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February 20, 2005
February 20, 2005
The end of a very good week has come. The Wales fire fighters and our Rotarian friend, Phill, are leaving tomorrow. They are taking off in their Land Rover at 5:00 am so I won’t see them again this trip. I am sad. Just got to the fire fighters a bit, and Phill a bit better (had met him last year), and now they will be gone. But they had such a great time all of them are promising to be back next year. The training went really well. Friday night we had a Rotary party and certificate giving ceremony. Some Rotarians from our sponsor club in Nakuru came to Maralal for the party as did the Rotary Kenyan Chair from Nairobi. We all had a good time and the trainees were so proud of their achievements over the week. On Monday, we as a Rotary club, will start the daily management of the fire engines and their use for the Samburu Schools Water Project.
One unexpected thing happened yesterday as the Rotary Kenyan chair and the Nakuru Rotary members were about to leave. We heard from the drivers of some tour vehicles that their passengers were Rotarians from Holland. They had seen the Rotary badge on some of our shirts. So we all went up to the lodge where they were staying and introduced ourselves. Phill, Reuben and I invited them for a drink in the evening at the camp Phill was staying. They came and we had a wonderful time sharing about our different club activities. Also, I brought some of my Ngurunit women’s baskets along and did a brisk business selling to them. Afterwards I gave them a slide show of the work I do in Ngurunit with the various women’s groups. It was really a fun night. Now we have more connections for promoting community development projects in the future. Excellent.
Despite the fact that it was a wonderful week, I do remember several things that did cause a bit of trouble. One was the difficulty of transport in the North. Reuben had to go to Nairobi on Tuesday for a couple days of work. He planned to be back for the celebration on Friday night. He traveled by public transport and unfortunately ran into some problems getting efficient service coming back this way and missed the event. He barely arrived in time on Saturday to say good bye to the visitors as they were leaving (Nakuru members and Kenya Chair). But he did get to meet and have a drink with the Holland Rotarians. The other trouble was Loiweti suddenly coming down with mumps on Wednesday evening. Ever since Polisan had mumps a few weeks ago, I have been dreading the possibility of Loiweti contracting the disease. He did. It effected one side only, but very badly. His face swelled up like a balloon and he was in pain. So, I had to take care of him at the same time as trying to organize with the training and prepare for the arrival of the visitors. It was only bad for about two days so he is okay now. Such is life in Northern Kenya. One just gets used to taking the good with the bad. Though this week, the good definitely outweighed the bad. And anyway, I am an unquenchable optimist. No matter what happens, I concentrate on the good. That is the only way to live, I think.
February 13, 2005
February 13, 2005
They are here! The Fire engines arrived in Maralal on Friday. Yesterday we had a big reception for them. So fun! At the end, the firefighters gave us a demonstration of the water pumping, which turned into water fight. Then we all piled into the engines and drove around town with the lights flashing and sirens blowing. It was like a mini parade with people standing on their verandas and waving at us as we went by. The water project is now under way. Training of the operators starts tomorrow. All the water systems of the various schools in the project will also be assessed and any problems fixed as need be. The fire fighting system for the town is also being put in place. As a member of the newly chartered Rotary Club of Maralal, it is so exciting to see all we have planned coming to fruition. This is just the beginning of many great things to come in the future!
February 10, 2005
February 10, 2005
I am so excited. I am so exhausted. My computer thinks it is already Thursday the 10th, but I know it is just very, very late on a very busy Wednesday, February 9th. It is almost 1:00 in the morning but I need to get our exciting news down. Reuben, Naiboku and I just got back from the airport in Nairobi. We were with our Rotary friend from Wales, Phill, to pick up the Wales fire fighting team that has come to train the drivers and mechanics for our Rotary School Water Project in Maralal. They will also train the fire fighters for the Maralal Town council. Exciting stuff. But I am exhausted. Tomorrow we have to drive back to Maralal to prepare for their arrival. They will be driving up in the two Rotary fire engines to arrive a day after us. We are planning a reception for the engines to take place on Saturday. So, better get to bed so I will have the energy to get through the next few days.
February 07, 2005
February 3, 2005
Peter and gang are gone now. Only two days but I miss them already. Will see some of them again in August. That will come very quickly. In the meantime, I am trying to recover from a very bad cold that turned into flu the day they left. Also having to deal with my nephew having the mumps. Not good. I am hoping the other children don’t get it. Mumps is not vaccinated for on a regular basis in Kenya. Though I think Naiboku got it as she had her vaccinations at a special clinic in Nairobi. So I will just have to watch Loiweti. Though here, mumps is considered a self-limiting virus like chicken pox so once a child has it, they become immune.
Another issue I have been dealing with this week is the new intake of Secondary School (High School) students for their first year. That means we have been having a steady stream of kids coming through our house looking for assistance with school fees. I already sent support for over 25 second to fourth year students a couple weeks ago. That depleted all the funds we have for supporting students. Now the first year students want help. Yikes! The need is just so great sometimes, we get overwhelmed by the shear number of requests. One request was from a girl who, along with her 7 brothers and sisters, has basically been abandoned by her mother after her father died. She did very well on her school exam and had a place in Secondary School but no money to get in. That is one case that a clear path opened up as if by a miracle and I was able to find a sponsor at the last minute for at least this first term and hopefully throughout the rest of her studies. Two days ago she was crying because all her friends were going and she had no hope. This morning, she stopped by my office dressed up in her uniform as she heading with all her stuff to register and enter the boarding. She was so proud and happy. The hardest thing for children here is the high cost of education beyond the primary level. I never realized how lucky I was to be guaranteed, by law even, a full education up to high school diploma level. Now, I help as many as I can, but the need is so great.
Just got back from our Rotary Club of Maralal meeting. It was so good. Just think, within the next two weeks, hopefully, we will be a fully charted recognized Rotary International club. One year ago Reuben and I started getting the idea going within Maralal and now our dream is almost come true. Wow. Today’s meeting was a fulfillment of all our work to start the club. The room was full of very dedicated people seeking to help their community. The program was given by one of the members who has started a special rehabilitation home for disability children from Samburu. It was so cool to hear of the difference she is making for so many kids. Each of us in the club has a heart to change the world around us for the better and now as a club, we are going to be able to help each other meet so many goals for helping Samburu communities. This is such an exciting month!
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