How's it going Kenya?

Kenya

 

 

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=john680.kenya@blogger.com

 

 

 

 

 

John Volinsky

 

Zebra for breakfast?

This kill happened within sight of our lodge (we didn't see it happen). We drove up to it around 6:45AM as we were beginning our safari. The lioness does most of the work in killing the prey and the lion gets to eat first until he is full. This lion came back for seconds and is chasing his girl away.

Hippos

Cheetahs

Zebras

Hippo Breakfast

On Thursday after our safari we ate breakfast next to the Mara River where there were elephant and crocodile swimming behind us.

The plane

This 20 passenger plane flew us out of the Masai Mara. Notice the dirt runway. They would drive up and down the runway in their Land-Rover's to clear the runway of animals before landing and take off.

The Queen

Did you know that the lioness does all the work of the kill and the lion then eats first as much as he wants.

King of the Jungle

Can you find the Leopard in the photo?

The Leopard

Leopards take their kill into a tree to eat.

Our first Safari

On Thursday we went on our first safari in Land-rovers like these. We had 28 folks so we needed six vehicles.

Masai Dance with our group

Rhinoceros Beetle (outside of my room)

View from the lodge

Masai Mara

Here is a our room in the Masai Mara where we participating in a safari.

Elephant Sanctuary

We visited a park in Nairobi where they took care of sick and injured elephants. You could sponsor an elephant for a year for $50. I passed on this because my wife and I already sponsor a giraffe.

Hotel room in Kisumu, Kenya

Praying for Rose inside of her home

Rose

Rose is an AIDS Caregiver. Recently she was attacked by her son who was "mad" from extreme malaria. He bit her finger causing a lot of damage. She is in a lot of pain and does not have pain killers. This has kept her from doing her ministry to those with HIV her granddaughter has had to stay home from school to take care of her. She does not have the money for the surgery she needs. We were able to make sure that she is able to get the surgery. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in her situation and not have access to health care.

Grain Mill

Unimix

Beatrice's co-op makes unimix, a combination of sorghum, corn, soybean and grains. They grow all of their own crops and grind it with a mill provided by World Vision. They distribute it to those with HIV as it helps strengthen their immune system. They also sell it in order to provide it for others.

Beatrice

This is Beatrice. She is an AIDS widow who is making a difference. There are over 100,000 World Vision volunteer AIDS Caregivers who care for the sick. Beatrice goes a step further as she runs a community organization that makes a nutritious uni-mix that is essential in providing the nutrients that those suffering with HIV need. Even if you are taking the ARV's you still need adequate nutrition for the drugs to work. Her co-op grows and processes all that is needed to make this nutritious porridge and then delivers it free to those with the disease. I spent a few hours with her and told her she is a saint. She is the real hero in the war on AIDS in Africa.

Final Day

It has been an incredible trip to Katito, Kenya. Today we concluded our visit to the World Vision project. Tomorrow morning we leave for Nairobi and then will travel to Masai Mara for a time of debrief and safari. I have a few more stories from our visit today that I need to post. I'm going to bed right now - more later.

Me and the children of Katito, Kenya

Amy and Janey

Great Smile

Kenya Boy

My Dinner

It was a delicious dinner served with a cup of potato leek soup.

Dessert

Mango - watermelon - sweet bananas which are extra sweet because they are left to ripen on the tree.

Main Course

Beef in gravy (from the left) - fried tilapia - boe a local spinach like dish - carrots

Dinner in Kenya

Ugali which is a dumpling like food that is a staple of the Kenyan diet (right) - fried potatoes (middle) - rice (left)

Dinner in Kenya

We are staying at a nice hotel run by the Anglican Church. The food has been amazing. Here is the three salads available for dinner. A cole slaw to the left, carrot salad (middle) and fresh sliced tomatoes and onions.

Eric, Linda and Lana

This is Eric with his sister Linda to the right. Because of World Vision, she has the opportunity to go to high school which can be cost prohibitive for most students.

Child Headed Household

When Eric was 19 he lost his mother. His father had died when he was barely a teenager. He was now faced with the task of raising his younger brother and sister. World Vision has provided him with training and all the supplies to start a poultry business. To the far left is Lena, a volunteer home caregiver who brought Eric to World Vision and regularly visits Eric to check up on him.

New Episcopal Church in Katito, Kenya

There are two "mizungus" in the group - can you find us?

The Widow's Mite

When I saw this woman come forward with her offering it reminded me of the scripture of the widow's mite (penny). We "rich" American's gave our offerings which were many times the size of hers. But if you look at it in portion to what we have, she out gave all of us.

Church in Kenya

Today we split into three groups and went to church. Grady, Cristen and I went to an Episcopal Church. There were three separate sermons. Here is Grady preaching. The youth choir is on the right and the rest of the congregation is behind me - men to the left and woman to the right.

Group Photo

We gathered together for a group photo before heading back to the room for the night.

Dal

Dow brought his sponsored child Jenga.

A new shirt and a soccer ball

Sponsored Children

Today our group got to meet their sponsored children.