March 24, 2014
(Monday) The morning sun is a ball of fire rising over the land which is in
such need of rain. The wind picks up the dry desert earth and throws it
about. It is a wind with no coolness to
share. The monkeys continue to play in
the trees found in this oasis within the compound. It is a well-kept area with a canopy of trees
in the center and it makes the perfect playground for these clever little imps and a nesting area for the birds.
The dust rolls around us and sun glasses are needed to keep
the debris out of the eyes. As we travel
through the dusty roads the little guys run toward us for a quick “Hi mazungu
how are you?” Most of them are barefoot
and scantily dressed…it’s hot and clothes really aren’t all that necessary! There are others that are speechless. They are in awe.....she really is white!
Today the building starts and soon those within the village of
Nakwamekwi will have a new 25 X 40’ church to worship in.
The temperature in Turkana land ranges from “hot” to “hotter”
and there isn’t any in between. The men
worked hard and long and even though we reached 101 degrees it didn’t stop
them. They tell me that sweat means they
will have food! Believe me these guys know
the true meaning of “sweat.” Pellets of
water ran down their faces all day long as the sun beat down on this barren
earth.
Tools are lacking and the lumber is far from straight but in
Turkana they have learned how to make things work. Within a short time a three legged ladder is
built and another worker takes an old grain sack and cuts it into a nail pouch
and ties it around his thin body.
The traditional charcoal stove cooks a pan full of beans
while the men work. Every once in a
while a goat will wander in to see what is cooking and he is quickly chased
away!
The land is open and shade is hard to find. The neighbors close by welcome me into their
compound to sit in the shade of their hut.
The body weakens from the intense heat of the day and it is necessary to
return to my room. The cold water that
flows from the shower is warm now but still helps to cool the blood down and
bring relief.
March 25, 2014
(Tuesday) A very gentle rain was heard hitting the roof last night and the
temperatures dropped to 88. It was so
welcomed to have a coolness cover the land.
It’s a big drop in temperature and the natives really feel the cold. I’ve seen knit hats and scarfs around the
neck. Some have put on sweaters and coats that are zipped to the neck. Helen, one of the cleaning ladies, even
brought me a blanket for my bed! She was worried that I would get cold.
The motorbike rolls through the soft beach like sand while
dodging a chicken or two. The herds of
goats wander through the road without a care as they search for food and water. Thorn bushes line the narrow paths we take
and serve as a boundary barrier. These thorns
are big enough and strong enough to puncture a tire should we ride over one. Little feet suffer many times from the pain
of these ugly thorns.
The children are watching for us to arrive and they gather
very quickly. There is a song I hear in
the distance and it becomes louder as the children come closer. “Lendah, Lendah, Lendah” is sung by the little
ones skipping and running my way. While the men continue to work on the church I gather the
little ones together and we play toss. It’s a great way to make friends! One little ball brought so much happiness to
the children.
Work is moving right along despite the heat and the many challenges
that we face. The posts are in place! Termites are a big problem here and they are
very destructive so it’s necessary to coat the lumber with a repellent.
March 27, 2014
(Thursday) We had a goal of having the church completely roofed tomorrow
and I can see that it’s possible! The
heat continues and the men are pushing forward but it wears them down. A pop or two gives them a boost and sweetens
up their day. A small plane, Fly540,
flies over us almost every day and
everyone’s eyes go to the sky. This “Matatu
Air Bus” as they call it will soon take me from their land.
The children are expecting me and we gather inside the
church while the men work on the roof above us.
We now have a little shelter from the burning sun. Crayons and paper are pulled from my back
pack and they snuggle in around me as they work on their master piece.
A couple of the children start to rub my arm as they chatter
away and I hear a couple of the workers start laughing. The children were saying that I was starting to look
like them! My arms were changing color
but my face was still white!
Roofing with metal sheets in 100 degree weather can be
brutal and even blinding as the sun reflects off the sheets. Caps and sunglasses for the workers is a must
in the future. Its break time and the
guys hit the ground. Each one stretches
out on the ground or on top of an iron sheet. They are exhausted from rising
temperature.
A short rest, even a nap, and then some food gives them
energy to complete the day. Patrick, the
head worker, “rewinds” (remembers) and shares some things of the past. He lives in the mountain ranges behind the church
and invites me to come and speak to his people.
I am told that many fear cameras as they believe it sucks the blood from
them and brings death.
This Little Light of Mine is today’s hit in Turkana land. The kids love acting it out and put so much
expression into blowing out the candle! They
love attention and they love to be close….so close I’m almost lost in the
huddle of beautiful black Turkana faces.
Something happens on the outside of the huddle and one little guy starts
to cry. He is hurt and his toe is
bleeding. He has been wounded and the cut is deep. It appears that one of the other boys took a
stick and pierced his toe with it. (Although I didn’t see it happen.) It is a wound that needs attention and his crying
tells of the pain that has been inflicted upon him. I call him close and pull some band aids and Neosporin
out of back pack. His cries turn to screams,
loud terrified screaming echoes out around us and if I move to comfort him he
screams even louder. He has alerted the
adults in the area that he needs them and soon they appear with worried
looks. I hold up the band aids and Neosporin
hoping that they will understand as I know that my English will not help answer
their questions. To my relief I see
smiles and then I hear laughter as they realize that I was just trying to help
him. With band aids in hand they carry
the wounded soldier away so they can console him and calm him down.
There is a big celebration planned for tomorrow …goat! Everyone is meeting at the thatched roof
church and walking together to their new church. It’s a going to be a very special day with
singing, dancing and food to eat!
Ebola is something that you might think only happens in the
movies but it isn’t true. Kenya is on
high alert to avoid the spread of Ebola, the almost always deadly hemorrhagic
fever. It has been discovered in the
forest areas of Guinea, in western Africa and has already claimed the lives of
66 people. There is great concern that it could spread to other countries as it
has already spread to the bordering countries of Liberia and Sierra Leone. There isn’t any cure for this disease and it
is believed that it comes from infected animals such as the fruit bat and the monkeys.
The disease is spread through blood and body fluids. Eating infected bush meat
(monkeys and bats) is often found to be the source of this terrible disease for
which there is not cure. The disease
starts with fever, weakness and then worsens with diarrhea and vomiting. In the
end stages there will be internal and external bleeding. It is a horrible death.
There are other concerns within besides Ebola as unrest and
simmering tension continues to build in various parts, especially Nairobi and Mombasa. Sunday morning people gathered together to
worship in a church in Mombasa. This
Sunday started out like so many others until two terrorists stormed through
their doors with guns. They killed 6 and
injured 17.
A few days’ earlier police surrounded a car packed with
explosives and a bomb meant to target a shopping mall. Reports of grenades and other explosive
devices causing deaths and injuries continue to surface. We pray for the peace of Kenya.
Psalm 143:6 I stretch out my hands to
You; My soul longs for You, as a parched land.
