We all arrived in KipKaren in one piece. All the people of the village that we have had contact with have been very kind. Fitz had a little trouble with phone and internet, as you can tell we have internet thanks to Paster Peter and we were able to call home to say Hi. Thanks to Dr. Fitz for the hours of hair pulling she went through for us all today. We are still having a problem with uploading pictures.
We went through all of our baggage today and the only thing that is missing is our soil sample kit. Not sure if it got put in the wrong bin when we were rearranging everything or it is lost? So, for all the readers that didn't think it was necessary to cross your fingers we need your help so the kit will show up.
As for title of my blog. Fitz, Carolyn and I were down looking at the river today where they have rerouted the river. As we were looking at this rock in the middle of the river a bird landed on the rock and for those of you who have had the pleasure of being around me with my camera I had to get a picture. Then another bird came to join him and then all of a sudden the second bird jumped up on the first birds back of a minute. Then off they kind of looked at each other and continued to sit on the rock. I regret that I can not share the picture of the birds at this time. We will post more pictures when the internet lets us.
That is all for now.
Jennifer
Friday, January 14, 2011
Salutations from Jelly Bellies in the Sub-Sahara
Hello from the far side of the world. Today we traveled through the city of Kipkaren. Although they are 36,000 in popluation, they must be spread out for miles literally. All those villagers have lot of chickens, goats and cows. And they wander all over the place, the animals that is. I love the chickens running hither and yon and one villager smiled with great pride when he should us his 20 chicklets. And there quite a few of our dog friends here as well. They are very friendly so you could say I have made a lot of friends today.
I best close now. Very little sleep but tons left to do and each moment is special and makes another memory of this beautiful country and friendly people.
Bye for now. Love to all of you on the other side of the world.
Carolyn
AKA = Jelly Belly in the Sub=Sahara.
I best close now. Very little sleep but tons left to do and each moment is special and makes another memory of this beautiful country and friendly people.
Bye for now. Love to all of you on the other side of the world.
Carolyn
AKA = Jelly Belly in the Sub=Sahara.
You've come a long way, Kenya
Hello Everyone
We were up and gone by 5am. And at the airport. Things have changed, when I first came to Kenya to do my first mission trip-- the co-pilot did not show and we traveled at very low altitude and the plane would do very deep dips as the air changed. Today we had a very large plane with coffee and juice served. You have come a long Kenya!! And a very soft landing.
After the political turbulance in 2008, all sim cards have to be registered. People don't buy plans for phone and computer they prepay for minutes. We wanted a phone and mine did not work because the sim card was purchased in USA. So several minutes later, we found that the new sim card did not work in my phone from the states. So we purchased a new phone and bought 500 minutes. Unfortunately, my phone did not recognize the sim card. After visiting with Kipkaren IT they were able to fix my phone problem and now we have an internet problem but as you can read that has been resolved as well:) Life is good!!!
We got into the clinic and the children form the community school came out to greet us and sing. We were very welcomed and visited the clinic now with running water. The new and beautiful dental chair is being used every day. And Julius, our locally trained Kenyan optometrist is seeing 8 patients a day and making the glasses. We were able to bring supplies that included lenses that turn color--transition. The light is really bright with Kenya being very close to the equator.
We visited the new construction on the LivingRoom which is a hospice. Very nice dedicated staff and all the patients were well served.
Joan and Jim Chalupsky were in their element--pictures to follow tomorrow--this is the cliffhanger--tune in tomorrow I promise you will not be disappointed.
We were up and gone by 5am. And at the airport. Things have changed, when I first came to Kenya to do my first mission trip-- the co-pilot did not show and we traveled at very low altitude and the plane would do very deep dips as the air changed. Today we had a very large plane with coffee and juice served. You have come a long Kenya!! And a very soft landing.
After the political turbulance in 2008, all sim cards have to be registered. People don't buy plans for phone and computer they prepay for minutes. We wanted a phone and mine did not work because the sim card was purchased in USA. So several minutes later, we found that the new sim card did not work in my phone from the states. So we purchased a new phone and bought 500 minutes. Unfortunately, my phone did not recognize the sim card. After visiting with Kipkaren IT they were able to fix my phone problem and now we have an internet problem but as you can read that has been resolved as well:) Life is good!!!
We got into the clinic and the children form the community school came out to greet us and sing. We were very welcomed and visited the clinic now with running water. The new and beautiful dental chair is being used every day. And Julius, our locally trained Kenyan optometrist is seeing 8 patients a day and making the glasses. We were able to bring supplies that included lenses that turn color--transition. The light is really bright with Kenya being very close to the equator.
We visited the new construction on the LivingRoom which is a hospice. Very nice dedicated staff and all the patients were well served.
Joan and Jim Chalupsky were in their element--pictures to follow tomorrow--this is the cliffhanger--tune in tomorrow I promise you will not be disappointed.
First Day in Kipkaren
As Pastor Peter just said moments ago "God Bless for this". In as few words as I can say as precise as possible, these people are exactly that: a blessing from God. They are beautiful and incredibly eager to bring their community a step forward, one day at a time.
Today we were greeted by children singing and smiling faces--wild clapping and eager glow upon seeing Dr. Fitzgerald return to their village! So much to say in so little time. The clean water project has brought so much wonderful change in their lives. The medical clinic bringing education, teasting, and treatment, and Jenifer's Living Room/Hospice showing love and care...and hope.
The new passion fruit fields are almost satisfied with empty dirt holes waiting for their 1st plantings. Mom and dad caught on fire getting their plans ready for the new garden plantings surrounding the newly constructed living room.
I am honored to be here and feel incredibly humbled being amongst these people who have certainly got it all firgured out: what it's all about. I know this is just the beginning. Thank you, people of Kipkaren.
Lauren Chalupsky-Cannon
Passport to Kenya
Today, the first day of actually being IN the village of Kipkaren, was incredible.
After racing across the hilltops of Kenya in a couple jeeps, avoiding potholes that would sink the Titanic (if it were still afloat today) and stopping briefly to pick up a special device that would allow us to access the internet from all over Kenya, we arived in Kipkaren.
We were greeted in the most amazing way. It appeared as though the entire village was there for arrival and all the kids were dressed in their school uniforms and singing to welcome us to their village. We were guests, but they treated us like we were returning home from a long vacation. They hung a rope with flowers tied to it and asked Dr Fitzgerald to cut the rope to bridge the gap between our countries and then proceeded to give everyone in our party a bouquet of flowers. It was awe insipiring, breath taking, and an experience I wish everyone could enjoy at least once in their lifetime.
We were then swooped up and shown around the premises so we would know what is all going on and where it is going on. We were shown the new well, the Living Room, the clinic, and then our rooms.
I would write more, but I am finally suffering a little bit of jet lag, so I will pass the baton to the next blogger.
~Markus
After racing across the hilltops of Kenya in a couple jeeps, avoiding potholes that would sink the Titanic (if it were still afloat today) and stopping briefly to pick up a special device that would allow us to access the internet from all over Kenya, we arived in Kipkaren.
We were greeted in the most amazing way. It appeared as though the entire village was there for arrival and all the kids were dressed in their school uniforms and singing to welcome us to their village. We were guests, but they treated us like we were returning home from a long vacation. They hung a rope with flowers tied to it and asked Dr Fitzgerald to cut the rope to bridge the gap between our countries and then proceeded to give everyone in our party a bouquet of flowers. It was awe insipiring, breath taking, and an experience I wish everyone could enjoy at least once in their lifetime.
We were then swooped up and shown around the premises so we would know what is all going on and where it is going on. We were shown the new well, the Living Room, the clinic, and then our rooms.
I would write more, but I am finally suffering a little bit of jet lag, so I will pass the baton to the next blogger.
~Markus
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Up and a'tem!!
Jambo! Everyone
I felt the adrenaline rush of all that is to happen and I could barely close my eyes and sleep. But alas my eyelids became very heavy. It is 3:59am and soon I will roust up my team mates. We'll get a little bite to eat, perhaps a little java and be on our way to the local airport and go to Eldoret and eventually to Kipkaren. Juli tells us that much has changed and it is all for the good. The wells and all the things that have changed have really brought things forward. It is not without alot of future work but things are moving along. I amm very excited to see all our friends. Hoping all of you all out there days are good as well. We will be writing now throughout our trip. Tally-HO!!!!
Doc
I felt the adrenaline rush of all that is to happen and I could barely close my eyes and sleep. But alas my eyelids became very heavy. It is 3:59am and soon I will roust up my team mates. We'll get a little bite to eat, perhaps a little java and be on our way to the local airport and go to Eldoret and eventually to Kipkaren. Juli tells us that much has changed and it is all for the good. The wells and all the things that have changed have really brought things forward. It is not without alot of future work but things are moving along. I amm very excited to see all our friends. Hoping all of you all out there days are good as well. We will be writing now throughout our trip. Tally-HO!!!!
Doc
No worries, no worries!!
Hello Everyone
On my very first visit to Kenya our very large plane was beginning its decent when all of a sudden the plane jerked up. Everyone was stunned and quite, after what seemed like a very long time but was really a few minutes the pilot came on and said "No worries, no worries we just have to clear the livestock off of the runway!" Well we certainly did not have to slear any of the live stock off the runway--the landing was smooth. The Jomo Kenyatta Intl Airport has done some renovation and looks very good. Getting our visas went without a hitch and then it was to retreive our baggage. It all went pretty well--all of our bags made it. Now customs--Lauren had made a connection with one of the customs officer so she lead the way. Some of the bags were damaged in flight and he began inspecting them--we quickly handed him a packing slip. We are a pretty large group and he began to address the whole group and then I stepped up and said who I was and that this was a medical mission. At first he would not make eye contact with me and I thought in that moment that I was about to lose this effort and have to try and negotiate a payment plan. "You have medicines?" "No", I replied "I am an eye doctor." "You are eye doctors?" and he immediately waved us through. He must have had a second thought as we were making our way through the doors "Wait, what is in this box?" "Handles for garden tools", I replied. By this time half of the team had met Juli McGowan one of our mission contacts. He looked at me, looked at the packing slip looked out of the door and once again waved myself and the rest of the team through. Yee-haa!! The team smiled and high fived one another as we made our way to the waiting vans to take our supplies to Kipkaren and the other waiting van to take us to Mayfield, which is a very pleasant and beautiful home that has been made into a hostel. It's only 3:30 in the afternoon in Cedar Rapids but it is 11:30PM here and we need to get up at 4am to be at the airport by 5am to catch our 6am flight to Eldoret. So I am going to sign off soon for now-- but all I can say, if I am a cat with nine lives, getting through customs, I am grateful to the "powers that be" that I have a few lives left.
Mayfield Hostel
We made it to Kenya and in good order, but what a long day. Not to often you travel with little or no issues. (knock on wood, we still have to get home) The biggest problem we had was that a lot of our action packers were open when we got them. No lost bags or totes, we won't know if anything is missing until we get to the village. (Keep your fingers crossed) One more leg of our journey tomorrow and we will be in Kipkaren. Everyone is excited to be here and ready to get to work.
Hello to everyone back home, hope all is well there.
Jennifer
Jelly Bellies over the Sahara
Hello everyone
We have arrived, at least as far as Nairobi. And yes, I got a little homesick somewhere over the Sahara Desert. Fortunately a modest handful of Jelly Bellies brought me back to the reality that I am on the most exciting adventure of my life. Okay, I may have eaten the entire bag. The flights were fine. I've seen enough movies to last me for a while. I did watch 15 minutes of one movie before realizing they were speaking French. Guess I should have been napping instead.
At this moment we have checked into Mayfield Hostel and it is so much like a camp retreat center that I feel right at home. Even a dining hall. It will be a short night, though, as we will be up and off to Kipkaren by 6am. I suppose I should try and sleep but who can sleep when there is so much excitement. Sleep is highly overated, as my friend Fitz would say. So I shall save my sleeping for sometime in March.
My love to all those who have given me the encouragement and support to step out of my comfort zone and travel so far to help other people.
More Jelly Bely tales later.
Going to sign off now.
We have arrived, at least as far as Nairobi. And yes, I got a little homesick somewhere over the Sahara Desert. Fortunately a modest handful of Jelly Bellies brought me back to the reality that I am on the most exciting adventure of my life. Okay, I may have eaten the entire bag. The flights were fine. I've seen enough movies to last me for a while. I did watch 15 minutes of one movie before realizing they were speaking French. Guess I should have been napping instead.
At this moment we have checked into Mayfield Hostel and it is so much like a camp retreat center that I feel right at home. Even a dining hall. It will be a short night, though, as we will be up and off to Kipkaren by 6am. I suppose I should try and sleep but who can sleep when there is so much excitement. Sleep is highly overated, as my friend Fitz would say. So I shall save my sleeping for sometime in March.
My love to all those who have given me the encouragement and support to step out of my comfort zone and travel so far to help other people.
More Jelly Bely tales later.
Going to sign off now.
Settling in the Mayfield Hostel
Wow, our adventure has been wonderful so far. Smooth and relaxed. I am very grateful.
Even the trek through customs and immigration was without problems here in Nairobi, Kenya. A gentleman in uniform was checking out our 28 parcels and plastic bins of supplies, wondering what we were doing with it. He watched the team piece by piece pulling more bins from the luggage belt and dropping them off in the corner. I pointed to the handsome man with the white hair: "That's my dad!" I told him. He commented: "Strong man...your mother must be even stronger!"
No worries, though. When Dr. Fitzgerald reassured him we were there with medical supplies: "We are eye doctors," she said. He waved us through. I love the instant promotion--can I start giving exams now?! Thanks, doc :)
Just took one of the best showers in my life, and settling in at the Mayfield Hostel ( aka summer camp luxury stay) in Nairobi for the next 4 hours--until we're up to hit the airport for the final leg.
The team is really an awesome group of people, each with their own special talents. I am really excited to meet the villagers and all the wonderful people I have heard about in Kipkaren tomorrow morning.
Cheers to you all!
Lauren Chalupsky-Cannon
Even the trek through customs and immigration was without problems here in Nairobi, Kenya. A gentleman in uniform was checking out our 28 parcels and plastic bins of supplies, wondering what we were doing with it. He watched the team piece by piece pulling more bins from the luggage belt and dropping them off in the corner. I pointed to the handsome man with the white hair: "That's my dad!" I told him. He commented: "Strong man...your mother must be even stronger!"
No worries, though. When Dr. Fitzgerald reassured him we were there with medical supplies: "We are eye doctors," she said. He waved us through. I love the instant promotion--can I start giving exams now?! Thanks, doc :)
Just took one of the best showers in my life, and settling in at the Mayfield Hostel ( aka summer camp luxury stay) in Nairobi for the next 4 hours--until we're up to hit the airport for the final leg.
The team is really an awesome group of people, each with their own special talents. I am really excited to meet the villagers and all the wonderful people I have heard about in Kipkaren tomorrow morning.
Cheers to you all!
Lauren Chalupsky-Cannon
In Flight Movie reviews
Whew! What an exhausting day of travel. 7 1/2 hours of flight time from Detroit to Amsterdam and then 9 hours of flight time from Amsterdam to Niarobi can sure wear on a guy.
The flights were flawless, the food was decent and the movies were ups and downs. I am really looking forward to spending the next few days with these peolpe on our team. The more I learn about them, the more I like them. They are fun, creative, and genuine people. I even like the person who didnt wake me up for the ice cream on the plane (Jennifer).
This is my first time travelling overseas so it was amazing to fly over the Sahara desert and see a sea of sand.
We had a very nice selection of movies to choose from to meet our entertainment wants and needs. This traveller will list the movies he chose to view along with his personal ratings of each
film.
Inception - 1 air sickness bag and 3 bags of peanuts -This movie, although well acted, was predictable and didn't live up to the hype. The trailers for this movie were better than the movie, even with the cliff hanger ending with the spinning top.
Toy Story 3 - all the peanuts - this movie rocked
SALT - 2 air sickness bags and 2 bags of peanuts - good story but Angelina Jolie was not the right actress for the role. Her physical skills (running and punching) have lost their luster and she is no longer believable as she once was as Tomb Raider.
Valkyre - 2 bags of peanuts - good story, not well told. Nice try Tom, better luck next time.
So, see Toy Story 3, the rest of them can wait for cable.
~Markus
The flights were flawless, the food was decent and the movies were ups and downs. I am really looking forward to spending the next few days with these peolpe on our team. The more I learn about them, the more I like them. They are fun, creative, and genuine people. I even like the person who didnt wake me up for the ice cream on the plane (Jennifer).
This is my first time travelling overseas so it was amazing to fly over the Sahara desert and see a sea of sand.
We had a very nice selection of movies to choose from to meet our entertainment wants and needs. This traveller will list the movies he chose to view along with his personal ratings of each
film.
Inception - 1 air sickness bag and 3 bags of peanuts -This movie, although well acted, was predictable and didn't live up to the hype. The trailers for this movie were better than the movie, even with the cliff hanger ending with the spinning top.
Toy Story 3 - all the peanuts - this movie rocked
SALT - 2 air sickness bags and 2 bags of peanuts - good story but Angelina Jolie was not the right actress for the role. Her physical skills (running and punching) have lost their luster and she is no longer believable as she once was as Tomb Raider.
Valkyre - 2 bags of peanuts - good story, not well told. Nice try Tom, better luck next time.
So, see Toy Story 3, the rest of them can wait for cable.
~Markus
Note from Jim
I think this is an awesome group. I feel lots of energy, and GREAT things are going to get accomplished!
Greetings to all
Wow, do I feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing team H2-Hoe 2011!
Sharon's awesome experience and words of the wonderful people we will meet, my parents' energy and knowledge, my husband's resourcefulness, Jennifer's task-driven focus, Carolyn's fabulous sense of humor, and all backed by Dr. Fitzgerald's world-moving power! ...and this is just the first few hours in.
We have made it quickly and safely to Detroit and are mentally preparing for the next few weeks of our lives...it is such a gift to be here. Thank you for your support as we take off into the beautiful world.
~ Lauren
Sharon's awesome experience and words of the wonderful people we will meet, my parents' energy and knowledge, my husband's resourcefulness, Jennifer's task-driven focus, Carolyn's fabulous sense of humor, and all backed by Dr. Fitzgerald's world-moving power! ...and this is just the first few hours in.
We have made it quickly and safely to Detroit and are mentally preparing for the next few weeks of our lives...it is such a gift to be here. Thank you for your support as we take off into the beautiful world.
~ Lauren
Hello from Detroit!
This is Markus from the 2011 team. We have just finished our first leg of our journey to KENYA!!The entire group seems to be getting along famously. We are already joking and picking on each other just like you would a sibling.
Our focus is going to be split between working with cleaning their water supply and working in the soil. As a nod to both areas of focus, we have nicknemamed oursleves "Team H2-Hoes".
I think Tom Petty said it best when he uttered the words, "The waiting is the hardest part ". Now that we are all on the path to Kenya, we all want to get there right now and get started. All of this "sit and eat and drink and watch movies, sit and eat and watch movies" on the plane waiting to get there is really quite taxing on the mind and body. Thankfully, this group is awesome to be a part of and every member brings more joy and energy to it than you would believe.
All in all, a great start to what is certain to be an awesome experience.
~ Markus
Our focus is going to be split between working with cleaning their water supply and working in the soil. As a nod to both areas of focus, we have nicknemamed oursleves "Team H2-Hoes".
I think Tom Petty said it best when he uttered the words, "The waiting is the hardest part ". Now that we are all on the path to Kenya, we all want to get there right now and get started. All of this "sit and eat and drink and watch movies, sit and eat and watch movies" on the plane waiting to get there is really quite taxing on the mind and body. Thankfully, this group is awesome to be a part of and every member brings more joy and energy to it than you would believe.
All in all, a great start to what is certain to be an awesome experience.
~ Markus
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Up, Up and Away
Hello Everyone
We left Cedar Rapids a little late but Delta connections and the whole crew were absolutely fabulous!! All 28 bags and boxes of supplies got on board with little problem. Can't say that for the team:) just kidding. Everyhing went extremely well. We have a name--because we are a water,irrigation,crop, medical team we are officially Team H-2-h(O)e--to everyone in Kenya we are Team H2O but to everyone back home it will be Team H-2-h(O)e because of the shovels,hoes, dirt picks etc that we are taking with us on this trip to help get water chlorinated and do irrigation with crop. I will be steady to blog often and keep everyone updated. Thanks to Julie Gorman and Crescent Electric for using their van and getting up early to move so many Action Packers,bags and boxes of medical, dental, water equipment. We always take everything we need to do the jobs we are sent to do. I am so grateful to an understanding supportive and loving family,staff and friends. Withoout all of you this would never be possible thank you for all your love and encouragement. Out for now--A single idea, a single action does move the world!!
We left Cedar Rapids a little late but Delta connections and the whole crew were absolutely fabulous!! All 28 bags and boxes of supplies got on board with little problem. Can't say that for the team:) just kidding. Everyhing went extremely well. We have a name--because we are a water,irrigation,crop, medical team we are officially Team H-2-h(O)e--to everyone in Kenya we are Team H2O but to everyone back home it will be Team H-2-h(O)e because of the shovels,hoes, dirt picks etc that we are taking with us on this trip to help get water chlorinated and do irrigation with crop. I will be steady to blog often and keep everyone updated. Thanks to Julie Gorman and Crescent Electric for using their van and getting up early to move so many Action Packers,bags and boxes of medical, dental, water equipment. We always take everything we need to do the jobs we are sent to do. I am so grateful to an understanding supportive and loving family,staff and friends. Withoout all of you this would never be possible thank you for all your love and encouragement. Out for now--A single idea, a single action does move the world!!
The Journey Begins!
Its 6:30am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 and it is the coldest of the previous years of mission trips. We start off at the Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport, Delta airline arrival terminal. I pull up to see Julie Gordman standing in the back of her van, rear doors open and the team members pulling bin after bin out in such an orderly fashion that gives an assurance that we only send the best of the best over. I join the team inside and start the process of accessing the 18 action packers, 4 bags, and 2 boxes of equipment.
Now is the fun part, checking them in. How this works is the airline allows the 1st bag free, 2nd bag at a cost of $100 or less, and any additional bag for $200. So our team members only check one personal bag each and then we allot an action packer, bag, or box to each person until all are checked baggage. So this means that each member could be checking in up to 4 bags per person (Spanda Inc pays for any additional bag cost). We take equipment and supplies over in this particular manner because, it costs less than shipping, equipment is more secure and efficiently delivered.
The most amazing part of the process of packing this equipment and supplies is that we are spot on in weight. It amazes people how, considering our method of weighing is having someone stand on a scale and have them hold the container to measure its weight, thank you Jennifer Hicks Pershing for being that person.
So it is 7:15, all baggage has been checked in, tickets issued, now the next hurdle making it through security. I watched carefully while the machine was flagging our checked baggage. Each bin that was flagged was carefully opened and searched. The Delta security were friendly and even asked my help to instruct on how we put the zip ties on the action packers correctly so they could secure the items for us.
At 7:45, all baggage was cleared and tagged to Nairobi, Africa where it would meet up again with the team. As I gave my hugs and thank you’s to these wonderful and gallant people, I walked away with the sound of Mark Cannon and Jim Chalupsky coordinating a team cheerleading shout out “GO TEAM” and “GO DELTA”. Today is a good day, let’s all pray for safe travels for both the team (pic left to right: Carolyn Hamilton, Jennifer Hicks Pershing, Lauren Cannon, Jim Chalupsky, Mark Cannon, Joan Chalupsky, Sharon Dieter, Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald) and the equipment/supplies.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Trip #4 Begins
The Spanda team is packed and ready to embark on the 4th trip to the Kenya health care clinic. The flight takes off early tomorrow morning from Cedar Rapids and will arrive in Africa 20-22 hours later.As well as the hand-knitted dolls mentioned before, the team will be bringing with them supplies to help the dental clinic expand, an industrial chlorinator for the clinic well, ideas for irrigation and hearts ready to help.
Check back often while the team is gone to learn progress and updates as Dr. DeAnn Fitzgerald blogs about their experiences.
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