Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
I'm not able to go to KOP Thursday or Friday because of Saba Saba, which means seven seven in Swahili for July 7. I don't know why that exact date is significant but my understanding is this: There are many tribes in Kenya and at the last presidential election the two candidates were Kikuyu and Luo. The Kikuyu candidate won the election (I'm not sure it was fair) and the Luo's say they cannot accept defeat. There are rallies planned for this weekend and Monday, July 7 in particular but there has been a history of violence surrounding this event, making Kiandutu unsafe. Families started moving away on Thursday and Friday to avoid conflict and I overheard someone say that near Gladys' home three men were cut and their homes destroyed.
Instead of going to Kiandutu I went with Yvonne to a school to measure more children's feet who have been affected by jiggers. We went in the break room for the teachers and I tried porridge...very sweet but tastes alright. I think they put a lot of sugar in it. Otherwise it is plain, made of millet and wheat. I spoke with them for a bit and during that time a woman came in crying that her son was missing. He went to a nearby school two weeks ago and never came home after. Yvonne said that there are devil worshippers here called Illuminati and that they have been known to capture young students as a sacrifice. It amazes me that those things happen. Some people also believe in witchcraft.
Yvonne also showed me her bag garden. A few months ago Macheo had a contest between the social workers that encouraged them to think of an idea and present it to the team and her bag gardens won. It is a big sack that is filled with dirt and holes are poked around the side and has an open top to plant kale. This kale is used for their school lunches so they don't have to purchase it, and when the students are on holiday it can be sold to earn money for the feeding program. She has also started an agriculture club where students learn about agriculture and take care of the bag garden when she is not there.
I ate lunch with the cooks and they gave me a very large serving of Gatheri, as they normally do. I was almost done and wondered how in the world I would finish this because there was so much. I remember back at home people saying "there are starving children in Africa who would LOVE to have your food" when you don't finish your plate. Well, here I was in Africa and couldn't finish my plate and there were probably hungry children nearby. I kind of had to laugh while thinking about the irony that I actually am here. I finished my plate.
Yvonne and I left to go to Thika town to purchase the shoes and more supplies. It's fun to be down there! We go back in an alley of shops to get the shoes at a good price of 200 shillings.
- comments