Introduction to Challenge Farm

My first introduction to Challenge Farm was at 5:00 the day I arrived in Kitale. It was already getting dark, but once we drove through the gate everyone came running. They were so excited to see us. Even though no one knows me, each staff member and some kids walked right up, introduced themselves, and welcomed me, some with huge smiles and even bear hugs. Grace, the Kenyan director, spoke a few words and then everyone sang a welcoming song. The whole experience brought tears to my eyes.

I have been to Challenge Farm each day. I'm trying to learn everyone's name, but it will take some time. My goal is to have most of the names memorized by the end of next week. I will be helping out with World Family Kids Camp, which kicks off on Monday. There is no better way to get to know a group of people than through camp.

Yesderday was a day to try new things. I got to ride a bota bota to town in the morning. A bota bota is a bike driven by a Kenyan with a seat on the back for a passenger. That was very fun and scary at the same time. The cyclist really cruises on the narrow road! I kept asking myself, as very large trucks passed, how I could protect my laptop if we crashed. Later that day Ashley(the director for World Family Kids Camp) and I took a matatu back to the guest house where we are staying. A matatu is a small bus about 1/3 the size of DART; it is fully packed, sometimes with people hanging out the door. In the evening I had the priviledge of driving a car;I have driven twice now - once to town this morning and around the neighborhood last night. It's quite different driving a standard on the opposite side of the road.