BLOG 6 – It is 6 weeks since the previous Blog. (correction – this is now over a week later than when first begun – today is Saturday 24th May) I guess that with each Blog, the time between each one will be equivalent in weeks to the BLOG number! Next time will possibly be 7 weeks, just before we return to the UK for a 3 week break with family and friends.
Today, 14-05-2008, I was informed that a guard who works in my compound was murdered – near his home, close to the Simon Newberry School site in Manyatta B where we are serving and visiting each day!
His name was Charles – 'tall' Charles (6'6''), a born again believer, with whom I had begun to make close friends. I am in shock! I was only chatting with him at 5pm last night. We had prayed briefly together, often exchanged similar interests in gardening and people. He had visited our school site and had introduced us to Alios, a 50 year old man and close Christian brother. He recommended Alios to us as a carpenter whom we hired to make 5 cupboards for the school. I've just phoned Alios to check if he knew what had happened. I had no idea that it was Alios who found him at 6am this morning lying dead in a field near both their homes – as he was taking his older children to school. Charles was unrecognisable; his beautiful face was mutilated and covered in blood. In one of his hands was cloth torn from one of his many attackers, commonly worn by Masai. His other hand was raised seeking to try and defend his head from the brutal stabbings.
I loved Charles.
The guards at the compound here are deeply shocked and upset.
Tonight will not be easy for them – or Charles' wife Helen and his 3 children.
God I really do not understand what has happened, nor why.
There is a book lying on the balcony coffee table in front of me – correction; it is 'mossi' time – 7pm and I have now entered into the safety of the apartment. The book is entitled 'Where there is no Doctor'! On page 358 there is a page entitled 'Accepting Death' .
To summarise, Kenyans accept death as part of life so much more closely than us westerners. They are not so afraid of death and talk of death very openly. They give excellent suggestions on how to help cope with those dying and bring dignity and love to them. I love their openness.
Today 24th May, Charles has been buried – 3 hours drive away at his ancestral home. We did not attend, but very much held the family and friends in our thoughts and prayers. I spent some time in the garden tending to tomatoes I had asked Charles to sow the seeds some 6 weeks ago. They are just about to flower. A telling reminder of the fruit of his labours.
We have a wonderful friend from Fareham staying with us at the moment; Susan Graham. We have had great fun with her – taking time off work for a week! Til next Thursday. On Monday we are travelling up to the Rondo Retreat Centre for 24 hours – in the Kakemega Forest. Very colonial, very nice, very relaxing and beautiful, pricey but well worth it.
Chris is still with us and hopes to find an impossible home! Very quiet, 4-5 en suite bedrooms, a servant quarter, in own grounds....for next to nothing in rent! Paula's cooking is irresistible and well worth staying here for as long as possible!! Zoe (from Stubbington) has found a place to live and we hope that this will happen by the end of next week. She came to briefly stay with us following a tough 9 months at Kakemega working with a Christian charity called R.U.S.H.
Many more experiences have happened over the past month, including the start of Swahili lessons! I am really struggling with this and need Divine intervention!!
Paula is great – a wonderful wife and doing really well with special ed'nal needs at the school.The rain is pelting down outside – it is 9.15pm. Paula and Susan are playing Jenga!!
Love to you all. Peter & Paula xx
