Marching On

I can’t believe it’s already March! How time passes effortlessly.

I thought 7 weeks was going to be a long time in Kenya, but with a pressing daily agenda, I will be scrambling to get ‘it all done’ (what’s new Kami?)

I am still doing great and am thankful for the opportunities in front of me. I love those that have passed as well.

Most recently I have overwhelming amazement at how God has uniquely made us & His world. From crazy-loud, long-billed birds to different types of grass (I thought ‘grass was grass’), big trees that grow taller than our 70 yr-old spruce in only 4 years, sticky, red, fertile soil (and I thought the best soil was black. Prejudiced!), …to beautiful, dark, perfect skin and velcro hair that simply ‘holds’, eyes that shine; & light up with a smile (how do you explain eyes that shine?), words that roll off of tongues that I can’t repeat because I don’t know how a mouth even does that (!), feet that don’t wear out or ache without arch support, contented children who have ‘nothing to do’, but pass the time and are happy… so many little things that brighten my day and give me perspective, reminding me that again, as always, God is creative and all He makes is beautiful.

There is a little piece of mourning in me though. I am sad to have missed the OT, gold medal, Olympic hockey final on Sunday night (for me). Crosby forever a superstar. Everyone was so nervous about the young Canadian team picks. I’m proud of our boys! There’s a pride in Canadian winter now – eh?!

Since I last wrote, I continued work with World Agroforestry Center. Goat registration for our model farm in Mukeu was on the agenda and turned into a labour-consuming process. I spent time in Nairobi and Nakuru with Esther Kamau & Moses Nadathe (World Agroforestry). Esther & Moses will take me to Eldoret March 19th-21st to teach farmers & see another area of farm production (plants & animals).
Follow-up on farms in Mukeu still awaits completion. Esther and Moses will come to Mukeu toward the end of the month to give seed harvesting training for farmers producing Tree Lucerne.

Next week I leave for Mombasa and meet “Baby Anderson” who awaits a 2nd surgery. This little 1.5 yr old is underweight, the 8th child to a [job-less] family and needs a $3,000 surgery for ‘plumbing’ he was born without. If anyone wants to help fund the surgery or family’s needs, CWI will send your donations through (cwi.org)…yes this is a plea if you feel a heart-tug. I anticipate a very needy family on the other end and…I need wisdom in knowing how to help them. I have purchased supplements for the little boy from Nairobi in hopes that it will initiate improved health/weight. He has 2 kg to put on before he is considered for surgery. Foremost in my mind is not only temporary help, but something long-term. Thanks for praying!

I worked together last week with CWI reps to enroll 6 children into private school in Mukeu. The single mom was thankful, the kids are delighted. They thank me, but really, the thanks goes out to you back home. When you think that your money may not go far, you should ask the lives they change!

I met a young man last week who is in veterinary school in Nairobi, supported through donation, a son of a displaced family…brilliant, smart, hardworking…so thrilled to be taking a 2 year intense University program (compact from a 4 year degree) . He lives & breathes schoolwork & exams for 2 years…thrilled beyond belief to have this opportunity. He travelled 2 hours to ‘stop by’ the farm where I live to meet me for an evening, then turn around and head back to school for more work and exams. Lindsey, Julie & Rebecca met him last year. I was just the text-message-deliverer/go-between in Canada that he never met. The gratefulness and warmth that the people here exuberate… is another one of those significant things that impact me – way, deep down.

On farm-life side of things…

I am now milking 3 cows /day (30 litres), love it. I hope my daily forearm workouts will help me in triathlon training :). I have become the meaning of my Kikuyu name “Mukami” (given by my family here): ‘A lady who milks cows’.
I have become a surrogate mother to a dairy calf, who I have fondly called “The Monster”. She is entirely cute with lots of character and provides Mikey & I with daily laughs. She has yet to reach her goal of sucking off my pant-leg or swallowing my whole hand, but she sure tries! I am looking for a suitcase big enough for her to bring her back to Canada. I’m pretty sure we don’t have any exactly like her back home.

I haven’t killed the rooster …yet. This morning was a test He developed a new sound and ceaselessly belted it out from 4-6 am . I like to think I am growing patience in the early morning hours.

I have also learned the joy of cutting napia grass. For those north Americans who know canary seed straw well and the barbs that love to join your flesh, it’s worse! The barbs don’t come out of your clothes either! We have regular laughs at the white girl who sometimes learns the hard way. Now I am armed with gloves, my impenetrable rain jacket and ‘penga’ (machete :)) when chopping the hairy stuff. All so that the cows can continuously eat and I can continuously milk…circle of life or something.

Mike & I have another round of de-worming to do before we pass the torch on to the farmers. There is high demand for our service (we are trying to devise a way this can become our business…so far the free work and supply doesn’t seem promising in that regard). We don’t travel low-profile to local farms with syringe and med bottle in hand & a tribe of dark children following the white Canadian.
Species treated encompass cattle, goats, sheep, donkey (1 so far) and even a cat. Did I mention I am fond of project diversity?

There is not much else to expand on, only a few notes to mention that it rains here every, much different from the desperate wish for a single droplet last year. Gumboots were a worthy investment. I feel like I am in a rainforest. As I typed that line I heard drops just start on the roof. Hosea 6:3 is my new favorite verse and I think of it whenever the rains start: ‘So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth.”

We have no complaints when it comes to rain. It is beautifully green now and the sheep no longer cry (Heidi will be happy!). Rain produces smiles. There are smiles in my head when I am on the back of a fiki-fiki (motorbike), the driver comes to a muddy rut that could engulf a small gravel truck. As he maneuvers through the paste and narrow, semi-flat portion that barely fits his wheel, his cell phone rings and - he answers it ! …through it we go (whoooaaa!) and remarkably remain upright! He told me I should bring a video camera today. I have a camera that might just work.

My last note of this blog: I was ‘baptized an African’ yesterday (with smiles from “waitee’s”) because I showed up for an appointment 40 minutes late. They were so proud! Now you know why I love this place!

Blessings to you all, dear friends! Thanks for your encouragement and prayers. My health has been fantastic…I had a couple days this week where I felt as if I swallowed a boulder. But, really who doesn’t swallow the odd boulder now and then? I feel I am ‘covered’. You bless me. Thank you.

-Kami