Together Again

January 25, Wednesday

I was up early today and ready to go as we had a meeting planned for the women in one of the villages a short distance from Lodwar. African’s are not always on time so I was not surprised when the time started to slide by.

After a long wait the pastor arrived and apologized not for being late but for the meeting being canceled. As we sat and rested in the shade he began to explain more of the Turkana culture to me.

When a woman gives birth she stays in her home for several days with her baby and no one can visit her until she says it is ok. When she opens her door to guests it becomes a day of celebration. All the women of the village will go to her home. They will bring gifts and special food will be cooked. A goat will be killed for everyone to eat. Absolutely no men are allowed in the area while the women have their day of celebration. The reason the meeting was canceled is a woman who had given birth days before had opened her door to guests this morning. I was informed that every woman would go to see the new baby and celebrate with the mama. The church would be empty.

In some tribes if a woman has twins it is considered a curse and one child will be killed. Here in Turkana if a woman has twins she will choose which child to give to her mother. This child will never again be considered hers. The grandmother will nurse the child and raise it as her own. The child will be raised to call her grandmother mama and no one will speak of what happened at birth again.

Turkanas are great basket weavers, it is a skill that has been passed down from generation to generation. In town there is a big area where they will sit and try to sell their baskets. Also there are those that will put up a stand and sell fruit that has been brought into the area.

After visiting this area we stop at the oldest “hotel” in Lodwar. We had beans and rice and had enough to share with a little girl that was watching us from a far. We motioned for her to come closer and it didn’t take her any time to pull up a chair and join us. We didn’t need to worry about the language barrier because all of her concentration was on eating. It was a joy to see that her hunger was being satisfied.

January 26, Thursday

The small plane arrives pretty much on time today. The hot sun of the desert will soon be left behind. I will not miss the restless nights of sleep that the heat brings but I will miss the beautiful people of Turkana.

It is a quick stop at the lodge, only one night, and then off to Nairobi in the morning.

January 27, Friday

The night was refreshing and the cool air a delight. It seemed like I just put my head down and then it was time for the 9 hour bus trip into a more modern land. Nairobi, the capital, of Kenya is always chaotic and expanding at the seams. It is not a place that many care to go but it is a must when someone special and much loved is flying into Kenya.

January 28, Saturday

My husband, Manley, arrived safely and all of his suitcases arrived with him! He was stopped at customs and every suitcase was checked. As I watched them through the airport window I was praying that God would soften their hearts. They then turned and looked at me with big smiles and waved. I knew that my husband was telling them about the missionary work being done here in Kenya. No tax was issued and he was free to go. So it took a little longer to leave the airport. It was about 11 pm when we entered the gates of the compound.

I am very happy to have him here beside me but the natives don’t always share the same feelings. When they see him they think that he has come to “collect” me and take me back to the USA!

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”