VIM Kenya Adventures

Thoughts and Reflections

2010-02-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

"The longer I am here, and the more I see and do, the clearer this has become: The single biggest difference between the people in Meru and me is where we happened to be born." - Jean

After volunteering all day Saturday at an open air medical clinic at the north end of Meru, some reflections this evening:

" Seeing patients wait for hours in the hot afternoon sun to pick up their prescriptions, faces pressed against the wire mesh window of the temporary pharmacy, I wonder what it would be like to hunger for God with the same intensity." - Teranne

"Even though we couldn't understand each others' languages, we were able to communicate through eye contact, facial expressions, a smile, and gestures. Fortunately, younger women came forward to help translate fo the older women." - Minnie G.

"I saw a girl standing near next to me who was mentally challenged, being abused by other children. A big rock was thrown at our feet. I wish I'd reacted by telling and gesturing to those children how unacceptable their behavior was." - Tad

" It was amazing to go from utter chaos early in the day, as patients swarmed anywhere they thought they'd receive help--to getting people in to orderly lines for each area. Nearly 5,000 patients were served today!Sixty-two volunteers including doctors, medical and nursing students, and other lay people besides our group of 15. This was more abject poverty than we've seen all week in other parts of Meru."-- Isabelle A.

2010-02-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

Siku njema!! Good day!

I hope all is well in the states and that those affected by the ice storm have recovered.

In mid-week we painted 6 latrine doors; painting continued both inside and outside the school library. The creative talents of our artists continued to be expressed on the mural inside the library.
St. Lucy's School for the blind, which was approximately 25 kilometers south of our base, was visited Wednesday afternoon. We were shocked and amazed to observe several elementary-aged students who were learning life skills, despite their very rough start in life. It was a well-kept and well-run school though not modern by American standards. Braille materials are almost non-existent and there is no audio equipment to assist their learning.

Thursday:
Our group split in two where one part went back to Kaaga to continue our projects while the others assisted the church in a leadership training. The training brought together their church community to help teach them how to be good leaders, define problems and how to solve them, and to set goals for the church. Those at Kaaga finished up the library by bringing books to add to their shelves. That evening the group went to the womens co-op. They make everything themselves, their items include wool rugs, bags, shirts, scarfes, and various other items.

Friday:
We finished our projects at Kaaga Primary School and the other part of the group continued the leadership training. In the mid-afternoon Walt, Tad, and Kevin went to a school on the far side of Meru to see the site of a future water well. Right now the school has no running water or electricity, the students have to bring water from home or get water from the river behind the school. After lunch the group met at Kaaga Primary School for a celebration service in giving thanks to us for our hard work on their projects.

Saturday:
One word describes this day: busy! We assisted over 5,000 people today by volunteering at a medical camp in a small remote village on the outskirts of Meru. The people we helped were able to get a free examination and also free perscriptions. The sheer need of the people was overwhelming. It was amazing to see how all 80 plus volunteers were able to work together in a highly stressful situation with such a cooperative spirit. We were all ready to drop by the time we straggled out to the vans.....but not to tired to enjoy the ELEPHANTS we were lucky enough to see on the way home. We did many illegal U-turns in the road in order to appreciate them properly. We finished the evening by eating in community with the other volunteers at a local restaraunt named Steers. The food was wonderful and we had a marvelous time recounting the days many challenges and blessings.

Njioni!! Good evening!

Impressions of our first days in Kenya

2010-02-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

I'm impressed ...". . . with the joy and enthusiasm of the students at the Meru School for the Mentally Challenged" - Minnie

". . . that the people of Meru have so little yet are so happy and they welcome complete strangers into their home." - Kevin

" The children at the Meru Primary School (K-8) are amazing. Their school is worse than the worst U.S. school you could imagine! Nothing in their classrooms but a chalkboard, desks, and chairs; nothing else. Their uniforms are torn and tattered and they have little to eat. Yet, these children are joyful and know how to smile. This smile melts hearts and it is for a stranger. I am blessed to be a part of a team God has sent to bless them in a small way." - Diane S.

". . . with all the smiles of the children and their fascination with our cameras." - JoAnn Q.

" . . . with the really friendly people and their being very open and confident." - Teranne W.

" . . . that we are treated not just as visitors, but as celebrities in their midst; the poverty is so very pervasive it is very hard to take in all in; modern trucks and cars use the highways and road along with the carts pulled by 2 or 3 donkeys." - Isabelle A.

Where do we missioners see Jesus? I think we found them today and yesterday in the souls of the school children!

2010-02-02T05:38:00.001-08:00

Live From Africa!

2010-02-02T04:07:00.000-08:00

Jambo everyone!

Now that we have internet we can update you on all that has happened!

The team arrived in Meru with little problems. The flight from Des Moines had a little delay but they met up with us at the Methodist Guest house in Nairobi Saturday morning, from there we traveled to Meru.

On Sunday we had the opportunity to attend church at Kaaga Methodist Church. It was an absolutely wonderful experience. They had two services one in english and the other Kemeru. Between services we visited with the congregation and just learned about eachother and had tea it was great fellowship. They made us lunch after the second service, everything was there best native food. That evening we were invited to Mubichis house for a barbeque, not the kind barbeque you might think. On the menu was Fresh barbeque chicken, goat, traditional cornbread, salad, mokimo, rice, and various other dishes, all was very good. While there we also had the pleasure of meeting another American named James. He has been studying in Kenya for the past several months for part of a program at his school. He is from Arizona and will not return until the end of the semester.

Monday:

We began our first day of work at Kaaga Primary School. Fridah gave us a tour of the school, and gave us neat information. Such as did you know King George II was hidden in Meru during WWII? It also costs $30 a year to attend the school since the government does not pay for it. Following the tour we began our work. Which has included putting in a new floor in a class room, painting the library, painting doors, tearing down old latrines, building new latrines, and constructing a new changing room for the boys. During our work we were frequently visited by the students. They were so happy to us and they were always wanting there picture to be taken and to shake our hands.

We had lunch at a bed & breakfast owned by a dutchman named Peter. It was literally an oasis, it was like an hour in paradise, the food (traditional Kenyan food) was great along with the company. We were able to visit two conservation sites this day the first of which was run by a group of approximately 20 older women who are growing trees in old folgers coffee bags side by side in large quantities and multiple varieties. They are attempting to help the environment by replacing all the trees that are being cut down in their community. They live almost exclusively off the land and help support each other by donating money to a general fund, most of which is given to support the oldest members of the group. Almost all are grandmothers and the oldest member we met was 120 years old. During our visit, Tad and Kevin were adopted and pulled into a tribal dance of celebration (look for photos on photobucket.com). Teranne, Ruth, Isabelle, Diane, and Gay were lucky enough to take part in the welcome dance and song where an older member of the tribe imitated us as Americans by dancing with a stick to her ear (imitating a cell phone). Their project only costs 50,000 shillings a year which is roughly $650. We were able to give them a contribution to help fund their efforts. They were very excited since the last funding they received was in 2004.

We visited a second conservations site that had broken off from the first and was comprised of younger members who were helping to support the older women who worked at the first conservation site. These younger members were able to show us banana, papaya, mango, avacado, and macadameia nut trees up close. We were also able to see (and smell) how the soil stays so fertile when we passed by the cows who "naturally" fertilize the conservation site. The women were happy to show us how the food was prepared over an open flame on a rock stove of sorts. These women also had a welcome dance and song and this time Tad walked away with flowers. He seems to be a favorite with the locals.

We limped back into the hotel for dinner around 7:15 and followed that up with a short devotional and song. Then it was off to bed. Our first day was exciting and packed with local experience.

Tuesday:

Our day began bright and early with our fearless leader waking at 3:30 with the sureity that it was actually 7:00. Everyone seems to be adjusting to jet lag a little differently. We ate breakfast and walked into Kaaga to the Primary school to resume our projects where we had left off the day before. Though we feel that we are working hard, nothing surprises us more than realizing that the people here work harder. Everyone who was present the day before was already present again and working harder than ever. The boys who are digging the pit latrines seem tireless as they raise 30 feet of dirt from a six by eight foot hole in the ground.

At noon, we headed next door from the primary school to visit the children and administration from the Kaaga School for the Mentally Challenged. We were able to tour the facility and see the water tank that was funded by money raised by Gay Abarr when the last team came in 2007. They have a beautiful plaque to commemorate the gift. We were also able to learn that the school houses 120 students and has only 17 teachers. The children were very excited to see us and had a song ready to perform for us. They were precious and at the end, Gay was able to see one of the children that her fundraising has helped to support. The tour of the school ended with a visit to the room where the children work to make things that they will sell locally. The school believes in training the children in arts that they can use to support themselves when they are older. We were able to purchase things in support of the school.

After lunch at the White Star Hotel, we returned to work and later had dinner together. We look forward to tomorrow and learning more about this fascinatinig community that seems to exist because of a fundamental practice of taking care of your neighbor. Though jaywalking and driving without seatbelts is considered normal here, we have found our hearts to be one with the people and look forward to learning all we can from them. In the end, we are not so very different.

Message From Africa

2010-02-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

Today, we heard from the mission team in Kenya. They called to give us an update. First, their internet is down. So, as soon as it is back up they will be making an update to the blog to give you all more details. This is their message:

They have made it safely to Africa. The trip is going well thus far. Currently, they are having a good time.

I will say that there was some laughter in the background. Also, on a side note, Kevin did get a little sunburned. We will keep you all posted as we hear news from them.

Trip Itinerary Continued

2010-01-23T15:16:00.001-08:00

TRIP ITINERARY
CONTINUED:

Monday, February 8
Breakfast at White Star
8 am –Meru for safari
Ride in vans to Safari Lodge
Register at Lodge; put luggage in rooms; eat lunch
3 pm - depart on afternoon safari game drive and dinner at the Lodge

Tuesday, February 9
6 am - vans depart for morning safari game drive
Mid-morning buffet brunch at the Lodge
Safari game drive and dinner at the Lodge

Wednesday, February 10
6 am - vans depart for final safari game drive
Checkout; load luggage into one van; depart in other vans for Nairobi
Stop at Equator for photos and rest rooms
Check into Methodist Guest House and dinner at The Restaurant

Thursday, February 11
Breakfast at Methodist Guest House
Confirm with MGH (check all luggage at the front desk for temporary storage)
Utamaduni Craft Centre for shops and examples of four tribal villages
Tour home of Karen Blixen (author of “Out of Africa”)
Lunch at Steers Restaurant,on our own
Brief driving tour of Nairobi (Parliament, Kenyatta’s tomb, American Embassy, etc.)
Afternoon shopping at Catholic Bookstore, downtown stores and the Village Market
Dinner at Methodist Guest House
Collect luggage and ride to airport
10:50 pm - depart KLM Air flight #566 (arriving Amsterdam, Saturday at 5:30 am)

Friday, February 12
10:20 am - depart Amsterdam on Northwest Airlines flight #241
(arrive Minneapolis Saturday 12:40 am)

Sent to me by e-mail the flight schedule:
LEAVING DES MOINES
Northwest#3478 28JAN Des Moines - Minneapolis 1222pm - 131pm
Northwest#240 28JAN Minneapolis - Amsterdam 325pm - 640am next day
KLM#565 29JAN Amsterdam - Nairobi 1020am - 825pm

LEAVING NAIROBI
KLM#566 11FEB Nairobi - Amsterdam 1050pm - 530am next day
Northwest#241 12FEB Amsterdam - Minneapolis 1020am - 1240pmNorthwest#4291 12FEB Minneapolis - Des Moine

Trip Itinerary

2010-01-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

TRIP ITINERARY

Our goal for this mission is to function as a cohesive body. We are a team and we plan to do everything as a team. While each mission member brings different gifts and skills to the team, all team members are expected to participate in all scheduled activities.
Each day, the team members will have a brief morning devotional and an evening devotional as well as a time to share and reflect on the day. In addition, it is likely that the Kaaga Methodist Church may invite us to make a presentation at the church services we will attend in Meru.

Thursday, January 28 & Friday January 29
Arrive Will Rogers International Airport by 4:00 am
Depart Des Moines on Northwest Airlines Flight #3478 at 12:22 pm
Depart Minneapolis on Northwest Airlines flight #240, at 3:25 pm
Depart Amsterdam on KLM Airlines, Flight #565 at 10:20 pm
Arriving in Nairobi on Friday evening at 8:25 pm.
Check into The Methodist Guest House in Nairobi for the night

Saturday, January 30
Eat breakfast at The Methodist Guest House
Ride in vans to Meru
Lunch on the road to Meru, on our own
Check into White Star Hotel
Dinner at the White Star Hotel

Sunday, January 31
Eat breakfast at the White Star
Go to worship at Kaaga Methodist Church in Meru

Monday, February 1 through Friday, February 5
Breakfast at White Star
Team members work with Meru volunteers.
Monday & Tuesday - LSP Training
Wednesday to Friday - KP Construction
Tea break and lunch on work site with volunteers
Lunch at the sites
Dinner at White Star

Saturday, February 6
Eat breakfast at the White Star
Lunch at the camp
Medical Mission Camp at Kaaga
Optional: Work on projects
Dinner

Sunday, February 7
Breakfast at White Star
11 am - attend Kaaga Methodist Church’s worship service
Lunch with church leaders in Kaaga Methodist Church’s Fellowship Hall
- 9 -

Contact Info

2010-01-23T15:09:00.000-08:00

CONTACT INFORMATION on
VIM TEAM IN KENYA

On January 29, 2010, and on February 10, 2010,
The VIM Team will be staying at:

Methodist Guest House - Nairobi
PO Box 25086, Lavington Green, Lavington, 00603 Kenya, AfricaPhone: 011-254-20-571080Phone: 011-254-20-567225reservations@methodistguesthouse.orgEmail: mck@maf.org www.methodistguesthouseke.com

The VIM Team will be in Meru
Saturday, January 30 to Monday, February 7.
Our contact in Meru Kenya is

Mr. Stephen Mubichi
PO Box 2241,
Meru, Kenya, Africa 60200

Stephen’s #1 cell phone: 011 254727677988
Stephen’s daughter is Fridah,
Fridah's cell phone: 011 254 723083267
Email: fridah@kananamubichifoundation.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
The Team will be staying at
White Star Hotel
PO Box 259,
Meru, Kenya
Tel: 254 64 32989,
Fax: 32247, 31289

Tell your family and friends about our BLOG SIGHT:
wesleyumcmission.blogspot.com

Names of those attending the mission

2010-01-23T15:07:00.000-08:00

FIRST NAMES
for VIM 2010 TEAM

1. GAY A. OKC
2. KEVIN C. OKC
3. PHILLIP D. OKC
4. THOMAS (TAD) OKC
5. JEAN H. OKC
6. WALT H. OKC
7. TERANNE W. OKC
8. MINNIE G. FT. WORTH
9. ROBERT G. FT. WORTH_
10. RUTH K. HALIINGER, DES MOINES, IA
11. DIANE S. DES MOINES, IA
12. NANCY Q. FT. WORTH
13. ADELE M. DES MOINES. IA.
14. ISABELLE A. DES MOINES, IA
15. JOANN Q. MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Setting up the blog

2010-01-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

Hey all in just a few weeks we will be leaving for Kenya to start our mission trip. I am in the process of setting up our blog and I hope you all are getting ready to pack and leave. Its going to be an awesome trip I cant wait to see everyone!