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I love these kids

Yesterday afternoon, on the way to Liyavo the long term project we saw Linda. I hve known her since 2005. She left the project last yr as she had finished school. We stopped the car, got out and ran towards each other. We forgot the kenyan way of shaking hands and just hugged. She did the same to Mike too. Linda and all the others at the projects are not just children, they are more than that. To me they are like family. Seeing Linda was great and it made me realise how much I care for all the children at the projects.

Linda came with us to Liyavo where she saw her old fiends. We pplayed with the kids again and had fun before taking Linda back to her home. Her story and being at her home was tough. Her parents died when she was young and her uncle stole the families possession and moved into their house kicking them out. She now lives just down from that house. We saw the graves of her parents and I wondered how tough life must have been for her. It was though great to know that sh is ok and doing well.

Today we are just going to Liyavo giving out the toys, gams and stationery. I'm positive they will love it.

Pete  

Twice in two days!!

Hello again. Hope you are ok? Only a short update today. Yesterday we returned to both projects but for Andy this was his first time at them. He enjoyed it and the kids enjoyed playing and getting to know him. Yesterday we took one lady who was high on glue to see the nurse at Liyavo as she has had been hit by a motorbike. The nurse was unable to know whether it was broken but the lady is too poor to afford an xray. I doubt we will hear anymore about it. We also learnt that just 1 mile from the Birunda project is an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomitting. 3 people have died!! It's crazy to think that people die from this.

Today we have visited Birunda, had lunch and are now going to Liyavo. We have brought a few more toys which we are going to give out now on Sunday and Monday.

Catch you soon

Thanks for reading

Pete

Sorry its been a while

Hi Folks. Hope you are all ok? Sorry that it was over a week ago since I last wrote, the internet was down in Nairobi so I couldn't access the internet let alone update this page.

So much to tell you. As you know last friday we caught the coach to Nairobi. I stayed the night at Fred's house. Fred is like an uncle to me. He helps me organise my trips and is a really great friend. We had to be up early on Saturday (4.30am) in order to make sure we were at the airport on time as my friend arrived then. Well, we arrived early to find out that Andy's (my friend who is over in kenya for 2 weeks) flight was delayed!! Anyway, after picking him up we headed to the national park, an amazing place. We saw a lion, hippos, buffalo and a lot of the other smaller animals which aren't so exciting!! When seeing the hippos an armed guard walked with us to the river as apparently buffalo were around that area hence all the buffalo poo!! Well, after seeing the hippos we see a bush move around 15 ft from where we are to see a crocadile run into the river!! To think a wild croc had been so close to us and we never saw it!! There by the grace of God go I springs to mind. After the national park we visited Nairobi animal orphanage. Those these animals are not wild it was still great to see cheetahs, a leopard, lions, a buffalo and others. In the afternoon we headed to my Kenyan families house (the Mbaabu's) to relax.

On sunday we were up early (3.30am)! We were going to Mombasa as we had hired a cottage right on the beach. After the 8 hr journey the car refused tro start as we tried to drive off the ferry which we found out later was due to a low battery. Anyway Andy and I got out the car and with the help of a few of Mombasa's drunks we pushed the car off the ferry and up the slip road. The car then started again after we played with the engine for a bit though Mike (my kenyan friend who travels with me when I'm here) did spend 9 hrs that day in a garage with one of his mates trying to find out what was wrong and fixing it. We also had to pay the drunk men 20 pounds for the priveledge of them helping us, but we had no choice. Hundreads of people (no joke) were waiting for the ferry as 2 white men and the drunks pushed the car!!

The rest of the time in Mombasa was great. An amazing view, lots of snorkelling, hot, a warm sea. We saw lots of fish and star fish. Was great to relax. On Tuesday we headed back to the Mbaabus house. On Wednesday I took Andy to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where you get really close and can touch baby elephants. After that we went to the Giraffe centre where you can feed Giraffes and if you choose kiss them! We all kissed them, Andy twice, Mike three times, me 5!!! We then visited the restaurant which Mike runs in Nairobi. I'm going to work there for 1 day when its my last week. The kenyans will be shocked to see a white man speaking their language and serving them food. I served one guy and his face was a picture!!

Yesterday we were up early as we had to leave at 6am latest in order to get in Nairobi on time for our coach. We left at 6 and were actually early. The traffic in Nairobi in the morning is really a sight to see. We got on the coach and started our 8 hour journey. It was great to get into bed last night and know that we could get up later than 7am!!

Today we are visiting both projects and going through the toys/games/stationery and deciding what to give to each project. Tomorrow Birunda the rescue centre has a football match against another project called Challenge farm. Challenge farm is headed up by a really cool american woman called Cheri but we must beat her team. The brits can't lose to the Americans at football, they don't even call it football they call it soccer! On Sunday we have another match this time with Birunda playing against a team of street boys. I'm sure this will be entertaining, 11 boys high on glue playing football!! On  Monday we will give out the toys etc.

Anyway time is ticking so I'd better go. Its nearly 10am and we need to go to Birunda now. Sorry that this message is not very detailed. This keyboard is doing my head in so I'd better go before I go insane!!

Thanks for reading

Pete 

End of part 1

Morning folks. Need to be quick as my coach for nairobi leaves in 15 mins. Yesterday we visited Birunda the rescue centre in the morning. I have been reading some the children's profiles which are really sad. Some of them have been abandoned, others beaten, others severly malnourished etc, the list goes on. We played some football (my team lost) and then went to Oliver's for lunch and met again with Chrissie.

In the afternoon we went to Liyavo the long term project. We tried teaching them stuck in the mud but the game turned into chasing me around the project with a big jump on Pete to end the game. 30 kids jumping on you after when you are short of breath from running and are trying not to laugh is hard! Yesterday evening Oliver came over for lunch.

Today we head back to Nairobi. Updating this news page will be tough as tomorrow my friend Andy arrives. We are doing a safari then heading to the coast for 3 days.

Had better go, coach leaves in 8 mins!!!!

Take care

Pete

Me, fat??!!

Morning folks. Hope you are well?

Just a quick update for you. On tuesday afternoon we headed to Liyavo again. I'm really enjoying just having fun and relaxing with the kids there. They always run towards the car when we arrive. Remembering all their names is tough but I'm getting there. Am also making a real effort with my swahili (the local language) too which is improving with many locals laughing when I speak to them in their language.

Yesterday was similar to Tuesday. We visited Birunda to see the kids. Played some football, I scored 3 goals!!!Was rather hot after as the heat and altitude makes running around rather tough. I read some profiles of the children at the projects. To think of children aged 6 and 7 being orphaned is tough. Some have been sexually and physically abused, others ran away as there was no money for their parents to buy food or send them to school. This is why projects like Birunda the rescue centre are so vital. I spoke to the nurse at the project who makes sure all the children are healthy as well as running clinics for the community. I weighed myself to be told by her that I was fat!! Fat, me??!! I have been called a few nasty things in my time but fat has never been one of them! Weighing in just over 10stone is hardly fat I thought!! I was not as offended as this message suggests just shocked. In the morning we also visited Challenge Farm, another organisation that works with children. I know quite a few of the children/youth there so I went over to see how they were doing.

We had lunch at Oliver's (director of npyt) and met Chrissie, a lady from a UK charity that also supports NPYT. We are having lunch again with Oliver and Chrissie today. In the afternoon we returned to Liyavo.  The project manager let them get some toys out so naturally they all went nuts!! They love them. It is really good to sit down and watch them having fun. We are yet to give out any of the toys, games and stationery for this trip.

Had better go, just one more thing to say. A friend of mine Jai Lawlwy is 24 today. Happy Birthday my friend. I'm sorry I'm not around to celebrate with you but I hope you have a great day. For those of you who don't know Jai I'm sorry for that, he's a bit of a legend so I had to write something!!

Have a good day everyone

Pete

Seeing old friends

Greeting again from Kitale. I hope you are well?

Yesterday was a good day. I wrote just before lunch which I had at Oliver's house (director of npyt). I met the staff who work in the offices who I know well and call them friends. It was good to chat and catch up with them. After lunch we headed to Liyavo which was the best part of the day. Most of the children their know me so it was really great to see them all again. As we arrived they ran towards the car shouting our 'Pete' & 'Mike'. The project manager let them play with the toys which we donated 1, 3 and 4 years ago, it was good to see them playing with them and having fun. Just after 5pm we headed back to the lodge, ate dinner and then I had a very deep conversation with Mike about the world's problems, problems with Kenya and the differences between the UK & Kenya.

Today we have visited Birunda the rescue centre again before sharing lunch with them. Prior to that we headed to town and helped an American girl (she's 28) buy some fruit and veg. I saw a few boys who have ran away from the projects and who are back on the streets sniffing glue. Despite them being as high as kite it was good to see them and know they are kind of safe. In a bit we head to Liyavo again and will be joined for dinner tonight by oliver. I have just shown Mike his hot or not profile which I sent up in 2005.

I see from the news that there is a chance of snow in the UK. The good news, (for me that is) is that it is hot here. I have caught the sun and drive to the projects with music playing, all the windows down and with a mountain right in front of me. Life is good!!

Thanks for reading

Pete

It is great to be back

Well here I am in Kitale, Kenya. It is great to be back. It's hot, I have just seen an old friend and I am feeling a lot better having slept for 8 hours. My train journey to London was ok. The carriage I was on was very noisy but the 'noisy bunch' got off at Plymouth. I arrived in London 30 minutes late but managed to catch my connection to Heathrow. I checked my bags in which was a relief as carrying 46kg is hard work! I then headed for departures, had a scampi and chips and then boarded the plane. The flight was good. I did not sleep at all which was not so good but I did watch the film Bodyguard staring Whitney Houston which kept me occupied for an hour or two.

After arriving I collected my bags. Of the first four bags to be put on the luggage belt two of them were mine so I grabbed them and headed for the exit. I met Mike & Fred which was great, it was like I had never left. I feel really comfortable here, I'm not on edge or worried. I know this is my sixth trip but Kenya has now become a second home to me.

I caught a coach with Mike and headed for Kitale. I managed to sleep on the journey which lasted eight hours, bringing me to around 21 hours in total of actual travelling. Some parts of the road were more interesting than others such as seeing zebra's on the main road, the view of the rift valley etc. We also passed by two places where IDP's (Internally Displaced Persons) still live following the post election violence which was back in 2008! Some parts were also a lot more like being on a ride as the road was so bumpy.

We arrived in Kitale just before 5pm where we met Oliver. He gave us his car and we headed for the lodge where we are staying. I met a few new people from other organisations so I'm looking forward to speaking to them again and discuss whether we can share resources and contacts. Today we are heading to Liyavo the long term centre in the afternoon. I'm currently in town typing this message and have a few jobs to do.

Will try and pop in on wednesday and give you another update. Thanks for reading. I hope all is well with you.

Pete

Kenya here I come

In just over an hours time I'll be catching a train and heading for London. The realisation that I'm going back to Kenya for my sixth trip fills me with excitement. It will be really good to see all my friends again and the children at the projects Heart of Hope supports as well as the experiencing warmth!! I'm sure some things won't go exactly to plan when I'm there but I'll have to cross those bridges when or if they arrive.

The travelling is something I'm not keen on. The train journey to London is ok but its then catching another train to Heathrow, checking my bags in and praying that they are exactly 23kg. Then a long 8 hour flight followed by a very bumpy 7 hour coach ride awaits me.

I'll try and write as often as possible. Posting pictures will be impossible due to the speed of the internet connection over there. Had better end my message here, I need to pick my fantasy football team for when I'm aware.

Thanks for reading

Pete