Jambo rafikis

Today was a very good day

Here is today's top news :

Everyone was up early and there was no swimming, but PPI was enjoyed by all

Rhys officially becomes the first St Andrew's student in 2011 to visit the Hospital in Mombasa

Rhys is still alive

Billy got mugged by 50 students and all for a few brightly coloured pipe cleaners

Skype to St Andrew's was succesful

Olympics organised by St Andrew's was a huge success

Steak for dinner was amazing

So good evening all, I hope you are fine.

Lets begin by saying that the scores from the Olympics have not been totalled yet, but as soon as they are I will announce the competition winner from last night.

Now that that is out of the way, lets begin the day. Everyone was up early this morning and down for breakfast for the morning Malarone (advertisment) check. All was well apart from the fact that Rhys was feeling a bit down about his mozzie bites. We had already decided that a visit to Doctor Luke was in order so that was on the agenda first. However, when we went out top get the Matatus we found that the road was deserted! No Matatu's, just two very small looking blue tuc-tucs.....not a chance! The kids were very excited about the possibilty of riding in 2 of the most dilapidated little machines you could imagine. My response to the mere was very blunt! 30 minutes later the Matatus arrived, most definately on Kenya time.

Upon arrival at the school we could hear that pappa Chris was beginning his sermon in PPI. We immediately put our bags in the staffroom and quickly joined the class full of standards 5, 6, 7 and 8 children. We all squeezed into a classroom designed for 30....just in case you are wondering thats roughly 150 Kenyan students, all their teachers and the 20 of us! The use of the word squeezed does not do it justice. Also, whilst on the subject, it was hot, very very hot, not just very very hot - so hot that my camera couldn't take pictures! But wow was it worth it! The singing was immense and I have not seen so many smiles on our students faces. I am sure that they have all mentioned it in their blogs, but it is a moment I will never forget. The first PPI session that our kids see is my most favourite part of every trip, the kids have such love for Victory right from the first few moments they set foot on its soil, but that PPI i reckon etches it to their heart.  I will say that nearly every member of staff felt more than slightly choked this morning. Anyway, enough of all that soppiness and on with the day.

Here our paths separate slightly as Rhys, Joash (yes JoAsh) and I left after PPI to go to visit Doctor Luke. It was a four or five minute drive. We stopped outside a little building and left the car. We were ushered into a small waiting room with 4 or 5 other people sitting on plastic garden chairs and took our places on another 3. After a short time we were called through to see the Doctor (ahead of the other four or five people I might add). We explained what was happening with Rhys and after a short while Doctor Luke gave him a prescription. We then saw the nurse who cleaned his bites with antiseptic lotion (we all laughed that it coloured him with a strange Dale Wynton suntan) and then applied some cream and bandaged his leg. We then went back outside to wait for the bill. After a minute or two the nurse said that there would be no charge as Rhys was here with the Charity so that was nice. We had to go and get the medicine that Rhys needed and so visited the nakumatt to pick it all up. It was at this point that I decided that we all actually needed proper medicine and so I treated the three of us to two scoops each of ice cream.

We afrrived abck at the school for break and Rhys immediately left to play football! I reackon it was the ice cream that did it! Mr Straw 1 - Doctor 0. Anyway, lost and lots of lessons today, Billy was very good teaching Kindergarten colours with pipe cleaners, Josh (not Joash) and Louie teaching the older kids drama, Mike and Kyle also teaching drama, Rhys and Ed teaching PE, Ben teaching Kindergarten to count to 50 were all the ones I was lucky enough to observe today. Lunch was beans and rice and we also bought them all a soda each because....errrrr...because Rhys was sick..Ahem! Moving on.

Most of the morning Sam and others were planning the afternoon olympic events. I felt very privileged  to be able to be able to see this in operation. To say our kids were amazing would be an understatement, everywhere you looked our kids were leading the kenya students and staff and making sure that the afternoon ran like clockwork. To have well over 200 students in one place, with all staff, all doing as they should is an achievemnt in our school, for kids to organise this and ensure that it all ran smoothly was immense. My moment of the day today goes to Sam for bieng in charge and running it all! everyone looked to him today including all of us! Watching Ben and Alfie today was also incredible and surely memories they will always carry with them.

After the Olympics were finished we went back to the school to Skype to St Andrew's. After several minutes of mucking around we got to speak to Mrs Purcell and the rest of the school. they got to meet some of the students and staff of Victory and I gave them a small guided tour, I hope you all enjoyed it!

Anyway, my fingers are all bleeding now from trying to keep you fully up-to-date so I have to go. Just time for todays competition:

Of the 15 students here in Kenya with us, how many will eat Crocodile tomorrow. As usual will update you in the next blog when I have the answer and a small Kenya related prize will be given to the winner on our return. Good luck

Kwaheri rafikis