Wish List

I continue to be blown away by the generosity of donors to the Masai project. www.mwep.blogspot.com We had a “welcome home” party the other night and so many good people showed up to greet me and to, once again, make some very generous contributions. It tells me that I am fortunate to be able to go to Africa physically. While so many others would love to go, they have legitimate constraints on their travel. In place of going themselves, they have entrusted me with funds and their hopes for the poor and marginalized in Kenya. I am humbled by their trust and excited about returning to Africa! This is not the best time to ask for money in America. We have so many problems and financial concerns of our own; it is difficult to think about others outside of our own families. It is understandable but makes the recent contributions even more amazing.

Many have asked about the most pressing needs for the Masai Project. We put together a wish list:

Sponsor 1 Student
At off-site school (1 uniform, fees for 3 terms, books)
9,000 Ksh $120.00 each annually

Water Tank
Will provide clean water for the Early Childhood Center
50,000 Ksh $650.00

Motorbike
Will enable Mr. Mwololo cheaper daily travel to site
100,000 Ksh $1,300.00

Bike Insurance
Annual to cover use of motorbike
15,000 Ksh $195.00

Build 2 Classrooms
Constructed in style of Masai Dwelling
70,000 Ksh $900.00

Build Cook Shed
Constructed to cook daily porridge
35,000 Ksh $450.00

Build Latrine
Constructed at classroom site
30,000 Ksh $390.00

Canvas Sheets
Used as floor coverings in 2 Early Childhood Classes
5000 Ksh $65.00ea

Plastic Chairs
Used for Kindergarten Class
450 Ksh $6.00 ea

Mattresses
Used for Baby Class
5000 Ksh $65.00 ea

2 Large Pots
For cooking large amounts of porridge
6,000 Ksh $75.00 ea

Plastic Cups
For Porridge

Spoons
For Porridge

Laptop Computer For record-keeping
Used would be great

Printer
Used would be great

Digital Camera
For recording still photos when I am not in Kenya
Used would be great

Dolls and Toys
To be purchased in Kenya for “baby class”

Learning Materials
To be purchased in Kenya for Early Childhood Education Center

Personnel Stipend
Monthly Stipend For Project Director
25,000 Ksh $320.00

Monthly Stipend For 2 Early Childhood Instructors
6,000 Ksh $75.00

Playground Items
Balls, ropes, etc.

* All costs are estimated, using exchange rate of 78Ksh = $1.00

What do you know?

I know nothing.

I have been enjoying these past weeks at home. After a time to be with family and friends, I have also been trying to find some time to process all that I have experienced while I was away. On my first extended trip to Kenya, I seemed to be more in touch with my thoughts and feelings; more connected to a spiritual life, possessing a decent prayer life. I was more structured and centered. On this trip, I was less focused on living a “Gospel” life, and let things flow more than before. That had both positive and negative aspects. In one sense, I let my prayer life suffer, did not always see God’s presence in the things I did (not that I always did). But I was also more at ease with my self; while less focused, I think I was more real and lived more day-to-day, as I did back at home. Now, as I reflect on my time and experiences in Africa, I can see that there was some inner growth; there was some small movement in my journey toward knowing God in a real way.

I initially went to Africa desiring to meet God in the faces of the poor and join in their struggles and pain. As I was warned, I probably went there with a high degree of ego. This last trip was more realistic and I think I can honestly say there was no ego involved, or at least very little. The romanticism of working and living a simple life in Africa has worn off and I think I am more realistic regarding its attraction and my role there.

I have been thinking about the variety of people I have met. Of course many are from the Kitui / Nairobi area. They are for the most part, Christian or Catholic. But I was also able to meet some terrific Muslims in Lamu and Kiwayu towns along the coast. I met some who believed in traditional Kamba or Masai tribal practices and some who had no strong religious connection at all – though they had quite a spiritual center. These peoples who initially were so “foreign” and perhaps frightening to me, became my good friends. These friends have caused me to think about how/why God created us all so different. Some of us have been fortunate to know Jesus and participate in an organized church. Others of us know nothing of Jesus but know only the God worshipped by primitive cultures and traditions. What is God thinking? Are we Christians the fortunate ones and the others simply out of luck? I was taught that Jesus is the "way" and it is through Him that we meet the Father. I know that's true but even more, Jesus is the strategy, the Way of Jesus, the Way of the cross is our destiny - if we set out to follow Him. We need to be prepared to have our lives taken away and only in losing our lives canwe begin to see the bigger picture. We have to know how to "die". That is what Africa is teaching me. I was taught that God is within each person. But I never took it seriously and as the base of my belief system. God dwells within the Muslims I met, within the tribal peoples in east Africa, within me. And . . . perhaps that is the main vehicle of each of us knowing God. Within these strange and exotic peoples lives another snapshot of my God. To the degree I can know you, my friends, my colleagues, my family; to the depth I can love and experience love – that is the depth with which I can know God. We need each other and we need others who are not like us. In God’s becoming a person, God has truly saved us.

I have learned that I/we have made God so small. Nowadays, when I am asked what I learned about God on this trip, I respond, “I learned that I know nothing.” It’s not false humility to say that I know so very little. I had thought that I knew God or at least knew so much about God.

But I know nothing, or at least very little. I am learning more daily. And what I know – I love.

Some pics

Home in the States

Well it has been quite a ride home. I returned to the states on the 16th, with a short stopover in NYC to visit a friend and see the city. I had never been to New York City before and it was quite a contrast. The last time I flew home from Kenya, I had a bit of a buffer in London and also having gone on a safari for a few days. This time I took off at midnight from Nairobi, landed at 5#0am in London, flew out at 7:30am to JFK. It was quite a contrast but great connections. Thanks to a pilot friend on British Air and thanks to my son's Delta connections, I had First Class seats on both airlines and could sleep. I needed it since I was recently diagnosed with Typhoid. I am fine now and on a good medication. I must have drank some bad water in Athi River during my last weeks in Kenya.

The last week in Athi was just as I had hoped. I took the time to spend with the Masai and to see if I could live in the area with no fear. I had been living in a protected area of Kitui with the Kamba tribe and the kids. Things were safe there and all have grown accustomed to white guys and to me in particular. Athi River was another story and I was concerned whether or not I could return there to live for an extended period of time. I can. No problem. The life style is simple, without running water, showers, toilets etc. but it is nothing I hadn't experienced before and know I can can live there with no fear. I felt safe.

I spent the time with Mwololo, the Director of the Masai Project. We conducted two days of training in Early Childhood Education, HIV/AIDS prevention, etc. It was good to be able to spend some extended time with the Masai, again to see if there is a place for me there in the future. There is. I'll try to put in some more pics and explain a little more what is happening there.

Waiting to see Dr.

There has been some great prgress in the Masai Women Project at Athi River. I recently spent a week there, participating in training sessions for Early Childhood Education and also accompanying a good doctor from the U.K. She was able to do some preliminary screenings and advise us on next steps to better health care for the children. We have also provided hundreds of school uniforms and school fees. Thank you for your generous support! Here are some pics. Click to enlarge.

Training Sessions with Masai

Broken Leg

On evening, George was speeding down a dirt road from the Village. He thought he heard his cell phone drop from his pocket and turned around to see. When he turned back, he lost control and went down. After a night of pain and a long meeting in the morning, I was able to take him to Kitui "hospital" about 45 minutes from the village. We traveled on the big lorrie which dropped us at the front door and left. Everything in the hospital is pay-as-you-go. It costs 30 shillings to be looked at, 200 shilling for an xray, 200 shillings to have the xray read. 200 shillings for the plaster cast. The hospital called a motorbike for me to go into town to buy the plaster and wrappings they needed to apply this cast. Toilets in the hospital are pit latrines and the worst I have seen in Kenya. It could be worse I guess. One of the hospitals in Nairobi does not have enough beds so you may be laying in the same bed with some other patient! George will be slow in walking until the cast is removed in the beginning of July. He has been seen on his motorbike - with cast.

"Safe Journey"

Almost nightly now I visit the clusters of houses near the Guest House. We sit outside until after dark and inevitably I am invited in for the evening meal. One cannot refuse. I have probably already eaten in the guesthouse, but no matter. To refuse would be rude to the grandmother. The kids know my dilemma - having eaten and faced with yet another large plate of ugali. They whisper to me "Ed, just a bite." On Thanksgiving I was served rice and a cup of water. Tonight, the meal is my least favorite, sukuma and ugali. But I managed to eat a good portion. Ugali is eaten with the hands. Actually just about everything is eaten without utensils. As I leave and stumble with my Kamba language goodbyes, the children look at the grandmother who smiles and says, in English "Gud night Ed" Just her attempt to use English is a first and an honor. I have come to love this family so much. There are 4 of her "blood" grandchildren and 4 others who are blended from other families. To blend families is not African and a bit of a strain sometimes. But here in this household, it is working. All the children have the common denominator of being poor, destitute, double orphaned.

I also went to dinner at a house in Cluster 4 last week. Mary, the grandmother to whom I have become closest, said in her Kamba language "Tuesday you will come and we will have chicken." Now the household has two chickens and one is for Christmas. The other is for me and my leaving. I came to the house early and there were preparations underway for chapati, rice, sukuma, and the chicken. It was a great feast and I brought some biscuits (cookies) and some syrup to flavor the water strawberry. This was a taste they had never had and I am not sure if they liked it - but drank it all the same. I was able to shoot some video of the evening, complete with Charles Darwin reading scripture and the grandmother laughing at my attempts to speak her language. a great night.

I spent as much time with these folks as I could before I left. Ben had grown silent. The others more reserved. African men do not cry and I was determined not to cry this time. After all, I am coming back someday. We got through the leaving with few tears but only sad eyes. I got a call today from one of the kids. "I am missing you big." The older kids find someone with a cell phone and "flash" you, letting the phone ring on my end one time. My job is to return the call to them on my "dime." They call wishing me "safe journey" and "make sure to greet America for us, greet Obama."

Getting ready to go

I am winding up some of my projects in Kenya and have foound some time to write while waiting to leave in Nairobi.
It becomes difficult, once again, to think about leaving Kenya and the Village. It is a simple life here, a simple lifestyle that can only be described as a great gift to me, at this time in my life. There has been no stress for me! I have never been afraid or really worried about anything during my time here. It is a great blessing to live life with that kind of freedom. This is not to say that the lifestyle is not difficult. It is a hard life, filled, though, with such joy and simple things.
My days have been less full, since preparing for leaving on the 15th. Today I spent with visitors, no hurry, no agenda but to explore and explain the village. All along the tour I hear my name "Hed!" "Heddy" When I am not with visitors and can talk freely the the kids, the questions are always the same "When will you go?" followed by "When will you come back?" I know I will come back. I have to come back to see Ben, Charles Darwin, John, Lucy, Mwendwa, Mutua, Charles, Erastus, Mbithi, Mwima, Mwumo, Kimanzi and on and on and on. Nyumbani is now a village, not just orphans and old grandmothers. It is a living community striving to survive and gaining strength from each other.