Walls, Check. Roof, Working On It!

05 July 2013 (Friday)

We took a day trip to Namanga. Instead of waiting for a daladala to fill up with passengers we decided to take a bus headed to Nairobi, Kenya which passes Namanga. The bus actually left at its scheduled time of 7 a.m.! Miracles do happen.

The walls of the kitchen got finished today. They were nine layers of cinder block high. We sat around almost doing nothing for most of the day. We sat more today than earlier this week. It’s a three-man job at most and they’re the fastest at doing it. They are nice and let us help though and taught us how to do it. For example, in the time it took to me to fill one gap between cinder blocks with cement Thomas (the hired builder) would finish four of them.

Before lunch, Ricky decided to take a nap inside the school on the mattress they had. Caroline and Ellen decided to play a prank on him by pouring sunscreen in large quantities all over his arms and legs. He wasn't going to get sunburned today that’s for sure. He wasn’t too pleased at first when he woke up. This triggered a mini prank war throughout the day.

It was smooth sailing home for us also. I had enough room on my bench to where my knees wouldn't touch the bench in front of me. Another tender mercy.

I watched “Harry Potter 7.2” tonight. I realized that I hate it when people don’t keep their commitments. For example, many people on this team say they’ll watch a movie and then will end up bailing halfway through because they’re “tired.” I don’t know why it bugs me, but it does. Both times I've watched a movie here at the house it has happened. I’d rather people be honest and just say no to watching it than to get my excitement up that a bunch of people are going to watch it.

Even more than that, I hate it when people have already seen a movie and then vocalize their opinions about the movie out loud during the movie. For example, “I love this next part! It’s so intense/funny.” Or, “I hate how they portrayed this next scene compared to the book.” It thoroughly pisses me off and both happened tonight during the movie.

Ellen and Caroline thought it would be funny to prank us while sleeping tonight. Ricky got a bed full of water and I got water poured on my face at 6 a.m. They came in earlier but I woke up, sat up, and said, “Guilty!” and they ran off. Then they came back again to get Ricky and I was awake too but didn't say anything to warn him. I thought he was the only target. When they got me on the third go around, I wasn't expecting it because it thought they were done.

06 July 2013 (Saturday)

                Pendo made us breakfast. My favorite part of her breakfasts is the fresh fruit smoothies. Best I ever had. I also paid her to do my laundry for the first time.

                We went to Mkonoo to meet with Goodluck and the Utukufu group because they had a gift to give all of us for helping them build the chicken coop. They fed us makande and gave us free beaded jewelry. This has definitely made it worth it after the hassles working with Joseph.

                Alisha, Emilee, Ellen, and Aaron all ate whole pilipilis. Everyone died and cried except for Alisha. She ate three unscathed.

                We went to the Njiro shopping center to watch “Monsters University” in 3D and then got dinner afterwards. I got a double cheeseburger in honor of the past Independence Day. One of the best burgers I've ever had.

                Aaron gets cluster headaches from his childhood injury. Tonight they were the worst they have ever been and Shaylor and I were asked to give him a priesthood blessing. I’m grateful we have gotten to use the priesthood since being here.

07 July 2013 (Sunday)

                I desperately needed to take the sacrament and feel the Spirit again at church.

                My room with the boys swapped with Melinda and Ellen’s room since theirs is bigger.

08 July 2013 (Monday)

                Emilee reminded that I have to give her credit for plucking my eyebrows so well. She did them a week ago or so and they look amazing. I actually noticed how much better they looked after she did them.

                This morning Shaylor, Aaron, and I went exploring to find slums for Shaylor’s project ideas.

                Afterwards, we accompanied Aaron as he taught his computer class.

                We spend a couple of hours at the internet café.

09 July 2013 (Tuesday)

                 We went to the Impala Hotel to drop off the Utukufu Support Group’s merchandise to be sold at the hotel. They are giving them a three month trial period to see how it goes.

                I visited Goodluck’s school for the first time today.

                We ate at the coveted Immigration Café today also. Lex and Mary eat there often and recommended it to us. I tried kabab for the first time which was like a fried sausage filled with unmeatlike insides. It was okay.

                After that we headed to Michael’s orphanage to play with the kids.

                Tonight we had our first Fight Club! Shaylor faced off against Caroline. I was the announcer. They didn’t really fight but it was funny to watch them play fight and kind of wrestle since he is about 6’2” and she’s 5’2.” It resulted in a tie so as not to pick favorites or be sexist or anything.