It is now Saturday afternoon at the Instep homestead. Carla, Jeff, Terry and Shylo are off to a barbecue in town. I have decided to stay here and so has Beth Ann, the gal who has come to do a preschool with the 4 yr olds. Beth Ann is not feeling well and not feeling up to going and me, well I am just needing some peace and quiet!
It has been an up and down week. A new little one named Esther. A beautiful little girl that has been taken care of solely by her 9 year old brother for quite some time. He had been placed in a street boys home temporarily, for lack of another placement. As much as they had wanted to take him, Insteps policy is not to take youngsters that old. I understand it was heartbreaking for him to be separated from his little sister. The good news is that he has been now placed in another children’s home that has him in a foster home situation for a short period of time until they get their new home up and running. They may be able to take both children when little Esther gets stronger and healthier! God continues to be so faithful.
The hard part of my week is that my 85 year old father fell and had to be rushed to Harbor View Hospital. They knew he had a concusion and thought he had bleeding in his brain. Oh, to be so far away and something like that happens. My sister had only been home not quite a week and had to fly home. She lives in Salt Lake City. Dad is doing better and is not as critical as when he came in. He may be able to go back home to Anacortes Sunday or Monday. We had discussed ( my sister and brother and I) what if’s, but had not thought it would be our father! My sister is handling everything and I do feel somewhat guilty, but it is difficult getting back home and some flights have been cancelled coming into Nairobi. So I am praying , a lot!
Terry is starting some of his planned projects. Making shelving to store all the tubs that have been brought over with kids clothes and shoes, has been another TIA. At first the store had the plywood and then they did not! So hopefully it will be coming( in fact it is already there)! I am mending and sorting through all the tubs to see what we actually have on hand and of course getting to hold all the babies I want J )))))
The pace is slower here for sure and there is an emphasis on relationships that can get in the way of accomplishing any project, but over all things are going well. We have been feeling well and no Malaria, so all good!
Some of you may have been hearing the news regarding Kenya and the threat of attacks from Somalia. They are true, but we have not felt unsafe at all. The attacks have been focused on Kenyans, mostly in Nairobi. Because of that threat our other team that had planned on coming the first week in November is having second thought about coming over. I am going to miss not having them here, but totally understand their decision. We are being cautious, but living our lives. Carla, Jeff and Shylo are still planning on leaving Nairobi on the 7th of November and as far as we know should be able to get their flights out. So when and if they get out of Kenya, Terry and the team of Meredith and Sean will be in charge!!! Hopefully all will go well while they are gone…if not, we will try to miss them at the airport on our way outta town!!!
What....now there are 105
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Mud and tears
Oct 24, 2011
Now which one of you would think to tell me to take warm clothes to the equator….in Africa. I mean I never saw Tarzan wearing long underwear, just that diaper thingy. So, last evening: “Hey Jeff, I can’t find the heater in our room.” I say, while actually looking for a pile of kids to get under. Jeff, giving me one of his now world famous ‘what a dumb a**’ looks, says “We’re in the tropics, for crying out loud” but even I noticed that he was saying it from under his blanket. Who would have thought that it could get clear down to 70 deg F here. You laugh, but go sit under a sun lamp for 6 hrs and then see what 70 does to you. Before we came, the dry season began, but now that we are here, the rain doesn’t seem so dry to me, then that’s just me. True to form, when the Kisers are in Africa, the ‘blessings’ come. Now in Washington State we don’t necessarily call rain ‘blessings’, but here they do. It hasn’t rained hard, but it has rained every day…..good for the beans, and car body shops….more on that later.
Sandy has a pretty good hiding place. She goes into room 3 and gets behind a humongous pile of kids clothes an uses the sewing machine to repatriate different parts of dismembered clothes. Meanwhile the kids just blow by the door, never suspecting that hugs are just feet away. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is actually provable here. (Jeff….that is the axiom….I mean ‘thing that says stuff starts good and goes to h--- I mean to broken, ripped, smashed torn….bad.) Please hang with me as sometimes I have to tutor Jeff some. As an aside, I am really proud of Jeff, as he is using larger words more and more….he has learned to write in all capital letters.
Earlier in the day yesterday, I drove Joseph and Lil’ Twerp (Shylo) into Sabanga, the little village near here, to get maize and potatoes. The ‘roads’ were dry….unlike later….more on that coming up. So we get to the metropolis and find a door in a brick building that had some kernels of maize sprinkled around. So Joseph says to the lady standing in the door, “lots of words and noises that can’t be understood by mzungu”. She replied, “more noises and strange words”. This went on of about 5 minutes. At one point I broke in and asked J what the deal was. “Not made yet” he says…..we are negotiating. She wants 2650 Ksh and we will pay 2600Ksh. (50 cents diff). It wasn’t the 50 cents, it was who would win the match. Although she seem, to me, to be the better bargainer, J managed to pull it out and he chalked up another victory in the battle of the market place. A repeat performance at another place for the potatoes, and J was absolutely gleeful. “Did you see that” he says. “they didn’t have a chance!” Not exactly the world series of negotiation, I thought….but said, “it is an honor to be in your presence, oh Market Master.” So, back to home, 150 kg’s heavier.
So a couple of days ago, Jeff Lil’ Twerp and I went to town, and were picking our way thru the lead mines, when LT says to Jeff, “How do they fix these roads?” Jeff, giving me one of his looks, rolling his eyes says to LT. “I don’t know, I’ve never seen it happen.” Which brings me to the sad tale that I am about to tell.
Every night , after dark, Jeff takes the two or three Aunties that get off shift home. Most of them live within 6 or 7 miles, down little dirt lanes about 10 ft wide, sometimes having flat surfaces for 8 or 10 inches at a time. Some of these lanes are shaped like a barrel…maybe 3 ft higher in the middle than at the sides, which are sort of a ditch affair, with vertical dirt walls. This brings us to Kiser driving skills….or lack of it. This dirt, when wet becomes very much like ice…or like a known substance here….snot. So, with Jeffs genteel coaxing, I was easing my friend Toyota along the ‘road’, and then it was over. With a subtle ‘bang’ Toyota had come to rest against the left side wall of the lane….which is hard mud as well, with brambles hanging over it. Being as I have never liked damaging things, especially expensive things, I pretty much ruined my day….and probably longer. But bless his heart, Jeff looked over at me smiling and said TIA. I think he is a better man than me….but don’t you dare tell him. Anyway, long story short….like that ever happens with me……between 4 wheel drive, patience, and the winch, Toyota proved her worth again. Jeff wouldn’t let me get out of the drivers seat, Aunties got home, as did we. The damage wasn’t too bad….partially caved in left side panel, but nothing broken except my ego….and heart….I love ’ol Toyota.
And so, another day in Africa, and God has proven once again that He is good. This is life.
Now which one of you would think to tell me to take warm clothes to the equator….in Africa. I mean I never saw Tarzan wearing long underwear, just that diaper thingy. So, last evening: “Hey Jeff, I can’t find the heater in our room.” I say, while actually looking for a pile of kids to get under. Jeff, giving me one of his now world famous ‘what a dumb a**’ looks, says “We’re in the tropics, for crying out loud” but even I noticed that he was saying it from under his blanket. Who would have thought that it could get clear down to 70 deg F here. You laugh, but go sit under a sun lamp for 6 hrs and then see what 70 does to you. Before we came, the dry season began, but now that we are here, the rain doesn’t seem so dry to me, then that’s just me. True to form, when the Kisers are in Africa, the ‘blessings’ come. Now in Washington State we don’t necessarily call rain ‘blessings’, but here they do. It hasn’t rained hard, but it has rained every day…..good for the beans, and car body shops….more on that later.
Sandy has a pretty good hiding place. She goes into room 3 and gets behind a humongous pile of kids clothes an uses the sewing machine to repatriate different parts of dismembered clothes. Meanwhile the kids just blow by the door, never suspecting that hugs are just feet away. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is actually provable here. (Jeff….that is the axiom….I mean ‘thing that says stuff starts good and goes to h--- I mean to broken, ripped, smashed torn….bad.) Please hang with me as sometimes I have to tutor Jeff some. As an aside, I am really proud of Jeff, as he is using larger words more and more….he has learned to write in all capital letters.
Earlier in the day yesterday, I drove Joseph and Lil’ Twerp (Shylo) into Sabanga, the little village near here, to get maize and potatoes. The ‘roads’ were dry….unlike later….more on that coming up. So we get to the metropolis and find a door in a brick building that had some kernels of maize sprinkled around. So Joseph says to the lady standing in the door, “lots of words and noises that can’t be understood by mzungu”. She replied, “more noises and strange words”. This went on of about 5 minutes. At one point I broke in and asked J what the deal was. “Not made yet” he says…..we are negotiating. She wants 2650 Ksh and we will pay 2600Ksh. (50 cents diff). It wasn’t the 50 cents, it was who would win the match. Although she seem, to me, to be the better bargainer, J managed to pull it out and he chalked up another victory in the battle of the market place. A repeat performance at another place for the potatoes, and J was absolutely gleeful. “Did you see that” he says. “they didn’t have a chance!” Not exactly the world series of negotiation, I thought….but said, “it is an honor to be in your presence, oh Market Master.” So, back to home, 150 kg’s heavier.
So a couple of days ago, Jeff Lil’ Twerp and I went to town, and were picking our way thru the lead mines, when LT says to Jeff, “How do they fix these roads?” Jeff, giving me one of his looks, rolling his eyes says to LT. “I don’t know, I’ve never seen it happen.” Which brings me to the sad tale that I am about to tell.
Every night , after dark, Jeff takes the two or three Aunties that get off shift home. Most of them live within 6 or 7 miles, down little dirt lanes about 10 ft wide, sometimes having flat surfaces for 8 or 10 inches at a time. Some of these lanes are shaped like a barrel…maybe 3 ft higher in the middle than at the sides, which are sort of a ditch affair, with vertical dirt walls. This brings us to Kiser driving skills….or lack of it. This dirt, when wet becomes very much like ice…or like a known substance here….snot. So, with Jeffs genteel coaxing, I was easing my friend Toyota along the ‘road’, and then it was over. With a subtle ‘bang’ Toyota had come to rest against the left side wall of the lane….which is hard mud as well, with brambles hanging over it. Being as I have never liked damaging things, especially expensive things, I pretty much ruined my day….and probably longer. But bless his heart, Jeff looked over at me smiling and said TIA. I think he is a better man than me….but don’t you dare tell him. Anyway, long story short….like that ever happens with me……between 4 wheel drive, patience, and the winch, Toyota proved her worth again. Jeff wouldn’t let me get out of the drivers seat, Aunties got home, as did we. The damage wasn’t too bad….partially caved in left side panel, but nothing broken except my ego….and heart….I love ’ol Toyota.
And so, another day in Africa, and God has proven once again that He is good. This is life.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
ROCK STAR VISITS CHILDRENS HOME!!!!
Oct 22,2011
The ride to our home in the east was mostly uneventful….if driving thru a WWI trench warfare ‘no mans land’, while dodging donkeys, bicycles, people, motorcycles and misc. trucks and cars in our lane, is uneventful. One completely normal thing (for here) was that their were men with spray cans of white paint using a dot-dash method outlining each pothole. There is some outrageous rumor that the government is going to fix the road. So I suppose that it will be of benefit to highlight the problem areas….problem is, that the road is all problem area….maybe the outlines were being placed there as targets so Jeff wouldn’t miss any of them….which he pretty much did….not miss any. Anyway, it seemed strange to outline some of the holes when in reality, the whole road is a hole….maybe they did it for the spelunkers, to make it easier to find the mother lode…. Shylo seemed to enjoy the ride and I even caught here with her eyes open a couple of times.
“Prepare yourself” Jeff says, “the kids have gotten the word that you are coming.” “And me trapped like a rat in this infernal contraption.” I lament. And boy was he right! As we turned into the compound, this sea of little black children descended on Toyota like locusts in Egypt. As I opened the door, hoping to escape, all was lost when they mobbed me, taking me down like a cheetah takes a wildebeest. I did my best, and thought I might have a chance, until from the veranda I heard a frenzied chant “BABU TERRY, BABU TERRY, BABU TERRY……” All the while those whom I thought were my friends and family just stood and laughed…..laughed! While I feared that I might succumb to the urge to hug the little snotlockers. MarryMe (Merideth) yelled out “You’re a rock star!” And so for a moment, I basked in the glory…until I came back to my senses and began planning my escape.
The rainy season is mostly over, but the place is alive with new growth…the shama (field) is green with new beans and the vegetable garden has exploded….well not exploded, but is producing more than this place can use for now. Carla says they are able to even sell some of the goods. We have two new large greenhouses that weren’t here when I last left and they are full of things like tomatoes and peppers. Kinda surprising that almost anything grows here….they are even harvesting their own greenges!
I don’t know if I told you that SlowToGetIt and MarryMe have come on staff here and have begun to take some of the load from J & C. And just in time too, as I have come to add to Jeffs load….as much as I can.
J&C will be leaving Kenya for a month in a couple of weeks, leaving the care of Instep in STGI, MarryMe, Sandy and my hands…..foolish….yes….necessary…..yes. They need a break. Looks like I will be the only one with a drivers license, so have been snuggling up to Toyota and taking her for some short dates. So far so good. Meanwhile Jeff is giving me a crash (bad word in this context) course in his brand of Swahili, just incase I need to discipline Toyota. I am beginning to learn the difference of the roads from the not roads….there actually are designated places to drive…..mostly the impassable places.
I knew I was home yesterday when I heard Carla yell out to the playground, “Mellissa…..quit eating your clothes!!!”
The ride to our home in the east was mostly uneventful….if driving thru a WWI trench warfare ‘no mans land’, while dodging donkeys, bicycles, people, motorcycles and misc. trucks and cars in our lane, is uneventful. One completely normal thing (for here) was that their were men with spray cans of white paint using a dot-dash method outlining each pothole. There is some outrageous rumor that the government is going to fix the road. So I suppose that it will be of benefit to highlight the problem areas….problem is, that the road is all problem area….maybe the outlines were being placed there as targets so Jeff wouldn’t miss any of them….which he pretty much did….not miss any. Anyway, it seemed strange to outline some of the holes when in reality, the whole road is a hole….maybe they did it for the spelunkers, to make it easier to find the mother lode…. Shylo seemed to enjoy the ride and I even caught here with her eyes open a couple of times.
“Prepare yourself” Jeff says, “the kids have gotten the word that you are coming.” “And me trapped like a rat in this infernal contraption.” I lament. And boy was he right! As we turned into the compound, this sea of little black children descended on Toyota like locusts in Egypt. As I opened the door, hoping to escape, all was lost when they mobbed me, taking me down like a cheetah takes a wildebeest. I did my best, and thought I might have a chance, until from the veranda I heard a frenzied chant “BABU TERRY, BABU TERRY, BABU TERRY……” All the while those whom I thought were my friends and family just stood and laughed…..laughed! While I feared that I might succumb to the urge to hug the little snotlockers. MarryMe (Merideth) yelled out “You’re a rock star!” And so for a moment, I basked in the glory…until I came back to my senses and began planning my escape.
The rainy season is mostly over, but the place is alive with new growth…the shama (field) is green with new beans and the vegetable garden has exploded….well not exploded, but is producing more than this place can use for now. Carla says they are able to even sell some of the goods. We have two new large greenhouses that weren’t here when I last left and they are full of things like tomatoes and peppers. Kinda surprising that almost anything grows here….they are even harvesting their own greenges!
I don’t know if I told you that SlowToGetIt and MarryMe have come on staff here and have begun to take some of the load from J & C. And just in time too, as I have come to add to Jeffs load….as much as I can.
J&C will be leaving Kenya for a month in a couple of weeks, leaving the care of Instep in STGI, MarryMe, Sandy and my hands…..foolish….yes….necessary…..yes. They need a break. Looks like I will be the only one with a drivers license, so have been snuggling up to Toyota and taking her for some short dates. So far so good. Meanwhile Jeff is giving me a crash (bad word in this context) course in his brand of Swahili, just incase I need to discipline Toyota. I am beginning to learn the difference of the roads from the not roads….there actually are designated places to drive…..mostly the impassable places.
I knew I was home yesterday when I heard Carla yell out to the playground, “Mellissa…..quit eating your clothes!!!”
Friday, October 21, 2011
Hide your children...I'm back
October 2011, the beginning
So, leaving home 5 days ago and losing contact with the known world, I have not had the inclination or energy to produce archive able material. Having previously set the standard so high, that I now fear that I may not be able to amaze you with my wisdom, knowledge and grasp of human nature…..or be able to construct such dribble as in prior ramblings.
Oct 16th arriving at the airport, there was Victor….yes, that Victor (ask one of the two that have followed my blog from the beginning [Sandy or me]). Now I like Victor, but I’m really not much for man hugs in public. I may be the only person in history who their baggage handler has ran thru throngs of people just to hug. “going back to Africa?” he asks with a hint of sarcasm. “yes” I replied, “I left something over there and I need to go find it.” “must be important if you need to travel so far” he responds. “seems to be…..can’t live without it…..my heart.” I say, still wondering what happened to me.
Then all of a sudden, it was the next day for us and the same day for you, and Sandy and I were carefully unfolding our legs and arms so as not to break anything before departing into the Amsterdam morning. I still believe that our luggage has more room than we do, and so may ask next time to trade places with it as we travel internationally. It was here that we found that Shylo’s luggage was not sent thru to Nairobi and that it was scheduled to spend an extra day in Holland….once again prompting me to ponder switching with the luggage. But my favorite wife managed to use her beguiling ways to get the luggage on our plane. Oh, Shylo is a cute little twerp that managed to attach herself to us. 18 yrs old, from Pasco, WA and notably the granddaughter of the chairman of the board of Rehema Instep Ministries…..not that that had anything to do with pressuring us to take her….but I’m sure you understand.
8 hrs into the next leg of the journey, on the Dutch airline KLM, one of the flight attendants announced that they had found a hearing aid in a lavatory and said that the owner could claim it. Now don’t hold me to this, but I believe that mostly people that can’t hear wear hearing aids….so, if that’s the case, announcing over the intercom system might not have the desired affect…..think about it…..hey..I may be getting some of the pizzazz back……
Ok, at Nairobi International Airport, (I try to say with a straight face), we managed to get thru immigration soon after the other 430 people did, and so were able to continue our ‘slowest line choice’ record. The 6 or 7 of you that have faithfully endured this blog will be surprised, as I was, that our luggage, including Shylos’ made it undamaged, and that the customs agent looked at the Rehema tag and just waved us thru….I thought I was in a dream…..but wait, there is more….our ride to get to our hotel was actually there….probably because he had fallen asleep….and gets paid by the hour. So, although he wasn’t the best taxi driver in Nairobi, he did know where Marble Arch was….which is good as he works there.
Because it was our early afternoon, and it was about midnight in Kenya, we enjoyed our horizontal 6 hrs looking at the ceiling before heading back to the airport… you see we had to be there before 8 am to check in for our 10 o’clock flight to Kitale….. I was relieved to know that TIA is alive and well and that I hadn’t imagined how Africa is…..our 10 am flight would be leaving right on time….at 3:30.….which wasn’t exactly true.. Oh we did board the plane at 3:30, but due to something, like maybe the pilot hadn’t arrived yet, we didn’t actually take off until about 4. But lucky for us, Jeff lives in Africa, and had no illusion the flight would be as posted….but, he was there….happy to see Sandy and Shylo…..but Toyota was ecstatic to see me…..knowing that my kidneys were probably healed…..but more on that next time….I’ll share about our welcome at Instep……almost felt like home…..Lord help us!!!!
So, leaving home 5 days ago and losing contact with the known world, I have not had the inclination or energy to produce archive able material. Having previously set the standard so high, that I now fear that I may not be able to amaze you with my wisdom, knowledge and grasp of human nature…..or be able to construct such dribble as in prior ramblings.
Oct 16th arriving at the airport, there was Victor….yes, that Victor (ask one of the two that have followed my blog from the beginning [Sandy or me]). Now I like Victor, but I’m really not much for man hugs in public. I may be the only person in history who their baggage handler has ran thru throngs of people just to hug. “going back to Africa?” he asks with a hint of sarcasm. “yes” I replied, “I left something over there and I need to go find it.” “must be important if you need to travel so far” he responds. “seems to be…..can’t live without it…..my heart.” I say, still wondering what happened to me.
Then all of a sudden, it was the next day for us and the same day for you, and Sandy and I were carefully unfolding our legs and arms so as not to break anything before departing into the Amsterdam morning. I still believe that our luggage has more room than we do, and so may ask next time to trade places with it as we travel internationally. It was here that we found that Shylo’s luggage was not sent thru to Nairobi and that it was scheduled to spend an extra day in Holland….once again prompting me to ponder switching with the luggage. But my favorite wife managed to use her beguiling ways to get the luggage on our plane. Oh, Shylo is a cute little twerp that managed to attach herself to us. 18 yrs old, from Pasco, WA and notably the granddaughter of the chairman of the board of Rehema Instep Ministries…..not that that had anything to do with pressuring us to take her….but I’m sure you understand.
8 hrs into the next leg of the journey, on the Dutch airline KLM, one of the flight attendants announced that they had found a hearing aid in a lavatory and said that the owner could claim it. Now don’t hold me to this, but I believe that mostly people that can’t hear wear hearing aids….so, if that’s the case, announcing over the intercom system might not have the desired affect…..think about it…..hey..I may be getting some of the pizzazz back……
Ok, at Nairobi International Airport, (I try to say with a straight face), we managed to get thru immigration soon after the other 430 people did, and so were able to continue our ‘slowest line choice’ record. The 6 or 7 of you that have faithfully endured this blog will be surprised, as I was, that our luggage, including Shylos’ made it undamaged, and that the customs agent looked at the Rehema tag and just waved us thru….I thought I was in a dream…..but wait, there is more….our ride to get to our hotel was actually there….probably because he had fallen asleep….and gets paid by the hour. So, although he wasn’t the best taxi driver in Nairobi, he did know where Marble Arch was….which is good as he works there.
Because it was our early afternoon, and it was about midnight in Kenya, we enjoyed our horizontal 6 hrs looking at the ceiling before heading back to the airport… you see we had to be there before 8 am to check in for our 10 o’clock flight to Kitale….. I was relieved to know that TIA is alive and well and that I hadn’t imagined how Africa is…..our 10 am flight would be leaving right on time….at 3:30.….which wasn’t exactly true.. Oh we did board the plane at 3:30, but due to something, like maybe the pilot hadn’t arrived yet, we didn’t actually take off until about 4. But lucky for us, Jeff lives in Africa, and had no illusion the flight would be as posted….but, he was there….happy to see Sandy and Shylo…..but Toyota was ecstatic to see me…..knowing that my kidneys were probably healed…..but more on that next time….I’ll share about our welcome at Instep……almost felt like home…..Lord help us!!!!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Installment 38
Installment 38
“What time does the 1:00 flight leave for Nairobi? I asked. “It will be leaving at exactly 3:00” Notaclue, the airline airstrip operator answers. “But it is after 3:00 now” I say. “Yes, it will be leaving Lodwar (another town) at 3:00 on the dot” Notaclue says with a straight face. “OK, then, what time will it be leaving here for Nairobi” I press. “The schedule says it will leave at 1:00 sharp” he says. “So, what time should I be at the airstrip?” I wonder out loud. “Don’t be coming any later than 4:00” he replies. So, at 4:00 Jeff drops me off at the strip and I begin to wait. A little bit later I get a call from Jeff; “The flight is delayed until 6” he informs, “I will come get you and we can eat at English Lady’s, which isn’t English Lady’s any more.” He comes, and we drive towards El’s, (about 15 minutes away). About 10 minutes in, we get a call from Carla, who is at EL’s saying that some other confused passengers just got a call from their travel agent informing them that the plane was at the strip and they needed to get there fast. “Aha.” says Jeff, “we can beat them back to the strip.” Going like 60, Jeff delivered me back to the strip, with my elevated adrenaline from going like 60, around, thru and everything but over….(and maybe that too), bicycles, piki pikis, and donkey carts…..just in the nick of time to not see the airplane….which ‘is coming’, and is ‘already there’. By this time, Jeff is speaking Swahili of some sort. And I am praying for his soul. Now you may have caught me in some exaggeration in the past, but this time it’s all true….including doing the ‘leave and return’ thing twice. Shortening an otherwise boring story, I finally said my last goodbye to Jeff (who seemed relieved) at 5:00, because the airplane ‘is on it’s way’. Oddly enough, and I know you won’t actually believe this, but almost immediately thereafter, the plane came at 7:00. Lucky for me, I had an 8 ½ hour layover at Nairobi, which had been modified to about 1 ½ hrs, so I didn’t have to wait so long…. So began my transition back to the 21st century, and my journey home….and because the flight from Nairobi, for some strange reason, started in Africa, and therefore TIA applied, we were held in Amsterdam for about 45 minutes while they rechecked our passports…..before we were allowed off the plane. And after only 9 hours in the air in conditions that they won’t allow chickens to endure, the mood, as you can imagine, was quite joyous, with many versions of Swahili being shared.
Now, about my time in Africa. If you haven’t been there, well, you haven’t been there. I started the journey, really, shortly after we got home from our October trip to Africa. Having enjoyed the ‘food’ and ‘roads’ so much, I told Sandy that I just had to get back before my body completely healed. January 31, I was back consulting with Victor and on my way. The rest you know….and some of it is true, but I’m not even sure what parts. It started off with a hard 1st night in Kenya, but progressively got worse….just kidding. Traveling alone was different, and other than being alone with 400 other people, I seemed to take it ok emotionally, even with the problems that I encountered. Once at Instep, I suddenly remembered that the place is over-run with kids, and had a wee bit of buyers remorse….and had to re-hone my evasion skills. But all that is old news. When I got there, there was some things going on with the staff, which at the time added some stress, but worked itself out and has rebuilt a strong base for the future. Being the only ‘visitor’ at the Home for the whole time, J & C felt obligated to give over all the emotional stress to me, so they could continue their idyllic life of self indulgence. So, let’s recap a few of the notable things that the past 2 ½ month have presented, and you have been able to live vicariously through my incredible words.
The Building Project:
This was much more taxing on my psyche than I had anticipated. Having worked in the construction industry for almost 40 years, I kinda thought that I could handle a couple of buildings. But then TIA infiltrated and I soon came to the realization that maybe no building could ever be built in Kenya. Just getting a decent contract with Jackson, who has no license, no insurance, no bond, but fortunately also has no assets that we could use as leverage. And then there were the suppliers….yeah, remember….’the materials are coming in fact they are already there’……tomorrow. This could have driven me nuts, had I not already crossed that line. Over and over, we had promises of delivery, only to be disappointed…..me, not Jeff….he somehow knew what would happen…..he is amazing. The rain was coming and “I” had a schedule to meet. I really had a hard time with that, but looking back, God had His timing and somehow, enough materials arrived and we made the timeline that had been established….and I was able to leave feeling that “I” had been incredibly amazing. Fortunately for all of us, God provided Jackson and he out performed all our expectations, getting 2 buildings thru stage 1 in the time he said it would take for 1.…another miracle, me thinks. So, I leave knowing that some progress has been made, and I wish that I could take some credit, but I was waaaay out of my league,,,,, only thru the Lord‘s grace and mercy was anything accomplished. The clinic even has some walls, both exterior and interior started….pretty cool….sometime I might share some pictures of the progression.
While the stress was high during the construction, it was nothing to the situation with Mama Manu. I got really emotionally involved….much more than I would have thought….being a Marine and all. It still holds me hostage to emotion when I think of that woman giving her last bit of food and her life for her baby. This is a strong memory…and coupled with the hospital, morgue, and burial,,,where since it’s planting time, I’m sure that they have plowed her grave…. it has been a real life changer for me.
And then there was Dorcas. Such a sweet little thing. Never asked to be born, but was brought into a nasty world. If you had met her, you would have been amazed at her tenacity. You’d have loved her too. When you come to Instep, you can see where she has a permanent place….also in our hearts….if you want, I will show you how long she was…..I have the string. Out of that whole thing, her mother was reunited with her family and we hear that she is doing well.
We buried 2 while I was there…with much more personal involvement than anything I have seen in the US. Life and death are much more hands on. Like English Lady said, “You know you are alive here”
So, for me, in a culture that is not push-push like in the west, I found that the adjustment to being “alive” has been hard….really good, but hard…really hard. I have been wondering how all this will affect my ‘living’ from now on. I still don’t feel ‘called’, but I don’t know if I can ever really feel at home anywhere now. I miss and really want to get home, but I already miss and want to get back to the 15th century. Maybe, like a lot of the teachings I have had from the Lord, if I wait, it will fade, and I won’t have to confront my convictions…..you all know what I mean….don’t you? All this sounds negative, but it really isn’t…..it’s part of that ‘life’ that Christ has called us to. You remember…..we live here, but our heart needs to be with Him…we don‘t belong, but we are called to demonstrate His life to whom ever we meet…..torn…
Things I won’t miss in Africa:
Ugali, the roads, lack of technology, door locksets that were old when Charles Engles was farming, electricity outages, crappy Chinese stuff that is sold there…and they say that they are a people of pride….maybe in China,,, sitting alone for lunch, the bread, the snot, people telling me things that they know won’t happen, the dust when it’s dry, the mud when it’s wet, the toilet paper, malaria (which I didn’t get this time) the typhoid and TB and other diseases….over a million a year die of malaria in Africa.. the mattress that I ‘slept’ on, the disdain for human life by some, did I mention the roads?
Things I will miss in Africa:
Ugali, the roads, lack of technology, door locksets that were old when Charles Engles was farming, electricity outages, crappy Chinese stuff that is sold there…and they say that they are a people of pride….maybe in China,,, sitting alone for lunch, the bread, the snot, people telling me things that they know won’t happen, the dust when it’s dry, the mud when it’s wet, the toilet paper, malaria (which I didn’t get this time) the typhoid and TB and other diseases….over a million a year die of malaria in Africa.. the mattress that I ‘slept’ on, the disdain for human life by some, the people whom I’ve come to love…especially the staff, the kids….yes, the kids, the warm mornings, the sounds, the smells,,,,well some anyway, the connection with ‘life and death’. Life that is different and by some standards, not so good, but it is real life. And, mostly, Carla…..Jeff,,,,not so much…well, maybe some.
I’m still not sure why I went this time. The ploy was for the buildings, and that saw some progress, but because life is more than buildings, I hope that there was a better reason for me to be there. Someday, Jesus might share with me the real purpose for me and Africa this time. It’s a dangerous place for a person to visit….if you let it, it will confront your motivations….and that might be harder than being cooked by pygmies. By the way, where did the pygmies get those big iron pots? I know that the most encouraging times were those spent with adults, talking about how Jesus really sees us, and how much we need Him and His grace….it always seemed to go to the same place….’do we obey Him because we should, or because we love Him and want to please Him. Seems basic, doesn’t it,,,,but it’s the same argument that WE all have everyday…..isn’t it.
I can’t figure that place out, mostly because of the people. There is something deep that is going on….more than just poverty and lack of knowledge. At first, I began to think that maybe these people are just stupid and living this way is the result. After getting to know many of them, I have come to the conclusion that intelligence is not the problem….it is for me, but not for them. I met some of the smartest people there. They have the ability to solve some complex problems, but somehow can’t create solutions to the real problems facing their society. Give them a piece of pipe, an inner tube, some wire, sticks and string, and they can fix almost anything. (just wait til they find duct tape) But, work on the deep issues,,,,not happening, even tho they mostly know where the problems are. Nope, it’s got to be spiritual…it’s not intellectual, which leads me back to a main principle of this blog…“the hope is in the children“. The one thing I know, I love those people….and I hate those people….and I hate to hate those people. I know, it doesn’t make sense, does it. Just so you know, I’d give my life for those people. Good grief…this is giving me the creeps.
The other day, and this pertains to the last paragraph, I caught one of the older kids with a piece of pipe with fittings on it. Now we have spent hours talking about honesty and integrity. Me: “where did you get that pipe?” Busted Kid: ….silence. Me: “is it yours?” BK: ….silence. Me: “do you have permission to have it?” BK: “I just picked it” (read stole…earlier blog) Me: “explain ’picked it’” BK: ….silence. Me: “OK, since you like that pipe (3’ long), I think you should keep it for awhile, so until tomorrow, you can keep it with you…..at all times……when you are doing chores, eating, going to the bathroom, and yes, you can even sleep with it” BK: “awww, I don’t like it that much.” Me, (thinking) ‘you probably won’t by tomorrow’. “enjoy your pipe”. Next day about 11:00.am: Me: “Hey, BK, can I have the pipe?” BK: “please, please, please, I will never ‘pick’ again.” Me: “OK, love you!!”….thinking to myself, if he does, I’ll bet it’s smaller. So this opened up a whole new opportunity to talk with all the older ones again about how Jesus wants us to treat others……hopefully, one day it will click and they will be able to pass along the wisdom…..not mine,,,God’s.
Before I quit, a few words about Peter. He was a trained ‘Riffraff’ guard and worked at English Lady’s….before my time. He lives out near the home and made the commute everyday or stay in town away from his family. Anyway, Jeff and EL got to talking and came up with the thought that Peter wouldn’t have to commute so far if he worked at Instep…..see how smart Jeff and EL are when they get their heads together.. (also how caring and giving EL is) So, he came to be with the Instep staff and stands at the entrance to the property watching over us. As a side note, I had to sneak over the fence for about a week, until Carla explained to Peter that I was really just one of the kids that had a physical deformity. Peter stands about 5’6” and weighs about 55kgs….120lbs….and has ‘good eyes’, and a gentle and kind spirit I’ll explain the good eyes thing in a moment, if I remember. Peter speaks a form of English that no-one has ever heard before, and can do it without opening or moving his lips….but his Swahili is to die for! One day, a bad man came to the gate and I was watching from a ways away, and was a bit concerned. But I swear that I saw Peter grow to about 6’5, 240lbs right in front of me, and sent that guy away. That’s when I realized that he is the right man for the job. It might be hard to understand, but there are people that want to do harm and damage to those who live inside Instep….it’s hard for me anyway….but they lurk out there, both day and night. Night we have 2 security guards patrolling. I like Peter and just wanted to share how God uses people to accomplish His purposes….sometimes just to keep some safe… Oh, the ‘good eyes’? When you come to visit Instep, you will see many black people, that seem to live in the area. I have observed that the ratio of black to white in that area is pretty high, unlike in Anacortes. You will notice that some of the Kenyans have eyes that just might give you the shivers….not kidding here….especially the older ones. Now we know that the eyes are the window to the soul, and so checking out the eyes is a good thing. Peter has ‘good eyes’…as do all the staff at Instep. He has demonstrated his loyalty in a couple of ways that I can’t share here, but there is no doubt that he is willing to lay down his life for his friends….sound like something that you’ve heard or read somewhere??? Anyway, I like Peter.
Finally, I want to give you some advice….I know, kinda like a typewriter giving a computer advice, but humor me. When you come to Africa, to Instep,,,,and I hope you will, a couple of things you might want to know. 1. There is a ‘romance’ to Africa, and you will feel it when you arrive. But, after a short time, you will wonder where it went….it’s called culture shock. Hang in there, the romance is still there, but you will see it differently than you expected. 2. Don’t come to help change the people….come to show what Jesus looks like in the flesh…..love and let Jesus do the changing. And last, when you come, please understand that Jeff and Carla have been on the ground for a long time and have developed an understanding of how it works in Africa. Please, please don’t try to understand how it works…..for a long time, at least til ‘you get it‘….and don’t try to tell them how to do what they do….because, it’s not the world you and I know, and it takes awhile to be ‘assimilated’. Ask them questions and share insights, and most of all love and encourage them….even Jeff.
So, that’s that. I’ve really missed my best friend. And now that I am reunited with her, I’m all better….well, almost. Overall, I’m worse for having done the last 2 ½ months. The “it’s all about me” factor has been called into question, and this time with a vengeance. But a good thing is that somehow, Sandy has entered into the same struggle and now we are becoming assimilated….it’s true in our lives…..resistance IS futile. I think we have tasted some of the real life that E.L. spoke of, and now the washing machine (installment 31) doesn’t seem quite as important.
This, much to your relief, is probably the last blog from Safarislim for awhile. I’m pretty much out of material, and really don’t have the energy to make up anymore stories….even if they are true. But, if you need a new installment……it is on it’s way….in fact it is already there…..
“What time does the 1:00 flight leave for Nairobi? I asked. “It will be leaving at exactly 3:00” Notaclue, the airline airstrip operator answers. “But it is after 3:00 now” I say. “Yes, it will be leaving Lodwar (another town) at 3:00 on the dot” Notaclue says with a straight face. “OK, then, what time will it be leaving here for Nairobi” I press. “The schedule says it will leave at 1:00 sharp” he says. “So, what time should I be at the airstrip?” I wonder out loud. “Don’t be coming any later than 4:00” he replies. So, at 4:00 Jeff drops me off at the strip and I begin to wait. A little bit later I get a call from Jeff; “The flight is delayed until 6” he informs, “I will come get you and we can eat at English Lady’s, which isn’t English Lady’s any more.” He comes, and we drive towards El’s, (about 15 minutes away). About 10 minutes in, we get a call from Carla, who is at EL’s saying that some other confused passengers just got a call from their travel agent informing them that the plane was at the strip and they needed to get there fast. “Aha.” says Jeff, “we can beat them back to the strip.” Going like 60, Jeff delivered me back to the strip, with my elevated adrenaline from going like 60, around, thru and everything but over….(and maybe that too), bicycles, piki pikis, and donkey carts…..just in the nick of time to not see the airplane….which ‘is coming’, and is ‘already there’. By this time, Jeff is speaking Swahili of some sort. And I am praying for his soul. Now you may have caught me in some exaggeration in the past, but this time it’s all true….including doing the ‘leave and return’ thing twice. Shortening an otherwise boring story, I finally said my last goodbye to Jeff (who seemed relieved) at 5:00, because the airplane ‘is on it’s way’. Oddly enough, and I know you won’t actually believe this, but almost immediately thereafter, the plane came at 7:00. Lucky for me, I had an 8 ½ hour layover at Nairobi, which had been modified to about 1 ½ hrs, so I didn’t have to wait so long…. So began my transition back to the 21st century, and my journey home….and because the flight from Nairobi, for some strange reason, started in Africa, and therefore TIA applied, we were held in Amsterdam for about 45 minutes while they rechecked our passports…..before we were allowed off the plane. And after only 9 hours in the air in conditions that they won’t allow chickens to endure, the mood, as you can imagine, was quite joyous, with many versions of Swahili being shared.
Now, about my time in Africa. If you haven’t been there, well, you haven’t been there. I started the journey, really, shortly after we got home from our October trip to Africa. Having enjoyed the ‘food’ and ‘roads’ so much, I told Sandy that I just had to get back before my body completely healed. January 31, I was back consulting with Victor and on my way. The rest you know….and some of it is true, but I’m not even sure what parts. It started off with a hard 1st night in Kenya, but progressively got worse….just kidding. Traveling alone was different, and other than being alone with 400 other people, I seemed to take it ok emotionally, even with the problems that I encountered. Once at Instep, I suddenly remembered that the place is over-run with kids, and had a wee bit of buyers remorse….and had to re-hone my evasion skills. But all that is old news. When I got there, there was some things going on with the staff, which at the time added some stress, but worked itself out and has rebuilt a strong base for the future. Being the only ‘visitor’ at the Home for the whole time, J & C felt obligated to give over all the emotional stress to me, so they could continue their idyllic life of self indulgence. So, let’s recap a few of the notable things that the past 2 ½ month have presented, and you have been able to live vicariously through my incredible words.
The Building Project:
This was much more taxing on my psyche than I had anticipated. Having worked in the construction industry for almost 40 years, I kinda thought that I could handle a couple of buildings. But then TIA infiltrated and I soon came to the realization that maybe no building could ever be built in Kenya. Just getting a decent contract with Jackson, who has no license, no insurance, no bond, but fortunately also has no assets that we could use as leverage. And then there were the suppliers….yeah, remember….’the materials are coming in fact they are already there’……tomorrow. This could have driven me nuts, had I not already crossed that line. Over and over, we had promises of delivery, only to be disappointed…..me, not Jeff….he somehow knew what would happen…..he is amazing. The rain was coming and “I” had a schedule to meet. I really had a hard time with that, but looking back, God had His timing and somehow, enough materials arrived and we made the timeline that had been established….and I was able to leave feeling that “I” had been incredibly amazing. Fortunately for all of us, God provided Jackson and he out performed all our expectations, getting 2 buildings thru stage 1 in the time he said it would take for 1.…another miracle, me thinks. So, I leave knowing that some progress has been made, and I wish that I could take some credit, but I was waaaay out of my league,,,,, only thru the Lord‘s grace and mercy was anything accomplished. The clinic even has some walls, both exterior and interior started….pretty cool….sometime I might share some pictures of the progression.
While the stress was high during the construction, it was nothing to the situation with Mama Manu. I got really emotionally involved….much more than I would have thought….being a Marine and all. It still holds me hostage to emotion when I think of that woman giving her last bit of food and her life for her baby. This is a strong memory…and coupled with the hospital, morgue, and burial,,,where since it’s planting time, I’m sure that they have plowed her grave…. it has been a real life changer for me.
And then there was Dorcas. Such a sweet little thing. Never asked to be born, but was brought into a nasty world. If you had met her, you would have been amazed at her tenacity. You’d have loved her too. When you come to Instep, you can see where she has a permanent place….also in our hearts….if you want, I will show you how long she was…..I have the string. Out of that whole thing, her mother was reunited with her family and we hear that she is doing well.
We buried 2 while I was there…with much more personal involvement than anything I have seen in the US. Life and death are much more hands on. Like English Lady said, “You know you are alive here”
So, for me, in a culture that is not push-push like in the west, I found that the adjustment to being “alive” has been hard….really good, but hard…really hard. I have been wondering how all this will affect my ‘living’ from now on. I still don’t feel ‘called’, but I don’t know if I can ever really feel at home anywhere now. I miss and really want to get home, but I already miss and want to get back to the 15th century. Maybe, like a lot of the teachings I have had from the Lord, if I wait, it will fade, and I won’t have to confront my convictions…..you all know what I mean….don’t you? All this sounds negative, but it really isn’t…..it’s part of that ‘life’ that Christ has called us to. You remember…..we live here, but our heart needs to be with Him…we don‘t belong, but we are called to demonstrate His life to whom ever we meet…..torn…
Things I won’t miss in Africa:
Ugali, the roads, lack of technology, door locksets that were old when Charles Engles was farming, electricity outages, crappy Chinese stuff that is sold there…and they say that they are a people of pride….maybe in China,,, sitting alone for lunch, the bread, the snot, people telling me things that they know won’t happen, the dust when it’s dry, the mud when it’s wet, the toilet paper, malaria (which I didn’t get this time) the typhoid and TB and other diseases….over a million a year die of malaria in Africa.. the mattress that I ‘slept’ on, the disdain for human life by some, did I mention the roads?
Things I will miss in Africa:
Ugali, the roads, lack of technology, door locksets that were old when Charles Engles was farming, electricity outages, crappy Chinese stuff that is sold there…and they say that they are a people of pride….maybe in China,,, sitting alone for lunch, the bread, the snot, people telling me things that they know won’t happen, the dust when it’s dry, the mud when it’s wet, the toilet paper, malaria (which I didn’t get this time) the typhoid and TB and other diseases….over a million a year die of malaria in Africa.. the mattress that I ‘slept’ on, the disdain for human life by some, the people whom I’ve come to love…especially the staff, the kids….yes, the kids, the warm mornings, the sounds, the smells,,,,well some anyway, the connection with ‘life and death’. Life that is different and by some standards, not so good, but it is real life. And, mostly, Carla…..Jeff,,,,not so much…well, maybe some.
I’m still not sure why I went this time. The ploy was for the buildings, and that saw some progress, but because life is more than buildings, I hope that there was a better reason for me to be there. Someday, Jesus might share with me the real purpose for me and Africa this time. It’s a dangerous place for a person to visit….if you let it, it will confront your motivations….and that might be harder than being cooked by pygmies. By the way, where did the pygmies get those big iron pots? I know that the most encouraging times were those spent with adults, talking about how Jesus really sees us, and how much we need Him and His grace….it always seemed to go to the same place….’do we obey Him because we should, or because we love Him and want to please Him. Seems basic, doesn’t it,,,,but it’s the same argument that WE all have everyday…..isn’t it.
I can’t figure that place out, mostly because of the people. There is something deep that is going on….more than just poverty and lack of knowledge. At first, I began to think that maybe these people are just stupid and living this way is the result. After getting to know many of them, I have come to the conclusion that intelligence is not the problem….it is for me, but not for them. I met some of the smartest people there. They have the ability to solve some complex problems, but somehow can’t create solutions to the real problems facing their society. Give them a piece of pipe, an inner tube, some wire, sticks and string, and they can fix almost anything. (just wait til they find duct tape) But, work on the deep issues,,,,not happening, even tho they mostly know where the problems are. Nope, it’s got to be spiritual…it’s not intellectual, which leads me back to a main principle of this blog…“the hope is in the children“. The one thing I know, I love those people….and I hate those people….and I hate to hate those people. I know, it doesn’t make sense, does it. Just so you know, I’d give my life for those people. Good grief…this is giving me the creeps.
The other day, and this pertains to the last paragraph, I caught one of the older kids with a piece of pipe with fittings on it. Now we have spent hours talking about honesty and integrity. Me: “where did you get that pipe?” Busted Kid: ….silence. Me: “is it yours?” BK: ….silence. Me: “do you have permission to have it?” BK: “I just picked it” (read stole…earlier blog) Me: “explain ’picked it’” BK: ….silence. Me: “OK, since you like that pipe (3’ long), I think you should keep it for awhile, so until tomorrow, you can keep it with you…..at all times……when you are doing chores, eating, going to the bathroom, and yes, you can even sleep with it” BK: “awww, I don’t like it that much.” Me, (thinking) ‘you probably won’t by tomorrow’. “enjoy your pipe”. Next day about 11:00.am: Me: “Hey, BK, can I have the pipe?” BK: “please, please, please, I will never ‘pick’ again.” Me: “OK, love you!!”….thinking to myself, if he does, I’ll bet it’s smaller. So this opened up a whole new opportunity to talk with all the older ones again about how Jesus wants us to treat others……hopefully, one day it will click and they will be able to pass along the wisdom…..not mine,,,God’s.
Before I quit, a few words about Peter. He was a trained ‘Riffraff’ guard and worked at English Lady’s….before my time. He lives out near the home and made the commute everyday or stay in town away from his family. Anyway, Jeff and EL got to talking and came up with the thought that Peter wouldn’t have to commute so far if he worked at Instep…..see how smart Jeff and EL are when they get their heads together.. (also how caring and giving EL is) So, he came to be with the Instep staff and stands at the entrance to the property watching over us. As a side note, I had to sneak over the fence for about a week, until Carla explained to Peter that I was really just one of the kids that had a physical deformity. Peter stands about 5’6” and weighs about 55kgs….120lbs….and has ‘good eyes’, and a gentle and kind spirit I’ll explain the good eyes thing in a moment, if I remember. Peter speaks a form of English that no-one has ever heard before, and can do it without opening or moving his lips….but his Swahili is to die for! One day, a bad man came to the gate and I was watching from a ways away, and was a bit concerned. But I swear that I saw Peter grow to about 6’5, 240lbs right in front of me, and sent that guy away. That’s when I realized that he is the right man for the job. It might be hard to understand, but there are people that want to do harm and damage to those who live inside Instep….it’s hard for me anyway….but they lurk out there, both day and night. Night we have 2 security guards patrolling. I like Peter and just wanted to share how God uses people to accomplish His purposes….sometimes just to keep some safe… Oh, the ‘good eyes’? When you come to visit Instep, you will see many black people, that seem to live in the area. I have observed that the ratio of black to white in that area is pretty high, unlike in Anacortes. You will notice that some of the Kenyans have eyes that just might give you the shivers….not kidding here….especially the older ones. Now we know that the eyes are the window to the soul, and so checking out the eyes is a good thing. Peter has ‘good eyes’…as do all the staff at Instep. He has demonstrated his loyalty in a couple of ways that I can’t share here, but there is no doubt that he is willing to lay down his life for his friends….sound like something that you’ve heard or read somewhere??? Anyway, I like Peter.
Finally, I want to give you some advice….I know, kinda like a typewriter giving a computer advice, but humor me. When you come to Africa, to Instep,,,,and I hope you will, a couple of things you might want to know. 1. There is a ‘romance’ to Africa, and you will feel it when you arrive. But, after a short time, you will wonder where it went….it’s called culture shock. Hang in there, the romance is still there, but you will see it differently than you expected. 2. Don’t come to help change the people….come to show what Jesus looks like in the flesh…..love and let Jesus do the changing. And last, when you come, please understand that Jeff and Carla have been on the ground for a long time and have developed an understanding of how it works in Africa. Please, please don’t try to understand how it works…..for a long time, at least til ‘you get it‘….and don’t try to tell them how to do what they do….because, it’s not the world you and I know, and it takes awhile to be ‘assimilated’. Ask them questions and share insights, and most of all love and encourage them….even Jeff.
So, that’s that. I’ve really missed my best friend. And now that I am reunited with her, I’m all better….well, almost. Overall, I’m worse for having done the last 2 ½ months. The “it’s all about me” factor has been called into question, and this time with a vengeance. But a good thing is that somehow, Sandy has entered into the same struggle and now we are becoming assimilated….it’s true in our lives…..resistance IS futile. I think we have tasted some of the real life that E.L. spoke of, and now the washing machine (installment 31) doesn’t seem quite as important.
This, much to your relief, is probably the last blog from Safarislim for awhile. I’m pretty much out of material, and really don’t have the energy to make up anymore stories….even if they are true. But, if you need a new installment……it is on it’s way….in fact it is already there…..
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Installment 37
Installment 37
6:45 pm April 7, 2011. 2, count ‘em 2 foundations in and backfilled….and 2 almost 2000 sqft concrete slabs in and curing. It’s been a long haul, but God has been merciful and allowed us to get all the main groundwork done before the hard rains start. The rainy season should be well on it’s way by now, but only enough water has fallen to get the maize started, while keeping the ground, and ‘roads’ solid enough to get materials delivered on site. I don’t know what you think, but I KNOW that it is another one of His little miraculous touches. I am so thankful to Him for giving us this blessing of hard ground….it probably should be added to the “Stations of the Cross”…or some other religious celebration. This has been a challenge for me, coming from a western culture, with western ideas, and a western clock and calendar….none of which have a whole lot of bearing here. I have run a few projects at home…some small, some big. There, you get plans, funding, land, order materials, hire subcontractors, get inspections, hold mostly to a timeline, and finish the project. Here, “maybe tomorrow”….”I am coming” “it will be there on time”…..they don’t tell you whose time they are talking about….”I was just calling you” “if you need it, it is coming”…of course I needed it yesterday…..this is how things operate. So, I’ve been here since before my hair turned this grey, and I still struggle with the concept of TIA. I still think that if I need something, I find a supplier and it comes….right??? I don’t know how many times I heard “we are on our way”. I think what they mean is that they are on there way to ignoring me or driving me insane…..insaner. Jeff has been here long enough that he has come to believe that this is the way things are done in Africa. I, like every other mzungu, knew that it would be different when I just explained how I wanted things done. What I said; “ When we make a deal, I need you to fulfill your obligation in a timely manner”. What they heard; “I have lots of money and want to ‘help you out’.” What they say; “I am understanding you perfectly, you say you want to live long enough to see this project finished, and I am already delivering”. What really happens; “Maybe tomorrow!” So, I am learning, and Jeff is snickering. But in the meantime, we have gotten two buildings started, and I only have a small ulcer……I‘m going to need and internal medicine man when I get home... That being said, it’s a tough learning curve, and I’m still a long ways from getting ‘it’. Next time I come to Africa to build something, just shoot me…please.
Like all really good experienced contractors, I have put into place a system of cost overruns and so have almost depleted the funds on hand for both buildings. Staying right on budget might work somewhere, but not with the US government and not in Kenya. So, that being said, we are slowing way down until we get a handle on just where we are financially. For the last 4 weeks, we have had around 40 to 50 construction workers on site 6 days a week, in order to get the buildings to a point where they can be continued even during the rainy season. But we will consult with Fundi tomorrow and see how we canl proceed at a much slower pace that will keep in line with how God provides funding to continue. When Sandy and I came last October, there were 82 Babu hunters here and now, even with losing one precious one, we have 94...all sleeping in 5 not so big rooms….it’s possible that we could use a little more room here….like maybe a dorm….yeah that’s it, a dorm…now why didn’t I think of that….we even have Marryme and STGI coming on staff soon to be house parents…..it’ll be fun to see how God provides for finishing the two buildings….maybe He will use YOU to part of one of His miracles.
So, Pinkerton….yes the one in Octobers blogs stopped by today and we walked around the property and up to the clinic site. “What are you going to be doing for water up here?” he asked. “We are thinking of running a pipe from the tanks 300 meters away and either building a water tower, or burying some tanks and using solar power to pump it” I answered. “Hmmm,” he said, “why not another borehole?” “Cost” I said, “that and I hadn’t thought of doing it that way”. He mused a minute, saying; “a clinic, and maybe two school buildings up here….you could use a borehole”. Then he looked at me and just started praying, asking God to provide another borehole. I mean, I’m thinking, “how many miracles can one childrens’ home stand?” As Pinkerton finishes, he says don’t be surprised when it happens. I thought about just saying “yes Ron, now just go about your missionary-ing” but after reading my Oct blog, I might just wait a bit.
Anyway, I feel like a great weight has been removed, and I feel better. All this time I have been in this argument with myself…’just relax, and see how God works this out’…..’yeah, easy for you to say, I’ve been called here to get these projects going’…..’no, you’ve been called to obey God’……‘yeah, I know, but I am important and God needs me’…….‘yeah right, like He can’t do this without you’…….and so this is how it goes inside my head every day…..good thing, I guess, otherwise it would be empty…..my head, that is.
I think next time I’ll talk about some kids…….have I told you how much I appreciate J & C lately?
6:45 pm April 7, 2011. 2, count ‘em 2 foundations in and backfilled….and 2 almost 2000 sqft concrete slabs in and curing. It’s been a long haul, but God has been merciful and allowed us to get all the main groundwork done before the hard rains start. The rainy season should be well on it’s way by now, but only enough water has fallen to get the maize started, while keeping the ground, and ‘roads’ solid enough to get materials delivered on site. I don’t know what you think, but I KNOW that it is another one of His little miraculous touches. I am so thankful to Him for giving us this blessing of hard ground….it probably should be added to the “Stations of the Cross”…or some other religious celebration. This has been a challenge for me, coming from a western culture, with western ideas, and a western clock and calendar….none of which have a whole lot of bearing here. I have run a few projects at home…some small, some big. There, you get plans, funding, land, order materials, hire subcontractors, get inspections, hold mostly to a timeline, and finish the project. Here, “maybe tomorrow”….”I am coming” “it will be there on time”…..they don’t tell you whose time they are talking about….”I was just calling you” “if you need it, it is coming”…of course I needed it yesterday…..this is how things operate. So, I’ve been here since before my hair turned this grey, and I still struggle with the concept of TIA. I still think that if I need something, I find a supplier and it comes….right??? I don’t know how many times I heard “we are on our way”. I think what they mean is that they are on there way to ignoring me or driving me insane…..insaner. Jeff has been here long enough that he has come to believe that this is the way things are done in Africa. I, like every other mzungu, knew that it would be different when I just explained how I wanted things done. What I said; “ When we make a deal, I need you to fulfill your obligation in a timely manner”. What they heard; “I have lots of money and want to ‘help you out’.” What they say; “I am understanding you perfectly, you say you want to live long enough to see this project finished, and I am already delivering”. What really happens; “Maybe tomorrow!” So, I am learning, and Jeff is snickering. But in the meantime, we have gotten two buildings started, and I only have a small ulcer……I‘m going to need and internal medicine man when I get home... That being said, it’s a tough learning curve, and I’m still a long ways from getting ‘it’. Next time I come to Africa to build something, just shoot me…please.
Like all really good experienced contractors, I have put into place a system of cost overruns and so have almost depleted the funds on hand for both buildings. Staying right on budget might work somewhere, but not with the US government and not in Kenya. So, that being said, we are slowing way down until we get a handle on just where we are financially. For the last 4 weeks, we have had around 40 to 50 construction workers on site 6 days a week, in order to get the buildings to a point where they can be continued even during the rainy season. But we will consult with Fundi tomorrow and see how we canl proceed at a much slower pace that will keep in line with how God provides funding to continue. When Sandy and I came last October, there were 82 Babu hunters here and now, even with losing one precious one, we have 94...all sleeping in 5 not so big rooms….it’s possible that we could use a little more room here….like maybe a dorm….yeah that’s it, a dorm…now why didn’t I think of that….we even have Marryme and STGI coming on staff soon to be house parents…..it’ll be fun to see how God provides for finishing the two buildings….maybe He will use YOU to part of one of His miracles.
So, Pinkerton….yes the one in Octobers blogs stopped by today and we walked around the property and up to the clinic site. “What are you going to be doing for water up here?” he asked. “We are thinking of running a pipe from the tanks 300 meters away and either building a water tower, or burying some tanks and using solar power to pump it” I answered. “Hmmm,” he said, “why not another borehole?” “Cost” I said, “that and I hadn’t thought of doing it that way”. He mused a minute, saying; “a clinic, and maybe two school buildings up here….you could use a borehole”. Then he looked at me and just started praying, asking God to provide another borehole. I mean, I’m thinking, “how many miracles can one childrens’ home stand?” As Pinkerton finishes, he says don’t be surprised when it happens. I thought about just saying “yes Ron, now just go about your missionary-ing” but after reading my Oct blog, I might just wait a bit.
Anyway, I feel like a great weight has been removed, and I feel better. All this time I have been in this argument with myself…’just relax, and see how God works this out’…..’yeah, easy for you to say, I’ve been called here to get these projects going’…..’no, you’ve been called to obey God’……‘yeah, I know, but I am important and God needs me’…….‘yeah right, like He can’t do this without you’…….and so this is how it goes inside my head every day…..good thing, I guess, otherwise it would be empty…..my head, that is.
I think next time I’ll talk about some kids…….have I told you how much I appreciate J & C lately?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Installment 36
Installment 36
I was out wandering around the two building projects today, with my clipboard and aire of superiority ……just out of Jembe reach when my phone rang. It was Fundi, and he alerted me to the fact that we had a visitor on site. “He has come with a complaint” Fundi said. “I don’t remember anything about a complaint in you initial bid documents.” I replied. “Make sure it is a quality complaint, and not one of those second rate Chinese ones that are prevalent in Kenya, before you accept it.” “We have not ordered one” he returns, but this one seems to be sawa (OK), but maybe you should be coming and seeing for yourself. So, always taking advantage of doing ’boss stuff’ I went over to the job shack and introduced myself. “Habari asubui, my name is Terry and this is my project, I hope you are impressed.” “I want to talk to you about a problem.” he begins. “Oh, a problem huh. In the case, I am just a visitor…..it’s that Jeff guy that you need to talk to…..how do you like his project?” I wisely responded. “My name is Rich Indian Person and I have been supplying your rocks, ballast (read ‘gravel’…..you’d think he’d know that only ships have ballast) and sand.” he continued. “If this is a problem, why do you do it?” I countered. “Supplying materials is not the problem, your roads are.” RIP says. “We are not owning any roads,” pipes in Fundi, “they belong to the District.” And I chimed in; “To my recent knowledge, there are no roads in Kenya.” “But your roads are destroying my lorries.” he insists. Suddenly it hit me, this guy wanted to complain about the roads. “It might come as a surprise to you, but you are so ‘yesterday’, I have been complaining about the ‘roads’ here for months.” I chided. “So will you be fixing them?” RIP asks. (Ah, now you are going to like this….I really was able to use my new found Kenyan ways.) “Yes, I will be fixing them tomorrow, in fact the repair team is on its way…in fact they are already there.” “Checkmate” he concedes, “turn about is fair play.” Imagine, a supplier of materials that consistently loads 10 ton trucks with 15 tons of material and then drives down the …dare I say it….roads, beating them to a pulp, complaining about the poor condition of the roads.
The guy across the ‘road’ has been encroaching for the last couple of years. It is platted as a 10 meter (about 33’) wide road. Now since the ‘road’ is basically ‘the field’ that hasn’t been plowed, neighbor is slowly trying to correct that, and has the ‘road’ down to around 4 meters. After all, you can’t have too much ugali, which as you remember is mostly maize, which will grow on the ‘road’. So now, Jeff has gone to the officials to get them to reinstate the whole pothole generating area. After all, you can’t have too many potholes….besides, they can be revenue generators….the price of lead is up.
Speaking of revenue…..yeah you knew it would come eventually….me being a ‘missionary’ and all…..we have 94 kids here….needing sponsorship……2 building projects to take care of the 94, maybe going to 400, that could use some help. And remember too, that pretty close to 100% actually gets to the kids…mostly in Kleenex, but in other things too. Almost no administrative overhead….not that I haven’t tried to get on payroll. You can’t do better than to ‘take care of the widows and orphans’….both of which are cared for here. rehemaministries.com
Sandy says that I am down to 1 week. I personally haven’t noticed….or have I?? I wouldn’t have noticed, except that a lot of the people here are continually offering to help me to pack…….every since I came. I can’t wait to get home, but I really don’t want to leave….how does that work. This place sucks…………your heart.
I was out wandering around the two building projects today, with my clipboard and aire of superiority ……just out of Jembe reach when my phone rang. It was Fundi, and he alerted me to the fact that we had a visitor on site. “He has come with a complaint” Fundi said. “I don’t remember anything about a complaint in you initial bid documents.” I replied. “Make sure it is a quality complaint, and not one of those second rate Chinese ones that are prevalent in Kenya, before you accept it.” “We have not ordered one” he returns, but this one seems to be sawa (OK), but maybe you should be coming and seeing for yourself. So, always taking advantage of doing ’boss stuff’ I went over to the job shack and introduced myself. “Habari asubui, my name is Terry and this is my project, I hope you are impressed.” “I want to talk to you about a problem.” he begins. “Oh, a problem huh. In the case, I am just a visitor…..it’s that Jeff guy that you need to talk to…..how do you like his project?” I wisely responded. “My name is Rich Indian Person and I have been supplying your rocks, ballast (read ‘gravel’…..you’d think he’d know that only ships have ballast) and sand.” he continued. “If this is a problem, why do you do it?” I countered. “Supplying materials is not the problem, your roads are.” RIP says. “We are not owning any roads,” pipes in Fundi, “they belong to the District.” And I chimed in; “To my recent knowledge, there are no roads in Kenya.” “But your roads are destroying my lorries.” he insists. Suddenly it hit me, this guy wanted to complain about the roads. “It might come as a surprise to you, but you are so ‘yesterday’, I have been complaining about the ‘roads’ here for months.” I chided. “So will you be fixing them?” RIP asks. (Ah, now you are going to like this….I really was able to use my new found Kenyan ways.) “Yes, I will be fixing them tomorrow, in fact the repair team is on its way…in fact they are already there.” “Checkmate” he concedes, “turn about is fair play.” Imagine, a supplier of materials that consistently loads 10 ton trucks with 15 tons of material and then drives down the …dare I say it….roads, beating them to a pulp, complaining about the poor condition of the roads.
The guy across the ‘road’ has been encroaching for the last couple of years. It is platted as a 10 meter (about 33’) wide road. Now since the ‘road’ is basically ‘the field’ that hasn’t been plowed, neighbor is slowly trying to correct that, and has the ‘road’ down to around 4 meters. After all, you can’t have too much ugali, which as you remember is mostly maize, which will grow on the ‘road’. So now, Jeff has gone to the officials to get them to reinstate the whole pothole generating area. After all, you can’t have too many potholes….besides, they can be revenue generators….the price of lead is up.
Speaking of revenue…..yeah you knew it would come eventually….me being a ‘missionary’ and all…..we have 94 kids here….needing sponsorship……2 building projects to take care of the 94, maybe going to 400, that could use some help. And remember too, that pretty close to 100% actually gets to the kids…mostly in Kleenex, but in other things too. Almost no administrative overhead….not that I haven’t tried to get on payroll. You can’t do better than to ‘take care of the widows and orphans’….both of which are cared for here. rehemaministries.com
Sandy says that I am down to 1 week. I personally haven’t noticed….or have I?? I wouldn’t have noticed, except that a lot of the people here are continually offering to help me to pack…….every since I came. I can’t wait to get home, but I really don’t want to leave….how does that work. This place sucks…………your heart.
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