TKO Helping HandsTurn Kindness On

Jambo!
We are at Mount Kenya and have been having a peaceful and adventurous trip.  We have been awakening to the sounds of birds and buffalo outside our rooms.  Last night we slept in a tent at Sweetwater, as you unzipped the tent there were elephants and Rhinos roaming wild and free.
This morning we rode camels [...]

Jambo!

We are at Mount Kenya and have been having a peaceful and adventurous trip.  We have been awakening to the sounds of birds and buffalo outside our rooms.  Last night we slept in a tent at Sweetwater, as you unzipped the tent there were elephants and Rhinos roaming wild and free.

This morning we rode camels through the brush and we have spent hours on the road in search of other animals.  As we drive to places we wave to people who are working so hard carrying bags of potatoes, brush, and milk for miles.  The women look tired and worn, yet still smile and wave as we pass.  The boys have made it a point to wave at everyone along our journey.  We stop to give little boys and girls toys, candy and pencils.  We have met amazing people with huge smiles and amazing hearts.

“It makes you want to give them everything” said Keanu.  Keanu and Tristen write thank you notes to special people that they are meeting here and telling them how they are grateful for knowing them; they’re really living the spirit of Turning Kindness On.

We visited the Sweetwater tribe and after the three tribes danced their ceremonial routines and posed for photos (as they have probably done many times for many tourists before us), we took them out of their normal level of comfort.  We brought out a hundred bouncie balls and candy and had children and adults in full tribal gear playing catch with Brett and the boys!

In Nanyuki, we saw a little preschool and stopped to say hi and make a small donation. The 60 children couldn’t help but hug the boys. Keanu picked up 3 of them at a time and they chanted ‘Thank you for turning kindness on.” I know that the good the boys are feeling will stay in their hearts forever, and that they will no doubt continue the TKO Helping Hands mission with their own families.

Our tour guide, Oliver, has been so warm and knowledgeable.  In addition to learning about the animals and the local culture, we’ve learned that there is a 35% unemployment rate here, and that four families often share a small building with no running water or electricity.

We still haven’t visited the Rehema Orphanage, and will be heading there on the last day before we start our 18 hour journey back home.  We’ve saved 3 bags filled with goodies and school supplies to give the kids at the orphanage, and are most excited to give them the $1,300 we collected from Sierra Canyon and Heschel West students, who brought their loose change into school to donate to these African children.

I am sure that will be the highlight of our journey, and we look forward to sharing our photos when we return.

The Ellens

Comments are closed.