kids. “Don’t throw the juice box Kieran!”
It was nice to return to Rondo an hour or so earlier than we have been the rest of the week, because this retreat is beautiful. The drivers commented on arriving back at Rondo at how sore they were from yesterday’s soccer game against Sidikho Primary School, but the students wasted no time and quickly strapped on their shoes and followed a trail for a short walk to a fish pond. Ben spotted a troop of baboons (about 15) on the lawn destroying the plants in the Rondo gardens.The whole group went outside to watch the baboons on the lawn, both the baboons and the students making sure to keep a careful distance.
Lots to take in today, lots to process, as we crawl into bed and cross our fingers that our bodies will not wake us up at 2am, convinced that it is time to get up.