Zac and boat near Lamu

To Nairobi with 40 kids

SPENCE HELPING DELIVER FOOD TO MASSAI

This week marks two anniversaries at Nyumbani. First - this is the second year since Fr. D'Agostino, founder of Nyumbani, passed away. It also marks the one year anniversary of the death of two boys at the village (See blog from this date a year ago.) To remember and celebrate, Nyumbani held a mass and reception also meant to dedicate a new building in Fr. D'ag's honor. The Village was well represented with a group of 40 students and some staff. A busload was sent from the Village Saturday night and we slept on the floor at the Children's Home. These kids are great! We had a great time despite the lack of sleep. It was interesting to see the reaction the kids had to Nairobi - a city they had never seen. The boys I stayed with were up half the night, flipping electric switches, flushing the toilets and getting up at 4 a.m. to take a hot shower. These were all new experiences for them. They had heard about and wanted to see the machine that made clothes clean. They could not understand how another machine made clothes dry without the sun. In the kitchen of the Children's Home was a large institutional potato peeler. Put a potato in and in comes out peeled! On the ride home they screamed when we drove past NBO (the Nairobi Airport). We also saw zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, and a herd of camels on the way home. None of these got a reaction bigger than the washing machine. The kids sang a choir piece and danced some original Kamba tribal dances in full dress. The Village was well-represented. I was so proud. Present at the gathering was the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya and the Apostolic Nuncio (Archbishop) from Italy - among other guests. I went back to the Village with the kids last night but traveled back to Nairobi with Spencer, a volunteer returning to the states for Christmas. We traveled by matatu and bus and I wanted to accompany him to make sure he arrived in Nairobi safe and sound. We did.

North of Lamu

Below are a couple pics from Kiwayu, an island north of Lamu on the African coast. It is not far from Somalia. We had a great time sailing for seven or eight hours to the island and then snorkeling, fishing etc. Great fun and one of the most beautiful places I have seen. Below shows the boat and the place on the beach where we slept. Very cool.

Some Pics from Kiwayu Island

Here are some pics - clic to enlarge.

Zac's Here

My son made it to Nairobi via London. It was great to see him once again. I think he put on a couple pounds and I lost 27. He looks great - I don't. But I feel good. Today is Obama day in Kenya. The President of the country made today a National Holiday. Everyone was celebrating the night before so doubtful that many would make it into work on time! It was a great election to witness in Kenya. This is my second election, the first being the Kenyan election that turned so violent last December. For Kenyans to witness one of their own take part in such a peaceful transition, well run voting polls etc. . . the guys at work just look at me and say 'ah America, what a great country you have!' They were amazed that I could vote absentee ballot and that the results were so fast. Even McCain's gracious speech came quickly. "ah America!' Erin and I watch some of the pre-results television coverage from a little 30-seat bar in Kwa Vonza. We watched the TV by generator but the lighting in the place was by kerosene lamp. It was a bit surreal, although beautiful as well. All these black faces fixed on the TV, anticipating a son of Kenya winning the highest office in the land. It was a great night.

I left for Nairobi the next morning. The town was buzzing about Obama and locals would yell to me on the street = Obama (and give a thumbs up)

So Zac is here. We go tomorrow to the coast and sail to a remote island. We are still a little concerned about the Somali pirates so close. This will be fun!