A group of staff and students have gone twice more to the refugee camp located in Limuru. The first time, we went to take about 250 dolls that Jackton, with the help of his employees, student workers and many volunteers, made within a week of our deciding to undertake the project. Children of all ages were absolutely thrilled to receive the dolls and went around the camp showing them off. It was nice to be able to give these children something to play with since most of them have lost everything due to the political unrest that occurred at the beginning of the year. Each time we go back to the camp, the number of children there has dropped. It is great to see that people in the nation are teaming together to place the children in boarding programs for education.
When we arrived at the camp to take the dolls, I noticed a camera crew being escorted through the camp. I introduced myself to them and asked if Anastacia, my journalism student, could just watch what they were doing to learn from them. It turned out they were there filming for a school project. They attend a local university and are in broadcast journalism courses. They were glad to have us tag along, and they even put Anastacia in the middle of the action! They let her hold the microphone for their shoots. She was out of the frame, but it was such an amazing opportunity and perfect timing for us to go there. She and I stayed with them as they chose people to interview, set up the frames, conducted interviews and gathered other images on film. I got to talk to them and get ideas of schools to contact for possible locations for Anastacia to go to school. I am planning to make calls next week and find out if there are any schools she can attend without a high school certificate. If not, we may be looking at trying to set her up in a high school program before she will then go on to college. I told her this would mean a serious time commitment to pursue journalism and that it will require her to work very hard. She thought about it one day and then came to tell me she wants to do whatever it takes. So, I am going to research her options. She was a natural helping the film crew. It thrilled me, and I praised God for the opportunity and timing. Also, one guy in the group works as an announcer for a local television station. I spoke with him about possibly setting up a tour.
The other time we went to Limuru in March was to take Easter celebrations to the children there. We boiled 400 eggs and took candy and biscuits (cookies). The children were separated into age groups where MITS staff and students led them in games. They were each given biscuits and an egg. Some of the kids had never had a boiled egg and began eating it, shell and all. They were quickly instructed to peel it first. I was told they had a blast. Candy was hidden in the grass, and an Easter hunt took place, absolutely thrilling the children. The staff also led a devotional lesson for the children to teach them about Easter.
Those of us who went to Limuru separated into groups with some working with the children, others helping in the kitchen, clinic, cleaning the grounds or organizing the storage rooms. I was asked to help in one of the stores. I spent the time drawing weekly menu cards. The camp is instituting the card as a necessity for people to get their meal because so many people from the community come there just to eat free meals.
