First Day Hoorah!

Well, we had some adventures getting here! First Zach, Ashley and Amanda's flight from Rochester was cancelled, and they thought they'd have to drive to NYC to get their connecting flight to London.  Instead, they caught a flight from Syracuse, but once on the plane, it was delayed a few hours, and they thought they'd still miss the flight.  But they did get there - except for Amanda's suitcase.  Next, we met cousin Terry at Dulles Airport and he had another story to tell.  His plane had landed and was waiting to taxi to their spot at the gate when another plane taxiing by, clipped the tail of his plane with its wing.  So they offloaded everyone there and they walked to the gate.  Were we ever glad to see the Rochester 3, just in time for the flight to Kitale.  Jeff and Adam met us and our 19 pieces of luggage (half for the orphanage).  In fact, we got a nice agent who didn't charge for the overweight in Rochester when she learned we were on a mission trip.  The first impression upon arriving at In Step is all the lovely flowers. and then the hum of children's voices.  After orientation, lunch and unpacking, we went out to play with the hoards of kids who climb all over us, hang on our legs and arms, run their hands through our hair, etc.  Meredith, who works here, warned us that at times the kids will seem overwhelming and we will want to take a break from them.  In fact, they are not allowed on the work site, which is good.  Fearless Leader Bill decided that we didn't want to waste time in case it rained, so the decision was to work until the rain, and then take a break. If it didn't rain by 2:30, we'd stop for lunch then.  We got right to work hauling water, filling the cracks between the pier forms and the walls with strips of cement sacks, mixing concrete, wiring up the rebar cages for the ring beam, cleaning the floors after the concrete pours, etc.   Of course, it didn't rain and we were all really hungry for lunch, but it made the rest of the afternoon go quicker - we worked until 7:00. The food is amazing, and more amazing to watch now 117 eating at a very long table.  And you thought a school cafeteria was noisy?  The kids' routine is rising time around 5:30.  They all get tub baths in the veranda/eating/church/multipurpose area.  The breakfast.  School is not in session now for a couple weeks, so they entertain themselves in the yard.  The potty routine is something else!  I'll tell you only if you ask.  We give a lot of credit to the workers - the aunties who care for the children, the amazing cooks who cook over charcoal fires with huge pots, the laundry ladies who wash it all by hand, the gardener who takes care of the greenhouses where all the fresh veggies come from, the manager of child care who oversees the children's medical needs, etc.  Such a dedicated group - makes us feel like our job is the easy one.  So the bet is on for tomorrow.  One of the Kenyan masons who does this type of work regularly, told Bill that he thought we'd all be too tired to work hard tomorrow.  We will prove him wrong!  So, love from all 12 of us, sent through me, Carolyn