More photos from Melissa...

in the Nairobi hotel before going home
hanging out for lunch
relaxing with Memu at the house
Mama Nora and all her kids at the orphanage
At the Masai village on safari

Another video from the Orphanage

And more pics....

Mount Meru
Our empty water bottles in the kitchen at the house...they don't recycle but will reuse by giving to local women for holding cooking oils etc...
Walking home from a hard day at the clinic
Our watchmen, Sowe and Kahana with dogs Rasta and Smart.The arrows are poison tipped....
These guys were awesome...we had a bit of an exciting event two nights before we left, most were gone, there were five of us left at the house and some drunk youths were trying to break into the compound....needless to say, there was no way they were getting in with our kick butt guards looking after us....

On the teeter totter at the orphanage
Steph planting a banana tree
Walking in the Tengeru Market
The house behind ours
Jessie organizing to leave....I don't think she bought enough stuff....

Zainab and her family...they are the family of a student of mine and they spoiled me rotten and basically adopted me....wonderful, wonderful people
Mikey and Zainab at her house. They cooked all my favorite foods, brought us lots to eat at our house and took me all around town
Zainab and Farah at home. You can't meet a more gracious and loving couple.
Zainab and Farah's house in Arusha

View from Zainab's place

More pictures....

Planting banana trees at the orphanage, in one year they will produce fruit for the kids to eat
Planting greens in the finished bed at the orphanage, this is a space saving technique where the bed is dug deep, hardpan is loosened so roots go down and dirt is replaced and mixed with layers of manure so that the bed is good for 4 years and more can be planted in the raised area
preparing maize at the orphanage with the kids
The kids saying thankyou...
Seret, who is 3 years old, writing her name, the alphabet and who is able to do minor math problems, she is a Masai orphan

Shucking maize at the orphanage
Mama Nora and Simon. Simon was left at her doorstep a month ago...he is 3 months old and very cute
Mama Nora's son Kevin bringing us a banana tree to plant
Melissa carrying manure for preparing the planting bed
Preparing the hole for the banana tree

Preparing the triple dug planting bed
The finished bed
Watering the planting bed
Gitumbua cooking...African rice cakes
Kids at the orphanage doing a dance for us

Singing a song for us in the classroom
Cooking at the orphanage
A job well done
Doris is 8 years old, a Masai orphan. Her mother is in jail for killing her father with a machete...she is so smart and sweet and cares for baby Simon an abandoned boy....she was the hardest one to leave....she is ready for primary school...if anyone wants a direct contact to send money for her education, contact me. It will go straight to the orphanage with no middle man....
Doris and friends on the slide...these kids are so full of love and happiness and so well cared for at the orphanage..Mama Nora runs a tight ship with lots of love...

Planting the finished bed
Baby goat at the orphanage...Mama sells them for money for educational expenses
Baraka working hard to prepare the planting bed
Banana tree planting day
Monica's birthday...we went to 4 different shops just to find a cake..hahaha

Video from Orphanage

Here is a video of the kids at the orphanage doing the hokey pokey...way too cute

Home Again!

Tanzanian Shillings...this is about 100 dollars
Tenguru Market
Carrying Bananas at the market
Girls in their room at our house....love the bunkbeds
Beth at Lake Duluti

Man selling herbal medicines at the market
Slug bug!
Relaxing at Via Via bar the first night in Arusha
Enjoying a cold one at Lake Duluti
Impala Hotel Arusha

How green it was....
Banana trees are everywhere
Amos gets the Ipod......
Kids in the village

Mikey in a dress.....sigh

Toni teaching in the primary school
Relaxing in our living room
More bananas....
Michelle with the kids at Mama Gladness' house
Taxidermy shop at the Arusha Museum

Melissa and Mama Gladness
Our house
Lake Duluti
Sarah counting HIV meds at the CTC at the hospital in Tenguru

Michelle at the Impala Hotel

We are home again, most of us and safe. We had so many experiences. Here are some additional pictures....It was so hard to leave as we all felt so welcomed and loved....