Jambo!
This time from hot, but rainy, Nairobi. I am here for 4 days (living in a 1 bedroom house with 5 adults, 2 babies & lots of mozzies) spending time planning together with World Agro Forestry contact/friend Esther Kamau.
Time is going by fast. 7 weeks seemed long at the start, but now doesn’t feel long enough for all that has to be done. I am thankful for where I have been placed. It is an honor to be here with tasks at hand that I am excited about.
Yesterday I spent the afternoon together with Esther & her coworker, Moses, in the village (Mukeu) assessing our ‘model farm’. We had a great time discussing next steps, bringing forward new ideas that hopefully increase future profit & efficiency in farming practices.
I am learning that stepping out and trying new ideas can be fun (especially when new ideas introduced are 4-legged). I have been greatly encouraged. The progress of the plants, specifically Tree Lucerne, that were distributed last year to farmers who came to our workshop is incredible. These fodder shrubs have ‘sprouted’ to well over 7ft tall, with flowers indicating they will be seed-producing shortly. They are being fed to and received well by livestock. We will visit more Mukeu farms next week to give us a better picture of what was/wasn’t successful re: seed/seedling distribution and livestock management education. From there we can assess & make next steps.
Aside from the World Agroforestry work, I have been working alongside my Kenyan family on the farm. I am now up to milking 2 cows 2x/day by hand. It is fun (my forearms are taking a Nairobi-break) except... yesterday morning one of my cows (now named “BAD cow”) stepped INTO the milk bucket when I was almost done…and the milk from the previous cow was also in the bucket (~12 litres?). Mikey helped me get her foot out, we dumped the milk, put a stick in front of her leg, placed the bucket back and she promptly stepped over the stick and into the pail again! Cow with ATTITUDE. The 2nd time we both laughed so hard we cried. Memories are definitely made daily!
I have been running every other day (heart rate elevated with the elevation), plugging my ipod into my head so I can’t hear the laughs & ‘muzungo’ (white person) comments. I try to smile and “jambo” or “hi” every group I pass (as winded as I am!). But yesterday I struck terror into a poor child – unintentionally. The look and sound he made as he saw me while walking to school I will never forget. It was as if he saw a monster. If I hadn’t kept running I am sure he would have wailed and collapsed in fright. He had never before seen a white person I am certain. Poor little guy! I felt bad. What can you do when you can’t even communicate?....just keep running.
It has been raining faithfully every day this week. Downpouring is more like it. We are thankful. I am glad I had to buy gumboots vs. choke on dust.
That is what I know today. Esther and Andrew (her husband) are waiting for me so I must send this note.
Until more time passes…
Blessings,
-Kami
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
IMAGINE
I didn’t realize until this visit how often Kenyans say ‘Imagine’, usually with exclamation-mark expression when emphasizing something surprising, remarkable or simply in place of “think of this”.
I like it.
It reminds me to imagine possibilities and remember that God can do anything; He is limitless.
Here, faith is real and believing God for every breath is a given. What these beautiful people teach me… is still so very awesome. I was awestruck last year and am again now.
I have been in the Mukeu village almost 6 days. It was like ‘coming home’ in many ways. This time it isn’t a strange place with unfamiliar faces. I have enjoyed running into friends each day, always met with a warm welcome and invites to come for ‘chai’ (tea & a visit). I am already afraid I won’t have enough time! I love their friendliness and high priority for friends & family.
Some of what I have been up to…
Sleeping. Catching up is pretty well done I think. The NEW rooster (and I didn’t kill the last one, promise, they ate some time last year) is a 2:30/3:00 a.m rooster. Pretty sure the last one was a 4 a.m guy…I never thought I would miss him.
Spending time with my Kenyan family. Time spent sitting in the cookhouse or playing with the kids while chatting, or visiting after supper…quality connection here. Love it. It’s different without my Canadian team around, but different in a good way. I am getting to know the family better with more 1-on-1 time. My Kikuyu (language)…isn’t improving much, but I do catch the odd word or phrase. My new word of the week sounds like “okka” & means ‘come’. That’s important to know when it is spoken to me!
Spending time with my friend Mikey. I have spent a lot of my afternoons with my good friend Mikey. I put some pictures up, you will see his smiling face with a goat kid. Those who know Mikey, know he has a perma-grin. It hasn’t changed. He is ALWAYS happy.
Our team purchased a pregnant dairy goat for his family last year. This year he has a herd of FIVE (imagine)! “Delighted” doesn’t adequately describe his love for those goats. It is incredible to watch and be a part of the excitement. I was treated to my first cup of goat chai 2 days ago (with Mikey) – and I loved it.
I can’t help but think that God was behind the goat idea. Mikey’s mother (single mother of 6 kids, 5 boys live at the farm & Mikey is the oldest) had a stroke last month and is bed-ridden. Her one side is paralyzed although she is improving all the time. Mikey has been staying home (6 weeks so far) from school to work & care for his mother & brothers. To say he never stops working is an understatement (I feel so lazy here!). To give you a glimpse of his day…Mikey is up early, milks cows for his farm plus the Kibarita farm 2x/day (I timed him on one cow and he could milk her in 5 minutes – fast!), cuts feed for his animals, ploughs land by hand for planting, fully cares for his mother which includes turning her over at night every 2 hours (!) so that she doesn’t get bed sores (imagine), and cares for his brothers needs (tomorrow we are taking the youngest one to the clinic for a skin problem on his head – fungal?). Recently Mikey has had help from his visiting sister & aunt, but asked me yesterday to pray about what he can do so that he can go back to school. I said, “Does that make you stressed?” Without skipping a beat he said, “NO! God knows and He cares for us.” Imagine…
What touched my heart was when I found out (a ½ day later) that the boy ploughing in the field for Mikey one day was paid by Mikey to work so that…him and I could spend the afternoon together. Ponder that for awhile. Yeah, imagine.
And spend a great afternoon together we did. We went on a de-worming spree in the neighborhood, like we did last year. After talking about it we were both looking forward to it. We decided we should deworm right away so that I could see the results before I left. What we did is head to the local ag store, bought a syringe & dewormer, selected some (lucky) neighboring livestock to wrestle and medicate and – made it happen.
I think it makes ME feel better knowing they are rid of the nutrient-robbing bugs!
It was a great time with Mikey laughing together, visiting with farmers, explaining what we were doing (after receiving permission), laughing through translation and hopefully making a difference in production. We have yet to drench the donkeys (an all-together different experience –with much laughter as well) and finish deworming a few cattle and sheep. Come to think of it, I have 1 hour to get back to the farm for our 2nd de-worming spree. Mikey will be finished work at the farm at 1:00 and I said I would be there. Well, Africa time has some lee-way so I should be good :). I LOVE it here (that’s my style)!
The “what else” is I found a couple little girls that I grew to love last year, Lucy and Maryanne, and spent the afternoon at Lucy’s yesterday afternoon with the girls and her mom Elizabeth. Elizabeth said I was her ‘valentina’ – I almost forgot it was valentines day!
So I spent v-day at church in the morning (I probably understood 5 words out of those 3 hours!), spent time together with the ‘girls’ I mentioned, visited Mary & her kids (Lindsey! – tea there tonight at 6pm) and made a trip to Mukeu with Mikey for supplies for the farm and then spent time with the family last night.
I had 1 other new experience. I was offered something that brought flash-backs of tasting tripe in South Africa. Some men in town were cooking up a sheep for visitors and, when introduced by a friend (David the lumberman), I was offered to try some ‘liquid’ that one man was mixing up in a pot. They laughed when the offer was made and I didn’t know if it meant it was a dare …well you have to be a good sport so I had a few sips of the greasy soup and…it did remind me of tripe! Tabitha (my Kenyan sister at the farm) later told me it gives her the runs. I am glad I didn’t drink a full cup!
That’s my novel for now. I landed some internet in Haraka (neighboring village) so hopefully I can send out a few more updates. Thanks to all for your love, prayers, notes, smiles and Olympic updates (Daniel)! I am so glad to be here.
Imagine…
-Kami
I like it.
It reminds me to imagine possibilities and remember that God can do anything; He is limitless.
Here, faith is real and believing God for every breath is a given. What these beautiful people teach me… is still so very awesome. I was awestruck last year and am again now.
I have been in the Mukeu village almost 6 days. It was like ‘coming home’ in many ways. This time it isn’t a strange place with unfamiliar faces. I have enjoyed running into friends each day, always met with a warm welcome and invites to come for ‘chai’ (tea & a visit). I am already afraid I won’t have enough time! I love their friendliness and high priority for friends & family.
Some of what I have been up to…
Sleeping. Catching up is pretty well done I think. The NEW rooster (and I didn’t kill the last one, promise, they ate some time last year) is a 2:30/3:00 a.m rooster. Pretty sure the last one was a 4 a.m guy…I never thought I would miss him.
Spending time with my Kenyan family. Time spent sitting in the cookhouse or playing with the kids while chatting, or visiting after supper…quality connection here. Love it. It’s different without my Canadian team around, but different in a good way. I am getting to know the family better with more 1-on-1 time. My Kikuyu (language)…isn’t improving much, but I do catch the odd word or phrase. My new word of the week sounds like “okka” & means ‘come’. That’s important to know when it is spoken to me!
Spending time with my friend Mikey. I have spent a lot of my afternoons with my good friend Mikey. I put some pictures up, you will see his smiling face with a goat kid. Those who know Mikey, know he has a perma-grin. It hasn’t changed. He is ALWAYS happy.
Our team purchased a pregnant dairy goat for his family last year. This year he has a herd of FIVE (imagine)! “Delighted” doesn’t adequately describe his love for those goats. It is incredible to watch and be a part of the excitement. I was treated to my first cup of goat chai 2 days ago (with Mikey) – and I loved it.
I can’t help but think that God was behind the goat idea. Mikey’s mother (single mother of 6 kids, 5 boys live at the farm & Mikey is the oldest) had a stroke last month and is bed-ridden. Her one side is paralyzed although she is improving all the time. Mikey has been staying home (6 weeks so far) from school to work & care for his mother & brothers. To say he never stops working is an understatement (I feel so lazy here!). To give you a glimpse of his day…Mikey is up early, milks cows for his farm plus the Kibarita farm 2x/day (I timed him on one cow and he could milk her in 5 minutes – fast!), cuts feed for his animals, ploughs land by hand for planting, fully cares for his mother which includes turning her over at night every 2 hours (!) so that she doesn’t get bed sores (imagine), and cares for his brothers needs (tomorrow we are taking the youngest one to the clinic for a skin problem on his head – fungal?). Recently Mikey has had help from his visiting sister & aunt, but asked me yesterday to pray about what he can do so that he can go back to school. I said, “Does that make you stressed?” Without skipping a beat he said, “NO! God knows and He cares for us.” Imagine…
What touched my heart was when I found out (a ½ day later) that the boy ploughing in the field for Mikey one day was paid by Mikey to work so that…him and I could spend the afternoon together. Ponder that for awhile. Yeah, imagine.
And spend a great afternoon together we did. We went on a de-worming spree in the neighborhood, like we did last year. After talking about it we were both looking forward to it. We decided we should deworm right away so that I could see the results before I left. What we did is head to the local ag store, bought a syringe & dewormer, selected some (lucky) neighboring livestock to wrestle and medicate and – made it happen.
I think it makes ME feel better knowing they are rid of the nutrient-robbing bugs!
It was a great time with Mikey laughing together, visiting with farmers, explaining what we were doing (after receiving permission), laughing through translation and hopefully making a difference in production. We have yet to drench the donkeys (an all-together different experience –with much laughter as well) and finish deworming a few cattle and sheep. Come to think of it, I have 1 hour to get back to the farm for our 2nd de-worming spree. Mikey will be finished work at the farm at 1:00 and I said I would be there. Well, Africa time has some lee-way so I should be good :). I LOVE it here (that’s my style)!
The “what else” is I found a couple little girls that I grew to love last year, Lucy and Maryanne, and spent the afternoon at Lucy’s yesterday afternoon with the girls and her mom Elizabeth. Elizabeth said I was her ‘valentina’ – I almost forgot it was valentines day!
So I spent v-day at church in the morning (I probably understood 5 words out of those 3 hours!), spent time together with the ‘girls’ I mentioned, visited Mary & her kids (Lindsey! – tea there tonight at 6pm) and made a trip to Mukeu with Mikey for supplies for the farm and then spent time with the family last night.
I had 1 other new experience. I was offered something that brought flash-backs of tasting tripe in South Africa. Some men in town were cooking up a sheep for visitors and, when introduced by a friend (David the lumberman), I was offered to try some ‘liquid’ that one man was mixing up in a pot. They laughed when the offer was made and I didn’t know if it meant it was a dare …well you have to be a good sport so I had a few sips of the greasy soup and…it did remind me of tripe! Tabitha (my Kenyan sister at the farm) later told me it gives her the runs. I am glad I didn’t drink a full cup!
That’s my novel for now. I landed some internet in Haraka (neighboring village) so hopefully I can send out a few more updates. Thanks to all for your love, prayers, notes, smiles and Olympic updates (Daniel)! I am so glad to be here.
Imagine…
-Kami
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Squatter Toilets and Rooster Alarm Clocks
Yeah, I MISS IT!!
Hi all! It's jet-lagged me trying blog spot #1. Greetings from Nairobi! I made it and have been Karibu'd by all. I feel more like I was hit by a truck right now, but I know that will work itself out eventually.
I talked with Daniel (Kenyan-Canadian connection in Canada) upon arrival last night at 10:30 Kenyan time and I was pumped and full of energy, I felt awake and alive. That has since died, but I have managed to keep the 'lids' pried open today.
John Kibarita picked me up from the airport last night. I stayed at his (fantastic) place, had a great sleep (except the mozzies thought I was delicious! Heidi, I thought of you when I pulled that crazy net over me!), woke up to ...yes roosters crowing and dogs barking. I spent today at John's place and at his office with his other co-worker John. Sitting in his office I met lots of people who were coming in to discuss rentals or plots or...what I gather from the business: a place to live. I tried to look engaged, but it dissipated and it was all I could do to prop my head up against the wall and wait for John to finish.
For my team and those who have been here, I am emailing from the Nakumat cyber cafe where the power kept going out on us last year...so you understand my nervousness as I type. John and John are waiting for me to come shopping and then I will get some shillings out and we will make the trek to the Mukeu! I have already spoken to Tabitha at the farm who anxiously awaits my arrival - I AM excited. It feels like I never left. And, I do love it here.
This is not an exciting post, but one to say I have made it A-ok and, as per usual, have been looked after well already (thank you Daniel!).
Till I have recoup'd a bit and can think a bit straighter....
-Kami
Hi all! It's jet-lagged me trying blog spot #1. Greetings from Nairobi! I made it and have been Karibu'd by all. I feel more like I was hit by a truck right now, but I know that will work itself out eventually.
I talked with Daniel (Kenyan-Canadian connection in Canada) upon arrival last night at 10:30 Kenyan time and I was pumped and full of energy, I felt awake and alive. That has since died, but I have managed to keep the 'lids' pried open today.
John Kibarita picked me up from the airport last night. I stayed at his (fantastic) place, had a great sleep (except the mozzies thought I was delicious! Heidi, I thought of you when I pulled that crazy net over me!), woke up to ...yes roosters crowing and dogs barking. I spent today at John's place and at his office with his other co-worker John. Sitting in his office I met lots of people who were coming in to discuss rentals or plots or...what I gather from the business: a place to live. I tried to look engaged, but it dissipated and it was all I could do to prop my head up against the wall and wait for John to finish.
For my team and those who have been here, I am emailing from the Nakumat cyber cafe where the power kept going out on us last year...so you understand my nervousness as I type. John and John are waiting for me to come shopping and then I will get some shillings out and we will make the trek to the Mukeu! I have already spoken to Tabitha at the farm who anxiously awaits my arrival - I AM excited. It feels like I never left. And, I do love it here.
This is not an exciting post, but one to say I have made it A-ok and, as per usual, have been looked after well already (thank you Daniel!).
Till I have recoup'd a bit and can think a bit straighter....
-Kami
Monday, February 1, 2010
Test post
This is my trial-run post to make sure I am good to go when the internet connection is sketchy!
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