Limuru Round Two

Been in Limuru since Sunday, July 21st for our second round of classes at St. Paul's University. Let me tell you, it is FREEZING. Low 60s all week. I sleep with a million blankets each night curled in a ball.

Anyways, now about class. This week has been even better than the week of classes in May. We are much more comfortable with each other so there is more discussion. Great discussion.

On Monday we talked about our 8 week placements in our various organizations. Shared all about Lea Toto and the work that I have been doing all summer. Also shared about my one-woman battle against stigma in the informal settlements. Still haven't completely decided whether to continue with that course of study in the future, but I might.

Tuesday we had lectures/discussions on relationships between organizations, the role of global missions in East Africa, Christianity and Islam, and sexuality. Very interesting topics and very interesting answers. It has been clear in my 8 weeks living in Kenya that all these topics are pressing and visible here.

Wednesday we split of into groups and discussed our organizational assessments from our 8 week work placement. Leslie and I talked about Lea Toto and our research done there on stigma and the role of male CHWs in the community.

Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning we were split into groups again and were handed case studies to be presented on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. My group's case study was on how to make the Comprehension Care Center (CCC) model sustainable after international aid ceases funding the groups. It was difficult to come up with a solution to this problem and in the end we were very radical in our proposed solution.

After our presentations on Friday morning we sang a song together and prayed before taking lunch. Lunch was special today since C.B. Peter made Indian food and we had a dessert! Chocolate has never tasted so amazing in my life!

We are going back to the hotel to relax before being picked up at 9am tomorrow morning to begin our long, arduous trek across Kenya to MOMBASA! So excited about laying on the beach all day for a week. Maybe not everyday because we have some things we want to do before we leave. For example, horseback riding on the beach, touring old ruins, eating, shopping, and generally taking pictures of everything.

Onwards! Be back to the US on August 6th!