Ukarimu Retreat Centre

In July I had an appointment to meet Sr. Pat who had been recommended to me as a spiritual adviser. As she lives in Nairobi, it is difficult to meet, so we decided to meet at Ukarimu Spirituality Centre between Nairobi and Kitale where she would be leading a workshop. It worked out that she was going to be there over a weekend so I was able to travel there and back staying less than 24 hours. It was such a beautiful place I wish I could have stayed there longer.

When I got home I raved about it to my fellow MKLM. Margaret commented that she would be ready for a retreat during August holiday so the three of us decided to go down for several days at the end of August. They were as thrilled with the place as I was.

The centre, run by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, which has been there since the 1960s has recently been renovated. The rooms are large and airy with tile floors and hot, hot showers! Originally the doors to the rooms opened to the outside. As Molo is colder than Kitale, it was freezing. They put a nice glass enclosed walkway in front of the rooms with a little crannies with cozy chairs for reading to take care of that problem.

They had a little stream that ran along the side of their property. They decided to divert it to create a running brook with little waterfalls that empties out into two little ponds.

That tall plant growing in the water is papyrus. I had always wondered what it looked like. Can't you see how Moses's basket got caught in the papyrus along the water's edge.

Near the book is a labyrinth that you can use for prayer.

There is a beautiful church that looks out onto a beautiful view of the hills nearby. It is a beautiful place to rest and refresh yourself.

While we were there we all met with Father Brian, a priest from Ireland who is available for spiritual direction. He is a dear wise man who was so easy to talk to. We all fell in love with him.

There were a group of young sisters also on retreat there. They told us they were "cousins" to the sisters that run the retreat centre: Sisters of the Incarnate Word. They laughed and said they were working on their charity. We saw them at meals although they didn't eat with us and in evenings huddled around the fireplace to get warm.

We had such a good time while we were there we extended our stay an extra day. When we were ready to leave Fr. Brian was going to take us to the station where we could catch a matatu or a bus. Margaret was going back to Kitale while John and I were headed to Nairobi. As luck would have it, a group of sisters from a nearby house needed to go into Molo to do their monthly shopping. They gave us a ride into Molo itself and helped us get our tickets and sent us on our way. We had a delightful visit in the back of their pickup sitting on bench seats with another group of young sisters. Talking about coincidences, the Sister in charge of these young nuns is from Mexico. I think she also enjoyed seeing someone from "home". Next time we go back, we'll have to make a visit to see them also. I guess they live about 3 kilometers away. That would be a nice walk.

Adventures with a Boot

Once upon a time there was a girl named Cindy. One day while on her way to class, she stumbled stubbing her toe. She was so glad she didn't fall and no one saw her. Her foot hurt, but the local x-ray didn't show any problem.

However as time passed, her foot hurt worse and in a different place. She saw a podiatrist while she was visiting the big city. He sent her for a CT scan which showed two fractures: an older bone chip and a new stress fracture of a metatarsal. His recommendation was to have her wear a boot for 8 weeks. Unfortunately, he didn't have a boot in her size. Fortunately, there was one in town and he could have it sent over. Unfortunately, he had a meeting that couldn't be missed so he made arrangements for his nurse to do the fitting.

Cindy got the call that the boot had arrived and went to get it. The nurse put the boot on her foot and she merrily stumbled out the door and went on her way. After several days Cindy noticed that the top piece of the boot was rubbing the skin of her leg causing a bruise and sore. "This can't be right," she thought to herself, "I wonder what would happen if I put the nice, soft bootie on the other way. Low and behold, it fit better. "Wow," she thought, "I'm sure I have been putting my foot in the bootie the way the nurse showed me. Let me check in the instruction book to see for sure." Sure enough, the new way of wearing the bootie was the correct way.

Several days later the bootie became dirty. "It's time to wash the bootie. Since there is an extra one, let me start using that one while the other is washed."

"Oh my, she thought when she put the clean bootie on,"this sure feels strange. There isn't nearly enough padding in this one. I can't wait until the other one is dry so I can start wearing it again." She had a miserable day slipping and sliding in the unpadded boot.

That night Cindy's husband got hit in the head by the drying bootie on the clothesline in the bedroom. He looked at it. "I wonder," he thought, "there is a zipper in the bootie. Do you suppose you can take the padding out of it and put it in the other one?" Both were amazed when he was able to successfully move the padding from one bootie to the other.

While he was changing the bootie he decided to try to put more air into the padding inflating it with his own breath. The little pump that came with the boot didn't seem to be much help. "Amazing," Cindy said the next morning when she put the bootie on. "There has never been so much air in the bootie before. It sure feels better and more secure."

Several days later the top piece of the boot kept slipping out of place. "This isn't doing any good today," Cindy thought. "I wonder . . . Do you suppose that I could turn this piece around. Maybe it would fit better and not move." Low and behold, the top piece fit better turned the other way. "Maybe I ought to check the instruction book again and see if I have been wearing it wrong," she mused. Can you believe it, she had been wearing the upside down!

Moral of the story: Read the instruction book!
(The top piece is upside down in this photo.

Hospital Stay

The first week of July I (John) came down with a bad case of malaria, it did not help that I was very tired when I came down with it. After three different types of medication and missing almost of week of school I thought I was recovering knowing I was not 100% but I went back to school. Kathy, a clinical officer (physician’s assistant), asked me to be checked again for malaria so several days later I did. I couldn’t believe it, I still had malaria.

The following morning, Cindy, Kathy and I went to Kiminini Cottage Hospital, a Catholic hospital which Kathy had worked at. They tested me again to make sure I had malaria and then started me on first of three IVs with quinine. At that stage it had to be given intravenously over a 24 hour period. I did get the one private room in the hospital. The room was about 10 by 10 feet with a private Western style toilet. There with 2 plastic lawn chairs, a single bed with a foam mattress, a small bedside stand, and the metal stand (very simple but adequate) to hold the IV.

The nurse who inserted the needle for the IV apologized and said, “Sorry” before putting in the needle my vein. The IV took 4 hours and then you need to wait another 4 hours before stating the next IV. For lunch I was given a tasty meal of green grams (similar to lentils) and rice by a delightful woman named Tabitha. Cindy and Kathy left so they could be home before dark. For supper I had cooked plantains (cooking bananas similar to boiled potatoes) and a couple pieces of meat in sauce. Since there was nothing else to do I started reading the book, “Killing Lincoln” by Bill O’Reilly. The night of rest was better than I thought it would be considering the quality of the bed and having a needle stuck in my arm.

The next morning after I awoke, the nurses changed, Tabitha came with my breakfast of porridge in a thermos and a hard

boiled egg, and of course black tea. Cindy came later with some snacks for me plus drinking water and fruit. I started my third IV around 8:00 in the morning. After Cindy arrived, Tabitha came back and asked in Swahili if I wanted some hot water to bathe. She left, boiled some water and came back with it in a large plastic basin so I could give myself a sponge bath in my bathroom. Finally around 11:00 they came back to take another blood sample. After about an hour and a half we found out the results were negative. Praise God! So an hour later we paid the bill which must be done in Kenyan hospitals before you can leave we journeyed back home. Often patients must pay in advance before they can even be treated. By allowing us to pay afterwards, it was an example of white privilege.

By American standards all of this would seem unsanitary and about 100 years out of date. For me, I was very satisfied by treatment and hospitality shown by all of the hospital staff. I am truly thankful to them and Kathy in helping me recover from my bout with malaria.

During my stay and recovery I realized something which I have never experienced to such an extent, I had seen the face of God! That is something as a missioner we are encouraged to do in our work, to see the face of God in all we meet. No, the face of God wasn’t the Pope, a bishop, a priest, surely not in a rich person or politician, it was not a white person. She was in a short, Kenyan woman with missing teeth, who had not finished primary school, who could not speak English and probably couldn’t read. It was the cook, Tabitha. Her smiling face radiated out encouragement to me that all would be ok. Yes, I am truly blessed.

Strike

Ever since the government announced its budget last week the teachers have been upset. One of the campaign promises made by the new president was laptops for every student entering first grade next year. Money was allotted for this in the new budget. I have been hearing fellow teachers complaining about it saying it was unfair to teachers. I didn’t understand until yesterday their reasoning.

Most employees in Kenya are civil servants including health care workers and teachers. That means when employees are frustrated with their salary or working conditions they have to negotiate with the government. It seems that the only way to get the attention of the government is to go on strike. When health care isn’t available or schools and universities are closed, that they notice. Unfortunately the government doesn’t always keep their part of the agreement.

If you remember, teachers went on strike during September last year. Part of their grievance was that they had never gotten the agreed upon salary increase promised over ten years ago. As part of the negotiated settlement, the government agreed to harmonize (make equal to) the salaries of all civil servants. (The teachers’ salary was less than other civil servants.) That agreement was kept.

However, the second part wasn’t: they would harmonize the allowances teachers receive to that of civil servants when the new budget came out. Allowances are extra pay for things such as housing, transportation, hardship allowance for those that live in remote areas, etc. That’s why teachers were so upset last week, the new budget hadn’t allowed for the increase in teachers’ allowances.

There has been talk of a strike for over a week. I really hadn’t paid much attention to the talk and we haven’t been watching the news lately. The teachers and the government started negotiations on Friday and were to continue on Monday. If the teachers’ conditions weren’t met, they would go on strike. Yesterday we heard rumours that the strike was on. However, our school representative to the union hadn’t received any official communication about a strike.

I don’t teach until 10:20 today so I didn’t go into school until about 9:30. When I got there I was informed that Mr. Terrer, our union representative, had received notice that the strike was on. Teachers were already at school and most were making arrangements to leave shortly. At tea time there was much talk in the staff room about what to do. They warned that we needed to be ready to literally jump over the fence if they should show up. Union officials often make site visits to make sure teachers are not working. Violence is usually involved.

Rumour was that they had already been to St. Michael's in Kitale this morning to check on them. Our gatekeeper had been alerted that he wasn’t to allow any visitors on the compound.

I have class at 10:20. I decided to remain because most teachers were still there, teach that class and then leave. During the last five minutes of class there was a gentleman at the door . It’s extremely unusual for visitors to appear at the classroom, it simply isn’t done. I finished my statement and walked over to greet him and see what he wanted. He politely informed me that there was a strike and that no teachers were allowed to teach. I thanked him and told him I would leave. I’m guessing I got special treatment because I’m a mazungu.

I saw four union officials. They were herding teachers off the compound. When I went to the staff room, it was pretty deserted. I gathered my things and dropped off work for another one of my classes. I heard one of the officials say they were going to escort us off the compound to make sure we left.

As I left I gave a couple of teachers a ride. Immaculate had hidden in the bathroom. There was a banging on the door and she was told to come out. I guess she was in there for over five minutes thinking he would go away. He didn’t.

Ebby was telling that she along with many other teachers were in the staff room when the officials came. They were rudely ordered to get off the compound, teachers weren’t even to be in the staff room. It sounds as if they were extremely harsh and threatening. They said they would be back this afternoon with whips to make sure no one was there.

So, I have an unexpected holiday. I won’t go to school tomorrow. I’ll go early (6:30) Friday morning to drop off work that I have prepared for my Form II and IIIs to do while I am gone for the next ten days for the wedding. They may or may not do it. If the strike lasts for long, students will be sent home. The last strike lasted for two weeks.

To further complicate all principals are in Mombasa this week for convention!

I’m glad to report that as far as I know, all St. Monica’s teachers are safe.

You Live in a Desolate Place!

After returning to Kenya from our trip to the States in April and early May, I asked John to print several photos that we had taken while we were there to illustrate spring and the awakening of the earth after the cold winter.



Armed with these photos I shared them with the students. I was so thrilled with my lesson.



We were talking about foods that grow in Kansas. I was explaining that Kansas is further north of the equator so our growing season is shorter. I was trying to explain strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. I finally thought of the pictures in the dictionary so we opened them up to the fruits and vegetables pages.



They started asking about the foods shown there.



No, we can't grow bananas. No we can't grow pineapple. No, we can't grow mangoes, papaya or passion fruit either. I heard one of the students comment as I was leaving class that day, "Boy, it must be a desolate place!"

Mission Integration Program

John and I travel back to the States in late April for the Mission Integration Program for Maryknoll Lay Missioners that have completed their first contract. MIP is a chance to reconnect with our classmates in orientation and reflect on our experiences in other cultures. It was a wonderful experience. It felt as the if the seven of us had seen one another just a few days before rather than 3 1/2 years ago.



These are our MKLM classmates: back: Nan, Mary, Lindasy, Cindy, John front: Erica, Minh

We stayed at the convent of the Maryknoll Sisters so mealtimes were delightful. Currently there are over 100 Sisters living and working there. The cafeteria was a great place to meet them and hear stories of their time in mission. What a wealth of experience! The bad part is that we were often late for our meetings because we were busy talking to the Sisters!



We had the opportunity to spend time with two Sisters that worked in Kitale for years, Sister Noel and Paula.


The last day of MIP we had a Recommitment and Blessing ceremony. Three missioners have decided to leave MKLM and return to the States. Four of us have renewed our contracts for another three years. Mary asked me to anoint and bless her as she transitioned out of MKLM.


We were gone for three weeks. We spent the first week with Andrea and Melissa. The last two weeks were in Ossining, NY. Over the weekend we had a chance to ride the train into New York City. It was a beautiful spring day.



As we were leaving, we shared one last taxi ride with Mary. We will miss her enthusiasm, energy and smiling face here, but know she is doing what she is called to do.

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For more pictures, click here

Monkeys on our Fence

Not just anybody can say that they have monkeys living in their area! For a long time I didn't realize the difference between the sound some birds make in our neighbourhood and the monkeys chattering. It is a high shrill sound that does sound like birds. We have always enjoyed watching them play making the tree tops sway as they jump from branch to branch on the roofs.


John calls them his angels. Whenever he is discouraged or down he seems to see monkeys. That brings a smile to his face and reminds him to lighten up.




Yesterday when I went outside in our yard there were six monkeys with two babies. While I watched they moved from one tree along our fence into another tree where they began eating flowers.




Look at how long their tails are. Did you see the babies head in the mother's arms in the first picture? Isn't nature amazing?