And when the cow kicked it over...

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