Last Sunday we drove to Kenyamware for the 7 am Mass because Fr. David didn’t have any Sunday morning Masses.  Instead of the three Masses he usually has, he had only one and it was scheduled at 5 pm which was unusual. At Kenyamware the people were very welcoming – we joked that they probably think we are joining their parish as we have been there five times in the last month.  Fr. Benedict drove up in his Toyota pickup at 7:30 am and we knew it was him because of how fast he drives and how loud it is – he stopped within three to four feet of the back entrance! At the end of Mass, Fr. Benedict, whom we have met numerous times, called us to the front to say a few words to the people because it was Holy Family Sunday.  He asked us to talk about ourselves, our children, our parents, siblings, etc., When Wes stated both of his parents have died, the whole congregation almost in unison said, “Pole” which means sorry and they genuinely meant it.  Of course, most of what we said was in English or we would have been there all day! With Mass starting 30 minutes late, a 40-minute homily, a second mini-homily before the final blessing and numerous announcements, we left Mass at 9:30 am. 

On Monday, New Year’s Day, we drove back to Kenyamware for the 7 am Mass.  We arrived at 6:52 am and there was another car in the lot and it was the priest – we have never had the priest be there before us!  As we walked to the church, we stopped to greet the priest who introduced himself as Fr. Isaac and explained that he is a Missionary in Nairobi.  He grew up in a nearby village and had come home for Christmas.  When we walked into the church there were two other people there!  Fr. Isaac waited until 7:15 am to start Mass when more people had arrived and by the time the first reading was read, the place was almost full.  During the procession when they brought the lectionary forward (no pickup this time!), an older mama came hurrying into the church and stood by Kathy as she looked for a place to sit.  The elderly mama couldn’t find one so Kathy offered her plastic chair to the mama.  Even though she was short of breath from scurrying to Mass, she didn’t want to take it.  As Kathy was trying to tell the mama, “kuketi” (to sit) and motion for her to sit in the chair, a young man came with his chair and placed it beside Kathy’s so the mama and Kathy would both have a chair.  Kathy thought it was a very kind gesture on his part and thanked him.  He then squeezed onto a bench with a group of boys.  At the start of the homily, Fr. Isaac asked the people to bear with him so he could summarize at the end and “speak to the Christians present who do not know our language” – we were the Christians he was referring to!  We could make out words here and there but at the end of his homily, he spoke in English and pointing to the two of us said, “I have only three words for you - pray for peace”.  He actually had more than three words as he expounded upon his statement saying we need to pray for peace in our hearts, our families and our world but mostly in our hearts as it has to start with us as individuals to have peace.  At the end of Mass, or at least we thought it was the end because of the final blessing and song, we left though no one else did which is not all that unusual since they sometimes have more announcements.  As we were walking to the car, we could hear this whistle behind us trying to get our attention so we turned around to greet a man who was following us.  His told us that Fr. Isaac was blessing everyone for the new year so we must come back which we did and as we walked back into the church, we could feel all the eyes looking at us!  Everyone in the church went forward and with open hands, Fr. Isaac sprinkled holy water on their hands and head.  After we sat down, we saw others come back to their seats and with the water in their hands, they rubbed it on their face and neck.  About 10 minutes later we had another blessing but we didn’t leave until we saw Fr. Isaac start to take his vestments off.  After Mass we drove to Lilian and Ivan’s and spent the day with them having lunch and visiting. 

On Tuesday, the Mission held a seminar for the Form 4 students who just graduated – something done for the first time and according to Emma who organized it and Fr. David, it went well.  A counselor from a university in Kisii spoke about career selection and administered an aptitude test helping the students to understand what career choices might be good for them based on their interests and strengths.  We were supposed to make home visits with Lilian but it had rained during the night and into the morning; therefore, we decided it was best to not go out due to the muddy roads.  Because we weren’t needed at the seminar and we couldn’t make home visits, we headed to Kisii with Robert so he and his wife Frida could pick out curtain material for the caretaker house.  Here in this part of the world, most things are sewn by tailors.  There are some shops in which to purchase clothing but it is at the street markets where it seems most people buy their clothes – clothes which appear mostly to be second hand items and some not very clean. There are a few clothing items at the two grocery stores but for the most part, clothing is mostly sewn by the tailors.  When Emma got married a few months ago, the bridesmaids’ dresses were sewn only a couple of days before the wedding – Kathy told Emma most brides in the US would probably be freaking out if the dresses were only getting sewn a day or two before the wedding…here that is normal!  As we walked through what Kathy would call textile street, there were various shops where one could purchase different types of material for clothes but only a few where they had material for curtains.  In the end, Frida picked out a couple of nice colors for the caretaker house.  Robert had picked out a bright yellow-orange color while Frida picked out more subdued colors...the subdued and neutral colors won!  The walls in the caretaker house are pink – not Kathy’s doing - so Kathy was glad Frida chose the colors she did!  For the caretaker house, each window will have a sheer panel and the two side curtains.  The estimate the shop gave us for each window was Ksh 4000 which is about $28. 

Wednesday was office day and with the new school year starting soon, school fees needed to be paid.  Therefore, Wes went to the office with Fr. David so he could help write checks.  Not only are the primary and secondary students coming with their fee schedules but the post-secondary scholarship students are coming as well.  While Wes was helping with office hours, Kathy and Emma took three girls who are enrolled in the program to an ENT doctor – orphans that were identified during the Wellness seminars in November as needing further medical care.  Because they were all primary aged students, their guardians came as well.  We were packed in the car or at least Kathy thought so but for Kenyans we weren’t!  After seeing the doctor, it was recommended that two of the three orphans have a tonsillectomy.  With his large flashlight – the kind we use back home when the lights go out – the doctor showed Emma and Kathy how large the tonsils were and after seeing just how enlarged they were, you wondered how they could ever swallow without it being painful.  As Kathy sat in the doctor’s office listening to how long a couple of them have been dealing with their enlarged tonsils, it made Kathy sad but at the same time, she was grateful the Mission has started the Wellness seminars.  For many of these children, they would not be able to have the necessary care because of cost but now they will.  We arrived at the clinic at 10 am and didn’t head back to Kisii until 3:30 pm.  The most stressful part of the day was waiting for labs to be done for one of the orphans.  The doctor had ordered a CBC (Complete Blood Count) which took over two hours to get a result.  After 45 minutes or so, Kathy inquired about the results and the tech said, “It will be done soon”.  After another 30 minutes passed by Kathy asked again and he said, “They are coming”.  Between Kathy and Emma, they must have gone up to the desk at least five times to ask where the results were…Kathy told Emma he was probably making us wait because of how often we inquired.  Kathy didn’t mean to be a smart alec but at one point she did tell him that it doesn’t take two hours to get a CBC off an analyzer which is how they ran theirs.  He looked at Kathy like she didn’t know what she was talking about so when he stated for the third time, “They are coming”, Kathy mentioned she worked in the lab back in the US – he didn’t say anything else. About 15 minutes later we had our results.  What didn’t make sense is that there were only two others in the lab waiting area so it wasn’t like they were all that busy.  I doubt we will be going back to that lab. 

On Thursday, the four of us went out to make home visits in the Mongorisi area for the water filter program.  We did a few visits together and then Kathy and Emma took their guide and went one way while Wes and Lilian went another.  The terrain we covered was beautiful and we got a good workout in.  At one of the places the four of us visited together, we were climbing a very steep hill and Kathy made the comment that it was like being on a stair stepper at the gym.  Emma was puzzled so we explained what that was and she exclaimed, “Why would I pay money to go to the gym to tire myself out”!  At another place we were all together, we were walking from the road into the shamba when Wes, hearing something, looked behind him and following him were two kondoo (lamb)!  Wes had a water bottle in his hand and maybe they thought he was going to give them something to eat!  In the end, we were able to visit 13 mamas.  Next week we will try to finish this area and once we do, will deliver the 210-liter water drums to those who qualified.

On Friday morning, Wes went back to the Mission office to help write checks for students who came for school fees.  School starts for most students on January 9^th and thus they had another very busy day paying school fees.  Not only are the Term 1 fees paid, but the Mission also gives money to buy uniforms and other fees that the school charges.  While Wes was helping at the office, Kathy took two orphans to Kisii for their six-month eye checkup.  Kathy had picked up Emma on the way so she could go to the hospital where the two orphans from Wednesday’s medical visits would have their tonsillectomies to inquire about prices since the Mission would be paying cash as well as dates for when the surgeries could be done.  The doctor had openings the next very next day (Saturday) and if not done then, would have to wait several weeks.  Because school had not yet started it was felt the surgeries should be done sooner than later.  So, Kathy took Emma and the two orphans who were done at the eye clinic and drove towards the Mission dropping the orphans off along the way.  While Kathy drove, Emma was calling the guardians to tell them the tonsillectomies could be done the next day and therefore they needed to pack a bag and come to Gekano.  It was short notice but 1 ½ hours later the orphans and their guardians were at the gate.  Kathy drove them along with Emma back to Kisii to the hospital and then the fun began!  We arrived around 1 pm and didn’t leave until 6:30 pm.  It was a very frustrating afternoon.  We had admission orders from the ENT but the Sister at the reception desk stated we needed to pay a consultation fee and see the doctor that other patients, whether they came by ambulance or walked in, had to see.  It was very busy and the lines to the dreaded Cashier’s window were long.  Kathy paid both fees and then we waited in line to see the doctor – a line that was moving at a snail’s pace.  After an hour or so, Emma went to the Sister at the reception desk and told her that we are not getting anywhere in line and all we needed to do was to get the two girls admitted. She looked at Emma and told her that we were supposed to have come directly to her after paying the consultation fee…we weren’t happy campers.  Sister brought two folders and took us to another room where a nurse began the process for the first orphan.  During the first couple of minutes of him asking questions and making notes, he answered his phone three different times…Kathy wanted to take his phone away.  After the paperwork was completed for the first girl, we headed back to the reception desk where they took the papers and directed Kathy to go to the dreaded cashier’s window…Kathy somewhat despises that window because there’s no order and people push and shove their way.  After about 15 minutes, Kathy was able to make a deposit for the surgery.  A receipt was given which was taken back to the reception desk where, after showing the receipt to the receptionist, a roll of toilet paper was handed to the orphan for their use once admitted to the ward.  Kathy always wondered why there were rolls of toilet paper at the reception desk – at one time she thought it was for restocking the washroom (bathroom) but then realized they don’t have toilet paper in the bathrooms.  Now she had her questioned answered!  While Emma took the first orphan to the injection area to have an IV started, Kathy went through the same process with the second orphan.  When paying at the cashier’s window this time, Kathy had little patience and when a mama tried to shove her way in to hand her card through the bars of the window in front of Kathy’s face, Kathy gave a hip check and wouldn’t budge from her spot – enough was enough. We then took them to the lab where the lab tech told us it was a good thing we got there before 5 pm – it was 4:53 pm.  When we asked why, he stated the next shift had not yet come and those currently working were due to leave at 5 pm.  Kathy couldn’t believe it because it was a hospital with an ER.  After both had labs, we were finally able to take them to the pediatric ward.  The rooms were maybe 12x16 and there were six beds in it with one small sink and one nightstand!  There was no bathroom in the room – that was down the hall with one for wanaume (males) and another for wanawake (females).  The two nurses brought bedding to make the beds and finally the girls got settled in.  Before leaving, Kathy gave the guardians some cash so they could go outside the compound to buy a basin, a cup, a fork, lotion and a bottle of water for each of the girls.  Because dinner had already been served, the guardians also had to venture out to a duka (road side shop) to get something for the girls to eat as well as themselves.  They also needed money to buy popsicles, ice cream and yogurt for after the surgery – none of which the hospital supplied.  Finally, Emma and Kathy left the hospital at 6:30 pm.  It was a very long and frustrating afternoon taking 5 ½ hours to get two girls admitted.  Once outside the doors of the hospital, Kathy already started to dread the discharge process that would happen in one to two days.  On the drive home by herself, Kathy couldn’t help but think how the afternoon went, what she witnessed and how spoiled we are in America - having access to what we do with regard to healthcare and what we expect to have for services once in the hospital. 

On Saturday, because there was no Mission Saturday, we washed clothes, went to the new shamba to put curtain rods up in the caretaker house and then once back at the Mission house, weeded the flower beds and did other odd jobs. 

This past week we received almost 4 inches of rain which was great!  It is not supposed to rain much in January but we were happy to have it.  For the month of December, it rained 7.2 inches which is considered a bonus because again, it doesn’t usually rain much from December to around the middle of March.  We were without power for a 20 hour stretch one afternoon until the next morning which meant having to get ready for bed by flashlight as well as the next morning.  We are looking forward to school starting next week not only to see the girls but even more so to having the generator started for at least a few hours in the morning and evening. 

Please know that we keep you in our prayers and ask that you keep us, the Mission, and those we serve in yours.  Mungu Akubariki!

See photos from this week in the album section by clicking on the link below.  Note:  If unable to view the photos using the link below, you can still view them by going to St. Joseph’s Parish website and scrolling down to the section titled Kenya Mission – photo album.  The website:  www.stjparish.com




https://stjparish.com/photoalbums/1-7-24