Counting Down the Days

The Kenya Diaries (vol. 28)

July 24, 2006

Hello Family and Friends,

Andy is administering his final exam, and the kids are out in the orchard climbing trees. The beans are soaking for dinner, and the laundry is drip-drying on the line, so I have some time to write to you.

We have been very busy with adventures as well as the mundane. When I say there is time here to contemplate, I don't mean that we are sitting idly by, twiddling our thumbs. Every daily chore requires one to be physically present, and there is time for the mind to think. I can't just load the dishwasher, the washing machine, the crock pot and the bread machine, then busy myself with other things while my gadgets do my work. It takes time to scrub clothes or sort beans or whatever else needs to be done, which requires much physical work, but very little mental work. Hence the time to dwell on things.

On  Saturday we went to Nakuru National Park, and were blessed to see many kinds of animals. The vervet monkeys were especially curious and populated the parking lot. The kids loved them. They climbed right in our van. They were like squirrels at rest stops along a busy interstate, looking for handouts and pestering the patrons. We certainly didn't mind!

On Sunday we went to another school, St. Maria Goretti Girls School, to attend Mass about three kilometers away. We had to take boda-bodas to get there. Ania was still apprehensive about riding one after her mishap last month when she got her foot caught in the spokes, but we really had no choice.


Here is how it played out: Ania and Philip rode together, Andy and Lucia rode together, and Kevin and I each had our own driver. We looked hilarious going down the dirt road in our church clothes, me side-saddle since my skirt was too straight for me to straddle the seat. Apparently we were a sight to behold! People were staring, chickens were scattering, children were laughing. I felt like throwing candy.



The road however was horrid! It was a dirt road littered with puddles, ruts, rocks and the edges were eroded away leaving deep ravines for its shoulder. One time I looked down only to be looking into a deep ravine - we were that close to the edge. I was snapping photos all along the way with my right hand, and holding on for dear life with my left.



Andy, I noticed, was hopping off and on, pushing his bike through some of the rougher, uphill terrain. Lucia wanted her daddy to stay on and was shouting for him. Philip kept shouting to his driver, "Faster, faster!" Ania was screaming, "No! No!" Kevin was having the time of his life. We managed to reach our destination in one piece, and Ania somehow was cured of her dreaded fear of boda-bodas. Thank you, Jesus!

Boda-bodas are not the only exciting travel means. Matatus can be quite exciting as well, as they are in various stages of disrepair. Twice now Lucia has tapped me on the leg and pointed to the road through a hole in the floorboard right under our feet. The last one we rode in had to be push started before we got in, then the door wouldn't stay shut. Praise God that we haven't been in one that has broken down yet. It is a common sight to see stranded motorists on the side of the road.

Fr. Callistus, the priest in charge of the seminary here, was driving the seminary van back from Nairobi the other night, and his side mirror rattled right off on these bumpy roads. It was dark and he never did recover it.


We have seen the Southern Cross (Crux) constellation! I have been attempting to locate it since we arrived in June, but was never able to find anyone who knew anything about it. Thanks to cyber cafes and a few friends back home, I finally located it. Wow! It is amazing to me how familiarizing yourself with the night sky can be a comfort, even if it is a sky you've never seen before. The Big Dipper has always made me feel close to home, even in Germany and Moscow.

Now we start the countdown of leaving Rongai and going to Nairobi. We leave one week from today. There is much to sort through; the kids have acquired many little treasures here. Some they may bring with them, some they must return to nature. They have collected various types of shrubbery, thorns longer than their fingers, feathers, sticks, a porcupine quill, bottle caps, gum wrappers, Kenyan shillings, homemade brooms, avocado pits, margarine lids (used as Frisbees), you name it.....it's  probably here. We haven't thrown away anything that can be used as craft material either; toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes, plastic bread wrappers, newspaper, string, empty bottles, jars, etc.










We have a lot to sort through.

We have shared so much of our lives with everyone here at the school. The kids have taught the boys to play Uno, King Elephant (thank you Alleluia YAMS), Down By The River, and introduced them to the Rubik's Cube. We have produced a slide show of their school, which the boys loved! Kevin, Ania and Philip have become very good at  Cat's Cradle, and even Lucia can maneuver some of them. Kevin can even do some of the string games with his eyes closed.

Last night we talked about going home, and the kids spoke fondly of seeing family and friends. They reminisced about Ryan's Family Restaurant, Cracker Barrel and Sonic burgers. But, I know that when they realize they are leaving these boys, they will feel very sad.










Thank you for all your prayers, and continue to pray for our stay in Nairobi with  Fr. Ted -- that we won't drive him too crazy! You continue to be in our prayers!

God bless you all!!!

Love, Janet, Andy, Kevin, Ania, Philip and Lucci bean!