News from Kenya - #10

Journal Entry 10-Day 17,18,19,20

Friday April 16, 2010 10:00AM

I’ve been feeling better and enjoying having Pamela here with me at the flat. She arrived Sunday evening and is staying until Monday April 19. She is Rom’s sister-in-law from London.

The week has moved along quickly and I’ve been quite busy so have not taken time to write.

Tuesday I spent the morning at the flat. Jane Osodo came again to do my wash and clean the apartment. I’ve mentioned her before. She has had to move out of her rented place along with her three children due to inability to pay the rent. She is staying with a friend who lives in a small house made entirely of iron sheets. Jane has asthma and she finds it hard to sleep in the iron house so she has been staying in various places at night including Connie and Rom’s house. I paid her more for her work this time because she really is having a very difficult time. I talked to Connie today about letting her join in with their group for tailoring so she can have a better chance at earning some money. Connie is going to talk to her about it.

Felix, the college student I sponsored throughout 4 years of high school and one year of college did not use the money I sent in January to go to college. He explained that he used my fee to pay for his twin brothers to continue their schooling. They are in Secondary School in their Junior year of high school. He felt it was more important that they complete Secondary school and said he could continue his accounting course later. Felix has another brother, Rheghan, who is also a junior and is sponsored by Pat Hoen. Felix has therefore only completed one year of his three-year accounting course. I cannot be angry with him because his motives are so selfless. He stopped by the flat Tuesday to have me come with him to see where he is selling socks and ties on the street. He has a very small area. He states he sometimes makes about a dollar/day and it keeps him going. Anybody willing to sponsor his twin brothers? He states they are good students.

On Tuesday afternoon Rom came and we went to several wholesale shops to purchase supplies for Nyanza General Hospital referred to locally as Russia hospital because it was built through funding from Russia. We got a case of powdered milk and 40 rolls of toilet paper. We had to go to two different places for the supplies and it took a long time for them to complete the paperwork.

We got back to the flat about 7PM and Rom’s daughter Julie had cooked fish and ugali and sent it over for us to eat.

Wed April 14, 2010 I worked on forms and downloading photos in the AM. Rom came again in the PM and we went shopping for straight canes for Buburi Health Center and bar soap for Russia hospital. We got a good price on the canes – about $1.75 each. I got 10. The soap comes in long bars about a foot long. We got a dozen for about $8.00. They will cut the soap into pieces and it will last a long time for the children. I still find it hard to believe that a hospital does not provide toilet paper and soap for the children. I know it is the custom for the family members to supply food but these children do not have families nearby to support them. There are not enough beds for all the children and they are doubled up and some sleep on mats on the floor. Russia is considered the better hospital in the area- imagine!

Again we got back to the flat about 7PM. Paul, Rom and I went to a nearby restaurant called RK’s hotel and had some supper.

Thursday, Jackline the volunteer teacher at Russia hospital, came to the flat about 10 AM. She is also sponsored for hairdressing. She goes to classes for that from 8 AM to noon and volunteers at the hospital from 2-6PM. We give her about $20/mo to help her survive. She has a daughter in Grade 7 and is hoping she will be able to be sponsored when she reaches secondary school. She requested assistance to pay her rent this month. She pays about $35/dollars/month rent for a very small one-room place. Of course there is no water, electricity, bathroom etc. I gave her half of the rent money.

Jackline and I traveled to Russia hospital and delivered the supplies. Then Rom and I went to a large busy open-air market nearby called Jubilee. We went with Walter who owns a station wagon he runs as a taxi. I waited in the car while Walter and Rom went to negotiate a price for the chickens. If they see me they charge a higher price. Rom calls it “skin tax”. After about 20 minutes they came back and I went with them to get the chickens. They had the 15 chickens, 10 hens and 5 roosters, with their feet tied together in groups of 5. We each carried 5 chickens upside down by their feet to the car. I was a little hesitant when they handed me the 5 chickens to carry. It seemed very mean to treat them that way. We placed them in the back of the wagon and took them to Usoma to the 4 families. We were told there were 5 families but I was misunderstood. Rom kept the extra three chickens at his home for now. Each family received two hens and one rooster. It is hoped they will prosper and produce more chickens and many eggs. Rom instructed them in the need to feed and water them rather than just letting them free feed.

One of the recipients of the chickens is Anna Omedo who I mentioned before. She was the one with the sore leg. I had given her Motrin and a heel cushion about 10 days ago. She said she felt much better. I taught her two simple stretching exercises to do and gave some more Motrin. I hope they help.

We tried to go and see about getting a dairy cow but the place is only open in the AM so we returned to the flat. The car Rom had been using was being repaired so Walter dropped him off at the shop to pick up the car and took me back to the flat. He requested 2000KS for his work driving today. I thought that was too much so I asked him if Rom had agreed on that price. Of course he said yes. I had already given him 500 KS for gas earlier. I gave him the money because he insisted that was the agreed upon price. The next day he told Rom he charged me 250 KS- He outright lied. Rom called and talked to him but without any success. We will not call on him again. He was with us for about 3 hours and received about $35 dollars. Back home that would be reasonable but not here.

I got home about 6.45PM and had dinner that Julie prepared – rice and tilapia. I visited with Pamela and Mamma Julianna, her mom, for a while.

Mamma is in her 80’s and has a terrible chronic cough and many aches and pains. I massaged her back and did a Reiki scan and treatment. She said her arms and shoulders felt much better but not her legs. However she said she slept better than usual. Pamela and I sat up talking until about 1 AM and then I went to bed

End of Journal Entry 10