Hi to all:
 
The day we went to Shimo slum was very sad and eventful.  We were going to meet with a 33 year old Mathilde who is a leader of several widows that she is trying to organize into a group, although she is not herself a widow. 
 
No wonder they call Shimo a hole.  You have to walk down a huge incline of rocks to get to the bottom which is where water actually comes out of two pipes and then work yourself up a dirt incline by holding onto roots.  It is treacherous and scary for us but the kids and women do it everyday with pails of water on their heads and they scramble up.  When I got to the top I asked why someone did not just pipe the water up to the top where the village is to make it safe and more convenient.  "It is the forgotten slum full of alcoholism"  We saw so many children as we walked around who are products of families who do not seem to care.  Malnutrition and illness was so evident.  We did see a small grinding system where widows were grinding the corn that we had distributed previously and that was good to see. 
 
When we got to Mathilde's house we discovered that she was ill and having an acute asthmatic attack.  Our nurses were afraid that she would die.  We ordered a taxi that seemed to take an hour (30 minutes.)  She could hardly breathe, and two of our nurses went with her to the hospital and purchased what was needed.  They had to pay for the slide that the laboratory used, rubber gloves that the doctor needed, and iv she needed and a puffer.  Her family has to go and bring the food she needed plus her own sheets and blankets.  Lori went back the next morning to pay the hospital fees.  The total cost with the taxi included was 2000=shillings or approximately $22.00.  So the next time you are sick at least you can afford to go the hospital and know that you will be looked after.  It was amazing that we were there because this young woman might have died if we hadn't come along. 
 
Yesterday we went to St Anthony's School for the deaf in Webuye.  What a wonderful experience it was.  That was my second visit there and it is such an amazing place.  WE drove for an hour to get there and the police are always stopping the matatu's for their bribe.  It drives me crazy but because we were full of mazung's (white people) we were not stopped!!!
 
The school had 196 children and is one of 3 in Kenya.  The children are so well behaved and the teachers are amazing.  We went into all the classes but the smallest class was such fun.  The teacher they say is the best one in the school because this is the first time they learn any form of communication.  They begin signing (I got a copy of the Kenyan sign language chart to bring home) and learn to read and write.  The teacher had all the children's names on the board in a list.  She gave a big pointer to one of the little guys (4yrs old) he walked up and pointed out his name and then made the sign for each letter.  Four months ago he couldn't communicate at all.  It made my heart sing to know that these children now have a chance.  There are only 4 universities in Kenyan that have a person to help a deaf student go to school so many do not get chances at advancing themselves.
 
WE presented the school with the equivalent of $1000.00 to help them with resources and they were so pleased.  They also asked if we could bring back used over the ear hearing aids that could be used for some children.  Guess that will be next on my list?
 
It was an amazing day as each day is.  Today we are off to do a small medical clinic in Kimimini, a small village with ruts for roads. 
 
Hope everyone is well.
 
 
Kwaheri
Sandy