Harsh realities show on day 2

All,

The day stay started off with me not feeling well because of sinus stuff and a little dehydration.  I am recovered.  Well, Off to St. Al's to prepare to teach more watercolors and the harsh realities of daily life in Kibera show up.  We got all ready to have our classes start to paint and when they went to get water for the painting, the came back and said that the water had been shut off for rationing.  Wow--Something we take for granted everyday, was shut off to them.  Can you imagine coming home and not being able to use your water or all the other resources we do not think twice about?  It is just a shocker... Then you take that to the next level and realize that one of the only places in Kibera that these students get running water is in the school.

When faced with this situation you end up having to roll with it.  After last week, Margaret and I settled each with a class-Margaret Forms 1 and I have forms 2.  The first week we did shared teaching but now we have each settled into a groove that makes sense.  Occasionally we end up popping into each others classes and it is works really well.  

Yesterday we had the students create Bios that just kind of made your heart stop when you read some of them.  So little words, so much meaning.  They all are so intent in succeeding that all you want to do is help pave the road.  Their lives are hard yet they are so able to bring it together in school, hope for the best and pretty readily acknowledge that some have it worst off.

Since we did not have water for paints, Margaret's class did drawing and I continued the history curriculum on the top 20.  They love the top 20 and often when those that have volunteered to read are asked to, they have to collect it from someone else who wanted to read it.  It makes you realize how hungry they are.  These students are smart.

Last night Margaret and I looked at some 1000 pictures that these students have already taken and we are just in awe of the story they tell.  We also have many minutes of Video that they all have captured when they realized they could.  

The paintings and drawing are great and you can tell that they love expressing themselves.  The other night when we met with Sr. Mary Owens, she shared that they do not have opportunities to express themselves and this must be so freeing.  

I love it, I feel like we are getting as much if not more out of this then the students are.

Today is Day 3 of the 2nd week and I never imagined it would go so quickly.  We developed certificates for our 70 students to give out on Friday.  These students deserve so much more.  

This morning we taught at the Red Rose School to Standards 1/2 and had them draw animals.  It was great to see how well behaved and excited they were to have us there.  

Well, we are at lunch, feeling fortunate to be here and excited to teach St. Al's in a few hours.

Thanks for all your support.

Charles and Margaret