A tangawizi in Kenya

I've been in Kenya (aka paradise) for 2 weeks now and figured it was about time I did something productive with my evenings and write something... I'm not going to lie, the first few days were rough. Culture shock doesn't even describe!! But now, I feel at home. The locals are friendly, kenyan time (constant lateness) is agreeable and the scenary beautiful. Somehow everything looks good when sun drenched and surrounded by palm trees. Even the slums, derelict buildings and poverty stricken villages have an eery beauty when bathed in golden rays. I'm currently working in the Gede Special School with children with Cerebral Palsy and hearing impairments. Kenyan sign language is so fun! It's frustrating that I'm picking it up so quickly yet won't have a use for it back home. The HI children have the best sense of humour, and are all so amazing and bright and beautiful. It's devastating to think that they don't know this to be true. As for the cerebral palsy children, they've most definitely stolen my heart. They're kind, generous and way more patient than I can ever dream of being! When I can I'll post pictures so you can see them for yourselves. All the CP children look so much younger than their true age. When we arrive many are just slumped in their wheelchairs and covered in their own drool/waste. It's a sorry sight to say the least, but the school are doing the best they can with their exceedingly limited supplies. To say I'm being humbled through my time with these children is a gross understatement. I've already been challenged about so many things, and am being taught to see the world as they do - truely unique. The way the deaf kids care for the CP ones, and seeng the CP children clumsily signing speaks volumes. They are all so desperate to learn. When i arrived on Friday all the teachers were gone and the children left to play, yet a group of the deaf boys had me teaching them maths - definitely would not happen in the UK! I find it hard that despite the children's big dreams and hard-working attitudes many of their situations will remain the same. Despite the inital shock and how hard some situations are, I do love it here and love seeing God at work.