November 9th
So today was an interesting day, I spent half the morning running
all over making sure things were going properly with the
generator, Karen’s phone, the visitors project, etc… But at least it
was a little breezy today, enough to take a little bit of an edge off
of the heat, not enough to keep me from sweating profusely. I
spent the other half of the morning reading because I was just
bored having gotten everything settled and class was canceled
today. Lunch was interesting, the last two days we’ve had rice and
“soup” African style, the soup consists of some limp greens, fish
bits, chicken, palm oil and a few other tidbits. It does not too bad
taste but it just turns my stomach looking at it so I’ve just been
eating the rice plain, which is really good anyway. Eating at a table
with 14 people is kind of nice; you get to hear all kinds of stories
and tales about the past, other mission trips they’ve taken, etc.
After lunch I read again for a while, I’m not a big fan of this whole
canceling class thing, partly because I am annoyed that I came to
teach and partly because when I don’t have anything to do I get
homesick. You’d think after a month that I’d be getting over that
but I just think It’s because all of you back home mean so very
much to me. Anyway, I don’t mean to be a downer, because I am
really enjoying the experiences I am having here, and I love getting
to hang out with the friends I’m making. One thing that I haven’t
shared but that is really annoying me about their school system is
that if a kid comes to school late, they get sent home, or if they
come with an improper uniform, they get sent home, if they don’t
come with the right materials, they get sent home. You get the
picture? One of their forms of “punishment” is sending kids home
anyone else see the flaw in that? It’s bad enough they cancel
school at least once a week. /end rant. Moving on, at about 3
Daniel Turay came by and brought me two pictures that were
taken at the celebration. Then we went down to the market and
walked all over to look for Thermos, the things break so easily, I
was going to bring some home because they are great at keeping
things hot but they are way too fragile. Anyway, we finally found
one and brought it home to Karen, on the way up we came across
a group of guys who had managed to catch a kingfisher, a beautiful
blue and black bird with a red beak. They tried to sell it to me, but
when I refused to pay anything they gave it to me. I set it free, but
not before getting pictures and naming it Markus, unfortunately
Abu managed to somehow wipe all the pictures I took today off
my camera and so I don’t have them… which makes me sad.
Anyway, we went to a soccer game between the Kamakwie
Wesleyan School and one of the Islamic schools. Before the
game Daniel showed me a guest house (sort of like a hotel)
that is supposed to be a reproduction of the White House, in
small scale of course. At least these pictures can be retaken.
The game ended 0-0 so it wasn’t very exciting but I saw several
of my friends which was good. When we came back Markus
(the kingfisher) was still around and I took some more pictures
(which are also gone) and then took him to see Lynda who loves
birds before letting him go further away from the huts or he
would end up as stew. Well, that’s about all I have for today.
Thinking about you all and praying that life is going well back home.

Greetings and Blessings from Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital
Ryan Brooks