Last Sunday we attended Mass here at Gekano at 7 am and we were pleasantly surprised as it started on time and the homily was less than 10 minutes though there was that second homily before the final blessing. Total time we were at the church was around 1.5 hours and even the Sisters made a comment about how short Mass was!
This past week was a busy one. At the beginning of it, we spent time washing the extra bedding and towels from when our sons were here. We sure could have used the extra hands for washing and their muscles for wringing. It was very hot and sunny so things did dry relatively fast…can’t wait to use that washer at the new house!
We spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday doing home visits at Nyantarago and Geta. We were able to visit 29 mamas and have about 25 more visits to make between the two villages. We walked up and down mountains, through tea and maize fields, crossing small streams and rivers as well as a few flatter areas. After our day was done with the visits, we were able to share with each other some of things that stuck out in our minds. Wes and Emma visited Helen who happened to be their guide. Helen’s shamba was ¾ of the way up the mountain while further on almost at the peak was her business which was a hotel. The word hotel makes one think of a place to stay and maybe eat. Here, a hotel is a place to eat but not stay overnight. Because Helen did the cooking for the hotel, she, along with her husband and their 7-month-old child, ate their meals at the hotel and for this reason, the bucket and filter were at the hotel. She went on to say that she keeps the bucket and filter there for not only their use but she also filters water and has it available for anyone who wants to drink it which was awesome to hear. Helen cooks various items to sell at her hotel one of which was a type of donut. She offered Wes and Emma each a donut and Wes found them to be very delicious thinking it resembled more of an old fashioned cake donut. On a different day, Kathy and Emma visited a young mama who told them when there is a matanga (funeral), the mama maji (water women) from the area bring their buckets and filters to have clean water to serve with the funeral meal – another example of these women sharing the gift of clean water with their neighbors. On Thursday, Kathy and Lilian were doing a visit to the home of Joseph and Sabina – an elderly couple and very cute couple. In visiting with them, Kathy and Lilian found out they were both teachers. At one point in the conversation Kathy was trying to find the right words in Kiswahili to ask them a question and Lilian says, “Just ask in English – they were teachers and taught English so they will understand you”! The couple was more than willing to chat and Kathy and Lilian ended up staying there for some time. We always make an attempt to take a picture when we make a home visit and Joseph and Sabine were happy to oblige – their home was filled with pictures of family. We see photos hanging on the walls at homes but it was unusual to see as many as we did at Josepha and Sabina’s with some of the photos dating back over 50 years. Sabina would speak affectionately of the faces in the photos, identifying who and where they belonged in the family tree - one could tell family was important. Kathy asked them how long they have been married and Joseph almost immediately said, “Fifty-one years!” to which Kathy said, “You two look like you just got married yesterday – you still look so in love with one another”. They laughed and Sabina shyly took Joseph’s hand and held it. It was very heartwarming to see the affection and what seemed to be a genuine and mutual respect between this couple - we are not used to seeing affection shown between a man and a woman and maybe there is but we just haven’t noticed it. When Kathy and Lilian left, Lilian commented on the respect there was between Joseph and Sabina – it was that evident. Before Kathy and Lilian left, Joseph and Sabina wanted a picture taken with Kathy so Kathy got on the armrests of each of the couches they were sitting on and with her feet dangling and arms around both Joseph and Sabina, Lilian took a picture. Joseph asked how he could get the photo which can be hard to do as you just can’t send the picture through SMS or WhatsApp like we are used to as it depends on what type of minutes/plan they buy. They were not able to receive the photos so Kathy told them she would get the photos developed, put them in a frame, and then she and Wes would deliver them personally - they were so happy! They really were a sweet couple. The Mission has the different programs that help many people in different ways but for us, the home visits are one of our favorite things to do. We get to be with the people in their homes seeing how they live, work, maybe meet some of their family, etc. or as in the case of this couple, we also got to hear a little bit of their history.
We also made a trip to Kisumu to get some issues figured out with a Mission computer that was recently purchased as well as have the store install Microsoft Office. What was funny about this was the fact that the salesman asked Wes if he had data on his phone so they could set up a Hotspot and be able to connect to the internet to try and download the software on the computer. The store didn’t have wireless internet but instead had “wired internet” as they called it and there was only one cable. This cable was hooked up to a printer/fax/scanner which was in use. Being the techie people that we are not, Wes said, “I am not sure”! Eventually it was figured out how to do the Hotspot and the downloading started though it didn’t go well. The salesman at the store had to make a phone call to an IT person from who knows where who eventually figured out the salesman was trying to download software that wasn’t compatible with the computer. After that was realized, Wes told the store personnel he wanted his money back for the wrong software they chose to install. They told Wes they can’t do that because it has already been loaded even though it doesn’t work. Long story short, we have to go back to the store once the correct software comes in and at that point, will have to negotiate with the store manager…not sure we will get refunded but will at least try.
Mission Saturday was held at Ichuni and here at Gekano. Because Fr. David is back in the United States preaching at different parishes in the Northwest corner of ND for the next six weeks, Wes called the student’s week and letter and visited with them before they received their ration of maize and stipend. Fr. David is back in the diocese speaking about the African Mission as the annual appeal will be the first weekend of March.
The weather has been on the warm side with the temperature reaching almost 90 degrees one day. We have had a few spurts of rain here and there totaling around 1.3 inches for the week. The power has gone out off and on but for the most part we can’t complain – the generator didn’t have to be turned on at all! A couple of the mornings for daily Mass the church didn’t have electricity - the church compound is on a different line from the school compound. The only light in the building was from the few lit candles which we think the girls really liked as it was much harder for the Sisters to catch them sleeping!
In the photo album this week, we have included more pictures from the safari courtesy of Aaron and Nathan. They took some very nice photos and thought we would share them. We have received emails from people who have stated how much they liked the pictures from the safari. There truly is something beautiful, majestic, and magical seeing the animals in their native habit. We are truly grateful we had the opportunity to experience not only the safari but life here at the Mission with our sons…sad they had to go but grateful they made the long trek.
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