Kenya -- January 30, 2011

I think the traveling/living out of a suitcase/heat/etc. is getting to me. Last night I had a mini-meltdown when I couldn't find a kerchief that I KNEW was in my suitcase. (Turned out later that I'd put it in my backpack -- who knows when?) But I got a reasonable night's sleep so things were better in the morning. We left about 8:15 to go to the Nakamat (the Target of East Africa) in Karen, the beautiful "suburban" community established on and around Karen Blixen's (Out of Africa author under the Isak Dineson pen name) estate. We're now in two 8 passenger safari vans because the roads are so poor the larger bus couldn't do them. We were going to do final shopping for the Masai "Day in the life" families we'd be visiting. Arriving at 8:45 we got coffee at a coffee shop (not Starbucks or Caribou but okay) awaiting the 9 a.m. opening. Unfortunately, Sunday opening time is 10 so the coffee was transferred to "to go" cups and we headed off for a local market. It was more interesting anyway -- and next door to the "High Class Butchery." As we continued on our day the road became increasingly worse and dusty. At a stop along the way to visit a family Give Us Wings has been assisting, this was the view.

Yep. -- Really that desolate. I felt as if I was in the middle of a 1950's TV western.

We arrived at Grace and John's farm where we would be spending the night, off-loaded our baggage, including 4 large tents, and headed off for the Masai village where GUW has been working with the women's group. They had decided to hold their church service outside near the under-construction school building rather than in their church and have a shorter-than-normal service. It was in progress as we arrived, but we were able to see/participate in much of it.

There was singing and dancing















a children's choir
testimony

















preaching



















and a collection
Pretty much a complete worship experience. . . . Following the service and a bit of dancing, with which we volunteers joined in, there was the inevitable meeting and report of the Women's Group, for themselves and to Mary and GUW. The leader and teacher of the group is Janet who was shunned by her Masai family because of handicaps produced by childhood polio and taken in by John and Grace who supported her schooling through a college degree. When she came back, educated and clearly a leader, her family was proud and accepted her. She has two children who live with Grace and John during the week because she is working.

The Masai women who lost out on the chance for an education are now attending classes with Janet. Their husbands are "allowed" to come -- only if their wife is present and only if the number of men does not get too large. A local store has been opened, and the group is making real profits as well as providing a service by bringing goods to be purchased more conveniently.




















The after-church gathering was a goat feast. I stuck with eating bananas and my bars. Do not want to upset my stomach again. We also had the opportunity to purchase some of the lovely Masai beadwork. I bought a belt and a bracelet and some gifts.



Then we went off with families happy to show us their homes. My guides were Janet's younger siblings.

















The houses together in a compound seem to be occupied by relatives; it may be that most/all are co-wives of the same man. Apparently the tradition of polygamy is changing since many of the younger men were eager to tell us that they had only one wife -- and not so many children. All the people were friendly, wanting us to visit their homes, pointing out their goats, dogs, etc. and wanting pictures taken. The houses are mud and quite dark inside with only small holes for windows. Cooking is done within the hut, leading to smoky smells throughout. The door to this house is closed, and locked with a padlock.
















This is the proud homeowner
Inside, the kitchen area (in the middle of the house -- accidental burning would be easy)

Here is the husband's sleeping area.




















Friends, neighbors, relatives, co-wives & families? . . .

Above the housing compound are high cliffs where we were told monkeys live. At night they come down and are capable of killing a small goat. So dogs are used for protection. This was a cute pup.


































We then returned to the farm, hot and dusty. I was ready for a hot "shower." After waiting my turn, I was given a basin of warm water (better than got at many of the hotels) and was able to wash off the day's grime in the shower room.

I set up my tent in the bedroom. Many of the volunteers put up theirs outdoors within the larger tents that had been brought along to provide accommodation for 2 to 3 people each.






























This is the front entry and the rear view of the farm house.











Even though electricity only came to the property very recently, the house is well equipped.

Although Grace and John (a retired pastor) have a home in Ngong, they spend most of their time on the farm -- rearing orphans, making sure they attend school, training them in farming and house work, and generally providing a safe and loving environment. The children are mostly Masai, but one boy, whose parents had died and was being a real problem for his elderly grandmother, came from Nyaoga.

In the evening after dinner they each stood up and told their "story."

The most exciting story was that of Sylvia, who had scored so well (highest in the region) that she received a full 4-year scholarship to a very good boarding high school in Nairobi and had met the Kenyan President at a reception.