Maasai Development Project

The Maasai Development Project Blog will be used by members to post updates particularly while on trips to Kenya. Here you can view these posts and make comments.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Saturday - November 1

Marlin and I hoped to visit Nairobi Central Church and friends this morning, but I woke up about 3:00 in the morning sick. Malaria and a hacking cough. Marlin left for the chemist to get malaria medication as we are leaving tomorrow and hopefully the medication will have already started to take effect by the time we leave. There were just too many days with lack of sleep and irregular meals, constantly on the go or working in the office.

This afternoon we were happy to have Jackie Kenani come visit us with her four children. I haven't seen them for several years, so this was a great surprise. I only wish I had felt better.

I am going to log off for the final time and go to bed. Tomorrow will be spent working in the office finishing last minute bookwork. MDP has been needing to find a accountant to help with our books here in Kenya so that I can spend more time in the field. Jackie has agreed to return tomorrow to discuss the possibility of her taking over this job. YES.

Tomorrow evening will find us (hopefully) at the airport on our way home. This trip has been blessed and successful and now we can't wait to get home to our families.

Thanks for sharing this trip with me through the blog. Until Next Time.

Jan

Friday - October 31

Early Friday morning found us once again heading for Kajiado town for our Kajiado District workers meeting. We knew we would be facing some challenges, having to confront the gossip and rumours being spread to discredit our district coordinator so left with many prayers.

When we arrived, the District Adult Education Officer for the government was giving a talk to our workers in regard to the literacy program in that district. He offered a lot of support and has agreed to hold a training session for all of our workers, free of charge. Another blessing.

God is so awesome how He chooses to answer prayers. I had prayed that God's Spirit would speak the right words for dealing with the issue of the coordinator and put it to rest once and for all. Suffice it to say, God answered our prayers in a great way. Issues were dealth with and put to rest. Through it all, there remained a sweet spirit that only God could have provided. Unfortunately we had to let one of the workers go, due to his actions but even that turned into a good ending without harsh feeling but with a cooperative and repentant spirit.

It always takes an hour or more to get out the door as one by one workers want a private word, but by 4:30 we were finally on our way home. Marlin has been here a week already and we have yet to spend time alone to talk and enjoy each other's company. So, at the end of the meeting I let the workers know I am now off duty and the time now belongs to my husband. Back at the house, we said goodby to our guest, Anne as she caught a ride back to Nairobi to stay with friends until she leaves for the states on Tuesday.

Thursday - October 30

An early breakfast and departure put us back in Narok town in time for our Narok District workers meeting. The next two hours were spent listening to each worker share their success and challenges in their places of duty. These dedicated workers always give me courage as I listen to them. The greatest challenge is the need for more workers and with that come the need for more sponsors. We have decided to step out in faith and hire 3 new workers for Narok District.

After the meeting we left for a town 20 Kilometers away to meet with the Ministry of Health Officer for the Narok district. We needed to get permission for the medical mission group coming back to Kenya to serve the Maasai people in March, July and October of 2009. (For more information go to our website under "Mission Trips") Traveling back to Narok we stopped to visit students at the Maasai Girls Secondary School and Poly Technic where 3 girls are going sponsored. By 4:00 we were ready to head back to Nairobi, another three hour trip.

Wednesday - October 29

Morning came too soon, but with it were sounds of monkeys, rock hyrax and many different species of birds that make complete the tent camp living experience in the game reserve of Maasai Mara.

After an hour drive, by 10:00 we were back in Siana for my first meeting with our coordinator, followed by a meeting with the current and former county councilor. When Josh arrived to discuss the building project, we quickly closed our meeting. Already in that short amount of time I was able to utilize some of the advice of Eric that I had learned the day before. After walking the land, discussions with the elders, councilors and community leaders, preliminary agreements were made. Waiting for that meeting to close, the ladies participating in the goat bank project waited for their meeting. The ladies shared with me of a disease affecting sheep and goats in their area. Already 3 babies and one adult goat has died, making it impossible for another turnover as previously planned in February of 2009. The government is stepping in with free vaccinations so plans were made for all the participants to have their goats vaccinated. In February we will purchase more goats to replace the ones that have died. After a prayer for God's healing hand and blessing upon the goats, we proceeded to our next meeting.

We traveled back to one of the participants home that had been unable to come due to being crippled from polio as a young girl. She is now an old Cocoo (grandmother). In September, the mission trip led by Kim DeWitt delivered a pair of crutches to her, hoping that it would help her walk. However, she reported that she would have to return them as she didn't have the strength to use them. We talked about getting her a wheelchair that she can pedel with her arms, she was appreciative. We requested to see her goat she was given in May. Already the disease PPR has affected her goat and no longer stand. We had a prayer for the goat and said goodby.

When all the meetings were finished, we were sunburned, hungry and tired. It was about 3:30 so we decided to take time for a quick game drive before heading back to camp. It was truly a blessed day from beginning to end. For in the end Marlin saw his first leopard in 19 years in Kenya, and Anne had seen all of the "Big Five" except the rino and much more. God is Good.

Tuesday - October 28

At 2:00 AM, the electricity went out. I woke up fretting as I had not turned on the hot water heater the night before to insure that we would have hot water for showers. Nor had I packed my suitcase for our trip to the Mara. With the fan off it was instantly hot and the security lights off, it was very dark. I began praying, "Lord whenever you choose to turn the electricity back on I will be grateful but you also know our schedule, so before 4:00 would be appreciated". I then laid there unable to go back to sleep, my body screaming for rest and my mind unable to turn off for the rest. At 3:30 the electricity came back on so I got up to turn the hot water heater on only to find that our shower room was flooded. After a hectic morning we were on the road by 6:00. Already traffic was not good but at least it kept moving slowly. We had to stop at Ogoti's office to pick up the payroll money that I would need in Narok on Thursday and then on to the hotel for breakfast. We made it.

We only had a few minutes to actually talk to Eric as he was busy preparing to leave that morning with his group to tour their projects. Those few minutes were mighty as I asked questions and he shared about his organization and how it is financed. You can't imagine how much I learned in those few minutes. It was so timely as I was on my way out to Siana in the Mara to meet with the builder and the County Councilor regarding the Hosetel for the MDP sponsored rescued girls. Eric has agreed to coach me through the building project. Making it a combined MDP/Community project to become sustainable and one day turn over to the community. My spirits were soaring at the end of that meeting.

Marlin, Anne and I said goodby to Bubbles and headed to the Union Office for more meetings and to pick up our driver, Ogecha. By noon we were on our way or so we thought, when we were forced to stop for vehicle repairs again in two days. Finally we were on our way, picking up our Narok Districk coordinator in Narok town and traveling another 2 hours to Siana. After dropping him off at his home, we found a place to stay and collapsed into bed.

Monday - October 27

At 3:00 Bubbles was scheduled to give a presentation at the Kajiado Education & Rehabilitation Center where MDP sponsors over 40 rescued or at risk girls. Upon arrival Bubbles hurriedly changed into her gown with the children waiting in anticipation. As she walked outside and across the yard, even the teachers were in awe. If only you could have heard the children ooh and ahh when she walked in. She immediately had their attention. She told the story of her book followed by a demonstration of good brushing habits by dressing two of the students into teeth costumes and using a giant tooth brush. The children loved "Toothena" and after distributing toothbrushes to the students went outside for pictures. She looked like the pied piper with all the children following her, wanting to hold her hand and holding up their toothbrushes.

We had an appointment to meet Eric Rajah, Founder and Director of "A Better World" that evening at 6:00 but due to a heavy traffic jam we unfortunately missed our appointment. After dinner in town we dropped Bubbles off at a hotel where she was meeting up with the rest of the group coming in that night with "A Better World". We made arrangements to meet at the hotel the following morning for breakfast with Eric and left for Ongata Rongai. When we reached home we realized it would be a very short night as we would have to get up at 4:00 and leave by 6:00 to reach Nairobi before the traffic jam. I'm really tired!

Sunday - October 26

Imagine my surprise when I opened my email to find many friends from my "Facebook" wishing me a happy birthday. The most precious was a letter from my son, Richard. I just have to say the greatest honor on earth is to be considered one of your childrens best friends.

Today was another full day. Anne got ready to accompany a medical team to Kisaju for a day of clinics. I just have to add that Kisaju is where the work in Maasailand began back in 1991. Before leaving for the states in December of 1995, Marlin and I had put together a medical/dental team to give free service to the Maasai in the Kajiado district. How thrilling it is to find a medical team from our churches in Nairobi continuing the monthly health service. When we dropped Anne off to catch her ride, one of the Pastors introduced himself to me. He said, "You probably don't remember me, but I am one of the youth that went with you from Nairobi Central Church for the 10 day evantelistic meetings in Kisaju in 1994." Imagine my surprise as he continued, "That experience had such an impact on me that I went on to become a pastor and now continue to work in Maasailand, in particular, Kisaju."

That was one of those moments in life when you say, "Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to serve you and make a difference in someone's life." We don't always see the fruits of our work, but today God allowed me that great privilege. A moment I will cherish forever. That was my birthday present from my Heavenly Father.

Marlin, Bubbles and I were going to visit a good friend of ours in Maasailand. Our friend is 80 plus years, but looks to be only 60 with 8 wives and over 80 children. This man is amazing. He has taught his children from early age to work. Over the years the children have built a stone wall around their property, dug out of the rock by hand a 35 foot deep water catchment by 50 plus feet across. We try to visit whenever Marlin is in Kenya as they have become good friends of ours. Two of his sons work for us as guards. We had a wonderful day, visiting our friends. The highlight was when we met with the 8 wives to look at all of their beadwork they were making. What fun helping Bubbles choose gifts for friends and family, trying on some of the ornamments and bargaining. When we left all were happy.

By now it was almost 4:00 and we still had one more stop to do in Kisaju, delivering shoes and socks to Joshua, from his sponsor, another little boy from states, Kyle. When Joshua saw me, he came running into my arms, his little heart pounding from the distance he had run. (Joshua was born in my vehicle 7 years ago this month. Unfortunately his mother's uterus ruptured and inspite of surgery, she did not live.) We had such fun helping him try on his shoes and then write a thank you letter to Kyle. He was so excited.

We stopped at the church to pick up Annie and imagine my surprise as I was ushered in to "Happy Birthday" and cake. I cried, it has been several years since my birthday was celebrated and I was touched.

To finish off the day, when we got home, Anne made a mexian dinner and to my surprise out came another birthday cake and another round of "Happy Birthday".

An awesome day!

Saturday - October 25

Today is my daughter, Tanya's birthday. Happy 25th, Tanya, on the 25th. Just 25 years ago today I was........................

Early in the morning, Ogecha, Ogoti, Anne, Bubbles, Marlin and I headed out to Enterosi to worship with our churchmembers. It is here that we were to continue our investigation on the allegations against our coordinator. After services, the children 15 years and younger were invited back in to receive toothbrushes and a short talk on dental health by Bubbles, followed by Anne who taught some basic natrual health remedies for some of the common health challenges in that area.

While they were having fun with the children and women of the village, Ogoti and I had the task of continuing the investigation. Again, we prayed that morning, God would make the truth stand out beyond a shadow of doubt. Within a couple of hours, God had made it very clear the innocense of our coordinator and the motives of the accusers.

Saying goodby to our brothers and sisters in Enterosi, we continued on to Kajiado. With joy we shared with the coordinator our findings, encouraging him to return to Enterosi as soon as possible to carry on his work. After prayer together, we parted, with a peace and joy in our hearts that God had revealed all beyond a shadow of doubt in answer to our prayers.

Friday - October 24

Today was full and fun. The morning began early with an appointment at the Union Office with Woman's Ministry Director, Jerusha Muga, to discuss the sponsorship program MDP has at the Kajiado SDA Rehabilitation and Education Center. During our discussion she asked if MDP would be willing to explore the idea of developing a program for the protection of battered women in Kenya. We have the perfect piece of property that could be used for building a shelter. This is a project we will be praying about and discussing at our next board meeting. Your input would be most valued.

From the Union we set out for "Feed the Children", a home for abandoned and disabled children. Our good friend, Bubbles Clark, had arrived two days earlier to give dental health presentations to 700 plus children and spend time giving lots of TLC. Bubbles is a Dental Consultant who wrote a book (with more in progress) for children on dental health. As a result of her first book, "Toothena, the Tooth Fairy", she has become "Toothena" to all the children who come for her book signing and readings around the U.S. and Canada. Now of course in Kenya as well. She has recently developed the "Tooth Fairy Children's Foundation".

Imagine the children's delight as she entered the room dressed in a pink gown, tiara, and wand, including wings. The children thought she was an angel come to visit them. We joined her in helping to put children down for their naps. I have to admit it was hard to pull myself away from the children.

Bubbles joined us as we left to go back to Ongata Rongai where our home is. Later that evening we got back in the vehicle, this time going to the airport to pick up Marlin, who was flying in for my last week here. A full but rewarding day.

Thursday - October 23

As those of you know who are administrators, conflict management is often a part of the job, whether we like it or not. A few days ago I met with one of our workers, who made some very serious allegations against our project coordinator in Kajiado District. In the meantime, I began receiving phone calls from previous MDP workers, they too were making insinuations against the coordinator. Oh, for the wisdom of Solomon. Today we began our investigation, after spending hours in prayer asking that God would reveal the truth beyond a shadow of doubt.

The afternoon was spent with our coordinator. As I began listening and putting things in prospective, I began looking for a common denominator from each of the accusers: 1. They were all from the same home area. 2. They had either been fired for dishonesty or sneaking away from their station of duty without notifying the coordinator and turning in false reports. 3. They quit because they did not want to be accountable.

Our Administrator and I left to go back to Nairobi, with convictions of our coordinators innocense but knew that we had to continue the investigation so there could be no question. We will continue our investigation in a couple of days.

We met with the ECD Treasurer, Philip Philipson to discuss the challenges of the work in Maasailand. What a blessing it is to have the support of our church brethern as we continue to go forward with the work