Harold's Travels: May 2011

Friday, May 27, 2011

Wednesday 25 May 2011

Up around 0700 and off to the restaurant to get Nancy a cup of coffee and me a cup of hot tea. She always appreciates a cup of coffee early on the morning if she is awake. Like many people do not awaken her just to give her a cup of coffee or you might be in big trouble.

Breakfast was good and the scenery and setting was great with all the palm trees and the Indian Ocean. The little spider monkeys were doing their thing and trying to steal whatever they could. The people in the restaurant kept them ran off the best they could. After breakfast down to the beach to see what was going on. There was a coral reef some distance from the shore so the owners of the glass bottom boats were trying to sell you a trip to see the fish. The area was actually a marine park setup to protect the coral reef and the surrounding beaches.

At 1100 we met the driver and we went downtown to tour Fort Jesus. I have some pictures but if you want more information jus Google Fort Jesus, Mombasa, Kenya. The fort is very large and old but was well throughout and built. We really enjoyed visiting the fort and the tour guide that Jim hired also took us down through old town to see the 450 year old houses and harbor. I found a local store that had cold diet Pepsi and it was great at 50 Ksh. The guide took us to a restaurant but there were no customers so we chose to go somewhere else to eat. You just do not go to eat at a place with no customers. We ended up in some small restaurant where the chicken and chips were good.

After lunch we went back to the museum to see the sand paintings and they were not what we expected but they were okay. Nancy, Lee and I went shopping and found a few items to purchase. Nancy really enjoys haggling with the people.

We finally made our way back to the lodge and changed clothes and went swimming. The pool was salt water and very cool so it felt great.

Dinner, conversation and rest

More later

Tuesday 24 May 2011

We got up at regular time and had breakfast at 0700 and got our luggage that was going to stay in Karen to the van so Charles and Chris could carry it to Chris’s house in Karen. We departed the conference center headed toward Mombasa at 0935 and were not looking forward to the scheduled 8 hour trip.

We will be staying in Mombasa area until Friday morning when we will return Ito Nairobi and drop off Lee at the airport. Lee will be going back to Birmingham on Friday for the Jotto Kenyatta International Airport.

The trip was long and very interesting and it was amazing except for a few zebras and baboons we saw no wildlife on the way to Mombasa. The highway was full of freight trucks carrying containers both east and west. It was interesting to watch Charles our driver maneuver around the trucks and cars. Everyone is very curious and on road rage was evident. I know drivers that would have killed about half of the people on the road.

You could find just about everything on the side of the road from fresh vegetables, meat, honey, wood carving to chickens. It is always interesting to see what they have. I purchased a slingshot for 100 Kush and will take it to Alabama to see if it will work and keep that cat off my front porch.

It took us a lot longer than we expected to get to Mombasa due to the road construction and heavy traffic. The last 20 KM took us about 2 hours but once we cleared the industrial area near the Mombasa airport the truck traffic greatly decreased then the problem was to get to the Milele Beach Resort. We got directions and finally got to the lodge and it was very nice. We got checked in and cleaned up a little after the 11 hours on the road and went and had dinner at the restaurant on premises.

Standard fare for dinner, typical Kenyan food, but it was tasty and the tea was great. After dinner I went and got that long awaited shower that was rather cool then I went to check out the internet connection. I was able to get a little work done and check my email but not upload any data. I will try again tomorrow to get some information on the blog and face book.

It is getting late and tomorrow we are starting late and going to Fort Jesus.

More Later

Monday 23 May 2011

We will be departing Tumaini for another year and it is somewhat sad to leave our friends that we have shared much time with behind. They are doing such a great service to the community and country in providing a great safe environment for these young men and women from the age of 5 to 18. They have a combined population of about 200 students. This home is a ministry of the Presbyterian Church East Africa with help from many churches and organizations.

The home is very good at managing money and assets and Nancy and I got with the manager and purchased another Nanny Milk goat for the children. We named the goat Hazel for the considerations that my brother and Sister-In-Law Hazel have made for the past four years in supporting our mission work in Kenya. Thanks JT and Hazel and everyone else that supports the mission work. Now they will have five milk goats that will be able to furnish enough milk all year round. Hazel joins the other four milk goats, Nancy, Daisy, Emma, Coretta who were named offer my wife, mother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law. They are really loved and cared for by Steve and the children.

We enjoyed breakfast and then got the bags packed for the trip to Juja where we will meet Jane and Eunice to look at the possible water site for Juja Homestead Parish Church. Got there around 1100 and had tea and discussion and based on the initial water survey both Jim and I recommended that they not waste money and time trying to clean the badly contaminated water. We visited the facility and then we had lunch and tea and departed to Nairobi.

The construction around Nairobi and the traffic made the trip a very long one but we finally made it to the Scripture Mission in Karen for the night. We had dinner then we rearranged our luggage and left behind everything we did not need in Mombasa. I packed in one piece of luggage and a back pack. It was good to leave the tool kit and cake decorating items behind for a few days.

Finally got on the internet but the computer had a Norwegian keyboard and it was hard to maneuver the keyboard and you could not upload anything so I tired the wireless and was able to get a little uploaded before I lost connections.

It is bed time since we will have a very long trip to Mombasa tomorrow.

More Later

Sunday 22 May 2011

Slept late this morning and did not get up until 0700 and got the coffee going for the crew. We would be attending different churches and Lee would be doing the English Service at Tumaini. We were to with Peterson the Parrish Minister to Chorongi church, the newest church in the parish.

We had a great breakfast and discussion of the day’s events which would include a visit for tea to Virginia’s house around 1600 hours. The fruit was really good today and we also had boiled eggs and pancakes.

Nancy and I went with Peterson to the church and had a great English service where Ann delivered the sermon. We had enjoyed the sermon last year from Ann at a different church. We had ten people for the English service but more will be there for the Swahili service. We had tea and waited for the next service.

The Swahili service started at 1100 and the church was full of people. There were at least 25 young people at the service and the church was full of adults. Peterson would finally get his chance to speak and he delivered a very good sermon. The service was over at 1345.

We had a good lunch at Tumaini and had a little down time before going to Virginia’s for tea. It was good to sit around and talk without having to get up and take care of something. The trip to Virginia’s was short since she lives close to the home and the school where she teaches. While we were at her house I called Katie who went with us last year so that she could talk with Virginia. They had a great time talking.

Back to the church, dinner and goodbyes. The people at Tumaini are just wonderful host and go out of their way to make everything perfect. The committees gave us all gifts that were made at the school. They teach tailoring so they do a lot of sewing. I gave Daniel one of the mission crosses that I make and carry to Kenya each year. I have made about 150 of the crosses from a variety of woods including dogwood, golden rain tree, mahogany and teak. Francis gave me a piece of camphor wood this year to make crosses out of.

It is back to the room and packing for departure early in the morning.

The children are saying goodbye and wishing us traveling mercy.

More Later

Sunday 22

Saturday 21 May 2011

The children were up early doing chores and getting ready to go to school, singing their songs and talking to each other. Made the pot of coffee and enjoyed the background singing as I read my lesson for today. It is really great just to sit and listen to the joyful music that they share with each other. The others are still asleep and I am about ready for breakfast. Today we are going to visit with Simon Njoroge, former minister of Njoro Parrish were we put our first water purification system in Kenya.

Breakfast was great an as always the tea is wonderful. We had time to converse and talk about the trip today to Munyu to visit Simmon and his family. Francis will be driving us today and it will be a great trip. Francis works for the Tumaini Children Home and is really great with the children and staff. The trip should be about 1.5 hours and the roads are good except for the last 3 kilometers.

We are glad to have David go with us today. David is a retired newspaper person that worked in Nairobi for 30+ years and has a great singing voice. Nancy kept David busy most of the trip learning new Swahili terms and singing songs. David also loved Elvis Presley and did a great job singing his songs. David with his singing sure made the trip seem short. David was indeed a rafiki (friend).

We stopped in Nanamour at the off of K&G Expeditions, where we get the vans for transportation and arranged for another driver and we met Charles that would be driving the rest of the time. He will meet us at Tumaini on Monday morning for departure to Juja and Nairobi. Looked for okra seeds for Ben but did not find any.

The visit with Simmon and Lydia in their home in Munyu was great. The boys had grown so much and loved to play with the soccer ball that Jim and Mary Price brought to them. We had tea then went across the road to the church to meet several groups that were having meeting at the church. Simmon has a large parish with 15 churches with one being 40 kilometers away. Lunch was served and after time for conversations we departed and headed back to Tumaini. It took a long time to get the details worked out for the remainder of the trip at the K & G office then we were off to Nyeri.

The trip was great and dinner was waiting on us when we returned to the children’s home. It seems like all we do is sleep, eat and work. I believe be spend more time doing tea and meals than either sleeping or working.

Another great day and on the way to the room Nancy and I stopped and listened to the children sing. It is a pleasure to be among friends.

More later

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Friday 20 May 2011

Started off with showers that kept the damp clothes from drying but the sun will come out later. I was up around 6 am and got the coffee brewing and did my morning reading. It is never tiring to hear the children sing their songs early in the morning. Sometimes they sing in English and other time they sing in their native language.

Today the crew is going to go to Tumatuma Hospital where Nancy will continue the work on acquiring a dialysis system for the hospital. While she is doing that Jim and Lee will check on the operation of the water systems at both the hospital and the deaf school. The systems were installed in 2008 by FPC Tuscaloosa and they have been really used. The system at the school had used some 38000 liters of water while the hospital used 11000 liters. This is great news.

While the rest of the team was gone I worked with Don to get the system at Tumaini fully operational. There was nothing wrong with the system except it had not been used enough. We shocked the system then ran the flush cycle to remove the bleach (chlorine) residue. The system is ready.

Eunice and Jane from Oklahoma along with David from Juja Township Parrish came to look at the system and we had a great meeting and demonstration of the system at Tumaini. Eunice and Jane are working with David at the Juja facility but wanted to see the system operate. Eunice had also wanted to look at the feasibility of operating the systems on solar. We will meet with Eunice, Jane and the committee from Juja on Monday.

Had a great meal and Nancy and I went by the Imani Hall and listened to the children sing for a while before turning in for the night. The children are very talented and so kind to each other.

More Later

Thursday 19 May 2011

I had a great night of sleep and the children were up early singing and enjoying another pretty day here. It was misting rain and the birds were still singing their songs. I got up first and made coffee and did my daily bible study and caught up on my reading that was one day behind. Everyone was in a great frame of mind and ready for whatever the day would provide or present. Today would be a busy day going over business plans, water surveys and then testing and operating the water purification system that we had installed last year to be sure the system is functioning properly.

Breakfast at 0800 and it was great to see Gladys, Grace, Elizabeth and others from last year. The breakfast was great and the mixed tea, milk and water mixed, for making hot tea was good. After breakfast we had devotion and got ready for the busy day. Peterson the minister did a great job doing the devotion. His devotion was maybe 3 – 4 minutes but it was so full of meaning everyone was just impressed with his devotion. I had a chance to discuss the devotion with Peterson and he explained that when he lived in Nairobi his ministry was on trains and buses and that he only had five minutes to pray, preach, alter call and close with prayer so he had learned to make every word be meaningful and well thought out. He did a great job.

The business meeting following the service really was great. I had not been real happy with the lack of communications with the facility and inability to get information regarding the operation of the system. Your mind will wonder toward the negative in the absence of any information and my mind was wondering if the system was even still there. With the presentation and seeing what they are doing I am totally pleased with the operation but communications must be improved.

The system tested great and fully operational and Don has no problems running the system. In the future they will be providing water for the local community and have gotten governmental approval for the operation as a water supplier for the community. The money they will earn by this venture will help them continue providing the great community services to the children that are homeless.

I did get 13 photos of new birds that I had not seen before. I kept looking toward Mt Kenya and finally the clouds lifted and I was able to see a little of the summit before darkness fell.

Still no internet at the home so I will continue to write and someday I will upload these entire file

Dinner and conversation then Chris showed up after a long matata (Kenya transportation, usually a Toyota van with 14 seats) ride from Nairobi where he had performed a funeral on Wednesday.

The pineapple I had for dinner was great and it is about to kill me now with the acid from it but it was so good it was worth the pain, well maybe.

Wednesday 18 May 2011

Wednesday morning and the driver is late again. Suppose to be here at 0800 and now it is 1000 and still not here. We are all packed and ready to go to Nairobi, Juja and then onto Nyeri where we will be staying for awhile.

We made it to Nairobi finally after detouring around the major road construction that continues in the area. I am glad the driver knows his way around. I would never drive in that area, out in the country side it is okay but in the Nairobi area it is a real mess. We found the bank so we could get US cash converted and also withdraw from the bank. The Kenya Shilling converted 86 Ksh to $1 USD. We had lunch at the Muthaiga Shopping Centre which is a very popular place that we have stopped at for the past 3 years. I had fish and chips that were very good and everyone else had good meals also.

After lunch we were off to find Juja and look at the possible site for a water project for the future. After several calls we were finally told just to stop on the side of the road and David would just come to where we were and lead us to the facility. We had tea and biscuits while we discussed possible solutions to water problems and then did a brief survey of the facilities. We will go back on the 23^rd and complete the water and solar survey.

We were then off to Nyeri and the trip seemed very long. Due to traffic and road construction it took us about 2.5 hours to get to Tumaini Children’s Home. When we got there they were awaiting our arrival. Dinner was ready and we enjoyed the meal and conversation with friends from last year. The parish has a new minister named Peterson that is really a pleasure to be with. It was great to see the friends from last year and sad to hear the Moses had passed away. Moses was such a help and always willing to do anything to help the cause of the home. He is missed at the home.

It was time for rest because tomorrow morning around 0545 the children will wake up and then the day will start. I can hardly wait for the pleasant voices that will be singing tomorrow morning as they go about doing their chores and getting ready for breakfast and another day of school.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

Tuesday 17 May 2012

Kiserian, Kenya visiting with the membership of Grace Church, PCEA and having a great time getting to know some of the membership of the church. We are still at the home of Ben and Rita Muriith which are just great host. We are off to Nairobi and a scheduled meeting with the moderator of the general assembly of Presbyterian Church East Africa (PCEA) and then to locate suppliers of components for the systems that we install for water purification. If we can find in country suppliers then we do not have to place everything in our luggage and carry it with us.

We went a new route to Nairobi today and it was really beautiful and we went into the area where there was a rather large Ostrich farm and then acres of carnations growing along the roadside. This area is known for its cut flowers and most of them are shipped to the UK.

The visit with the moderator was really good and we shared a meal at the PCEA guest house dining facility in Nairobi. The food was great and it is always finished with a great selection of locally grown fresh fruits. It was also good to enjoy a good cold Coca Cola Light.

We found a supplier for most of the equipment less fittings with the help of Ben and then we went back to Kiserian. Our goal was to get it all done and out of Nairobi before the 4 pm traffic rush. It is a sight to see if you are not in a hurry. Driving on the wrong side of the road and merging like you have never seen before.

We had an opportunity of walk around Ben’s farm before dinner and enjoy looking for birds and looking at the vast array of plants that he has planted. The farm is like a giant Oasis with its assortment of plants and areas of cultivation. I met Emanuel who worked the farm and with guidance from Ben is responsible for planting and maintaining the farm. Emanuel has a bright future in the farming arena with his background and wiliness to learn.

We enjoyed another great dinner that Rita had prepared and we sat at the table for a couple hours talking about our life and families. We knew that in the morning we would be departing for Nairobi and then to Nyeri and that it would be next year before we would see each other again. Even though we had only known each other for a short period of time it is just amazing how attached you can get with people who have you similar standards, expectations and desires in life. We were very blessed to have stayed with this family and we have been invited back next time or anytime we are in the area.

Monday 16 May 2011

We had a wonderful breakfast with fresh fruit and great mixed tea. The ladies here make a hot tea that is made with 2/3 water and 1/3 milk and tea and steep the tea until perfect. This is the best tea that I have ever had.

We meet with the water committee of the Grace Church to discuss the process of getting the system installed, requirements, covenants, mutual support and the commitment of the two parties. Presently the committee is building the water building and it is coming along. Like many projects here and at home often the delay is funding of the construction. The church is doing fund raisers to get the money to complete the project. We will probably look at coming back for installation during June to August of 2012.

We had a great lunch at church then afterward we went on a trip to a Maasai Homestead and to the Ngong Hills. The homestead was very interesting and we were able to go into the home (manyatta) and actually see the inside layout and visit with the family that lived there. It was amazing how the home was built and organized to accommodate 5 people. The wife has the responsibility of home construction and maintenance while the men herd the cattle, goats and sheep. It was interesting that the outside of the home was plastered with cow manure and it was rather water resistant and easy to repair. Many of the homes were miles away from the church and many walked upward of 4 hours to church on Sunday morning.

After leaving the homestead we traveled across the plains toward the Ngong Hills which is the highest hills in the area. The hills are closer to Kiserian the nearest commercial area to Grace Church. The church is located 12.5 miles southeast of Kiserian.

We made it back to Ben and Rita’s house and enjoyed an evening with them and Chris Ndei that was also staying at the house.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sunday 15 May 2011

The wakeup came up very early or only a few hours after going to bed. We stayed at the Lutheran Guest house,(Scripture Mission Conference Center) and we had good hot tea and a light breakfast. We were scheduled to depart the Guest house for Grace Church at 9 am but we were in Kenya and finally got away about 10:15 and the services started at 10:00. We hated to miss the first 2 hours but we did make it there for the last two hours of the service.

We had a wonderful time with the congregation and Ben and Rita Muriith hosted us while were we there. We really enjoyed visiting in their home and Ben had a wonderful farm where he produced fresh vegetables for the local super markets, restaurants and markets. Ben is producing tomatoes, cabbage, celery, beets, onions, spinach, kale, cucumbers, corn, bananas, butternut squash and several other items. The farm is super organized and really produces the organic products year round because of the climate. Emmanuel is the designated worker for the gardens and he does a great job with keeping the plants in rotation and keeping enough of head to meet the needs of their customers. He is looking for okra so next year I will carry him some seeds.

Ben has several milk cows, chickens and geese. The waste from the animals is used to operate the bi-gas generator that produces the gas need to operate the stove that they cook with.

Rita is a great cook and she has made a great supper for us. It has been a long day and we are going to bed early so that we can handle the long day scheduled for tomorrow. Rita handles a lot of the sales for the farm and keeps things moving.

More Later

Saturday 14 May 2011

Amsterdam, it is 3:45 Birmingham time or 10:45 local time waiting for the next connection on KLM at 11:30 to Nairobi, Kenya. Today we will be flying the last leg on a Boeing 747-400 and there is suppose to be some 130 vacant seats on the aircraft. It has been a long time since I have had a flight with vacant seats so the trip should be less crowded.

No problem with getting through the security checkpoint and body scan and now just waiting for the flight to load. During this flight if I can stay awake I will try to follow the flight on the map that is on the aircraft. Usually the flight covers some very interesting and beautiful terrain.

The Prices and us have the next to the last center row (67) on the aircraft but with the vacant seats we will be able to move once we are airborne and the fasten seatbelts signs are turned off. We did move and I took a row of 2 seats next to the window on the left side and Nancy took the next row ahead of me. It was nice to have the vacant seat but missed being able to discuss things with Nancy. I was awake most of the flight and below is the route that we took from Amsterdam to Nairobi.

We headed north out of the airport before turning SE toward headed toward Rome and in route we passed over the Italian Alps with its snow covered ridges and high meadows and the beautiful green valleys. We went west of Bosnia Herzegovina and over the Troglov Mountain then along the northern shore of the Adriatic Sea. This area was a patchwork of farms and much of the area was under cultivation. We headed on SE just west of Cairo, Egypt then South over Khartoum, Sudan. The dessert in both Egypt and Sudan was just spectacular with occasional lakes and green areas with very little sign of life or civilization on a large part of what I observed. We continued south just west of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and east of Juba, Sudan. We basically flew along the border between Sudan and Kenya and around 19:07 the beautiful day had faded away and night fall had overtaken the features below and the stars began to light up the sky. We were about 1 hour away from Nairobi and then the lingering question, “Will the luggage Make It??” We got to Nairobi early and got to the gate, departed the aircraft and then waited over 1 hour in the Visa Line to get a visa for our trip to Kenya. We paid our $25 and got the passport stamp then off to the luggage area where Chris was waiting outside for us. In Nairobi those that are there to pickup you cannot come into the luggage claim area. All the luggage was there “GREAT” so se secured it and got though customs an off to the guest house for the night. We made it and at 2315 we had dinner, traditional Kenyan meal, of rice and great stew with many vegetables.

It is 0215 15 May 2011 and time to get to bed. More later

Friday 13 May 2011

A beautiful morning up at 0630 and into the kitchen to get the coffee brewing. Today is the long awaited departure date for the next mission trip to Kenya. Bad weather is forecast for late morning and early afternoon so I am up to try to get those last late minute items done that should have been done last week. The girls, Sadie and Molly our dogs were glad to see me as I gave them fresh water, food and scratch behind the ears. They act like that they know what is going on, glad someone does.

The restrictions on weight and size of luggage were a concern so I took my two pieces of luggage to the Pinson Animal Clinic and using their large scales weighted the luggage. One was 47 and the other 53. There were still some adjustments to make since they can only weigh 50 pounds without penalty. The problem was the large sink that I had in the one overweight case. You have heard of carrying everything including the kitchen sink well this was a bathroom sink for Chris’s, good friend from Kenya that will be on the trip with us. Chris is building a Mission House in Nairobi and these 6 sinks that we are carrying will go in that house. Nancy had similar problems with hers but one of her pieces was a whopping 63 pounds. Do we leave the sink in Birmingham or doing something else? We swapped luggage and took care of 7 or the 13 pounds and the other went into carryon luggage. It is always fun when you are carrying such items as sinks and enough cake decorating supplies to make many fancy cakes. The cake items with be going to Susan in Njoro.

The storm came, bad winds, heavy rains, lightening, and thunder and it did not appear to be a real problem until a good friend Steve came to carry us to the airport. All the traffic lights in the 6 miles to the interstate were off and it was at a snail pace. We decided to detour, and as it goes detours are often not the shortest way but after detouring twice on the detour we did make our way to the Parkway and on to the airport. Thanks for Steve carrying us.

Made the airport all bags were checked and we are ready to go. There were 5 of us going to Kenya this year where we will meet Chris. It was a great pleasure that our daughter Anna came to see us off as well as Liz with her two sons Tanner and Reed. Liz is Jim and Mary’s daughter.

On board the aircraft, overweight, so that had to refigure and load new data into the flight processing unit. Good flight late into Detroit but while I was getting the Carryon picked up Nancy went and got the Delta agent to call our gate and tell them that we were on the way. We made it and boarded the aircraft, an A300, with not vacant seats. Made it to Amsterdam and all is well. Waiting on our flight to Nairobi and it is 3:45 (Birmingham Time in the morning 14 May 2011)

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Saturday 14 May 2011 Amsterdam to Nairobi

Saturday 14 May 2011 Amsterdam

Friday, May 13, 2011

Friday 13 May 2011 Birmingham, AL airport

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Welcome

Again this year I will be going back to Kenya with friends for the purpose of installing and doing maintenance on the Water Purification Systems that we have installed since 2008.

The group is from Birmingham, Alabama and South Highland Presbyterian Church. This is one of the many missions that the church supports and one that is dear to the 6 members that will be going this year. We will be working with a operating partner helping this congregation get their building ready for a water system next year. We will be visiting Njoro, where we installed in 2008 and 2009, Nyeri where we installed a system last year and Tumatuma Hospital where First Presbyterian of Tuscaloosa, AL installed 2 systems in 2008. We will check these systems for correct operation and conduct training as needed. This year we will be joined by two Kenyans from Oklahoma State, Still Water, OK that will be helping us and also looking at the feasibility of running the water systems by solar power. We welcome Eunice and Njodi to join us as we take this journey.

I will try to keep the blog updated on a daily basis but sometimes internet service is not available. I will update with photos as often as possible. I will also be posting them on facebook.

Keep us in your prayers that we will be good steward of the gifts we have been given and entrusted with.

Thanks and hope you enjoy the journey with us as we fly from Birmingham, AL to Detroit, MI then to Amsterdam then to Nairobi. Yes our bodies will be tired and dead but our spirits lifted the closer we get to the mission field.

I will see you online later

Harold