Home Visits

Today we did one of my favorite things here in Africa and that is visit people in their homes.  Today we visited five homes and the first one was the home of Rose.  She and her husband have 5 children and one grandchild they are raising. Her husband lost his job after the post election violence and  he has not been able to find much work of late.  They live in a tiny one room house and she told us today that they only eat  1 meal a day as there just is not enough money for food and to pay school fees so their children can go to school.  The mat she is working on is one she made for Abba and Amma.  She does beautiful hand work she learned from her Ugandan heritage. After they paid her, Amma said, "now you can go and buy food" and she replied, " no, this will be for school fees" and she tucked it under her pillow.  We video taped Rose's story to bring back to the US and show people just how great the need is for some people in this world to have basic things like food and the ability send their children to school.

Bad Hair Day

A Bad Hair Day

    In our house in Nakuru we live with George and Nellie and baby Michelle.  There is a house girl named Beatrice who cares for the baby, cleans, does laundry and other assorted jobs and shares a room with Amy and me I..  She is quite shy, does not speak much  English and is extremely curious about us.  She did allow me to give her a hand massage the other night and since then she has been a bit warmer towards me. I did not bring a blow dryer but noticed there was one in our room so I asked if I could borrow it.  At first she said an emphatic “NO” but then nodded that it would be ok.  She came into our room just as I was towel drying my hair and ordered me to “sit”, grabbed the blow dryer and dried my hair.  Oh my, those who know me know how fussy I am about “helmet hair” but folks I went to town with that awful hair….I had bad hair but a good day.  Beatrice I Love You!

They say the road to a friend’s house is never long……

 .......but what they don’t say, is it might be dangerous.   We headed to the van to go to our first clan meeting of “Rhonda”, the newest clan  After sizing up the situation some of us returned for flip flops.  The road was becoming washed away as we drove, but looking at the faces of everyone watching us “what are the crazy mzungus doing now’’ we kept going.  When the van  stalled out completely we started seriously considering if visiting today was a good idea.  Because of George’s optimism, and mechanical skills and Abba’s coaching we were finally on the road again.  Arriving at Lawrence’s one room hut we were escorted over a bridge of stones to a greeting of many smiling faces.  It was truly a trip worth making.  We had a time of praise, prayer and teaching after which we were served cups of hot chai and bread.  After a final blessing on this sweet home we again crossed the bridge of stones. ….yes the road was dangerous but  so worth it to be with our friends.

Gifts of gold!

Petranilla came for a visit and tea. Amma gave her a box of pins and some new scissors. She was overjoyed to receive such a simple but wonderful gift to help her in her business as a seamstress. She jumped up from her seat and gave hugs and kisses.