We arrived in Kisumu last night and basically ate and went to sleep. We awoke at 6am this morning to amazing views of Lake Victoria.  Then we got an early start for the hospital, seeing the town a bit as we drove past.  When we arrived at the hospital there were only about 10 kids there with parents. (On my other 3 missions there were about 200-400 kids waiting.)  The girls and I set up, not sure if each kid was going to get 5,000 stickers and 20 stuffed animals...but more kids showed up and we ended up screening about 85 kids today, with about the same or more expected tomorrow.  It is a remote site, so it is not surprising there are fewer kids to see.

As you might expect, the kids were beautiful and full of the spirit of life.  It did not take long before the 32 hours of travel plus the 8 hour bus ride were a distant memory.  The kids lit up when they saw us come with bubbles and stickers.  There was one kid, Steven, who stole my heart and did not give it back...he is coming for surgery on Monday so I will see if he will give it then.  I bent down to say hi to him (he is 1 year 10 months) and he just walked up to me and puthis arms around me and his head on my shoulder...I don't have a way of expressing this kind of love, but it is a very good thing.  His mother abandoned him when he was born due to his cleft lip and palate, so his grandmum is raising him...she is amazing.  I cannot wait to be there with Steven on Monday and see him wake up to a whole new life.

There were a lot of burn victims that showed up today (more than lips and palates).  There was one girl, about 6 years old, whose whole face and arms (everything I could see) were completely burned...yet somehow she was still really pretty.  Her dad was with her, and after I was playing with her for a bit her dad confided in me that the girl's twin brother and mother died in the fire.  I have nothing else to say here.

So as I expected, it was an emotional day. The hospital is not very clean and walking through the halls was quite an experience.  On the hospital tour there was a room that had a body in it with a sheet over it...there were a lot of patients in tiny rooms, but every one of them smiled their beautiful smiles at us as we passed and welcomed us to Kenya.  The woman who teaches at the local school came with 12 students to help during the week. She is taking the girls and I to two orphanages on Wednesday and to her school on Thursday.  We start surgeries on Monday and will finish on Friday afternoon.

This is not the most elegantly written email, I know, but I am rushing as we have to get back to the hotel and get some sleep before waking early again for another day of screening.  So far I love Kenya and the people even more.  They are a most hopeful and kind people and I feel so lucky to be here with them. 

Wishing you all a great weekend.  --Sarah