It's Wed.

Times flies when working a lot. And I'm having a lot. That's the way I thought it would be. I'm working my way around the Sally Test room sorting and throwing away and making puzzle pieces and game pieces for those that are lost. Organizing does not seem to be a huge part of Kenya life at least with those I see. And of course even in the states there are those who don't throw anything away. So...I have been busy. Yesterday I was at Sally Test at 8:15 till 12:45 and from 2 to 4:45. That's a long day thinking about how to make things simpler and organizing a ton of stuff. Ernest is so appeciative. I have one more cabinet to do and then Ernest said I should start on a huge walk in closet that is full. All is being inventoried as we go. Today Amy Altemeyer brought her computer and some information is now documented. More to go. I can see at least 3 more days of work. While I'm working the cdplayer is playing Bach and Mozart etc. And...I hear Patricia saying Humpty Dumpty and more with the children with a very English accent. And Moses is walking around and the babies are crying. It's just wonderful.
Tonight all at the IU compound are going out to a restaurant for supper. It's the cook's night off. Tomorrow we hope to work at Sally Test in the morning, if SEM says so and then we're off to Nukura for two days. We'll see lots of African animals on some drives through the park. Should be fun. We'll be back in Eldoret Sat. afternoon for another round of work. The youth are going on to Kisumu after the Nukura visit. SEM, Amy, Javan and I will drive back to Eldoret. The youth have a blog...youthtokenya.blogspot.com It's very interesting to see Kenya through their words. We had a 5 minute rain last night, a few drops today but it seems that the rainy season is a bit late. That's it for now.

From the other side

It's the other side of the pond. It's Friday already. We arrived in Eldoret Tues. evening. Had a great time in Nirobi but happy to get on the plane to Eldoret. We met up with some friends from Sec. Presbyterian Church and also Amy Altmeyer from North at the IU dining room. The Duke 6 arrived Wed. So...lots of friends in little america Eldoret. We did some touring to places with the Duke 6. Imani, Sally Test Room, the Heart and Harvest Farms, Irene's Passion Fruit Farm, Moe Teaching and Referral Hospital. Saw Daniel Onachang. this afternoon and met his mother who is here for some knee diagnosis. That was really special. We have been busy. Now the Duke 6 and Ellen have moved on to western Kenya for a while. SEM and Joe are arriving tomorrow morning. So...It's a great shower, a little supper, some knitting and reading. Sounds like a good plan. I probably will be spending more time at Sally Test working with sick children who are well enough to have some daytime activities. There are so many children with cancer, burns that are unbelievable as well as other ailments. The hospital area is crawling with children. Today a group of people from Lilly came through the Sally Test Rm. They are here to hopefully establish a support program of medication for diabetics. This certainly is a spot for a lot of people with plans and ambitions for this area of the world. I hear boys from Indianapolis playing basketball outside the window. Now isn't that cool. The church kids leave Sunday. I'll be seeing them soon.

Today

Today is the day for the big trip to begin. Bags are packed but first we are off to church. Ellen and I are leaving around 11:00 for the airport. Plane leaves at 1:05. And...tomorrow evening at 9:00 Nairobi time we will be getting off the plane and then Tues afternoon it's another hr. plane trip to Eldoret. It really is about a total of 19 hrs of flying. Time to read and knit and sleep and talk. If I can get to a computer I'll do some blogging. No big promises about that. That's about it. Off to church soon and then on the way.

Wow...

Life has gotten topsy turvy. I'm leaving for Kenya Sunday morning arriving in Eldoret Tuesday afternoon. 18 hr flight and then a day trip by van from Niarobi to Eldoret. And...of course part of the idea is to visit for a month with friend Sarah Ellen. But...here's the rub. Sarah Ellen's husband Joe made an emergency medical trip to the states arriving Monday morning. And he has been told to take a two week break from Eldoret. Sarah Ellen was already here visiting with her children as she does every May. So...I'm in Eldoret and Sarah Ellen is here! Now how about that. I have no hesitation on being in Eldoret and I think it will be a great adventure. I certainly wish that SEM were there but this give me a chance to see what I can do on my own. And...I'll do it for sure. People there know I'm coming and I'll even have a driver a place to sleep in SEM's house and meals at the I U dining room. Now that's better than the states in my book. There aren't very many places to go but I know a few and will certainly stay busy. Sarah Ellen gave me some cleaning jobs and I'll certainly be in the Sally Test room at the hospital helping with all the sick children who come to play as they are able. Some are abandon babies and some just sick. Children stay much longer in the hospital with more serious problems than here in the states. So...I'm leaving Sunday at 1pm and back in the states July 4 at 7pm.
What an adventure. Bring it on.

Friday

It's been a while and I've been busy as usual. The flowerbeds look wonderful in the back yard. The front of the house is so so. A small veg. garden has been planted and wouldn't you know it. the lettuce is up but probably should be eaten during the time I'm in Kenya. Can't win them all. I planted tomatoes, peppers and one egg plant along with parsley, dill, rosemary and some other things. I'm waiting for the digger to redo the flowerbed along the driveway. I've got the plants ready to go. We spent a long weekend in Michigan with JB, Kimmy, Adam and Jacob. What a fun time with those little guys. I'm constructing piles of clothing, shillings, important papers, etc. in preparation for the month of June in Kenya. I need one more doc appointment for malaria pills. It's all coming together and just two full weeks till it all begins to happen. Time at this end is going way to fast.

Monday evening

Oops...it's Tuesday evening. Days stay busy. Yesterday a group of us finished the last mailing of the churches' North Notes. It's going on line on the web site. Yahoo. Best decision ever. One thing less to think about. Then I had lunch with my old teacher friends. It's been a while. I had a two hr. meeting at 5 with the Umoja group which is planning the second carnival at Sec. Presbyterian Church Labor Day weekend. This morning I met Alan at church and we packed away a bunch of flower arrangements we used at Easter. It's back in the box. Wow...glad that's done. But really first thing this morning was a PT appointment for my neck muscles. I wish I could say my neck is perfect but it isn't. It's better but certainly not the best it could be. Worked in the yard this afternoon edging some of the flowerbeds. I took it easy and stopped to stretch my neck when the pain came. I'm working in littler bits. Picked up more donated yarn at church this morning and finished a wild hat all in neon colors. Great for little girls. I'm up to 81 hats now. My fingers just keep on going like the everyready bunny. Thank goodness knitting doesn't seem to bother my neck very much. Tomorrow is my morning to work at the church desk. I'll do more knitting. Tomorrow afternoon I hope to get a few plants in the ground. And bell practice is in the evening. The weather is beautiful. Cool but sunny days reminding me of Eldoret weather. Not to much longer before I'm on the way.

Never, Never, Never

I will never again put onions down my garabage disposal. What a mess. We hooked up to Carmel disposal...no more septice tank so I thought...anything goes. Well, onions get stuck in the pipes. After some do it yourself stuff. I got the sink unstuck. How could I be so old not knowing that onions do not belong in the garbage disposal. Reminder to the readers!!! Now you all know. Friend SEM is here from Kenya. We had a wonderfu meal together at Rick's Boatyard Sunday with friends and relatives of SEM as well as the three Kenyan medical students here for 6 weeks of working at the medical center. What fun, what fun. I love those students. Such eager minds. Still knitting hats. Yarn supply is going down but not gone. I'm up to 75 stocking hats for distribution this winter to folks who need hats. Planted tomatoes and peppers along with lettuse and radishes and a bunch of herbs from seed. They do as well or better then plants. To cool to grow very fast. Still spring in Indy. I was called to fill in this afternoon at the churches front desk. I usually do Wed. morning but this is an emergency. I'm taking my knitting and searching the internet for what ever I can find. That includes the NY Times, Washington Post, Daily Mining Gazette, Indy Star and more. . Keeps me busy. Two days at church is what I call my limit but this week will be more.