I need to fix something

Last night when I was falling asleep I was thinking about my blog entries. I realized that in my haste I might have left the impression that it was me who was leaving a sustainable day care program and saving lives. Nothing can be further from the truth. I was trying to cram so much stuff in and the power went out 4 times because it was raining so hard, I kept condensing!Anyway, I want to make it clear how I feel about all that. It's Caroline and her staff who are doing all the work, who's ideas and plans are making this a success and sustainable. What I'm doing is volunteering my resources and expertise where I can help. My goal is a medical/nursing structure in place that anyone can step into and help the kids. Caroline and I hope to establish a volunteer network that will include Kenyan and American personnel. It's a very small piece of the whole program. I have seen and learned in my time here that what makes a program successful is not what the Americans bring to it but what the Kenyans do.
In time past how Americans would have contributed to this daycare program is built or found a site, supplied it with toys, maybe hired a kenyan to run it, maybe an American, fund raised to keep it going and hoped the donors didn't lose interest, made sure there was a plaque on the wall commemorating the American effort. Thankfully, we've all changed our ways. The vision Caroline has to learn the identify the needs of her community lease the land, provide the classes, encourage the parents to volunteer,all that is what's providing ownership and success.
It has been a struggle at times, coming from the nursing background that I do, to figure out what my role here is. I really don't know if I had been in charge if outcomes would be different. I do know that I have learned more patience, humility, developed more negotiating skills along with an appreciation of "Kenyan time."
The whole concept behind the Fulbright program is the sharing of cultures and resources so that both cultures learn from each other. That learning is what will strengthen our bonds, I am so lucky to be a part of that program and learn those lessons.
I feel better now.
Stay safe Officer Tim xoxoxo little boy