Toilets, Crocodiles and Snorkeling

We spent last week at the coast. It was absolutely lovely to be away from the city and to have a warm pool to swim in. Wednesday night we boarded the Mombasa Express. The boys were very excited and kept pretending they were going to Hogwarts, on the Hogwart's Express. We had a semi sleepless night as the trained bounced along the track stopping now and then at the numerous train stations along the way. The next day we still had about four hours until we reached our destination. We watched the scenery, I took pictures and the kids watched at least one movie. Shortly before we reached the final train station I headed to the washroom. I had tucked the small research camera (Brian's) I had been using to take pictures in my front pocket. The toilet is a hole in the floor that opens right out onto the track. As I  was pulling my jeans back up the camera slipped out of the pocket and right out the hole. I admit I uttered a number of inappropriate words and flew out the door. I frantically told Brian I had dropped his camera. In my denial and delirium I stated that I could jump out run back and get it and get back to the train. Brian was more realistic and graceful. I am quite attached to cameras and in particular to the pictures. I had some pretty cool shots and I was severely disappointed to have lost them. Even a few days later I had a hard time reconciling my loss. I could have done this, I should have left the camera in the room... I finally came to the conclusion that I have another camera and I lost pictures of my family, not my family itself. I still struggle with it but what can you do?

After we arrived we hopped in the taxi and headed out to our "resort". We stayed an hour outside of Mombasa. We took the small ferry off the island and headed south.

We spent the next week swimming in the pool, snorkeling at the beach, getting eaten by mosquitoes and melting in the heat and humidity. The kids were in the pool at least twice a day. Jasper discovered a love for snorkeling. He and Brian spent several hours in the ocean looking for fish and other sea creatures. Jasper decided he wants to be a marine biologist. Milo, the girls and I spent the time on the beach looking for shells and other beach treasures.

We took a morning trip on a dhow, a cross between a canoe and a small sail boat. We did a little bit of fishing but didn't catch anything. Milo spent the trip on the bottom of the boat and by the end Alaina had joined him. Brian and Jasper made an attempt at snorkeling. Zoe and I just enjoyed the ride.

We also took a day trip into the city and to Mamba Village. The kids got a kick out of seeing the crocodiles. They even got the chance to hold some babies.

The day we left we took a tour of Fort Jesus. The kids enjoyed going around the fort and looking at the cannons. It was cool to see a bit of the history from that area. After the tour we headed to the train station for the ride home. We all enjoyed out time away and were also happy to head back.

Alaina could not stop talking about her home. She is very excited to be back with her tiny bed, toys and her puppy. We are all feeling the pull toward home. We have enjoyed our time here very much. I told Brian last night that in some ways the time we have been here has felt almost surreal and that in going home we are headed back to reality. I am both excited and a bit sad thinking about our departure. Though if I'm being truly honest I am probably more excited being that I have begun packing. Jasper is looking forward to being back in school. We are all looking forward to having a bit more room and a bit more privacy. Before we know it we will be on an airplane and then landing back at home. Life will have resumed.

I feel so very blessed by the chance to have this experience. I have been exposed to issues in my heart and life that needed to be changed and to a different perspective on life in general. It has been life changing. My hope is to retain this and live a life of more impact and love. I am blessed by all of you in my life! Thank you for following us and encouraging us while we have been here. I look forward to seeing you all in the not so distant future!

Relating

A few weeks ago I went to the home of our help and friend, Hellen. The purpose of this visit was to see her place of residence, meet her daughter and sister and to purchase khangas for one of my relatives. It is a reality check to see how many people in Nairobi live. The apartments we live in are for the wealthier residence and more people live in these little one sometimes two room houses. Hellen has one room that is roughly 10ft by 15ft. she has separated it into three rooms by hanging up a couple sheets. The building itself is made from wood and mud with a little concrete covering the outside.

Hellen was (and is) married to the father of her children. At one point in time she had a decent job and had even saved money in hope of starting her own shop. Her husband told her of an investment opportunity that could potentially double her money. She gave him all she had saved. Her husband took her money and left. She was pregnant with her son and experienced numerous health issues. Her son was born premature. She has struggled to take care of herself, her kids and also her sister. As I have gotten to know her we have talked about the possibility of her going back to school to learn a trade that would provide her a job and a living for her and her kids. The trouble is that even if someone has a job they often don't make much money. I have been challenged that I am somehow supposed to help.

Hellen lives here with her youngest sister, her daughter and son and a helper. It has been eye opening to get to know Hellen and hear her story. I was reluctant at first to have help. After the first day I would have preferred not having her come again. After the first week I was still thinking I would rather do things myself. Part of it is the way I grew up, part is the fact I like my privacy, part was pride and part was that I didn't have anything else to do. I truly believe God placed her in my life and then worked in my heart to keep her for the rest of our time here. She has told me more than once that I have changed her life. I believe she has helped to change mine. I still struggle with having someone around and actually look forward to doing my house work everyday again.

I, as probably most people do, struggle immensely with relationships. I avoid relationships because I tend to take things on and I also have issues with rejection among other things. This has really shone me where I need to change my attitudes about relationships and how I can have healthier ones. I don't have to internalize and try to fix every ones problems. I need people in my life to help when I need it and to show me when I am wrong. I have been shown that I am very selfish in the way I approach my relationships. It has challenged me to change the way I see people, relationships and my need for both.

My life has been touched and from what she says Hellens has too. I am blessed to know her. I am blessed to have you all in my life. I hope I will be a better friend and relative to you all.

Hospital

Last Friday I had the unique opportunity to join our help, and my friend, to one of the government hospitals. I should mention that this particular hospital is considered one of the best. Hellen had left her house at 6:30 AM in hopes of securing a spot at the front of the queue for her sons 8 AM appointment. I arrived a little after nine. As I walked into the building and made my way to the waiting room it struck me that I stuck out like a sore thumb. People looked at this white woman with wonder as I made my way through the hallways, up the stairs and the whole time I sat with my friend.

The waiting room was made up of rows of wooden benches. As people came in they brought their appointment cards to the front of the room. After a bit of queueing they handed the card to an attendant behind a metal gate. He looked through stacks and stacks of files and the waiting continued. As one person moved forward the rest slid over to fill the space. After waiting for about 20 minutes a group of about ten people were called to go to another hallway to wait. We were in that group. I was struck then by what it must be like to be the one waiting for treatment. You could wait for hours before being seen. For the first time since our arrival I thought, "Oh Lord. Please don't let me catch anything". I will admit I felt ashamed at thinking that.

The walls had scuff marks almost half way up. The floors were dirty and out of curiosity I looked up. Huge dust bunnies were caught in the criss-crossing of the skylight daring each other to drop at any moment. After another twenty minute (or so) wait we were called into the exam room. This was a series of curtained off cubicles with an ancient piece of medical equipment serving as a desk. The doctor came in and spoke with us for a few minutes. I was struck again by the medical equipment and the seeming looseness of the whole thing. After we got our prescription we made our way back out into the fresh air.

We made our way first to the washrooms. In order to do this we had to enter the area we would call the ER. I was immediately overcome with smells of body fluid, vomit and rot among other things. When my eyes adjusted I was aware of four or five beds right out in the large waiting room, each one with a person waiting to be seen. Each were in different stages of pain. I was holding my breath and trying not to stare. I hoped my face did not show the disgust I was feeling. I was ashamed for feeling that way and more than happy to remove myself from the building.

After that we made our way to the pediatric wing. There again people were waiting in line for their turn to be seen. We made a brief enquiry at the pharmacy and were told the drugs were not available. My friend would have to find another chemist in order to get her sons medications.

As we made our way home I found myself thinking that I was very happy to have access to the health care at home. I was emotionally drained after spending several hours at the hospital and holding back the tears that kept coming to my eyes.  I was the ONLY white person at that hospital.

I am constantly thinking about how we grow up. People here really don't know any different and unless we see it we think everyone lives like us. On the other hand we assume that they are so primitive they live in grass huts without water and power. Some people do. I think the thing to remember is that we are all people and one way of life is not better than another. One might be more comfortable or easier but who is better off in the end?

Thank you for being a part of our life here and at home. I am so blessed to have you in my life and I am blessed to be here. I thank God for teaching me something different and opening my eyes to a new understanding.