Appreciation

I want to thank everyone who made this trip possible. Without your support, Michael and I, along with others of the team, would not have been able to go.

I did not post when I was in Kenya due to time and internet constraints. When I returned, I had to sort through thousands of images to pick a few that could tell the story well. Each post is from that day so the posting is in chronological order, meaning the last post is the first viewed. (Check the date.)

The trip was a lifetime experience that will make us want to go back if possible. All of the group had a wonderful time and no major sickness came over us. We could tell we were prayed for daily. Thanks to all who supported us with their prayers. It helped solidify that prayer is the MOST important thing we can do for each other. (Philippians 4:6-7)

2nd day at Mangu Village

I was feeling better so I traveled to the Mangu village this morning. It took a while to get there and we saw some giraffe off the road a way. We also saw some Kenyan runners on the mountain. I don't know how they can tolerate the dust from the road and the thin mountain air.

As usual we were finishing the job by touching up paint and fitting small pieces of mabati in the cracks. The Masai people were to themselves. They kept their distance. I guess I kind of kept mine. I didn't come the first day to meet the people. David being a Masai and from this area was so proud of this place. I asked him to take us for a little tour around the area. Andrea, Michael and I got a chance to walk up a rocky cliff and look out around the entire valley where the village was. He showed us the remnants of the old church. There were plenty of cactus plants, acacia trees and a few other trees that weren't very tall. It reminded me of the terrain of Austin and San Antonio, TX. David told us that when men were hunting they would camp under the protection of an acacia tree. They would also hang any killed game from the limbs on the inside to keep predators away at night. Michael had to crawl in and test one out.

There were also weaver birds in the acacia trees. They build their nests out of dead grass and very fine twigs. The nest hangs from a branch, is fully covered and has an entrance opening on the bottom. Very interesting to watch them build if you had the time.

The Masai ladies cooked under an acacia tree while the rest of us and some Masai men worked painting and cleaning up the loose ends. We had some chi and ate lunch. I didn't eat but only had water. The dog was hanging around the dinner area but kept his distance. He didn't seem too affectionate but didn't act aggressive at all and allowed us to pet him. Scott noticed that he didn't quite know what to think about being petted. We fed him some small scraps which he graciously accepted. The Masai ladies then got together and danced for us. They dressed in brightly colored clothes and sang and danced to the rhythm.

We said our goodbyes and headed for home. We saw so many animals on the way back. Dik Dik, some birds, gazelles and giraffe. We road up the mountainside and when we reached the top we stopped to get some photos.

Tonight was the last night of missionary work. We were going on Safari for the next few days. We had to pack all our luggage and have it ready to take with us. We left most of our work and church clothes behind for whoever wanted to keep them. We were all excited and ready to go.

Mangu Village

I was feeling a little worse today than yesterday so I stayed back one more day. The team was going to part of the rift valley to a place called Mangu. It was the home town of David, a massai warrior whom, I am told, helped guard our hostel at night most of the time. It was the mabati day so the team was putting up the walls and painting the windows and doors of a dining hall that was being built for the village.

I washed my socks and slept most of the day. When I wasn't resting I was sorting photos and talking with Michael. Michael stayed back too that day. It rained for the first and only time of our stay. It was a welcome sound and refreshing. For lunch I tried something a little different and ended up not eating it. It was cow intestine. I served it up not knowing what it was until I smelled it, then Michael told me. I lost my appetite.

Childrens Orphanage

The drive through Nairobi took its toll on me and I was worn out. My throat was sore and my body was weak. I thought it best to take a break. Tom Marlin felt the same way so he stayed back as well. The rest of the crew visited a local orphanage. I had Michael take photos so I could see for myself what I missed. This day was cherished for my quiet time and rest. Things were going by so fast, I had little time to absorb what I was going through. To clear my mind I prayed that morning and had a quiet time before I went back to sleep. It was the only thing I could do to regroup. When I awoke I took some time to organize photos and send email to Beth. I could only chat with her online in the mornings and evenings. Since we were 8hrs different in time.

From the photos I saw, the orphanage trip was another success. The children were mostly products of aids parents. Both parents were gone because of the disease, so the child had nowhere to go. Our group was introduced to the children and they played together dancing and singing. We also gave out more caps and candy. As always that seemed to make them very happy.

Dedication Day Mangu Church Classrooms

We drove through Nairobi every day on our way to Mangu. The exhaust fumes were more than I could stand. I had to pull my shirt over my mouth and nose. My throat was starting to get sore. When we arrived, I drank chi and it helped some. There wasn't much left to do so we touched up the painting and put up the dedication plaque and chalk boards. This gave me a chance to talk with the students and take more photos. They could speak some English and understand most of what I said. The bikes the students rode were very colorful. I learned that some lived about 25k away from school and a bike is a cherished item.


Scott took this time to teach the children some geography. They were very interested in the Atlas and the information he was willing to share. He didn't skip a beat in his English and they seemed to understand everything he was saying. I was intrigued by the crowd he drew. I also learned some things while I listened.

The crowd of children started gathering for the closing dedication. The teachers had them sit according to their age and classes. Most wore cool weather clothing from the morning, however, it was getting hot. It didn't seem to bother them. The youngest lined up first which meant that they had to stay in the sun the longest. They were very cute. I noticed their little feet that many did not have shoes.

Keith Kenne, Tom Marlin, and myself sat at a table prepared for the leadership. Everyone else from our group sat behind us. We watched as the whole school formed before us. The leadership of the school introduced themselves and we were presented with entertainment from each class. Keith introduced our whole group one by one to the school and gave a scripture reading.

The dedication ceremony took place and the plaque was revealed. Trees were planted and we gave out caps to the children made by one of our church members. They were so happy and had a lot of fun when our group passed out candy and the hats. We were on a schedule so after that we had to pile into the van and head back to our hostel.

Mangu Church School Classrooms

We squeezed in the van again. The ride this morning was rather bumpy and long. We drove through a town called Dagoretti on the way to Mangu every morning. The mass amount of people near the road conducting business was interesting to me. There were butcher shops, people selling everything from shoes to mango. There were people with punda (donkeys) pulling carts which could be loaded with water jugs or bundles of sticks. There were people waiting to catch taxi vans to commute to where ever they work. It was just like a city back home, just on a much lower economic scale. When we finally arrived at the church we were greeted by one of the teachers and some of the children from the school. Naturally after we unpacked and settled in we enjoyed some chi and pineapple, talked and prayed with the people in charge and then started to work.

The young men brought the mabati and placed it where we would

need it. They were interested in the "zoom zoom" or cordless impact wrenches we were using. So I showed one of the boys how to do it. He was excited and instantly I could see they really wanted to be part of the building process, so they took turns using the zoom zoom. One young man didn't have enough weight to sufficiently push against the tool. He stood there spinning the screw for what seemed like minutes. I started laughing and the whole group of boys started laughing with me. I then told him to push harder and laughed some more after which I helped him. The screw went in and he had a proud look of accomplishment and relief on his face. The ladies started painting and the girls were more than willing to observe and help. At this point I realized that we had way too much help. I could take photos all day and not even be missed; so I did. This was by far my favorite project. I learned so much.

My heart really went out to the children. It was here that the cultural and economic differences became real to me. I was rid of all my fear and started reaching out to the people. The relationships even though they were short lived, were Christian. We had that similarity. The children were well behaved and friendly. They were very happy. Their emotions and reactions were exactly like any other kid from the U S. They touched my skin and really look amazed at the color or lack of pigment. One of the teachers told me that some had never touched a white man before and wanted to see for themselves.

I could see our team starting to have fun with them and I wanted in on the experience. It was inevitable because the kids would swarm around us the instant we approached them. When I saw Josh, Tom, Scott, Andrea, Joe Bob, Carol, Kathy, Keith and

Michael taking photos and playing with the school children, I could see God's joy being shared. I am sure the rest of the team witnessed the same. We were learning from each other and didn't even know it at the time.

Elephant Orphanage

July 7th Monday 

After breakfast, we packed up and enjoyed wherever Tony drove us. We exchanged our money to shillings in a nearby town and then we stopped at an elephant orphanage. A group of people found and cared for abandoned baby elephants. These elephants had no mothers due to poachers killing them and leaving the baby to fend for itself or die. There were approximately seven infants when we were there and they were very cute.

Next stop was the Kazuri bead factory. It was very interesting and a fun thing to see. The ladies were fascinated and the guys... well, we found what we wanted and made our purchases. I needed help. I didn't quite know what to purchase so it took me all the time allowed. Our next stop was to a giraffe sanctuary. It was a place to raise the Rothschild giraffe. There was a raised resting area for tourists to see the giraffe up close and personal. Whitney was the first victim to be kissed by a giraffe. Tom M. was the second. Michael gave it a try and I ... well, I took photos. I don't remember much after that .... I think we stopped at  Nokumat (a Kenyan sort of Walmart) and the Nairobi java house for lunch.

Dedication Service Kimathi Church

The Kimathi church was finished so we had a dedication ceremony this Sunday. When we arrived that morning the children gave us flowers and we exchanged greetings and expressed thanks. They all dressed well. The men mostly in suits and ties and the women in nice dresses. We walked into the new church and the feeling of accomplishment and joy came over me. I looked at the others and I could see that everyone felt the same way. The church was packed with visitors and locals alike.

Kenyans, like anyone else, love a celebration and have their traditions to follow during this time. They had women and children come up and sing and dance. They even invited us to join them. We danced with them and it was so fun. The joy of the Lord was truly in this place. It gave me great pride to represent our church by being there. Kathy being the group leader accepted a certificate of appreciation. Stu also received a photo of Mt. Kenya from one of the parish ministers in appreciation of his ministry. Each member of our team received a gift of appreciation that was presented by different members of the Kimathi church. We gave some gifts as well, one of which was a really cool photo album of our church that Keith put together .  It was a great idea.  

We all went outside and watched the unveiling of the plaque while certain things were read and said. I didn't understand most of it but I knew it was all part of the ceremony.  We marched back into the church singing, "When the Saints Go Marching In". 

It reminded me of New Orleans. We used to sing that song, when I was a child, while cheering for the Saints football team . I had to laugh inside: even though the meaning was different, it still brought back memories.) Andrea gave the reading and the preaching began. A lot of the surrounding parish ministers were there and sat in the front of the sanctuary. When the preacher began speaking it was in English so we somewhat understood what he was saying. The emotions were powerful and there were tears of joy in his eyes. I wish I could remember some of the scripture he referenced and spoke about but I can't. Then he spoke in Swahili and the people responded with "amen" and other affirmations to his preaching, showing the same emotion. It was nice to hear the sermon in both languages.

When the service was over, the tradition is to plant a tree at the time of dedication. So Kathy and Stu planted a tree and watered it. We washed our hands and went to the old church to eat. We ate and talked for a little while but had to cut it short to get back to Kikuyu on time. We said our goodbyes and drove off. They were very thankful for all we had done but really they had given us more by sharing their time of joy.

A Day to Enjoy

Saturday July 5th

We finally had a chance to sleep in a little since we arrived in Kenya. However, the sky was clear that morning and the clouds were not rolling in as usual. This only meant one thing. Just as I came to that realization. I heard some people outside knocking at my door and said that we could see Mt. Kenya. I had been waiting for this moment since we arrived in Nyeri. I threw my clothes on and woke Michael. I didn't know how much time I had before the clouds may roll in but I am glad I brought my camera down. It wasn't very clear but the sun was peaking through the clouds and you could see the mt. peek through the haze. Kirsten was taking photos as well and some others were up sitting on the porch looking at the sunrise. It was beautiful. Mt. Kenya, I am told, is the second highest mountain in Africa next to Kilimanjaro. I was so excited to get a good photo that I totally lost any fear of obstacles that would get in my way. There was an entrance gate to someones property close by that had and electric fence warning posted on it. I carefully examined the gate and didn't see any wires connected to anything so I began to climb. Needless to say there was not a charge and I was able to get higher to view which was a spectacular sight from where I was. I was also able to get a nice shot of the retreat center. Carol, walked the parameter of the retreat center almost every morning for approx 45 min. Joe Bob and David joined her this morning.

It was a perfect beginning to another perfect day. We had breakfast made to order. Only this time I wanted to toss flip my eggs. Sam wasn't so sure that I could do it so he was standing by with another pan ready to catch anything if I missed. (I cook my own breakfast most every morning so it was a piece of cake.) 

After that, it was on to Kamatongu hill and the Aberdare country club. A beautiful area that was turned into a wildlife sanctuary. We hiked down the hill and into the valley where we saw giraffe, zebra, gazelle and other animals. It was our first view of wildlife up close with nothing between us and them except for our guide. We walked about an hr and a half on pathways through the sanctuary. We ended back at the country club hot, tired and hungry for lunch. We weren't disappointed. I had passion juice for the first time and it was delicious. We helped ourselves to a buffet meal that hit the spot. We sat outdoors on the patio area because the weather was perfect. We pampered ourselves with the view and relaxation. The birds were plentiful and beautiful.

That night we had another great meal cooked by Sam. Pork chops and a nice rice dish. We practiced some singing and prepared for Sunday worship at the Kimathi Church dedication.

2nd Day Kimathi Church

It was cold this morning, so most of us wore jackets or sweaters. Breakfast was again wonderful. Sam had prepared eggs, sausages, waffles, pineapple, chai and coffee. After breakfast we headed out to Kimathi church.

Today I learned some Swahili and was ready to repeat as much as I could. It was a productive work day, however, it was hard for me to coordinate building the church, taking photos, communicating and developing relationships with the Kikuyu not to mention my church friends. Talk about a sensory overload. Luckily we had plenty of help. Don’t get me wrong, I was very busy most of the time and I did manage to cut some mabati using only a mallet and machete. It's not easy as you can see by my cut. Tom Marlin did a better job.

Sometimes Michael and I worked together until someone needed a tape measure, sheet metal shears, other tools or a helping hand.

Just as I was getting used to the work, it was chai time. Like most American southern folk, the Kenyan, Kikuyu were very friendly and hospitable, so we fit right in. As a matter of fact, almost all the Kenyans we met were that way. It is plain to see that African culture is carried over to America. Observing the similarities of North America's deep south culture to the Kenyan people was interesting. I would witness that even more when we participated in church service.

We washed our hands before every meal by having the ladies pour warmed water over our hands. This day we worked and talked and ate lunch, drank chi and worked a little more and played Frizbee with the children. The kids were a refreshing treat for the soul. They just seemed to recharge our energy. The church was complete, and Stu along with David put up the church sign, the cross, the banner. We danced and sang and prayed. There was so much that was done in one day. We would return for the dedication and church service Sunday

We packed up in the Toyota mini-van (I think it was 12) and headed for the retreat center. We were all tired but excited about a day to ourselves. That night Sam cooked some steaks with rice and a sauce that was tasty. Needless to say, we all had a good nights rest.