More Photos of Longiro

We had a great visit with Longiro and learned so much more about him and his life. For example, he loves soccer (they call it football here) and his favourite team is Manchester United. His favourite subject in school is math and he thinks he would like to become a teacher when he grows up. He lives with his grandmother in a mud hut and his bed has no mattress - they use a cowhide attached to a frame instead. Mostly, it was wonderful to see how happy and outgoing he is and how well he is growing and developing. We are allowed to continue sponsoring him until he turns age 22. If he continues to do well in school, spomsorship money should enable him to go beyond high school and get a higher education (college or university).

We were disappointed that we could not drive all the way to Malaral, where he lives with his grandmother. It would have been wonderful to see his village and meet his extended family. But we were thankful that the visit was not cancelled altogether due to the "insecurity" (as they term it) in the area. We found out later that the Compassion staff came very close to cancelling the visit because of violence in the region, which would have been a huge disappointment.

The drive to meet him was long and uncomfortable, but that goes without saying in Kenya (or probably all of Africa for that matter). The roads are terrible, the vehicles barely roadworthy (we almost lost a wheel at one point - had to pull over on a busy highway to tighten the lug nuts!) One thing that helps to pass the time is to read all the strange and humorous signs along the roadway. Here are a couple of my favourites: "Mama Chika's Meat Centre and Hotel Lodging" - and then in fancy cursive script underneath - "also diesel and petrol". Kind of a one-stop shop, I guess. Another said "Cool Bar and Butchery". In fact, just about every butchery I've seen is a butchery plus something else, maybe hotel, maybe gas station, maybe photocopy place . . . strange.

We also crossed the equator and stopped for the photo op. Of course, someone was waiting there to relieve us of a few Kenyan shillings for the honour of crossing the equator. A man demonstrated how the water spins clockwise down a drain north of the equator and then counter-clockwise just south of the equator. So that was our science lesson for the day!

Some other funny things we saw on the way . . . little boys wearing Obama toques (he certainly seems to be revered here, not surprising) and we saw one little guy wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater. I commented that it was nice he was a fan but he should realize they will likely never win another Stanley Cup. Of course, he looked at me blankly. These clothes probably came all the way from Value Village - we see them for sale at very affordable prices for the local families at the markets.

Here are some more photos of our trip to see Longiro:

More Kenya happenings from Mitchell

Longiro, the boy we have been sponsoring through Compassion Canada:

Longiro (age 9) wearing his new Canada ballcap:

From Mitchell's Journal:

Kijabe, KENYA (Mt. Longonot Climb, visit with Longiro, and surgical observation)

On November 11, we climbed up Mt. Longonot (actually a volcano) with Ann (the lady Mom is training), Daniel (a friend), and the person who drove us there. It was a tough climb, especially for Mom and Jackson. We fell a couple times but we managed to make it to the rim of the crater. Once we got to the rim, we stopped and ate lunch. After that, me, Dad, Ann, Daniel and the driver decided to climb to the highest point of the crater, but mom and Jackson were too tired, so they stayed behind. Climbing to the summit was even tougher, but once we made it, we stopped and took some pictures and went back down. Even though it was hard, I had a lot of fun.

Animal crossing on the way to Mt. Longonot:

Heading out, Mt. Longonot in background:

Ann and Mom:

The summit in the distance:

Looking down into the crater from the top of Mt. Longonot:

Ann had no trouble except for slippy shoes:

Dad and me at the summit (I was the first one to reach the top):

Passing people coming up as we go back down:

A couple days later, we were going to drive to Maralal to visit our Compassion child Longiro. But because we would have to go through a dangerous route (Isiolo, where an attack had just occurred and 11 people were killed) , the Compassion staff who came with us had us stay at a hotel in a different town instead (Nanyuki). The drive was long, but it was even longer for Longiro. Once we arrived we waited a couple hours for Longiro so we were worried for him. Once Longiro arrived he came to our room and we talked with him and his social worker and then ate dinner in the restaurant. We also gave him a soccer ball, a Canada shirt and cap, some school supplies, and two mini sticks. It was late, so we all went to bed. The next morning, we played soccer for an hour, ate breakfast and then we drove Longiro home. It was sad saying goodbye, but we had a good time.

On Wednesday, we got to go to work and chapel with the E.N.T team. First, we went to chapel for half an hour. Afterwards, Jackson went home and Dad and I went to go watch surgery. First, we saw Dr. David and Dr. Kevin cut and dissect two cleft lips, and then we switched rooms to watch a cleft palate being repaired by Dr. John. We went back to the other room to watch the two cleft lips being stitched together. In the end, the little boy was healed and I thought it was very interesting and fun to watch. Here are some photos from the operating room:

Enter Dr. Mitch:

Me and Dad in scrubs:

Impano (Mom worked a bit with him) and his Dad - they came all the way from Samburu:

Impano, age 14, and this is his first surgery for cleft lip:

Impano and his Dad getting ready to go back home:

Dr. John, ENT from South Carolina:

Dr. John and team:

Dr David and Dr. Kevin (Dr. Kevin said he played alot of video games when he was my age and he thinks it may have improved his dexterity):

I really liked watching surgery:

Happy Birthday Jackson!

Walking in Kijabe . . .

Little girl standing in the "commercial district" of Kijabe . . .

The "Super-Duka" (grocery store) in Kijabe . . .

AIC (African Inland Church) Hospital Sign . . .

The Smile Train ENT Team . . .

Today is Jackson's 8th birthday and he's celebrating it here in Kijabe, Kenya. I'm pretty sure he's wishing he could be back in Ottawa, though, celebrating at a party with all of his friends. For his next birthday in 2010, he wants to do either a bowling party, Midway, or Ray's Reptiles. He's already planning it. We had a cake for Jackson and the whole ENT team was here to sing to him and share in a bit of a celebration. They have gone back to the States now while our family has one more week here.

Below is Jackson's favourite photo of himself taken on this trip, so he wanted us to post it today. This was taken in Alzonne, France at our friend Gerard's vineyard. A hunter named Rolland let Jackson hold his gun while he was out hunting for wild boar!

We had what I feel was the defining highlight of our trip just recently. We made a two-day excursion to the Kenyan village of Nanyuki to visit with Longiro, our Compassion child. We have been sponsoring Longiro for about three years, writing letters back and forth, telling him about our lives in Canada and learning about his life in Kenya. Mitchell wrote about this visit, as well as climbing My. Longonot and watching some cleft lip/palate surgery, so I will post that next.