How much security is TOO much security?

June 28-29, 2018

Flying out of the Mara

Salvete omnes!

Once we returned to Wilson airport, we went to the Methodist Guest House only to repack and ready for our flight back to Dulles. We bid adieu to our trusty driver Jarom and continued our adventure in the air.

Highlights in Nairobi:

• Chinese fire-drill on the road (security checkpoint number one)
• Stella gets pat down (security checkpoint number two)
• Julie gets pat down (security checkpoint number three)
• no bathrooms in the gate area (security checkpoint number four)

Highlights in London:

• Kaki gets a search and seizure (I never really trusted her...)
• Wendell and Julie get a prize! (they were chosen for a security screen)
• Moaning Myrtle on the plane next to Kaki

We arrived safely at Dulles, and while we certainly have cherished our time with the children of Tumaini and the people (and animals) of Kenya, it will be great to see our families once more!

Finis!

ex animo,

Stella aka Ngwaci (Sweet Potato)

What the Nairobi security officers were saying in GIF form:

Cats in heat can't be beat!

 June 26-28, 2018

Salvete omnes!

I almost cannot believe all of what happened while on safari! On Tuesday morning we took an average-sized plane from Wilson and connected to a small plane which took us to our final destination in the Masai Mara conservancy. Upon arriving, we immediately met wi

th our guide for the next few days, Nabaala (aka Dixon). On our drive to get to the camp, we soon saw monkeys, giraffes, Thomson's gazelles, wildebeests, and a shy dik-dik. After lunch, we went back into the Mara and saw elands, zebras, impalas, topi, ostriches, and many birds! During sunset, we watched three lionesses and their seven cubs walk around a bushy and rocky area.

We woke up early the next day (Wednesday) in order to watch the sunrise on the Mara. During the morning ride we saw a group of four elephants (the females were trying to lose the male), zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, ostriches (one male and four girlfriends), grey crowned cranes, impalas, topi, Thomson's gazelle, olive baboons, spotted hyena (which watched us as we ate a picnic breakfast), birds, and a female cheetah cleaning herself after a kill. Before we returned for lunch, Nabaala took us to a Masai village where we toured the village, went inside one of the wives' homes, and were treated to a few songs/dances by the four wives in the village.

Baboon blending in

After lunch, Julie, Kris, Wendell and I went on a 1.5 hour hike in the bush, following Bushmaster Lucas (he carried a gun). We observed different flora, butterflies, animal tracks, termite mounds, and acacia trees. Near the end of the hike we went to a distant ridge and stalked some giraffes. They knew we were coming...I blame Wendell and his height.

Our group met the jeep with Kaki, Kathy, and our guide, and we continued towards evening, spotting giraffes, jackals, and bat-eared foxes. The highlight was certainly watching the lion pride we found. One lioness was nursing her cubs, while another sneaked into the bush, followed closely by a male lion (I don't think she appreciated it, as there were sounds emanating from the bush that did not seem happy). Another lioness appeared (total of three) and we continued to "ooh" and "ahh" the cubs, but the main attraction was really the lion attempting to woo his lady-love. She would walk and lay down and he would follow her. This happened for quite awhile (at one point they went out of our field of vision but returned). As it was getting dark, Nabaala decided we should go on our way and begin our night ride. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint) we had to go through the path of the lion and his attempts at lovemaking. He did not appreciate this interruption/distraction and made it well known, roaring and becoming slightly aggressive towards the jeep. Luckily for the team, I was between him and the rest of the people in the jeep, with only a yard separating his jaws from my face. Good thing I got it on video! Kathy said it was "too close for comfort" but perhaps it wasn't close enough!

As we continued on our night ride, I got to use a red lamp to spot some nocturnal animals (the light reflected in their eyes). We saw many of the same animals that we have seen throughout the trip, but a new species we saw were bushbabies, whose huge eyes glowed red from the lamp. We stalked them a bit and saw them leap from tree to tree. If you get a chance, be sure to ask Wendell and Kaki what funny thing happened that evening, a few hundred feet from the gate of the camp.

On the final morning at the Mara (Thursday), we had breakfast, packed, and readied for our final trip out of camp before getting picked up at the airfield. Right out of the gate (literally) we saw a parade of around 14 elephants. Soon after we saw a cheetah and her cubs (probably the same cheetah we saw yesterday). We found a crash of hippopotamus, a crocodile nearby, and a baboon after killing a baby gazelle (with some jackals waiting for the scraps).

Cheetah cubs

Crocodile on the far bank

Throughout our time at the Mara, I felt constant awe at the beauty of our surroundings, and I basked in the glory of God, displayed by the complicated system of the termite mound and the symbiotic relationship of the ant and the acacia. God is Good...

ex animo,
Stella aka Ngwaci (Sweet Potato)

What could have been in GIF form:

Goodbyes and motorbike rides

June 25, 2018

Salvete omnes!

Today (Monday) was the last day that we were at Tumaini. We woke up especially early (530am) in order to be prepared to walk the secondary students to school for the first time (they have been off all week, if you recall). It was darker than when we have walked the primary students, so some of us brought flashlights with us on the walk. The secondary school is a little farther down the road from Tumaini, but I treasured the longer time as I got to walk Naomi, Gladys, and Lucy, and talk to them a little before we said our goodbyes. (I did break a rule and walked back to Tumaini without an escort. Whoops!). I took pictures with some of the girls and said goodbye to others that I saw on campus.

At about 700am (I had plans for 700am, which will be revealed soon) all the secondary students had gone to school and I found some primary kids to walk to school. I was on my way back at 712am when I was called by some students to walk them to school. I went around the classrooms and said goodbye and took some pictures with the younger students.

At around 724am I was finally walking back to the apartment at Tumaini when I heard an engine and decided to run towards the gate. There was my 700am ride! Emmanuel, the parish elder who had given me a short night ride the previous evening, was waiting to give me a longer morning ride on his motorbike. He came prepared with a bright safety vest and helmet. He explained the circuit that we would take, which would be around 30km and take about 40 minutes. The total trip ended up being around 1.5 hours, but I enjoyed going on the dirt and tarmac roads around Nyeri and a couple other neighboring towns. You experience places differently when you are open to the air and can look all around you. Emmanuel treated me to a short breakfast at what I would consider a "Kenyan diner" before returning us both to Tumaini at 900am; just in time to leave!

The group packed the "van", said some painful goodbyes to the adults around Tumaini that have been our brothers and sisters this trip, and drove off. We made our way back to Nairobi (luckily for me, no scary Africana this time around) to the Methodist Guest House. We had an early night and focused on packing our small bags for our safari which would begin on Tuesday. While we went back to some normal activities, I'm sure that our hearts and minds were still back at Tumaini, and would be so for a long time.

ex animo,
Stella aka Ngwaci (Sweet Potato)

Me on the motorbike in GIF form:

"Santa" comes to Nyeri!

Salvete omnes!

While Saturdays for most can be "lazy days," this is not true of Kenyans! Class 7 and 8 students have school on Saturday, and the older students still have chores. The major chore today, besides the standard cleaning of the walkways, was cutting all the children's hair. I considered getting my hair shaved as well, but was convinced not to do it. 😞

Today was also a big day for distributing gifts to adults and children. Children at Tumaini and Huruma received a pencil case with school necessities inside, flip flops, a Bible, and toothbrushes. Students in secondary school also received a calculator and geometry set (compass and protractor). Adult women received bags hand-made by Meadows parishioners, and men received work gloves; both also received Bibles and hand-made wooden crosses. Wendell, Kaki, and I went to Huruma to distribute the gifts while Kathy, Julie, and Kris remained at Tumaini for "Days for Girls" orientation #2 (Kris will tell you more about that). I played volleyball with the young men at Huruma and have the bruised arms to prove it!

After returning to Tumaini, I spent more uninterrupted time with the kids than I have been able to this trip. I either sat and talked with them, watched television with them, ran after them, or threatened to make them into a chapati. Many call me a "crazy mazunga" (crazy white person) and I point at them and say "No, you're a crazy mazunga" and then we begin arguing! I have also been called a "crazy Kenyan" by them, which I take as a point of pride.

I am beginning to feel the time here get shorter, and I hope to spend as much time with the kids as I can. It is unfortunate that we are not here another week, as I have only begun to see the kids become more familiar with me, and I, in turn, am beginning to become rather close to a few in particular. I can only cherish the time I have left and continue to hold them in my heart once I leave.

ex animo,
Stella aka Ngwaci (Sweet Potato)

Me chasing after the children in GIF form:

Saturday is coming to a close.  It rained earlier this evening.  It's rained more and has

been cooler than any of us remember from previous trips.  I hear children singing faith songs in Kikuyu and Kiswahili.  Little ones are running around, burning off steam endlessly.  Sounds from surrounding rooms include chairs and tables scooting on the concrete floors.  All these sounds are all familiar in just the short time we have been here.

THE LIBRARY PROJECT IS COMPLETED!!  When we arrived last Saturday Eunice, the manager of the 2 children’s homes indicated that the Tumaini library full of books had gone unused for many years and needed major updating.  So we set-out to pull outdated or badly-worn books and books that were not matched well to children’s taste and ability.  Over the week, we removed most of the books from the shelves and reviewed, sorted, grouped and re-shelved them in a way that was conducive to the children accessing the books.   At times the work was tedious.  However, we have the opportunity to learn that being obedient to God's will sometimes means that the work will seem boring.  And we will leave without certainty as to what will happen with any project after we're gone.  But we have great hope. 


Plans are for Reuben, our new friend and ‘partner-in-crime’/ time-keeper, and others to make the books more readily accessible to the children, encouraging a love of reading while caring for the books.  The children have been asking for more story time.  So, if anyone wants to drop by and read a book to the children, they are most-welcome, I’m sure.

Who knew that our trips to Kenya would lead to teaching the young girls of Tumaini and Huruma about their anatomy, reproduction, self-defense, sex trafficking and how to use reusable hygiene kits?  This was a new one.  Sally P. from our church (who had travelled here in 2011) gathered a group of wonderful women who purchased, cut, stitched, and assembled 100+ Days for Girls kits…the preparation of the kits was meticulous and precise.  These kits are non-disposable and give the girls the independence and security they need each month.  Some of our team did the training and got certified to teach the “how’s” and “why’s” for caring for their God-given bodies.  The girls were very excited to receive the kits during the training.  And we pray that this ministry is among the others we have seen succeed here.

As I wrap-up, the sounds are fading.  I heard the gate for the dorm close and the children are locked-in for the night...as are we.  Less furniture-dragging noise, voices are muted, and no more running for tonight.  Goodnight from Kris and the team.

On top of the Vocational Training Center

 

Church and fellowship

Salvete omnes!

The days grow shorter as the relationships grow stronger.

Today was a special church service from 10am to around 3pm, nearly entirely in Kikuyu (Virginia helped me by translating some of what was going on, and the minister dropped in English from time to time). All 9 churches in the parish were in attendance as today Elders were ordained. There were tents and sooooo many chairs set up by the kids at Tumaini. The Meadows team presented a song that was in Kiswahili , and luckily I got out of presenting a song alone, though Peter brought it up later when he saw me after the church service. Whoops! The sermon was based on Nehemiah chapter 3 and 2 Timothy 2:20-26.

Ready for church with our friends Reuben and Eunice!

After lunch, I looked for some kids to spend time with and ended up being called over to a group of older kids (Form 1-4) and some younger children followed. We ended up spending a couple hours just talking, laughing, and dancing. At one point we went back to Imani Hall (the multi-purpose center) and continued to talk as we made bracelets with beads based on a design following Psalm 23.

Then the work began! I carried in some benches with Gladys and Martha, swept a portion of the walkway for Mary and Sharon to wash, washed a small portion of Naomi's area, and milked some cows (after washing their udders)! YES! I MILKED SOME COWS! The minister has since given me a Kikuyu name because of it! Unfortunately, none of these events were captured in photographic form, but I really enjoyed helping some of the kids with chores, and I gained an even greater appreciation of the work that they do. There was quite a bit of laughing from the kids as they watched me (some came to the cows who never go just to watch), but I think that it meant something to them since I was doing something with them that I didn't have to do!

Unfortunately, my time with the kids ended too quickly as dinner time arrived. The celebration dinner included a fine meal with many Elders of the parish. I sat next to Virginia, whom I will miss very much as I have come to really care for her and have enjoyed talking and joking with her. The Kenyans went around the table to add what they have seen from our trip, and the Meadows team did the same. Gifts were presented and tears were shed.

Late night packing began after the dinner, and I also had the pleasure of reading a few notes that some of the older girls wrote to me. I am heartsick that the time here at Tumaini is coming to an end when the relationships have just begun to solidify. I continue to contemplate the merits of staying more than one week, as that would offer more opportunities for fellowship and deeper conversations.

We will be walking the secondary students to school tomorrow and I'm not exactly sure what that will be like. Please hold the Meadows team and the students in your prayers as we bid adieu.

ex animo,
Stella aka Ngwaci (Sweet Potato)

Doing chores in GIF form: