Though I have to admit that until this week, time didn’t seem to pass too quickly here, it still seems strange that I have already finished my teaching and will be leaving Bulima on Monday. We are taking a short flight from Mwanza back to Nairobi on Monday. The flight was confirmed today, but we were told it might be ‘delayed’ since it has been bad weather for the last few days. So, I am hoping the delay doesn’t turn into a cancellation because we need to get to Nairobi by Tuesday night for our flight out.
Latest news: I am sick. There is a pretty bad cold type bug that’s going around here with the kids and as a parting gift, they have passed it on to me. I am oh, so grateful. I have been taking airborne, but I think it’s too late to really prevent it from hitting me. I am officially sneezing about every two minutes and can only breathe through my mouth. I am praying it will go away before I have to last for 20 hours on a plane.
On a brighter note, I am getting many notes and cards from the girls who I have been teaching. They seem to love making them. They all tell me I am their best friend and that they love me. It’s very special. I am taking many pictures of my friends (the students) here and hope to keep in touch with them. I have given many of them envelopes with a stamp so they can write me a letter and mail it to me in America. I told them that if they wrote me, I would write back and send copies of pictures I have taken of them while I was here. This will get some letters to me, I bet! I look forward to hearing from them…and I really do hope to see them all again someday.
It has been difficult being here for me, especially to be so far from friends and family. I knew traveling here with only two other people (who are much older than me) would probably bring about some loneliness and it definitely did, particularly the first week I was here. And, it still doesn’t feel quite like ‘home’ here as the culture is so different. All that to say, I am very sad to leave. I am starting to miss the students already. It is only really hitting me today that I will not be teaching them anymore.
This morning as I was meeting with the teachers and staff for a short bible study and prayer time, I was asked to speak for a few minutes. I could only get out a quick thank you before I started to tear up. I was telling them all about how I consider it a privilege to have been here among them and teaching these beautiful children…and I could say no more.
So, to all of you who have donated and who have prayed for me, these students and this school…I want to say THANK YOU, or ASANTE SANA! This is not my final post, but it has been on my mind lately that so many people are a part of this trip even if I am the only one here in Africa.
And...when I get back to the states, I will be sure to put some pictures up for all to see to make up for the unfortunate lack of visual effects!
Kaleja and Tito enjoying cake and soda at our house; they often came over for treats!
Students had to gather for uniform inspection sometimes at the end of the school day. They call this time 'Parade.' 
During a 'study' time one night, I found these class 5 kids trying to draw trousers (pants) on the chalkboard. They weren't doing so well, so I helped. My trousers turned into a cartoon version of another student who was in the room. Everyone else then began drawing each other on the board. It was fun.
A group of kids fighting for the limelight. Turn a camera on them and it's magical how many appear in just a few seconds.
