Story Time!

Over the past few weeks I have been visited every evening by many standard 1 pupils who come to have their bedtime story.  Their arrival can be predicted by the quick shuffle of shoes on my porch followed by a pounding on my door that sounds as if they launch themselves fists first into my door.

When I open the door, one of two sights will greet me.  The first is a gaggle of students clustered around my door while one, usually Evance, will exclaim "Teacher, we have come!".  The second is at first appearance an empty porch, until pupils jump up from their hiding places with giggles before they ask to come in and read a story.

In they troop, with freshly washed t-shirts and sweaters over their arms and on their heads as impromptu hats.  When the story has been picked they tell each other to "scoot" to make room for me to sit in the middle of the couch - 3 boys on either side, Joyleen and several others perched behind and others leaning over from the front.  It is a miracle I can see the page to read at all.  I have often thought what a wonderful picture it would be, but it is physically impossible to move to get a camera!

While the boys are enthusiastic for their evening story, Joyleen in Standard 1 is the most eager reader.  She will come most afternoons to read, sitting on my couch to read out loud, sounding out words, and even affecting deep and high voices while reading the Three Little Bears! Not bad for a first grader who is learning English as a third language!

Joyleen in Standard 1 reads one of her favorite books.

A Little Team Work

The first 300 bricks are almost done.  Only
about 700 more to go.

 (picture courtesy of Axel)

In addition to making matoke during this week off, my help, along with Zelva, the secretary, Sister Fraisca, Madam Peace, and Teacher Albogast, was enlisted by Axel, a German volunteer to help him update the football (soccer) field.  After researching several long lasting methods for marking the sidelines, Axel decided that laying white painted bricks into the soil would be a cost efficient and durable option.  He ordered 1500 bricks to be delivered to the school, along with primer to protect them from the weather, and white paint.  All was going smoothly according to plan until we met the painter.  After a frustrating discussion as to whether the painter could or could not paint all the bricks in time,  we decided that the six of us, Zelva, Sister Fraisca, Madam Peace, Axel, Teacher Albogast and myself could prime and paint the bricks ourselves.

We got out our work clothes, kangas or tie dyed shirts, and Sister Fraisca even donned the first pair of trousers I have ever seen her wear.  Appropriately attired, the primer was opened, paint brushes found and the work began.  With radio music in the background and chatter in English, Kiswahili and Kihaya, we managed to paint all those bricks - along with our hands and feet, jeans and kangas.  A local teenager earning money to continue his studies helped to dig where we would place the bricks and after only a short week of work, the pitch looks brand new with sparkling white sidelines. 

In celebration of completing our work, some old jerseys were found on campus along with a football.  After toasting to our success and a group photo the six of us went up to the pitch and played the first 3 on 3 game.  Although not a long game, the competition was intense (with much laughing and fumbled balls!) and ended in a 1 all tie.  

The painting crew - ready to celebrate.  From Left to Right: Axel,
Teacher Albogast, Zelva, Sister Fraisca, myself, and Madam Peace.

The finished football field - ready for the pupils to return on Monday.

The ladies of KEMPS - game faces on!