Last Week in Kenya



We left Kenya and entered Tanzania today. The last several days have been busy with finishing the computer class and saying our goodbyes. We had an incredible time in Kima with everyone in Kipepeo and the time flew by, just as everyone said it would.



During our last week, Erin spent a couple more days at the hospital and got to know one of the staff there, Liz, pretty well. Liz was also one of our best students in the computer class. We had the pleasure to be invited to her home for lunch on Monday and meet her family. It never ceases to amaze me at how welcoming and generous the people of Kima and the surrounding communities are. Another example of this came on Saturday when we went to a local wedding in Kima. While crashing weddings in the U.S. can be difficult, it is not uncommon for many people to attend a wedding who were not necessarily invited, us included. We got front row seats and, although we had to leave early, the bride and groom insisted that we have cake before leaving. We were also lucky enough to see where Yumi and Mariko were staying, which was at the previous home of Jesse, one of the founders of Kipepeo. Erin learned how to make chapatti and we again had a feast fit for a king with everyone.

Sammy and Sarah receiving "flowers" during their ceremony.

Last weekend, instead of a trip to Kisumu like the last two weekends, we did a day-long hike with Julius, Guddy, Mariko, and Yumi over the rocky hills near Kima to Maseno. Maseno is home to Maseno University and dozens, if not hundreds, of small monkeys who have become rather domesticated. After Julius and Guddy led us down the meandering path through the hills to the campus, we bought 15 or so bananas and searched for the monkeys for all of about 10 minutes. It didn't take much coaxing for the monkeys to come right up and take them from our hands...bananas are pretty delicious afterall. After Maseno, we had to refuel ourselves with some fresh fruit juice before heading for the Equator, which was on the way to Guddy's mother's house. We had lunch with his mom and sister and relaxed while the thunderclouds moved in. A short matatu ride back to Kima gave our legs a break after a long day on our feet. Julius enlightened us that this was not much walking in a day for those in Kima, but it is more than I walk in a week back home if I am not doing something active. Erin and I both had a blast though and the views were amazing. It was great to see the countryside upclose along with the monkeys and the Equator and Guddy's mom's just topped it all off for a great day.



Kima, from the highest nearby rocks.

Guddy, Erin, Mariko, me, Yumi, and Julius.

Monkeys love bananas.

Double trouble.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday were spent preparing the class for the exam and finishing the logo we started painting on the wall in the Kipepeo office. Erin spent her last day at the hospital on Tuesday while I gave the exam to the class. We used the previous class's exam, also done by a volunteer from the U.S., as a guide for ours. Most everyone did well and it was time for graduation the day after. This was somewhat of our going away celebration as well. We told everyone 10 am which quickly turned to noon when some rain moved in and the ceremony got moved inside. It made for a cozy time, trying to fit about 30 people in the one room. The students and Kipepeo staff each awarded us gifts after we awarded the students their certificates. Mine, after telling Erin multiple times that I need to get a hat, was a large hat made of banana leaves which is perfect for keeping the sun off me. Erin's was some traditional fabric used to for dresses which she plans to have made in Moshi. We also each received paintings and certificates from the Kipepeo team for our time there and had group pictures with all the students. This entire experience of teaching, being that it's a first for both of us, has made me really appreciate the work of all teachers, especially my parents.

The Equator. (Lots of sunblock and still burned...)

Julius, Erin, Jesse, and me with our best student, Henry (middle).

The 11th Kipepeo Computer Class

Guddy cooked us another great meal of fish, ugali, rice, fruit salad, and cooked bananas for our last meal with everyone. It only seemed fitting to everyone that it was raining since it was pouring when Julius and Guddy first picked us up in Luanda that night almost a month ago. Guddy and another piki piki driver took us to Maseno after saying our goodbyes where boarded our bus to Nairobi. Kima has really been a great experience where we have felt we have made a difference. Some people think the people only need food, money, clothing, and shelter, but just giving them these things is not sustainable. By giving them life skills to better themselves, we have followed an old saying. "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime."

(Written November 30th)