What a day, today was the beginning of the Esiteti Health Week and what a first day it was. With the help of the local Kenyan clinic AID Village Clinic, Dr. Elizabeth Toro and supplies donated by Direct Relief International, AIDS Health Foundation and the Kenyan Ministry of Health the people of Esiteti received healthcare today. From Teri leading the hocky pokey to Dr. Toro treating 16 patients to Orlando teaching the students about solar power and energy alternatives the day was filled with overwhelming joy, intensity and new opportunities. People walked miles from surrounding villages to receive HIV/AIDS education, mosquito nets and medical care. Today was the first day this community has had access to HIV/AIDS testing and counseling and so we were unsure on how people would respond, but within the first hour of the test counselors arriving a line had formed outside their door and down the hallways and continued to fill up throughout the day; starting with an elder man of the community, setting an example for the other men of his tribe.
The children were so happy to receive all your letters and gifts, each one of their faces light up when they opened them and began to read them out loud to their friends. This always means so much to them and they are eager to start writing their letters to all of you today.
To end the day the women beading group is doing amazing, and has now grown to 275 women!!!! They have started a merry-go-round savings program where if a woman is not able to send their child to school each woman contributes a small amount of money so that the child can be educated. Within the last couple of months they have been able to send 5 children to school using this new system.
We are in overwhelming gratitude today for all of your support and for the Esiteti community who continues to teach us so much about the importance of community, gratitude and simplicity.
Asante sana
Enriching the lives of Maasai children
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