BLOG 8 4th SEPTEMBER 2008

BLOG 8 - 4TH September 2008 (The last BLOG should have been Blog 7, not 8!!)

Dear Surfing Bloggers, again!

What a great 4 weeks we've just spent in the UK!
Friendships are absolutely crucial and deeper family relationships; precious.

We returned to Kenya with Sarah and GJ her hubbie mid-August. We had decided to stay overnight at a Christian Guesthouse (Mennonite Centre £12 full board!) We crashed out for the night following a less eventful Emirates return flight. (See Blog 7!)

The following morning we arose early and following breakfast, we were driven on a 45 minute drive by a prearranged minibus taxi to a nearby safari walkabout, where for the costly sum of $10 (£6.00) we walked through 3 terrains (swampy, dry savannah and forest) where different types of animal were to be found; crocodile, ostrich, deer, lion, leopard and monkey. A tree top walk gave us a broader impression of the scenes below and beyond. The Impala Park at Kisumu would really benefit from following Nairobi's example – for the same entrance fee!

A further 20 minute drive brought us to open savannah where we could stand with baby orphaned elephants behind a thin rope! Wow this was an awesome experience. For one hour (11am-12noon) every day the public have the privilege of patting, stroking and feeding these beautiful creatures. The carers aim is to see them strong enough to be released (in pairs) into a nearby safari park. So far their work has been very successful. We were delighted to donate Ksh300 (£2.50) to a worthy cause, and retain a memory for life!

The taxi then took us on a 15 minute drive to a giraffe sanctuary, owned by Lord Rothschild. After paying the Ksh700 (£5.50) entry fee, we were amazed at how close we could get to the giraffes. We could not only stroke, but cuddle and even get a healthy, slurpy/sticky kiss from them. To keep their attention we were constantly given food pellets to feed the Rothschild Giraffe by the guides. They are the 3rd type of giraffe to be found in Africa. In the 70's they almost became extinct. They are now breeding successfully at this site. Their 'white socks' markings up to their knees gives them a distinct look. A knowledgeable guide explained many details regarding giraffes. We were impressed.

We had a lunch on the lawn of a famous local lady, Karen Blixen and then we were speedily driven to the airport for our flight back to Kisumu.

What an amazing day, which was wonderfully rounded off by Blake & Esther (Agape directors) taking us all out for an evening meal at The Green Garden Restaurant in town. The icing on the cake.

Sarah got bitten quite badly by mosquitoes after she had applied her anti-mosquito spray all over her.! Deet 50% clearly attracted them to my daughter!! You pay masses of dosh thinking that you are going to be safe, and what do you know?
This reminds me of so many 'signs' out here in Kisumu. They make amazing claims. For example, there is a soap (which we buy!) called Dettol antibacterial soap. It makes bold claims that it is 10 times safer than any other soap. (You pay almost 10x for sure! - Oh I'm exaggerating – maybe only 2x more expensive). How do they work such figures out and with what other soap? Exaggeration, or to be more precise, lies and downright lies are plastered all over the place out here. Maybe in the UK it is more subtle. The sad fact is most Africans believe the lie to be the truth, and it is not even subtle advertising!

I will fast forward at this point, otherwise I will fall asleep!!

Sarah and GJ spent 2 weeks with us enjoying The Rondo Centre, in the Kakemega Forest, for 3 nights, designing and helping to paint a 'underwater mural' at the new school site, went on an amazing early morning boat/canoe trip on Lake Victoria with hippos and monitor lizards and beautiful birds. They concluded their holiday at Kiboko Point,our favourite lakeside restaurant, before safely boarding the twin propeller FLY540 to Nairobi. What a wonderful time we spent with them making memories and having great fun. Oh I nearly forgot...on the final night together, we played our first game of Canasta for maybe 20 years! (I had downloaded the rules from the internet before leaving UK – very useful.)

I cannot sleep for some unknown reason and it is now past midnight, The local dogs are really going for it!! They rule the nights out here. Zoe leaves Kisumu tomorrow (today!) to live in Tanzania, helping establish an orphanage with an American family. Let's hope it works out for her.

I have just read a true story book of hope for orphans of the poor based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It looks at the pro's and con's of orphanages verses keeping orphans in their community, being looked after by distant relatives and members of the community. The benefits of the latter far outweigh the former. I recommend this book to you. 'The Urban Halo;, by Craig Greenfield. Publishers are 'Authentic'. ISBN 13 978-1-85078-727-3

We have agreed to let Hannah Stockley, an occupational therapist, stay with us for 3 months, from 21st September. I used to teach her at The King's School, Southampton! She will be working full time with the New Life Homes for abandoned aids babies – just around the corner from us here in Milimani.

We begin school on Monday 8th September. Most schools have now returned. It so happened that the government in their wisdom decided on the last day of last term to change the start dates for this new term – bringing the date back one week to the 1st September. We decided to keep to their original wise plan! Most teachers have needed a 4 week break – a lot of ours have been using the holiday doing extra teacher training!!
Soon we hope to start building permanent classrooms for our developing 'Primary' schooling, and also have a permanent toilet block built .
The well diggers have now returned and today they actually emptied the 'dirty' water and now have the joy of finding 'clean' water 20 further feet down. All the digging is done by hand. Every 3-6 feet they make a circular concrete wall to hopefully protect the walls of the well and also prevent 'dirty' water entering the well. We will pump the water out for drinking.
The grounds are maturing well, saplings planted 6 months ago are now 4-5 feet high, general maintenance being given by the 'ascaris' (guards) and casual labourers I employ.

Today there were minor skirmishes in town, following the foolish decision of the Council to demolish, without warning, stall holders along one side of a street. The stall holders had set everything up, loaning money to buy their produce, only for the police and Council to come unannounced to smash it all up. They say they are illegally positioned. There is a fragile and tense stand-off at the moment. People are still very raw from the violence of January. Careful planning and discussion with all the stall holders could have averted this trouble – sadly this is Africa (TIA). My home continent. May the God of peace rule and reign here!

We are healthy! Here endeth this 8th epistle!

Peter & Paula Phillips ( serving To Kenya With Love – www.tkwl.org )

Labels: Summer Holiday 2008 draft