We have had another busy week! It seems to be the trend. We started off by going to a friend's house for tea last Saturday afternoon. The Kenyans love their chai and have a strict schedule for it. Her name is Rachael and she lives in a mud hut with her 3 grown children. We know her because she comes to sell us samosas and spring rolls. Here is a picture that I got off the Internet of some samosas:
She makes the best! I read a book by Ryan Murphy called Winter Spring Summer Fall: Living and Lasting in Missions. He is a teacher up at RVA and it is a book about transitioning to life in Africa. He has a chapter titled "Dinner with a Millionaire." What that means is that I am the millionaire in this lady's eyes! Even though we are missionaries and make a fraction of what we could if we had a "real job," we have so much more than she does and it is like us having a millionaire over for tea. It must feel strange to her as it would to me. She probably makes about $5 a day on a good day. Some people talk about, "Well, isn't it all relative? I mean she can live so much cheaper here." There is some truth to that. You can rent a place to live for about $40/month if you want just a 12 x 12 room with no water nor electricity. You can eat for about $2.00/day if you eat just cabbage and rice (which is what a lot of people do here). But, you can not save for school or other important things in life. And when emergencies come, you have nothing in reserve. This is why they have gatherings called "harambees." Rachael is having one next week for her daughter to raise money to send her to a technical school (she wants to be a lab technician). People will come, there will be food (that she prepares), and there will be an MC. At the appointed time they will start with the "call." The MC will call people up one at a time and announce what they have given. It seems deplorable to us, but it is the way they like to do it. It makes it a competition of sorts and it probably brings in more money. So, you have a circle of friends and family and they all support each other in times of need. Rachael had to have her teeth pulled back in Nov. She was in so much pain and had no money to get it done. We loaned her the money and she works it off in samosas. It feels funny being the "millionaire." We experience that even when we walk down the street here. Because of our white skin, people believe we are wealthy. I have talked about this before, but it really brings it home when you go to a friend's house and she serves you tea and she has so many issues and only makes $5 /day. Please pray for Rachael and her family. She is a great lady and is just working every day to survive (as so many others that we know). Here is a picture of Rachael, her daughter Judy and her son Peter.
Butterflies: there are so many butterflies here, it is amazing! In the afternoon when it is hot, they are everywhere. I tried to get some pictures this morning, but they weren't really out yet. Here is one:
These little white ones are very common. There are many varieties though. A friend was sitting in her back yard and counted 24 different kinds! Here are some pictures from the Internet of ones that I have seen here. I don't know what they are called but they sure are pretty:
This past week there have been some extreme challenges, but we are working through them. The trusses that had been erected on the MCH building blew down on Wednesday! There wasn't too much damage, but it was just one more thing. Jim has really been keeping quiet waiting for the guys to ask for help. That is when he finds they are ready to listen, but there are times when you just can't keep your mouth shut! But, positively, there have been a few times this week where they actually asked for his help and he went with them to solve the problem. One of which was Ruth's water issue (I mentioned before that she has been without hot water for 6 weeks). They finally are on the right track and Ruth had a hot shower 2 days in a row! But, it was being with the guys and solving the problem together when they were participating which was key. Hopefully, that trend will continue.
The pathologists have a great program here. They rotate in about one month time slots to come. That way, they don't have to leave their state side jobs and still get to serve. There is a couple here that has been coming for about 16 years! He was about 64 when they started, so they have decided that this is their last time. They have been coming every year for about 3 months at a time. She plays the accordion (for the kids in the ward usually) and he is a pathologist. They have contributed greatly to the pathology program and Kijabe in general. They also do the same thing at a hospital in the Philippines. Their names are Ace and Jean Barns and they need your prayers for peace in a life being still!
That brings up the discussion of short termers vs long termers. Some people say that short term missions (2 weeks or so) benefit the person doing the mission more then the people they are going to see. But, this type of visit can change the perspective of that person that will rub off in many places in their lives and affect others. Long termers are a breed of their own! It is so beneficial to have a skill set or program and go and live somewhere to get it done. We have discovered that a short term group can have great ideas or get something started but if there is no one there to champion the project/idea, it just doesn't get done. We are so glad to be here to champion the Bethany Kids Children's Center!
I had talked previously about Jim going to Rwanda on another EMI trip. That one has been delayed and looks like they will be going in May.
Sallie is a bit sick with a fever right now (she is sleeping on the couch as I write this). Please pray for her to recover.
Sure miss you all!
In His Hands,
Jullie T.
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