Nikki's Amazing Trip to Kenya, Africa

We left Shiloh United Church of Christ parking lot at 2:30pm.  We had arranged for a van to take all 13 of us and our 36 pieces of luggage to Newark airport.  I was scared.  We flew to Heathrow airport in London. Flying is fun.  Heathrow was huge and crowded.  We were standing in line for about two hours and boarded our plane to Nairobi.  Until tomorrow?..

January 14, 2006

My first plane ride was a lot of fun, but after a while, it got really uncomfortable.  When I walked outside the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, it was so amazing.  I was speechless because I was actually in Kenya.  At the airport INDA (A self help group) greeted us with music and dancing.  They had traveled a long way to see us.  We arrived at 9:20 pm, Kenyan time, so it was dark.   It was about 55 degrees.  It was hard to tell what Kenya looked like at this time of night.  Until tomorrow?

January 15, 2006

Today was amazing and eye opening.  The group, in the morning, separated and went to different churches for worship.  Dad, Judy and I went to St. Andrew's.  It was in English PTL!!  It was a modern beautiful church building.  Dad and Judy were the only white people in the entire building.  I have never experienced that before.  But I did not feel African.  There were about 1,000 people there.  The music was beautiful, a cappella with wonderful harmonies.  Everyone who went to church there seemed so happy to be there.  Even the kids my age were happy to worship.  Then we went back to our guest house for lunch and a break.  A guest house is like a hotel, but not fancy.  Each room had twin beds, two of us to a room, a private bathroom, hot water and flush toilets.  Then we went to a school/HIV Aids Clinic.  At the clinic we saw a puppet show that depicted what life is like for someone with Aids and talked about rejection from family and friends.   While we were traveling there, I saw what I had only seen on TV.  There were people everywhere in the streets talking, buying and selling.  There was trash everywhere.  It doesn't seem right that people have to live in the trash.  The clinic saw 100 babies a day with HIV/Aids.  The numbers of infected individuals in Kenya is overwhelming.  They have no retroviral drugs, so they die so much quicker from the effects of HIV than American's do.  It is truly a death sentence.  Our group was able to make a small donation of $100.00.

Note:  Nairobi has a population of 2.5 million.  1.5 million live in abject poverty.

After we went to the clinic, we went to a self help center that makes pottery.  Daddy bought a few pieces for Mom.  They use the money to train people to have a craft and lift them out of poverty.  It was so cool to watch as this man threw pots.  He made it look so easy.  Then for dinner we went to a famous Kenyan restaurant called The Carnivore.  There you can eat any, and I do mean any kind of meat.  I didn't try anything weird except crocodile and ostrich, but they served zebra, giraffe and chicken livers.  Everybody in the group lived.  Until tomorrow?.

January 16, 2006

Today we traveled to Soy Kenya, which is so different than Nairobi.  The homes were made out of mud. Most of the roofs were tin.  We saw zebras on our way there. The roads were, oh my gosh, not roads, more like organized pot holes.  Big, big potholes, small valleys.  We made one stop at a scenic overlook of the Great Rift Valley.  It was beautiful and the drop to the bottom was very far.  Ten times the Tower of Terror in height.  Most of the children wave as the vans pass by, but some just stare.  There has been a very deadly drought in this part of Kenya and it is dry and dusty.  We also saw a lot of cows and goats.  Everyone owns a few of each.   At times I still can't believe that I am in Kenya. It is mid 80's to 90 degrees and hot.  All along the roads are shops that sell to the tourists.  We did not stop as we were on a mission.  We also passed forests areas. They were pretty and the trees were like the ones in Lion King, crooked, strange and beautiful.  It rained that night, which was good because they need it so bad.  At the Soy Lodge, there was a shelter house where we ate our dinner.  I saw a stray dog.  He looked so sad, and hungry and cold.  I wanted to pet him, but we are not allowed to because none of the dogs gets there get shots and may have rabies.  I have learned to appreciate the little things from home already, like flushing toilets, hot water, and a bed without mosquito netting.  It is hard to believe that we have only been here for three days.  It feels like we have been here for weeks.  I can't wait to start working tomorrow.  The people here look so kind, just wonderful people to be with.  Until tomorrow?

January 17, 2006

Today we saw a daycare/nursery school, two more schools and a medical clinic. 

At medical clinic we were able to leave a microscope that Diane had brought from Geisinger.  We understand that because of the microscope that they can save money because they can test there for diseases that normally they could not test for.  They also can improve their standing and qualify for more governmental aid.  We also left bandages, pens and a few T-shirts.  The building at the medical clinic has two or three maternity rooms, but no beds.  They had very few medicines.  They have three or four exam rooms, five qualified nurses and one technician.  No doctor. 

One school was in front of the clinic. The children at the schools treated us like rock stars.  The little ones at the day care center were great singers and we taught them a different way to clap and they caught on right away.  Until tomorrow?

January 18, 2006

Today, Nancy and I talked with a Kenyan woman named Judith.  She was very nice and smart.  She teaches business classes at the secondary school (high school) Nancy, Judith and I talked about our different views about marriages, schooling and community.  In Kenya it is lawful to practice polygamy.  There,  husbands are allowed to sleep with as many women as they desire, but the women have to be faithful to their husband only.  In Kenya the community is very supportive of their neighbors.  You have to have a uniform to go to school in Kenya.  Classes are taught in both Kiswahili and English, so school age children are bilingual. 

Diane and I went with the building crew to build desks at one of the primary schools (elementary) After a while, Doug, Dave and I played football (soccer) with older children.  It was a blast.  We built 26 desks.  Three children share each desk.  So we helped 78 children there. 

I met a girl there named Violet.  She and I are the same age.  This is the last year her family will be able to afford to send her to school.  She asked me for help to find a sponsor.  They all see school as a blessing.  

Last time the group traveled here, the school well was contaminated and we learned that all 600 children would have to carry their water, but most just did not drink.  We were able to send back enough money to repair their well and now they had plenty of water to drink.  Until tomorrow?..

January 19, 2006

Today is our last day in Soy and Eldoret is nearby.  We went to Eldoret to the African National Council of Churches Community Center and talked with the committee in charge of the center.  We learned that they were very organized in talking care of the community.  They were helping people live with HIV/Aids.  We observed that never did we hear Kenyans talk about ways to prevent infection.  They try only to help people cope after infection.  Kenyan culture keeps them from speaking openly about safe sex, abstinence, etc?  I found this so frustrating and hard to understand. 

We went to a local Pastor's house for lunch and a closing ceremony.  The music was beautiful.  Then there were speeches from the chairman and some of the pastors.  Then we came back to the guest house for dinner and we had a lot of fun.  It is interesting here because some of the Kenyans think I am in college or graduated.  Right now it is 9:00pm and 1:00pm, so my friends back home are still in school.  I learned a new card game called SkipBo and it is a lot of fun.  So tired, want to go bed, not going to because we are having so much fun.  Until tomorrow?..

January 20, 2006

We stopped in Kisumu for lunch at lake Victoria.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  Light blue cloudless sky, a light breeze, there were waves on the lake and you could see for miles.  We went to downtown Kisumu to look for fabric for Nancy.  We stopped in the mall to look and Susan found an ice cream shop.  LOL So cool.

We traveled about three hours northeast to Maseno.  It was so tiring today and all we did was travel. We met with a group called INDA Self Help Group.  They greeted us with music and taking our pictures.  Our group was able to purchase building materials to help them build a community building.   We have met and made the plans for the next several days.  It was really confusing.  Some of our group will be teaching Sunday school teachers, some will be teaching pastors, some will be working on the building project here (we will continue work on the community center building) and some will be working with Mercy Home orphanage.  Until tomorrow?..

January 21, 2006

We visited today with three different churches and then to Mercy Home.  We visited the churches so we would know where to go on Sunday.  Churches here are different than in America.  A small mud room, wooden benches and a tin roof makes a church.  Mercy Home is an orphanage that houses 35 girls, who are virtually homeless and without families that can raise them because of the HIV/Aids virus.  In Kenya there are over 1 million orphans due to Aids.  This home is run by a gentleman and his wife named Edward and Deborah Mbenda.  Edwards seems strict but loving with the girls.  The girls at Mercy Home made us a cake and they asked me to cut it.  It was delicious. 

There was a bat in our guest house.  We hid from the bat in our rooms.  Until tomorrow?..

January 22, 2006

Church today was interesting.  I don't know the name of the church I attended.  It was a large brick building.  There were about 30 people there.  It was all in Kiswahili and I couldn't understand a word of it.  After every person gave their offering they clapped.  The music was lively and spirited.  They seem to love worshipping.  The church services last about four hours and it was hot.  We went to lunch and then to a nursery school for a presentation from INDA.   They did a skit that gave us a glimpse into Kenyan culture.  It was about a young woman who slept with many men and then fooled them into thinking that they were all the father of her child.  We came back to the guest house and had a free afternoon.  I did my laundry (by hand), straightened up my suitcase and got ready for the next few days. It was a lot of fun just to hang out and play cards and just take it easy.  I met a young Kenyan man named Victor.  He works at the guest house, cleans rooms and helps make dinner.  He was very nice, but I think he made my Dad nervous when he asked if girls my age could marry.  Don't worry I don't think he meant me, he was just asking for general information.   I miss clothes dryers, hot water, one hour church services, and beds without mosquito netting.  Until tomorrow?..

January 23, 2006

Today was exhausting and wonderful.  Terry, Diane, Rich, Dave, Della and I went to the building site and made a lot of progress.  I learned how to lay brick.  It was not as easy as it looks.  The two walls that we were building got taller than me.  Instead of going back to the building site I (picture is Word of Faith Church)

went with Dad, Judy, Nancy and Florence to the Word of Faith church.  We met Nicodemus, Edward Nambute's brother.  They talked about how God had changed their lives.  Nicodemus and his wife have helped many people.  We came back to the guest house, freshened up and had dinner.  Dave, Nancy, Judy and I played Uno until we dropped. 

We met a guy from Chicago named Travis.  He was doing a documentary for a medical clinic, so he was staying all over Africa for a year. 

My mom sent me a stack of cards to open, one each day for my Dad and I to share.  Today's had a cute joke in it.  I miss my Mom.  Until tomorrow?..

January 24, 2006

We went back to the worksite to see the progress they made yesterday afternoon.  They got two corners done.  Now they should be able to finish their building with the supplies we were able to leave behind. Then Nancy, Cathy, Susan and I went to Word of Faith Church to meet with Doug and Dad for the closing ceremony.  Then we went to Mercy Home.  We presented the girls with the gifts from the sponsors.  We were able to give each of them blankets, angel pins, $20.00, shirts, pens, wash clothes and towels, snacks and money for the orphanage. We also gave $100.00 to a Saturday breakfast program that feeds very needy children breakfast.   It made me feel like I had actually accomplished something by seeing how happy they were with the small things.  I met the girl that my family sponsors.  Her name is Sheiliah.  She was very pretty, taller than me, shy.  She wore her school uniform, dark blue skirt with a white blouse and a blue vest.  We went to the guest house to rest and have dinner.  Until tomorrow?..

January 25, 2006

We traveled 3 ½ hours to Lake Nakura for an afternoon safari.  It isn't that we went that far, it is just that the roads are so horrible.  When you get to where you are going you are so tired and covered from head to toe with dust.  I went through a million wet wipes that my Mom packed for me.  They talk about the Lake being pink, but I learned that meant that half of the world's population of Flamingos live at Lake Nakura.  That is a lot of pink birds in one place.  They were as far as the eye could see.  There were so many and they were loud.  It sounded like a party.  I also saw a Vervet Monkey, Marabou stork, Water Buffalo (they call them Cape Buffalo) Pelicans, Greater and Lesser Flamingos (the lesser pink ones are younger) a Water Buck, Giraffe, Zebra, Impala, Gazelle, White and Black Rhino's, Warthog, Vulture, (they are so ugly) Fish Eagle and a Dikedike (pronounced deekdeek, pigmy antelopes) It almost feels like a dream that I am actually seeing these animals in person in their natural habitat.  Until tomorrow?..

January 26, 2006

We traveled six hours to Maasai Mara for another safari.  It was a long, hot and tiring trip.  We saw a lioness eating a cow.  We also saw a total of ten elephants and a lot of zebra, eleven giraffes, then on way back to a hotel (yes I said hotel?this is the first touristy place we had been) three lion cubs and their parents.  Nancy was singing "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight?.."  But I kept hearing the Lion King music in my head.  I repacked my stuff and got to bed.  Until tomorrow?..

January 27, 2006

We went on a morning safari.  We saw 10 lions and heard one male roar.  That was cool.  More Cape Buffalo, Zebras, Giraffes, nearly 30 elephants with four baby elephants.  They were so cute.  Next we left for Niarobi and we met with Wilson's family.  Wilson was one of drivers for the last mission trip and this one.  He has 13 children.  We were able to tip Wilson and Frances (our two drivers) more than they were actually paid.  They were so grateful.  I know they could really use the money and they took such good care of us.  Wilson gave us tea that he grew on his farm.  My Mom says it tastes like good old black tea.  We are waiting now for our flight.  It will be so weird, yet wonderful to walk into school on Monday.  Being able to talk to my Mom and brothers will be awesome.  I can't end this with my usual "until tomorrow", so I guess I'll say Until America?..

February 1, 2006

 Mrs. Herring, my Chart Your Course teacher asked me if I would ever go back to Africa.  I don't think I will.  Africa is too far.  I traveled nine thousand miles.  I learned so much, met many wonderful people and I think going there helped me comprehend so much of what my parents and teachers have been saying to me that I would not have understood by staying home.  I understand how blessed I am to talk to my Mom everyday, pick up a phone to call my friends and go to school without worrying about how it will be paid for.  I know we complain about medical costs, but at least the medicine is here.  A doctor's call there costs 14 cents (American) but most can not afford it and even if they could there is usually not medicine there to help. 

I learned that we are all the same, God's children.  It doesn't matter whether you are Kenyan, American or from Chicago.  We are in this together. 

Several of my friends thought I went to Kenya just to get out of school.  I feel like I will spend the rest of my life helping further mission work in Africa and my friends to gain some understanding of what kind of life other people live.