Today we went to Focus and the Project Lucas Center. We got up bright and early and ate a wonderfully cooked breakfast from the Heart House. We did our morning devotions, and got on the bus to head to the center. The plan was to have all the kids out of school today, but when we got there, we were a bit surprised. They were in school. The only ones there were the preschoolers, which was a total of six. Scott left with Sylvester to go pick the children up early and bring them to the Focus center. Eventually, all 58 children (aging from three to fourteen and grades preschool to eighth grade) showed up there. They all went and put their backpacks up and came outside to play. The team first introduced themselves to the children, some children became attached to team members immediately. The younger ones wanted you to hold them, carry them on your shoulders and back, play in the sand, and put on your sunglasses. The funny thing was they put the sunglasses on upside down. The older girls would do your hair so there was about five girls who stood while team members sat and let them braid their hair. The older boys would play soccer with a wadded up piece of cloth or some type of material.
Then everyone got together and played hokey pokey, duck duck goose, tag in a huge circle, and on a teeter-totter. All the kids loved to take your camera and take pictures of themselves and random things. If you took their picture they would want to see it and they would just giggle. While some of the team played with the kids, others would work on helping with the entry way, classroom, stair way, and the rain water collection system.
We took a break and went to lunch at an authentic Kenyan restaurant. It was different but delicious. They had chicken, beef, rice with peas, mash potatoes that were green, and french fries. We all ate with the team and some Focus workers. After lunch, we went back to focus and played with the children. Coming up the kids were all outside waving and jumping, and the preschoolers were just waking up from their nap. We began to play right away of course. The children who became attached to team members immediately went to them. Everyone got back to work finishing the stairs, and continuing on the rain system. The team scrapped the old paint, put on a fresh coat to paint later in the week, and added the Project Lucas and Focus symbols. 
We had to say our goodbyes and it was sad. No one wanted to leave! All the kids waited outside and waved goodbye. We made it to Heart House picking up extra school supplies to pack for the backpacks. While the team went to Heart House to wash up and eat, Jameson and Scott went to the airport to see if the four missing bins were here. After diner, we cleaned up our plates and started getting ready to pack the backpacks. We organized everything, and got to work to pack the five-hundred and eighty backpacks for tomorrow's backpack ceremony. We put erasers, pencils, pens, folders, and pencil sharpeners in each backpack. We had a total of about thirty-five bins filled with backpacks to take tomorrow. Scott and Jameson arrived with no luck of getting the bins but they were told they were in London. We put everything up and we all went to our rooms and went to bed. Today was amazing and it was simply filled with playing and loving on all the kids. It was a joy to see them all smile and laugh. The backpack packing made me realize how fortunate we are in America. I am so excited to go and hand out the backpacks to the kids tomorrow and continue to love on the children.
Morgan Trendel
PS- Jameson loves Mallory a whole lot!!!
Good job Morgan !! Praying for you all!!
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