Although our team was split, today was full of excitement!  Bruce, Bryce, Josh, Grace and myself went off the compound to the boys home today while the rest of the team stuck around to keep working on the main structure.  The 5 of us pulled up to the very remote Kids Alive boys home ready to layout our 3rd playground!  We were greeted by the staff and a very joyful little boy named Jib.  He has been in KidsAlive care for just a few months and is unable to communicate in traditional ways due to autism and his upbringing.  But I have never seen such a glowing soul.  His eyes shined and he had so much cheer to share with his enormous smile, contagious giggle and clapping.  He was so curious and intrigued with us and you just couldn't help but to stop working for a minute and share in some of his joy!  Once we returned to Karundas, we set our eyes on a shiny new playground ready for new kids to enjoy!  The team at Karundas worked in unity and knocked out a structure larger than any in our Portage parks, plus 2 swing sets a merry-go-round and a 2nd small structure for the little tykes.  Done with no heavy equipment, concrete mixers, augers, and other tools/equipment we consider "necessary" for this type of work.....and it looks amazing =)  It's also Anne's birthday today and the team is currently having a blast playing some cards, laughing and entertaining others with some energetic dance moves.  All this after 3 super hard days of sun up to sun down work.  Thankful for another day of new experiences with a wonderful team from the U.S. and all our new team friends right here in Kenya.  Super duper excited to see the kids enjoy this new playground tomorrow.  It will be such a stimulus boost from watching them roll tires and jump rope with their sweaters as we have watched them do since our arrival.

Tricia

Hello everyone.  Hope all are well back in the states.  We are having a wonderful time in Kenya.  It is Winter here.  Temperature today was probably 80 or so.  The weather has been almost perfect for working.  Our first playground is nearly complete and we are on to the second one tomorrow.  It is a very beautiful place here.  If we look to the North, we could see Mount Kenya, if it weren't covered with fog.  Today, we installed a computer lab in the Christian School.  They are extremely excited to have computers.  It is a blessing to see the joy on the faces of the children and the teachers.  They are so excited to have a playground and a computer lab--both a new experience.

Blessings,

Don