Dreaming Together

Today I woke up and was walking to work with my backpack when all of a sudden I heard this screeching sound coming from inside. I ignored it for a few minutes, but then realized that something alive was in that bag. I opened the bag and out popped two grasshoppers and a cricket! Okay, popped as in they were forced out after 5 minutes of me emptying the bag, turning it upside down, and shaking it! These bugs are just a little too friendly. I am not kidding when I tell you that I feel like the man who wrote “A Bugs Life” lived in this town in Kenya. You know “Hopper” and his gang of grasshoppers? Well they actually exist in this place. The bugs are crazy!

When I finally got to work, I shared this story with Lucy and Emily and of course they were on the ground laughing. They don’t understand why there are always bugs all over me. Lucy, Emily, and I worked on the financial stuff in the morning and I think we are finally all caught up!! It was a very exciting moment.

A highpoint of my day is that I got to meet one of the older MGEF students named Gloria. Gloria just graduated high school with a grade of an A-. This is a HUGE accomplishment!! However, Gloris dreams of becoming a doctor and you need an A to be accepted into that university here. It’s such a shame. I was able to just sit and talk with Gloria for most of the afternoon. We talked about Kenya, school, the United States, etc. She seemed so shy in the beginning, but then she just started asking all kinds of questions. She asked me to show her my university and I brought up pictures of Vanderbilt. She asked me, “How do I apply to this school?” I laughed and proceeded to show her pictures of my family and friends and she appreciated them. But as soon as I was done, she asked again, “Seriously, how do I apply to that school?” At first I didn’t know what to say, but then I went to the admissions page and started showing her the application process for international students. We looked up financial aid stuff, SAT information, etc. It was so exciting to see her face light up! I was getting worried though that I was creating a dream for her that may not be what MGEF wanted. When Lucy walked back into the office, I brought the idea up simply. She replied, “That’s a great idea! It can’t hurt to try right?” Because in the United States, Gloria could still study to be a doctor. She also could go to many other places, but the US is what I am familiar with.

After that conversation with Lucy, it was incredible to just sit there and dream with Gloria. We looked at all sorts of colleges and the application processes involved. We looked at scholarships, financial aid, and things that could make that dream into a reality. It was so awesome to just be a part of that with her. It was like she realized for the first time that the world is hers to conquer. I just hope now that I can help her…either to get into a great program here in Kenya, or a medical school in Uganda, or a university in the United States. It was cool that she is willing to shoot so high! She is an incredible young woman!

Lucy, Emily, Gloria, and I had lunch and then Lucy and I worked more on the newsletter. Barbara sent us the pictures that we needed and it looks so good with the pictures of everything we talk about! I also was able to see Elias again—he is the man who conducts the workshops for chiefs and elders. Emily played me some Kenyan music as well and it was nice to just sit and work and listen to the music. I walked home and spent some more time with the children. Just laughing and playing around and taking pictures. I am leaving tomorrow to travel around with my friend, Kirsten! And I am so excited :) We are going to spend some time in Nairobi, then travel to Uganda and see where she works, and then maybe even go into Rwanda for a little bit! I am excited to see all these places and to spend time with her!! I also am going to miss everyone here so much though. I told the children that I was leaving for a while and they kept asking “but why?” And I wish I could take Lucy and Emily along with me. But I will still have over a month here with them when I get back!You won't hear from me for a little while, but I will update as soon as possible!