Silence

It's 3:07. I've not slept yet. Am working on a paper that's due on Wednesday night. I'm ready to be done, but still have quite a ways to go: 7.5 book reports are written. 6.5 remain. Though I hate stopping in the middle of one, I can't think straight enough to make sense of what I'm writing. So I'm calling it the day. Or the night. I'm about halfway with my project paper.

Tomorrow, I am going to Rondo with a group of colleagues. They'll be relaxing. I'll be working on my paper. Someday, I'll be done with this and will be glad I did it. Actually, I'm already thankful I'm doing this. It's just a lot of work, which makes for a very interesting balancing act with my regular work which isn't exactly a 9-5 job. Far from it.

We'll be in Rondo till Tuesday. On Tuesday night, I fly to Nairobi. Will be running around the city for business on Wednesday, and board a plane very early in the morning on Thursday. I'll be unreachable for 2 weeks, after which I'll be back in the saddle, full-swing, full-speed, by September 1.

But so you know, there won't be posts to my blog for the next 3 weeks as I am doing some introspection and exercises in listening.

Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Till September. Lala salama.

Big and Small

Almost every morning, as I spend my quiet time out in the gazebo near my house, there's a little Malachite kingfisher which plays in the trees. Though it's a kingfisher, this little one doesn't eat fish - as one of the smallest of the kingfisher family, it eats insects. (Actually, at 4", the Pygmy Kingfisher is half an inch smaller.)

This morning, I went to park myself in the new gazebo, which is by our guest houses. (I planned to work on my paper all day, and actually succeeded in getting a fair amount done!) That gazebo is right by the river, and the bird life is slightly different from my regular spot. I heard a familiar bird call, and not knowing what bird it belongs to, I looked up to see the crow-sized Giant Kingfisher, perched in the tree right by me! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, so I couldn't take a picture. I watched for a short while as it was trying to catch a fish, and then got back to my paper.

Kierra showed up later in the afternoon to work from the same spot and declared that I found the best spot ever to work on a paper. True indeed. This weekend, I'll be going back to Rondo with a group of colleagues. Rondo's got to be the next best spot ever to work on any paper!

I love the bird life in our village, and that in Rondo! I don't want to take these blessings for granted.

In other news

I have been posting updates on the children's homes blog recently. I love that I didn't write any of these posts. Some were written by the kids themselves, and some by our Kenyan staff. And there's news from visitors on this blog.

Just wanted to make sure you stop by to see what's happening around our compounds.

Recently, I've been busy putting together a report card for our children's home sponsors as well as putting together information for our guest houses on the various facets of our ministry. Still need to do a few other newsletter designs for other parts of our ministry. I actually enjoy this at times. As long as it's not the main part of my ministry.

Things seem peaceful in the cats' world tonight. No surprises. Hopefully I can get some major reading done this evening. Can't wait to actually start writing my paper!

All in a day's work

After staff devotions today, I headed to town to a) take a visiting couple to transfer to Ilula, b) take the intern for his shopping day, c) sell my wreck, and d) buy a car.

The day was full of surprises, but bottom line, my Land Rover is no longer my Land Rover. It now belongs to a colleague in Ilula who has the courage to fix it. And I now have a 22-year-old Peugeot station wagon. The engine's good. The body's OK (just a few rust spots). The brakes need fixing (which is something I discovered when I went to test drive it), and due to hiccups along the way, I couldn't get insurance this afternoon, so I left the car at our office for the night.

I hope to take it to the mechanic tomorrow to have the brakes fixed, but don't think I can drive it back here yet. Not in the mud. It won't handle our roads in the rain... But it'll do fine during the dry season, which is around the corner. It is what it is. It's what I could afford, and I'm trusting it'll work just fine!



When I finally got home, I found blood spots around my house, and discovered that Toulouse (my cat that's not really my cat - she used to belong to colleagues who gave her to another colleague who gave her to other colleagues but then she decided she wanted to be a wild cat and finally decided she's moving in with me, just basically to eat, hide in a corner, and growl at her former BFF, Flannel) was bleeding.

I Googled the condition, and first thought it might be pyometra, a uterine infection. But the symptoms didn't all line up, and after I had thrown her out the door and she did a very uncharacteristic thing by crying at the window to come in, I let her back in. She made herself at home on a duffel bag (her favorite sleeping spot) and kept licking herself... She was now bleeding more and more, and soon started producing more than blood. In fact, she had a miscarriage. She delivered 3 fetuses, one of which was still perfectly in its little sac! They're all of an inch long. (Don't worry, I don't post the photos. And of course I took photos before discarding them, just in case.)

Unfortunately, there aren't vets around that can spay the cats. I've been giving Flannel hormone shots which I got from a vet in South Africa for birth control. But the shots are incredibly painful and sends her into stress for days.

As for Toulouse, I hope she'll do OK... She seems at peace right now. It's almost 10 pm. I was planning on reading a book tonight, but am wiped. Hopefully I can skim at least a chapter or four before calling it the night.

Run!

We have some really vicious dogs around. As I was sitting here, reading, I heard a fight break out. It's not unusual to hear them just putting one another in place for a very short while, but this was obviously a vicious attack. I went to see if I can do anything (like find the night watchman, Cosmas.) Cosmas was there, trying to break up the fight, but couldn't get too close. He did finally manage to break things up. Three of the dogs (Blackie, Blackie 2 and Kali) were attacking a smaller dog. Yikes. It's the stuff of nightmares. I wouldn't normally go close, but this went on for a while and I wanted to see if I could help. Going there did actually help since I had a strong flashlight that I could shine on the dogs from a distance so Cosmas could see better to break up the fight. The poor smaller dog that had been attacked is hiding in the bush somewhere. I wonder if Michelle might have to play vet again tomorrow and stitch up the wounds...

Other than this fight, it's been a very good day! I read two complete books today, finished the second half of another, and am about halfway to finishing a fourth. It's been a productive Saturday. But more than simply getting the books checked off my reading list (I still need to write reports on all 17 books read for this class!), I sat in amazement today to see how the different lessons God is teaching me through life, ministry and class are fitting together. I am actually really looking forward to start writing my integration paper, which is due in less than 2 weeks.

The visitors all went to the AIDS campaign today, and Kit actually ran in the 10km race. Poor guy! The Kenyans creamed him! I think they lapped him 11 times. Lesson to be learned: Don't try and run against the Kalenjin, especially not on their turf, at 7,000 ft above sea level! They'll put you to shame. I'll remember that. Not that I have any aspirations to run. Unless I'm running away from our dogs, of course. Which won't happen. 

Tomorrow, I'll be heading to town to pick up Kierra and drop off other visitors. Plus buy some groceries while I'm in town. During some down time today, I caught up on my Google Reader reading, skimming various blogs. No fewer than two of them talked about Krispy Kreme Donuts. Yum. I'm glad I'm very, very far from the nearest KK shop, else I may have succumbed to the temptation today. The distance at least helps me stay on track with dropping pounds, one at a time.

I realize the process of dropping extra weight would happen much faster if only I enjoyed running. But I don't. In fact, I really hate running. Hate is a strong word, I know. It's the most appropriate word for how I feel about running. Especially at this elevation. This week, the plan is to add exercise to my day by trying to imitate some Caribbean kickboxer chick. At least I can make a fool of myself in the privacy of my own home.

Flannel won't tell a soul how silly I look.

Busy Friday Night

Miriam, our staff member who does magic cooking for our guests, is celebrating her 26th birthday today, so I gave her the evening off and cooked for the guests instead. I took dinner down to the river gazebo, and we had a wonderful time visiting till darkness surrounded us and the nightjars started calling. Not that it's that late. It's dark by 7 pm here. Year round. Like the sun rises at 6:25, year round.

Needing to desperately catch up on my class reading, I decided not to invite the guests for a game of cards or a movie at my place. But walking home, I remembered that Miriam had invited me to join her and her friends for chai and cake tonight... But when I just went over, they were still waiting for a bunch of friends, so I decided to come home first, get some reading done, dress down, and head over in a bit.

I should be at small group, actually. I forgot last week that we now have Friday night small group. And tonight, I was busy entertaining the guests, plus have Miriam's event. Which is funny, really. I never have anything to do on Friday nights, and tonight, I can choose between 3 events. Soon, the Salvation Army Band may start playing again, in which case I could go dance. I think not.

Tomorrow, we have the last of a series of AIDS campaigns to create awareness of a home-testing effort that has been rolled out in our region. I will be studying rather than be at the campaign to take photos. Like I said, I'm far behind on my reading. Walked into my house after 9 every night, which makes keeping up on reading a bit more challenging. But I'll catch up. I know I will. I'm looking forward to actually writing my paper... God's been showing me some neat insights, and I can't wait to see how it comes out on paper.

In the meantime, I have found a buyer for my Land Rover, and found a small, old beater vehicle for what I'll get for the wreck. It's 20 years old, but the engine seems to be going strong still. It won't get my anywhere on our mud roads when it's rained, but it's a fine vehicle for the regular Kenyan roads. I should be able to make the transfer on Monday, if all works out well.

Miriam's calling. Let me go have some cake.

Later: The party was fun, really. A very interesting cross-cultural experience of playing musical chairs, having donuts (made by the birthday girl) and chai, drawing questions and going round answering them (What is the most significant event in your life? Stuff like that), and dancing. I personally don't enjoy dancing (except ballroom-type dancing, which I've not done since living overseas), so it was fun to simply watch my Kenyan colleagues be themselves. I'm glad I went. Now, on to reading...

The Cat Ate My Homework

When I left my home this morning for time with the visiting team, I left my computer open. When I returned two hours later, my inbox was empty. Flannel might be the culprit. She may have inadvertently stepped on the right combination of keys to permanently delete all mail. None of the unanswered messages are in my deleted mail box. I was able to retrieve some by going into my GMail account, but if you had recently sent me a message and have not heard back from me, please resend it...

And yes, I now close my computer before leaving the house.

Saturday night

A nasty flu virus has been making the rounds in our province. This particular virus typically nails people for about 3 days. My body's been successful at fighting it off, till Thursday, when I started sniffing...

By Friday (during the graduation) my body was aching more and more, but I couldn't leave since I was supposed to take photos. By the time the ceremony was officially over and guests were having lunch (at 4 pm), I headed home, got into bed, and slept. Till the Salvation Army Band woke me up around 9 pm, playing their hearts out. But I got to rest, nevertheless. By the time they started playing again this morning at 7, I started thinking evil thoughts. But they left soon enough for the campaign, and after breakfast, I lay down and woke up only at noon! My body obviously needed the rest. I never sleep like that!

I got some reading done this afternoon, and feel a LOT better than I did yesterday this time! No fever. No aching body. I just am still coughing, and I sound like a base. But I feel much, much better. Tomorrow, I'm taking two interns to Kakamega Forest. I have a meeting in neighboring Kapsabet on Monday morning, so it helps that I don't have to drive the road by myself... I wouldn't mind getting away by myself for the day, but it's smarter to have some men in the car with me. And the guys are really excited about getting to go to the forest.

Here are some of my favorite non-graduate photos from yesterday's event.


I was up at dawn on Friday to catch some of the action on the compound. Here, graduates are getting ready for the Big Day by cleaning out their rooms.

In the kitchen, an assembly line was cooking fresh chapatis. Keep in mind, this was around 6 am. Lunch was only served at 4 pm. Since I was up so early, they offered me a fresh chapati, which I shared with all my friends in the kitchen.

The kids love eating clovers! I caught Naomi pulling out clovers from the flower beds while the ceremonies were going on (and on).

This little one is called Navy. He belongs to a neighbor, Mama Sifuna.

Solomon is the son on David Tarus, our director.

Two more neighborhood kids. I don't know the little one on the left's name, but the smiley face on the right is Brenda, another one of Mama Sifuna's kids.

For more photos from the day's events, visit my Flickr page.

Chicken Anatomy 101 ... and The Art of Making Friends

Today, I stripped the guts out of a few chickens. For real. I didn't kill the said birds, nor did I de-feather them. But I walked into the training center kitchen this afternoon, where staff were busy preparing for tomorrow's graduation. Which included the gutting of a half dozen chickens.

We're expecting 500 guests tomorrow for the SACDP graduation, and you don't send people home without feeding them. They will have traveled from far. The family & friends of the graduates (as well as any curious neighbors) will be fed rice and "soup" (sauce with perhaps a bit of meat in it, if you're lucky). The guests of honor (the chief of the village, the speaker for the event, the ELI Board and about 50 other very lucky people) will be fed rice pilaf, chicken, beef, and sodas.

So I found Miriam and friends gutting chickens. "May I join you?" I asked. There's nothing like bonding with Kenyans ladies in a kitchen.

"Have you ever slaughtered a chicken?" they wanted to know.

"Never! Will you teach me?"

Which they did. Miriam showed me how to cut open the backside ever so carefully. "Don't rupture anything! Now carefully cut the hole bigger and bigger so you can get your whole hand into the back end."

"Don't cut your finger!" Oops. Too late. The knife is terribly blunt for a job like this, and my knuckle is stinging. It's but a flesh wound, I console myself.

"Pole," they say. (Sorry.)

"Let's continue," and I do my best not to be a weakling. (Hours later, the cut on my thumb knuckle is bleeding and throbbing. But I'd never complain to my Kenyan neighbors about a triviality like that. It would only prove that we wazungu really are chickens.)

Next, you cut off the neck. "Don't rupture the crop. That will smell badly." Succeeding at the simple procedure of removing the crop (how on earth does one chicken eat so much corn?!) makes me feel like I've just mastered the art of kung-fu.

"Now, put your hand in the opening you had cut in the back. Just use two fingers. Release all the intestines. Be careful not to..." You know the schpiel by now. Don't rupture anything. But how on earth do you pry loose all the guts and not rupture something!

"Make sure you can see your fingers all the way at the neck, so you can pull out the esophagus." Done. The esophagus, heart, spleen, liver, stomach, the large and small intestines, the rectum all come out with a huge plomp! But they're still attached to the final exit.

"Now, you cut that out." No more warnings of rupturing anything!

The final steps are to clean the carcass by getting the lungs out. They sit like two little pink sponges, tucked in tightly in the rib cage. There are also little bubbly thingies stuck to the back bone. "What are those bubbles?"

They laugh at my ignorance. "Those are eggs. These used to be layers. But now they're old."

And dead, I think. But I don't say it, 'cause my sense of humor just doesn't translate. And then I get to fillet open the stomach ("That's the grinder," my friends inform me) and remove the contents and the inner lining.

I feel like an accomplished concert pianist, wanting to make a bow. But I don't. I realize that this is a simple procedure that my friends have performed since they were adolescents. I honestly don't mind that I've had to wait for today to do this and learn from my friends.

"Here's another one. See if you can do this on your own. This is your test." I'm glad to say I passed. With honors, they say. But I think they're just being polite.

Later, after preparing my own chicken for dinner (simple: take the thawed chicken out of the plastic bag, remove the plastic bag of gizzards and keep for my helper, and pop the chicken in the toaster oven), I go for a walk on the compound. I hear laughter from the kitchen. My new friends are sitting down, having a cup of chai. "Join us!" they invite me. Which I do. I try to follow the conversation in Swahili, and ask Miriam every so often what a word means. I'm learning, even though it's taking time.

Walking back to my home, I peek into my neighbor's home. "Rebecca, do you have dinner plans? Not yet? Join me. And bring anyone of your choice."

During dinner with Rebecca and Ruto, they ask about my music. "Where does it come from?" I introduce them to the strange world of an iPod. Conversation becomes more serious, and Ruto asks, "Aren't you lonely here?"

As singles, they, too, can understand some of the loneliness we all face. We end the evening by praying together. They had shared with me some of their burdens, and together, we take them before the throne of our God who knows our hearts, our struggles, our desires.

I didn't get all the tasks done on my list for today, but I thank God that the spontaneous events that did occur today (especially those that I don't get to write about here), ones that were obviously on his agenda for me today.

And I'm thankful that nothing ruptured. In fact, the opposite happened. My heart was connected with those of some of my neighbors through simple acts of community and friendship.

For that, I'm infinitely thankful. It was worth the cut on my thumb. In the process, my neighbors were reminded that when cut, we all bleed just the same.

Peace

Peace is a deep disposition of the heart.

It is humility,
an ability to let go of the need to be right
in our own eyes or the eyes of others,
an ability based on the knowledge
that our rightness or wrongness in any issue
is totally irrelevant to God’s love for us
or our neighbor.
The peace that comes with claiming our self in God
is the foundation of our ability
to carry God’s reconciliating love to others
in the most humble places
and humble, everyday ways.

I read this quote this morning by church historian Roberta Bondi and it stuck in my heart. Even as I dealt with some painful cultural challenges today, I can go to bed with peace in my heart...