Back to Nairobi

This Kenyan missionary trip was planned for three stages. The first four days were vacation, lovely days on the beach. They've been fabulous, with camel rides, a tour of a fifteenth century Portuguese fort, a tromp through a natural wildlife park where we fed the giraffes and fended off large tribes of monkeys, jet skis, and a colorful glass bottom boat tour out to the coral reefs which included snorkeling. I've snorkeled in the Red Sea, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Isla Mujeres (Mexico) and now the Indian Ocean.

We returned to Nairobi with plans to pick up the Purifier being shipped from Nevada. However, the fellow who was responsible for shipping it never sent the tracking number, even with email request reminders. UPS here searched all their records and could find no indication it was ever shipped (was supposed to be shipped on the 18th). Next I'll call him long distance (!!!) and see if I can find out what happened. Meanwhile, we're spending an extra unplanned night in Nairobi.

At lunch at Pizza Hut (really!) today I sat with a group of Canadian college students. As part of their education they are taking an extended program here doing missionary work. There were four of them, two of each gender, aged 20 or so. Very delighted and inspired by the volunteer work they've done here. One was a physical therapist in training who has been working with disabled children in an orphanage. They're all doing fascinating work. I asked how long they'd been here ... so far three months. THREE MONTHS! They're finishing up their assignments now and will be traveling to other parts of Africa on tour, from here to Rwanda. Last year while here I met many young (and some older) American volunteers. They travel without fear and are learning so much and giving of themselves, helping so many. It's truly a blessing, or, as we say in Hebrew, a mitzvah.

I've taken a bout 250 photos thus far. I put together six of them with an article about Fort Jesus and sent it to my Sun Herald contact, Anita Lee, though I don't know if she'll want to publish it. I've done a tiny bit of writing on my novel, keeping a diary, and written a bit of other fiction. Already running low on money and clean laundry.

Leaving for Africa

Tomorrow I return to Africa; Gulfport to Atlanta to Rome to Nairobi. At the UPS center at the airport in Nairobi I’ll pick up the purifier being sent from Nevada by Aqua-Sun. The purifier is the key element to my water project, purchased with funds from the Rotary Club and other volunteer donations. I’ll somehow arrange to get the eighty-pound purifier and my own luggage on a bus for the six-hour trip to Keumbu. If you want to find Keumbu on Google … well, good luck. I actually did find Google World photos of the village by tracing back along the road from Kisii, a 45 minute bus ride away.

I’ll be at the Keumbu hospital for ten days overseeing the water project. Last year if we wanted water in the hospital we had to bring it over by bucket from the rain-collecting storage tanks. Very little hand washing occurred. The project is to install a pump to bring the water from the storage tanks, through the purifier, and to the hospital’s plumbing. Yes, the hospital has plumbing. It was installed when built, but never supplied with water. I understand the personnel and plans are ready to go when I arrive in Keumbu. Everyone’s just waiting on me to arrive with the purifier and the money for the materials.

Besides the water project, I’ll be helping out in the hospital. Last year I diagnosed a slew of tropical diseases, including leprosy and Typhus, and studied the scourge of Malaria. I heard the government finally assigned an actual doctor to the hospital, so I’m eager to meet him. It’ll be good to see my many friends there, including the pharmacist for whom I’m bringing a box of valued Tylenol. My suitcase includes donated and purchased medical items; including two blood pressure machines and about a dozen stethoscopes, equipment unavailable there last year. They worked with so little, it amazed me to see how many they helped.

While I’m in Keumbu I’ll have the opportunity to visit the boy I’m sponsoring for prep school. His father, the Pastor, welcomed me as an honored guest during my stay last year. Once back in the states, I wired them money to have electricity connected to the Pastor’s mud house, and extended to the dorm where he houses the nine orphan girls he’s adopted. It’ll be interesting to see what uses he’s found for electricity. Will we still have to pump our own water? Will there be refrigeration, or will we still take our milk and our eggs straight from the animals? Will the old computer he had found somewhere actually function?

The trip won’t be all work. When I first arrive I’ll spend four days with my lady friend at one of Kenya’s famed North Beach Resorts. We’ve been writing each other all year, so this will be quite the joyful reunion. On the tail end of the trip I’m taking safari again. It’s an experience well worth repeating; seeing the animals up close in their natural habitat can’t help but inspire another book.

When I tell people I’m going to Africa they often inquire about the heat. Kenya is on the equator, my hospital in the mountains. Its weather is like Hawaii’s; always temperate. So while you’re huddling in air conditioning, I’ll be sunning on the Indian Ocean beach with Angela. See you in August!