Lamu - on no money per day

Some pics from Lamu - click to enlarge



I have had some exciting weeks at the Village. Things are going well and lots of work accomplished. I have continued to work on some PR presentations and some other database things as well as doing the normal Volunteer Coordinating. This weekend 16 girls from an American University come to the Village to see and experience some of the life there. 16 girls - wondering how they will like the Village an I am hoping they have sleeping bags and good water!

I have come once again to Nairobi, bringing one of the volunteers to the hospital for some testing. He will be fine. I also brought with me a third year high school student to see the Doctor in Nairobi. He will also be fine and we should be heading back to the Village tomorrow with a new volunteer from Norway.

I was able to go to Lamu - an island off the Kenyan coast. It was my first trip to the coast and it was amazing and very beautiful. We flew from Nairobi to Malindi and then on to Lamu. Once there we took a small sailboat out, went fishing and then anchored off the beach, cooked the fish and swam. What a beautiful day, so unlike anything I have seen in Africa. The island is predominately Muslim, having close to 32 mosques. I am also reminded that it is close to Somalia and probably home to some more radicals. But . . .a great place and I am planning to return with my son in about a month.

Zac is coming back to Kenya! I am so excited to know he is planning another visit. We will go to the Village for a while and also to Lamu, although this time we plan to sail for 6 and a half hours to a remote island for some snorkeling etc. I can't wait to see him. I am also looking forward to seeing Rachel and Jonah in mid December - mom too!

I always wanted to live simply - but having my wallet and credit cards stolen in a matatu in Kitui was not my plan. I had some decent cash in my wallet, hoping to purchase chairs for the library. Someone obviously watched me from the bank. I was sick about it for about a day. I couldn't believe it. I stopped my cards and am in the process of having them replaced. But for a while, I had no money, no phone credit, no way to leave the village, unable to pay for transport. All the other volunteers were out of town and my good friend George was in Machakos. I was stuck and panicking. It was a strange feeling, felt daily by so many in in Kenya and the U.S. for that matter. Rachel was so helpful, wiring me money to have in Lamu.

One of the problems with no credit card, we could no buy food for the relief effort in Athi River. They remain in desperate shape; bad water, illnesses, dead cattle, disease and the kids are not going to school due to hunger. The replacement card should come soon and we will begin once again. Thanks for your donations. See www.mwep.blogspot.com

Enough for now - know that I think of my family and friends daily and remain grateful to the many donations and prayers.