Well after a few hours of work I managed to post some pics!

Yeah, it was time consuming but I resized some of my Mt. Killimanjaro pics and uploaded them to the Mt. Killimanjaro posting. Sorry but they weren't neatly displayed but it was just a job to upload them. By the way keep checking old posting as I will upload more pics to previous postings once I resize and have the time (couple hours at least on these computers and internet, actually the internet in this town is faster and more reliable than in Nairobi or Tanzania - fast dial up speed). Also I'm sorry about my misprints and grammar mistakes as I don't proofread so bear with me!
Oh yeah I still want to update my blog on the projects we're working on here and the challenges we face. One interesting thing we encountered was attending a Woman's group meeting. One of the groups who were donated sewing machines were saying that they don't have any work or material and were waiting for John (lives in Canada) to talk to the schools so they could get some work to sew school uniforms. We couldn't believe that they were expecting someone living in Canada to get them work from a local school. So I offerred to go with them to a school so they could get confidence getting work, etc. Well 4 of them came but waited outside until I called them in. I explained to the principal that these ladies had sewing machines and would like to get the contrct (called tenders here) to make the school uniforms. To make a long story short he had no trouble with this. However in the enrollment of 432 students half were orphans (orphans here have only 1 parent as the other mostly have died from HIV/Aids0 So these kids can't afford to pay for an uniform (All Kenyan school kids are suppose to wear uniforms but a lot don't). The only way this would work would have to be donations from us. We aren't here to just give things for free but want them to be self sustaining. So I discussed it with the other 3 and we canme up with a plan to help the orphans and the women sewing the uniforms. They can't afford to buy the material to make the uniforms so this was a delema. I was told it costs 1500 shillings for 10 uniforms or 150 shilling an uniform and the uniforms sell for an average of 450 shillings. Plus 1/2 the students can pay and the other half can't. So I presented to the prinicpal a plan. We said if we got the students who can pay to put a deposit of 150 shillings. The women would then buy the material and make the uniforms. They would then sell it to the students who can afford to pay to get the balance of 300 shillings back. The women who are widows probably with orphans to at school. So they would get 75 shillings (not much but better than no work). That would leave 225 shillings left. So 150 shillings would go towards material to make an uniform for free to the orphans. Then the other 75 shillings would be put in the bank for future material or repairs to the sewing machings. This way everyone gets what they want. I didn't run it by the women because it would be too much for them to digets. So I ran it by the principal and he understood and liked the idea as the women would be empowered (his word but true) and the orphans and others would get their uniform. The Fly in the oinntment is the parents of the studnets who can pay may not but into this plan. He said they don't view the big picture but only think about daily stuff. I said this plan would enable them to pay for the uniforms in 2 installments rather than getting all the money at once. Plus they would be helping the community and orphans. But the principal says they don't view it this way as they think that its hard enough raising the money. So I had to leave it at that as the prinicpal is going to present it to the school committee (they ahve more committees that can't decide a thing more analsis paralysus) So I said let me know when this meeting is happening and we'll attend to give hem some support.
So that's the mentality we face. Oh another one the principal was telling Angus who wants to help the disabled students. He found out that disabled students include ones that can't talk and are a little slow in learning. He asked if the samarter kids who are kind of bored in class could help mentor these kids. The prinicpal laghed and said these kids are scared if they help the mentally chanllenged kids that they will become infected. Wow we couldn't believe that mentality. But unfortuantely it comes from their parents instilling it in them. Angus took Kineliology (sp) in university and had worked fitting specil foot wear and stuff on people with foot problems. He was explaining it to the prinicpal. Well that's hard to explain when 1/3 the kids don't wear shoes. He did bring a child to Angus who had a foot problem. We think he was running and fell in a hole. His angle broke and it was set. Now the foot just dangles and sticks out at about a 40 degree from his leg. I may post a pic when I can one day. It's sad because his parents probably didn't even take him to a hospital so now he's crippled for life. He walks with a stick but is other wise happy.
Anyway I could post a bunch of odd things that we've encountered but maybe later.
I really would like to explain how our other projects are going too. We have a big meeting with the KASOW committee this weekend which should be interesting. I've also been thinking of taking a long weekend soon and take bus to check out Uganda. We are only about 2 hrs from the border. I also want to check out the sign about 5 miles from our village where the equator runs and there's a sign. We're going on a road trip to see this big rock this Sat. Then Tue we hope to visit this UN spoonsored project which wr've been told has unlimited funds for their projects. Definitely the other side of the tracks. Anyways stay tuned and check for more pics on past postings. Orito / goodbye for now