Days Have Passed

The days have passed and again I am on my normal schedule of my normal life.  I am not saying that my life is bad or that it is bad to be back home with family and friends.  I am just finding it difficult to find purpose in the things I used to do after seeing what I saw in Kenya.  And I will admit to a certain amount of guilt in having the life I have compared to some of the lives I saw in Kenya, both in Nairobi and in Meru.

I know that there is a plan for me here in Nebraska.  But I can’t help but wonder how what I saw has changed that plan.  Or am I finally just listening to what the plan was all along?

Tony

So we say farewell

We are headed to the airport to get ready for our 29 hour flight home. As much as I look forward to being home, I am sadden to leave Kenya. This land and its people have truly touched my heart.

Tomorrow I shall be ready to share all that this place has taught me. To share the joy that is abundant in this country. But for today I am sad to go.

Not only have I met some people here that shall always be in my heart, especially the children, but those that I joined on this journey shall always be special friends to me. We have shared so much in our 17 days.

So to all the members of this mission team I say thank you. I shall never be able to repay you for what you have shared with me. We shall always have this unique experience in our hearts. Thank you.

Tony
--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry

Three Days of Safari

Today is the end of our third day of safari. The first day was spent at the Lake Nakuru National Park. We saw so many animals that are always considered to be a big part of a safari. We saw elephants, lions, hippos, white rhinos, black rhinos, flamingos, and so many others. The roads are the worst part of the entire trip. You bounce all over. And I mean bounce. And that's even while standing up to look out the top of the van. So you end the day so sore.

The second and third day have been spent at the Masai Mara Game Preserve. We actually stay in a cabin with fabric sides like a tent. The front part is a tent, but the back is an actual building to house the bathroom. It is definitely roughing it!

As we drove to the resort we went to a fresh water lake that had several hippos in the lake. We were in boats right on the water next to them. At one point, one hippo popped up out of the water right in the middle of the boats. Every boat scattered as all the guides felt they were too close for safety.

Yesterday we drove to the resort through the park and saw elephants and also giraffes everywhere. But the ride was the roughest yet, to the point that several people had bruises from the bouncing. But then we went back out in the evening to see if the predators were out hunting. We didn't see any hunting, but we did find three younger male lions that were just relaxing. Though when a driver did get out of his van about 1/2 a mile away, all three lions sat up to watch him. Very intensely.

Today we woke to the sound animals talking to each other. As we walked to the lodge for breakfast, dik diks were walking around the compound. This is an amazing place that everyone should visit. However, I do feel a bit of guilt for being able to afford to come here when most Kenyans can't afford to visit what is in their own country. There is such beauty in the land, the animals and the people. And most Kenyans never get to realize it.

Well, tomorrow we head back to Nairobi. Then Friday night we fly back to the United States. I miss everyone back home, but this has definitely been the adventure of a lifetime.

Tony

Three Days at Kirogine Methodist Church

Out in the countryside of Meru, there's not enough reliable signal to post, so now I'm posting for Friday, Saturday and today. Hopefully everyone is still reading the blog.

Friday we worked on digging out the foundation to add a modern kitchen to the church. Currently they cook outside on a fire for any meals at the church. We used a modified pitchfork to break up the dirt and then hauled it away in wheelbarrows.

The church chairman said we did two days worth of work in 5 hours. The young men that were doing the job seemed appreciative. Several of us commented on how quick it could have been done with some machinery, but everything was done by hand.

That night we went to homes of Kirogine members. Don and I went to Ashford and Rose's home. Ashford is retired, but now helps with community development for his village. Rose is a primary school teacher just down the road. Their youngest son still lives with them (Roy).

Rose fed us so much through our 2.5 days with her and her family. We had rice, stew, sweet potatoes, tea, and what seems like large hush puppies. But there was ALWAYS fruit! And they family grows all they need to eat. They have cabbage, corn, pumpkin, sugar cane, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, and arrow root. They also have 2 goats and 4 cows.

The next day we held a Vacation Bible School for the youth of the church. We had about 150 children show up for the school. Before we could do our part, the students did a full presentation for us. The Boys Brigade came out and did a marching routine for us. It was very impressive how much they knew of the military turns and marching. Then some of the children recited memory verses for us. Some were a little shy, but others stood right up and announced their verse.

After that, we had some singing of English Christian songs by groups, duos, and soloist. All were beautifully done. One young girl had an exceptional voice that was just so beautiful. But then music is a bigger part of their church life than we we have in the church I am from. After the singing, we had a full dance and singing routine from a girls group. There was a couple of boys in the group, but the leader told us that the dancing was mainly for the girls. It was a really awe inspiring performance.

After the girls were finished, we finally got the chance to do the Bible School. We split the kids into five groups and they rotated through the groups. The theme was how we are fishers of men for Jesus. There were two story times, a craft time, singing, and then Don and I were in charge of recreation (which basically was volleyball with a soccer ball). The kids were all so well behaved and seemed to enjoy the day. At the end we used a skein of yarn to tie the kids together in a random order to create a "net." We then told them how we were all tied together now and would be forever. Then we cut the yarn to create bracelets for each kid. The next day in church, most of the kids still had on their bracelets.

Sunday was church. . . .I really don't have the words to explain what it was like. We arrived at 9:30 and church was still going when we left at 2 pm. There was so much singing and praising God. They also run through the community announcements because this building is the community center. During the service a man was busy handing out mail to every as there is no post office for the village, so mail is delivered to the church.

I got to give the sermon. I was nervous as can be before I stood up to give it. A local teacher named Eric was an interpreter for me. So I was told I needed to take forty minutes. But with the translation, that meant only twenty for me. I don't think I did that long even. I had written down twice what I would say and then ended up not using any of it. I simply stood up there and spoke my heart. And now I don't remember a thing that I said, but Pastor Charles hugged me afterward and told me it was perfect.

We also gave a small gift to the church to help them with their projects. After the presentation, every person it seemed had to come shake our hands, then they sang and praised the Lord for the gift. The week before the church leaders had a meeting to see what they could do because money was getting tight. And then we answered their prayers. It was a sight like I have never seen. I truly can't explain how it felt to see the people of the church so appreciative.

And now we are back in Nairobi and off to a safari. More later.

Tony

A Healthy Healthy Day!

As Tony has made many of the posts seen, he has decided to highlight another voice. Although in America my name is Laurel, I have found that with their accents people can't say it. Therefore my Kenya persona has become "Rose."

Yesterday was the day of our Free Health Clinic in Meru. We had more people come than we ever expected (758 to be almost exact). We had supplies for a thousand but never expected more than 600. It was quite emotional to see some of the people who came.

Some had traveled very far in the worst health conditions imaginable. One had cancer and wanted to see if there was anything we could do for him. Another man walked several miles on crutches because he had previously lost a leg and wanted it checked. Several came in taxis and needed to be carried in. As I was on registration, through a translator I became aware of these conditions and it saddened my heart. Eventually we ran out of complimentary health kits and it was very hard to turn people away. But everyone received their medication, so that was celebrated.

However there was many joys. Our group was able to significantly lighten the emotional load people were carrying not only through medication but also through laughter. Many children were amazed to see a white person and it soon became a game to get close and play with us. Tony and Katrina played many games of tag, making the older and sicker ones laugh. Apparently adults don't run much in Kenya.

We also broke the ground for a permanent free health clinic. There was much joy from everyone in that. Hopefully we can all uphold our promise to come back physically and monetarily to make this dream come true.

Laurel "Rose"

Missed Day - University and Hospital

I apologize for not blogging last night. It was a very long and full day. I hope today's blog will make up for the omission.

Yesterday we first went to Kenya Methodist University. It was founded in 1997 with 11 students and to over 9000 students on 5 campuses today. The main campus is in Meru, near where we are staying. They have several bachelors and masters degree programs, but focus a lot on agriculture, business, and nursing.

We toured the campus after meeting the Bishop that runs the university. He explained that on 6% of students that reach 8th grade go to college. Not 6% of all children, 6% of all the kids that first attend school, second reach 8th grade, third pass the test that allows them to go on to high school, fourth finish high school, and fifth pass the test that allows them to go college.

That is a lot just to go to a university. And that is a lot that don't get the chance at high school or college. Education is very important here, but some still can not afford what is considered free education.

The university itself was beautiful. We walked through the men's dorm and it felt just like an American dorm with music blaring, people yelling, and others watching TV. But there were no vending machines in the building.

The library was FULL of students actually studying. But they only have 60,000 books, which seems like nothing for a library. And the computer lab with Dells was full of students. Which all goes to show how important education is for the people of Kenya.

Once finished with the university we went back to the Bio-Intensive center for lunch. Then it was on to Maua Methodist Hospital. We were met there by a Methodist missionary from Texas. Bill walked us around the compound and explained all that went on in the hospital. While it was interesting to see how that did so much with so little, the sanitary conditions were still shocking. The furniture in use for hospital beds and the rest looked similar to what you would see in movies showing the hospitals of the 50's.

But at the same time, they had two X-ray machines, both donated, and the best nursing school in Kenya. They had 90% graduation rate from that school. But it was a bit disturbing to see the mortuary next to the kitchen. The bodies that were not claimed by the family were simply put in a large pit and then covered with chemicals to help the bodies decompose. And this was fifty feet down the hill from the kitchen.

The babies that we visited at the hospital each received 2 baby hats and there seemed to be a total lack of privacy in the rooms. We were simply told to walk right into the rooms without any checking with the parents to see if they wanted visitors. One mother was in the middle of breast feeding her child and seemed unsure of our presence, but then continued feeding her baby while we stood there.

Tony and Laurel (Rose)

Emotional To See

Today we visited the Kioni Generation High School and the Mwaki Children's orphanage. Both were eye opening and heart wrenching. And in different ways.

The high school was amazing at what they accomplish with so little. Classrooms with dirt floors and no windows. Their main hall isn't complete. No school van because it is broken down.

The school head master gave us a tour of their grounds. They have teachers in one dorm, 77 boys in another, and 53 girls in the girls' dorm. They also had a farm that produced food for the students and a little to sell. They grow corn, which they call maize, tomatoes, and kale. They were in awe of the idea of growing maize "corn" to be used to make petrol "gas."

After the tour we went to their hall and the choir sang for us and they were so beautiful. They sang three songs in their native tongue for us. Then we got to meet the teachers and staff. After that we introduced ourselves and presented some of our gifts to them, three soccer balls for the school and a pen for each student.

The soccer balls were a huge hit. Within moments the presentation was over and everyone was outside playing. Then it was time to go. So on the road we were to the orphanage.

The orphans greeted us with music as soon as we got out of the vans. Singing a song of welcome for us. Then their guardians came up, singing and dancing. Soon we were all pulled into dancing with them.

They took us to chairs and we sat then a blessing was said and we ate a huge meal of rice and stew and fruit. After the meal we learned the history of the Mwaki and the women that support the orphans. The women make quilts to sell which they then use the money to support the orphans. So we presented the women with funds to finish a new community center where they can make their quilts to provide more support for the orphans. They danced and sang all over again when we gave them the money. The appreciation was evident on their faces.

It was the most emotional day by far on this trip. But seeing the pride in the high school students to be able to attend school at all and the joy from the women supporting the orphans makes any hardship I might personally face fade away.

Tony
--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry