March 21, 2014
(Friday) It’s a two hour drive to Eldoret Airport and I didn’t want to be
late. We are on African time and if
there is a schedule it can vary without notice. If the plane lands early it will take off
early with no worries about the people they leave behind. I don’t want to be caught in that category so
with the last weight check and zip of the suitcase we are off with time to
spare.
The road way, full of pot holes, throws our car to the far
side of the road and back again. However,
even though the roads are in bad shape my driver sees no need to slow
down.
The vendors line the road way as
we travel through the small towns and villages along the way. There is everything imaginable from green
bananas to dried fish.
Further ahead a young boy stands beside the road with a
handful of fish for sale. We take a
moment to check on the price but the fish are small and the price is high so we
continue on our way.
From the sky the earth below looks like a patchwork
quilt. There are large squares of earth tilled
and ready for planting surrounded by patches of green. We are soon over the mountain ranges and
mountain peaks show no sign of life. There are vast areas below us that
continue to hide from civilization. It
is a primitive land lost in time living a sheltered life not knowing the lands
and times around them.We leave the earthen patchwork quilt and the undisturbed
mountain peaks behind us to enter a land where the earth is dry and cracks
beneath us. The sun is blazing hot and
shows no favor. The once flowing
riverbeds are now dried up. The plants
and the earth have turned brown and show no signs of life.
The desert land shows the people no relief and they continue
to suffer with days, weeks and months without rain. This is not new to the Turkana as they have
seen drought in their land before. The
babies and little ones are too weak to battle through the days of extreme heat
lacking the water necessary to give life.
Many don’t see the morning light of the next day.
I was greeted with so many friendly welcomes when I arrive
at St. Theresa’s. It was good to see
that everyone has remained in their positions here. There is the lady that works in the kitchen;
she remembers the day she killed the cobra that I almost step on! Then Helen stops by the room and thanks me
for the New Testament that I left for her last time I was there. She is so happy because it is one that she
can read and understand all by herself!
She doesn’t need anyone to explain it to her. Sister Pamela has been very kind to me over
the years and has made me an honorary sister. St. Theresa’s did not have a room available
for me this week but they made some changes and gave me a room reserved for the
sisters. I thank the Lord for their
kindness as I have been taken care of and treated so very kindly here.
There’s work to be done and as soon as my things are locked
behind my door we have a meeting under the shade trees. The heat consumes the
land and the trees help shelter us from the burning rays of the sun. After a short meeting with the builder and
the pastor we have agreed to start the church on Monday morning.
March 23, 2014
(Sunday) Last night was a night of tossing and turning as the temperature
remained high throughout the night. The big fan above me turned at high speed
but it was like I didn’t have a fan at all.
Malaria carrying mosquitos are small and fragile looking. They aren’t the kind that are easily seen or
heard. In fact they can land on you and
bite you and you won’t even know it until you see the raised red circle on your
skin. This morning I can tell the mosquitoes had a feast last night. They must have slept under the net with me!
In the early morning I heard this thud on
my roof and then something sliding down the other side. A monkey was using my roof as a landing point
between two trees! We have nice shade
trees here on the compound but they aren’t seen in other areas. So this is an oasis for both humans and the
monkeys!
On the back of a motorbike we travel out into the village
for the morning service. As much as I
dislike hats today it is a must to wear one as the sun’s rays are burning down
upon us. Sunglasses are not just for the
“cool look” …. they help keep the billows of dust from filtering into the eyes.
I’m escorted into the village by a chorus of song from the
children along the way. Just seeing a
white woman in their area brings a burst of energy and excitement to the
children we pass by. They quickly run to
the edge of the road and greet me the best way they know how. There are little ones that wave to me as I
ride by or yell out a greeting. Some
stand and with a big smile while they jump up and down. Today there is lots of
excitement in the village!
The speakers are outside the small and crowded thatched roof
church. Those within the area know it is
Sunday morning by the sounds of praise reaching all those that live close by. We are shaded by the roof but still pellets of water
roll off my body.
There isn’t any relief
from the heat and temperatures have reached 101 today. My clothes are sticking to me along with
layers of dust from the hot desert wind.Turkana land is known to be “hot” but it does not stop them
from praising the Lord. They continue to
praise him with all of their heart.
The service ends with prayer and as we leave
the protection of the thatched roof and the hot church we realize that outside
is even hotter!
Before darkness sets in for the night the building supplies
are delivered to the site. The news
quickly spreads that we have arrived and village people are fully aware that we
are there.
Poverty is extreme in the villages and the hardships and
suffering sees no end. It’s necessary to
have some men stay with the supplies through the night so that they will be there in
the morning.
The sun lowers and soon
disappears. Darkness fills the land but
in the vast open sky above us the multitude of stars speak in a language that
we all understand…..God is mighty! God
is great! He is to be praised!
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