Return to Kenya

This is now our seventh trip to Kosele - and our third long trip - but the sights and sounds always hit us afresh. Because we had an overnight flight to Nairobi and then the short flight to Kisumu mid-morning we stayed in Kisumu in a guest house on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Mary (the Project Manager) came with the hire car and driver to collect us. The project 's ageing Land Rover has not managed a trip to Kisumu for a long time, and after landing up in a ditch recently, it was being repaired. We did some shopping and Mary stocked up on things for the project and then we set off with a very full Toyota estate car on the two-hour journey. With all the recent rainfall, the last part of the journey on the road uphill from Lake Victoria to Kosele was slower than normal because of the even sorrier state of the road.

 It is always good to see everyone again although we did not see all of the children until about 6pm as they had been competing in an inter-schools sports event. Thursday had passed with mostly catching up with people. So it took most of Friday morning to unpack and sort out our room again.

 This time I hope to get into more walking again so at 4.45pm (the temperature is a bit cooler by then) I set off for Kosele village. This time we have brought our own thermometer and today it was 29 degrees in the shade. Friday is a market day and as a result I met so many neighbours, church members and children on my walk. My very limited Dholuo began to get reactivated and I was able to greet them and find out if they were well.

As I got near the market I met Dorina (an elderly grandmother who cares for her two small granddaughters) returning with an empty basket. She was able to communicate that she had no food. I think she must have gone to the market in the hope that someone would give her something but had given up -until she met me. I had the usual inner struggle that aid is not the answer and what would she do if I had not been there. I know the theory and agree that it is best to avoid dependency. But what would Jesus do and what should we do? Knowing I have money in my purse and I am not going to go to bed hungry makes it easy to buy her some small fish, kale and maize for a meal. What of tomorrow? This is the struggle many of our neighbours face daily.

After leaving the market I met George who repairs shoes - he sits under a tree doing this. I did not go over to greet him as he was talking with several men whom I did not know. A second later, I heard 'Hilda, Hilda' and there was George wanting to talk to me. His English is fairly good. So as well as asking how he had been, I asked him if he was managing to keep off alcohol. He said he hadn't but he wanted to stop again and proceeded to ask me for advice. George had come off alcohol for about a year and starting coming to church but last year he went back to his drinking friends, and stopped coming to church. Yesterday, when I told him it is God's help that he needs, he said that he will come back to church on Sunday. I am praying he will be able to follow through on this.

Soon after this I met Termina, one of our Sunday School teachers and we walked back together. Fortunately her English is good and we were able to chat all the way. However, for the last 5 minutes the wind started up and then there was a downpour of rain and hail– we both got totally drenched! It was well worth it to meet so many people again. I also saw the biggest snake I have seen here but fortunately someone had killed it!

There has been more rain this rainy season than people around here have seen for a long time. The waterlogged ground has resulted in the crops not doing well and although the rainfall pattern has returned to normal now it is not going to be a good harvest. People here have a hand to mouth existence and a poor harvest or an illness in the family can wipe out any savings a family has.

The temperature in the Visitor's Centre only dropped a couple of degrees with the downpour. The second day of the school sports event had also been on - so many of the children also got caught in the downpour on their way home.

In the evening we joined the younger children from the Home who were watching a DVD – Ice Age! - while the oldest six were with Terry learning how to play chess. Unlike our Children’s Home, most homes in the community do not have solar power or any form of electricity, so being able do these kind of things in the evening is a luxury most of our neighbours do not have. Most people would have one paraffin lamp and can't always afford to buy paraffin.

I also reflected on my walk into Kosele and the large number of people I met and spoke with and I began to imagine what it would be like in our community at home. While there, I frequently walked into the centre of Paisley and back without meeting anyone I know, but despite the price of petrol there were increasing numbers of cars. I know I can't make a direct comparison, but walking can mean far more social interaction if more people do it.

After a slowish start this morning – 30 degrees in the shade today – Ian has gone over to the church Men's Group this afternoon. Meanwhile I draft a blog and then chat with Pastor Dorine and catch up on news of how individuals have been getting on. A few disappointments but far more encouragements. Looking forward to seeing everyone in church tomorrow!

Omondi

I first saw Omondi over a year ago, as he shuffled very slowly up to the gate of our compound. His head was down, he looked very disturbed and he was unable to speak. He was dressed in very poor clothes, was dirty, hungry and looked like an old man. The security guard told me that Omondi used to be totally normal, but a few years ago he had become like this. He is well known in the area and people have said that his condition is a result of witchcraft. The guard also said that Omondi was aged around 30! I guessed that he had experienced some sort of nervous breakdown. I discovered that day that his legs were badly swollen and covered with infected sores. So we cleaned his wounds, applied antibiotic powder and found him some clean clothes. We fed him and prayed with him. I remember praying for him to return to his right mind and for his speech to return. Then he shuffled off again. Thus began a series of visits from him. Often we would not see him for long spells and then he would reappear. The sores improved and healed but then would reappear, mostly because of the swelling in his legs. This swelling was partly caused by his habit of standing in the same place for over an hour at a time, in a catatonic manner. One time he found his way to our church, and our pastor, Kennedy, invited him to come forward for prayer - which he did. During his more recent visits to the compound he had been trying to speak to us; he would mumble a word or two. In the last week or two we heard that he has been speaking more. On New Year's Day he came to visit us as he wanted to thank me for treating his legs. At last, they are now totally healed. Even better, Omondi’s whole disposition was changed – his face was bright, he was relaxed and talking away very easily. All the staff and some of the children gathered round as he chatted and laughed with us, and yes - he can even speak English. He told me that his first name is Kenneth, and I told him that that’s a Scottish name – it means “handsome”. Everyone knew his condition in the past and they are all truly amazed at the change in him. Kennedy was able to pray with him again and we thanked God for his mental and physical healing. Please pray that Omondi will also find Jesus as his Lord and Saviour as well as his Healer. Transformation is what we pray for this community - maybe it has begun with Omondi!