Well, we made it! I am here at the Baobab resort in Diani beach with 71 "kids" and 9 other adults for the Senior class Safari. Things here in Africa happen in their own time no matter how hard you try to control it! We had planned for 2 buses to be at RVA on Thurs night around 6pm so that we could load up and get the drivers a nice rest before a 5am departure for our 12 hour drive to Mombassa. Well, that did not happen due to a huge rainstorm in the afternoon and early evening. We have not had significant rain in about 2 months, during the rainy season, but we had it Thursday. So, this made one road that we had planned for the buses to use impassable and the other one trepidatious! So, we chose the trepidatious one. Well, one out of 2 buses getting stuck is not so bad is it? They tried to come up about 6:30pm and by 6:45 we had gotten the call. One was in the ditch. To make a long story shorter, they tried till about midnight to get it out, were successful once, only to have it sink into the other side! We stopped at that time thinking that some sleep, hopefully dry weather and some daylight would make it easier, which turned out to be the case. The guys (thanks Mark and Alan) were down there by about 6am and by 7:30 we had the buses in the parking lot. We loaded up and by 8:30 were off by the same road but this time heading down and gravity works, right? We encountered our next "blockage" but it wasn't our fault! Every year the Junior class tries to delay the Senior trip by tradition. Well, this year they succeeded but by no effort of their own. They had blocked the roads by the gates with some little rocks. Our guys had those moved very quickly, but we headed down the hill only to be stopped by another truck stuck on the same road! It was loaded with about 20 tons of sand. So, what did the kids do? They all got out, some shoveled and a bunch pushed and off goes the truck!
After this truck moved, we were off for good. Twelve and a half hours later we arrived. It was 9:05pm when we got here. The hotel had called me about 7:30 and was trying to warn me of someone that might stop us. I could not understand what she was saying. We found out later that the government has prohibited bus traffic after 9pm! We got here just in time, but now our buses were stuck here. The drivers and conductors ended up sleeping in the buses to avoid being stopped on the road. What is so great about this kind of adventure here is the flexibility of everyone involved. We were able to work in 2 bathroom breaks and we had pre-planned packed lunches on the buses so we just went. It is a pleasure to be with such a group!
Don't play tether ball - it is a dangerous sport! Sallie beat me (literally) the other day. Not really, but I can claim that she did. We were playing and clumsy me fell off the platform and sprained my foot. I had an x-ray, nothing broken, just very swollen and purple at this point. Good thing there is a beach chair and a swimming pool for the next few days!
I have to tell you a bit about Band Tour last week end. It is an annual tradition where the band goes for 3 days and plays 2 concerts a day at schools around the area. I have been able to go with them for the last 3 years. It is such a joy to listen to them play, hear some of the kids' testimonies and watch them work together. We go with 85 kids and about 6 adults. The Taylors (band director and his wife) have been doing this for about 20 years now! They have the system down, but there are always unknowns - this is Africa after all! One of the schools we played for was called Joy Town. It is a school in Thika for disabled kids. It is one of 3 for the disabled in the country. It is amazing to see these kids struggling but still filled with hope and joy. They don't have the "stuff" that you picture a good school should have, yet they do well. When they take their national exams at the end of their Senior year, even if they have to write it with their feet because they don't have hands, they don't get any additional time. So, they are learning to do what they have to do, but (some for the first time) are doing it with others that are like them. The disabled here in Kenya are very shunned. It is a blight on the family and a drain of precious resources (not just of the family but of the community). They come to Joy Town to learn, not just school work, but how to live and love. They can do this because they are taught that God loved them first even though they are not "perfect." The theme for band tour this year was "God is a God of the broken but also a God that redeems." We are all broken in one way or another. But, because God loves us so much, He redeems us. Psalms 103:3-5 He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion, who satisfies your life with good things, so your youth is renewed like an eagle's." I am overwhelmed sometimes by the brokenness of this world, but Jesus came to give life and give it in plenty. That sounds like a cure for brokenness to me! Here are some pictures from last week end:
some of the kids from Joy town played for us!
eating beans at Joy Town with the students
talking with the kids from Joy town
A meal of beans and rice and cabbage with the boys from Alliance School - those ladies in there cook for 1500 people!
After a performance at church - great looking boys!
The ride to the last school was an "African Adventure"
One of our students sitting among 500 girls - Doesn't he look like he fits in?
The kids get to talk to the students - that is their favorite part!
Interacting with the girls from Precious Blood school - Love this place!
Jim mentioned last week that I had a good week with my "water guy extraordinaire." I was so grateful that he could come from Oregon to spend a week with us and help us sort out the water system at RVA. Now all I have to do is write up procedures for them to use to operate the system. I think all those years in the Nuclear Navy using and writing procedures will help!
Our Upendo Village project is essentially done, just the final walk through to finish. It will be sad to finish this one in a way because it was such a joy working with the nuns out there. But, one down and 2 to go. One out of 3 finished is not so bad, is it? The contractor there is the one who is now on the RVA Art Center project. They showed up this week, cleaning up the site and getting re-bar in for the pour of the next floor. It is nice to be moving again on that one!
Jim is having his usual issues with the Bethany Kid's project. It is draining on him. He has started moving home in mind and on E-bay though to relieve the stress! My mother and father-in-law know for sure we are coming home because the closet is filling up! Jim has started ordering things that are essential to life there (computers, sound systems, fencing material). He is now researching cell phones and internet service. This is a complicated thing! Here in Kenya it is so easy. You get a SIM card for your phone (which costs about $1), have it registered and then just buy airtime in scratch off cards. Why can't it be like that everywhere? To have to buy a "plan" in 2 year chucks is daunting to me. Crossing cultures is difficult no matter if you are going to one that is not your own or returning back to your home culture. The younger kids just had "re-entry" seminars at school. Hopefully it has prepared them in a small way to say good-by well and to expect the stages that will come with changing life (grief, anger, sadness, lonesomeness as well as joy and seeing the old familiar). All these things come at different times for each of us. Please pray as we start (no continue) this process!
The Lala Salama quilt project is continuing. Quilts are coming in from all over. Here are a few by Jo L. Wow!
Thank you all so much for caring enough to read this and think about us. We are so blessed! Please pray as we continue finishing up here and getting home (logistics are not an easy process)! Also, for safety in getting home from the beach and for the kids here to have a great time in their last big time together as a class.
In His Hands,
Jullie T
PS - Do you have to worry about monkeys on your porch? Just had one come in the room. I had better keep the door closed!
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