Tuesday again

Where does the time go. It's beyond me at this point. Sunday afternoon's meal on the rim of the Rift Valley was more than delightful. It was wonderful. The company was quite fun, the food was very good. Joe had goat. I don't want to think of it. It was just lots of fun. I continue to go to Sally Test and I'm really enjoying the staff as well as the children. Sarah Ellen has done amazing things here. Today I did more cleaning out of stuff that probably hadn't been touch for a long time. Uck, uck. It's like many places...no one wants to take the time or responsibility of throwing out. Didn't get rid of a whole lot of things but did clean and organize things. I'm working on the counter tops tomorrow. Today one of the staff members really got into organizing some shelves. That's not necessarily a kenyan thing...organizing. But it did happen. This afternoon we had lots of dark clouds and thunder, it's the rainy season but rain is going all around Eldoret. We are at 7000 feet, higher than Denver. I got out my long pants, a sweater and am wearing a sweatshirt. Cool breezes for sure. I must say that I have enjoyed so much being with lots of students here from the states working on so many projects. There is a man here from somewhere, a well driller wanting people from Southern Indiana where there are plenty of wells to join him drilling in Kenya. He will be here for 6 months. Meal time is great. All kinds of conversations going on. This afternoon SEM is flying to Nairobi to meet Leigh, Julie and family who get in later tonight. She will be in Nairobi for two days coming back on Thurs. evening but leaving again Friday afternoon for safari at Rhondo. I'll leave Friday afternoon for Nairobi meeting Ellen and then on to the states Friday night arriving Sat. afternoon. It's been an unbelievable month here. Wonderful people, things to do and places to go for sure.

Friday

Well, I was sick for a day and now I'm well. It's a bacterial thing that a whole bunch of westerners get. I'm sooooo happy to be well. Today once again I went to Sally Test. I'm really getting to know the staff as well as the children. What fun. Today the kids had enough nerve to ask to feel my hair. I got such a kick out of that so my hair was patted many times. This afternoon we played with a parachute. Lots of screams and giggles and things that all American children would do. Just before we left ST another abandond baby came in found at a clinic. The people at the clinic gave the child the name of Obama. A few days ago a group from Indy arrived. Merta Pullilam and folks from the Ruth Lilly Foundation...Tonight will be what I might call the Billion Dollar dinner with Joe and SEM and three other folks from I U. The dean being one. And...I'm invited along. Wow...This will be VERY interesting to say the least. Three of the dinners are I U folks who have been here often and they are quite resonable folks. The money ladies...I'm not sure. Today I made the biggest mess ever. I knocked over a Pan of Chi Tea that was prepared for the children in the Sally Test room. What a mess. Lucky for me, the children had had their chi, some was in thermoses for a noon meeting and so this was the left overs. Well, I couldn't deny doing because everyone saw it. I got Ernest and it was easy to admit it and two wonderful ladies cleaned the whole mess up. So...I have little gifts for them that I will give them tomorrow. What a goof. Tomorrow is another day. The rains have not come yet and Kenya is dry in Eldoret. We have hope.

Tuesday

This afternoon I had an "argument" with Javan. My position was that it was Monday and his position was that it was Tuesday. Well, he won. I don't know where Monday went. Today the job was again at Sally Test. Amy A and I finished inventorying the walk in storage room. Now most of what is in the room is accounted for. That was a huge job. This afternoon we finished the same job for Sarah Ellen concerning her back porch. That lady just has about 10 irons in the fire. No man could do that. She arrives at Sally Test and on the walk to the room she is making reservations for a weekend at Nukuru with Leigh, the kids and some other family members. Joe had "made" them but it really didn't happen. Then she arrives at the ST Room and the phone rings with more questions. Then she checks e-mail to see if the reservations really have happened. Then a bunch of visiting people walk in and she talkes to them and then it's 8:30 and she has a meeting with the nurses that work for her and that lasts till 9:15. Then it's more and more stuff. I'm just happy to be in the room with her. Today the children were reciting nursery rhymes. Thay have such a cute english accent. Makes me smile. Well, I thought...these kids don't know what Hey Diddle Diddle really is all about so we acted it out. What fun. I think they thought I was freaking funny. I had to laugh just at what I thought they were thinking about this 70 yr. old white haired grandma was doing trying to jump over the moon! What fun. The teachers were a hoot as well. I wished I had a fiddle! We played with the children, talked to more folks and then at 1:00 Javan arrived and took us home for lunch at the IU house. Well, Ms. SEM had a list of aboug 10 things to do so I got her lunch at the IU house and took it to her office. Joe had a laugh about that but SEM had time to work during her lunch. Then she went back to ST in the afternoon arriving home around 4:30. Amy and I stayed at the house and inventoried the back porch. That is finished now. I sat and had a diet coke, did some knitting, passed out some stocking caps to the guards and now I'm waiting for the supper bell at 6:30.
Tonight after supper I'm working on cleaning and straightening a huge cupboard in SEM's office. I did two parts last night and tonight it's the third one. It's full of office supplies. Tomorrow SEM and I and Amy Altmeyer are going out to a clinic to check out what is being done to entertain the children coming for treatment or just coming with an adult who is ill. I'm not sure where we're going but I know I'll see alot. Time is getting short.

Sunday

Back in Eldoret after a great two days at Nukura seeing almost every African animal there is. No elephants and no leopards but one huge lion for sure and lots more. It was a great break from work. Today is Sunday. One thing I have discovered again is how much Joe and Sarah Ellen work. It's a seven day a week gig, unless they are off somewhere for a weekend which doesn't happen often. Joe did not go to Nukura but SEM did. We're off to Sally Test again around 9 this morning. There are always sick children. The church kids now with three interns are now in Kisumu for the rest of their stay. Amy Altemeyer is here with me and will be here until the 1st of July. We've been busy and will continue on with sorting, cleaning, taking care of children and just helping along. The IU house is full with visitors. That means between 60 and 70 people observing, helping and learning more about Kenya. That includes high school and college students, adults, med students, doctors, and more. The sun is up and I'm ready for breakfast.

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.