Next stop: Kenya

The new year started with a day spent in Tiesenga's home village, Pamba. We walked around a bit visiting with the natives there. I was able to see the inside of people's homes then, and really see how different living really is here. The first home was Catherine's, a square hut that is considered a very nice place. She lives there with her husband, Joseph, and their two children Aaron (8) and Kerin (6mo). Their hut is about 10'x10', and divided by a curtain. On one side she has a sewing machine- her occupation is a seamstress- there is a basket of material, and a small plastic shelf that holds her dishes and spices, the only things her family really owns. On the other side is two mattresses, one for Joseph & Catherine, the other for Aaron & Kerin. There is also a small pile of clothing, and that's it!

The next place we visited was a square of homes that were much less than Catherine's place. There are four buildings that create the square, and on the "inside" of the square are hanging clotheslines for their laundry, and where they do all there cooking all day long- pots on charcoal. Each building contains 5 "homes", and each home is extremely small. The only way I can describe it is the width of one twin mattress and the length of one and a half twin mattresses. SMALL! There are holes in the corners where the rats come in and out, there is no light, and the homes are so hot so the body odor just sticks in the air. It is truly terrible! We went to visit Christine, Tiesenga's house helper. She lives in one home with 7 other people- because it is so small she sleeps on the concrete floor. Her sister lives with her and has a brand new baby girl, so we got to visit with them, too. We spent most of the time outside in the shade, since there is more room there and it is much cooler. Nearly everyone is outside all the time here. 

Later on Monday we went to Amacet, a YWAM run orphanage where Tiesenga's got their new daughter, Kate. There were about 15 boys and girls there, most of which they hope will go back to their homes or a family member, but they are in the orphanage's care right now because most of them are malnourished. The first baby I picked up was such a sweet looking boy, Michael, who looked fairly healthy. As soon as I picked him up, though, I realized he had some issues. I found out that he as cerebral palsy, sickle cell disease, and other defects, too. He is actually one of the very few that will not go back home because no one wants him because it is a shame to have a baby with issues. He was the cutest thing though and I fell in love with him!

Tuesday was a fun day to the village of Tiesenga's landlords, Peter & Helen and their 6 children. Their village is a little over 1 hour away, and we spent most of the day there. When we got there around noon, they served us tea time, which is like an entire meal. There was obviously tea, hard boiled eggs, bread, potatoes, and g-nut paste which is like really thick peanut butter. It is offensive if you do not at least try everything served, so I was forced to be polite. After tea time Peter gave us a tour of their village then we came back for lunch, which is where their youngest, Rebecca (4), became my best friend. When we left several hours later she even climbed in our van to come with us because she said she liked her new friend :) Presh! For lunch, they older daughters came around with a basin and pitcher of water and we all washed our hands. It is such an honor to have mzungu's come to your village, so they serve you the whole time and never eat with you. It feels very awkward but it is their culture. Lunch was all horrible things, but I at least gave it a try. My saving grace was rice- I think I will never want to eat rice after this month is over. There was irish potatoes, goat intestines (which I did not eat, because I have been telling everyone I am vegetarian and do not eat meat- it's the only way to get out of situations like this. ha), etoppy (which is unexplainable, except the only adjective I can use to describe it is gross), greens (I don't really know what that was, either), and of course rice. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting, where Rebecca sat on my lap most of the time, or played games with me, colored for me, or grabbed my hand and would take me places. 

Tuesday night was the hardest night to fall asleep because after informing Drew and Troy that I heard noises under my bed last night, they told me "yeah, that's just the mice and frogs and anything else." Steve and Tanya agreed and said I have no clue what is living in the guest house with me. I want my Michigan bedroom so badly right now!

Wednesday was a more boring day for me, I like life fast paced and that is not how the Ugandans roll. Today was Ashley's 13th birthday, so we spend most of the day back at Catherine's sewing headbands and more visiting. Joseph and Catherine made us lunch today, so I got more (or less!) African food. However, they came over for dinner tonight which was pizza and they did not like it, so now they know what it is like to eat foreign food. Also while we were at Catherine's, a few neighbor boys who are Drew & Troy's friends, were hanging around and offered to make a slingshot for me to take home to Tad. They think it is so cool that the slingshot is for a boy in America, which I found funny. They even asked why I didn't take him along- because I don't have an extra 4,500,000 shillings just laying around. Later in the day, Steve, Alli, and I went to Soroti to get a few things to take home to the states with us. Because their van was in the shop getting repaired before our long drive to Kampala tomorrow, we had to take a taxi into town (it's probably close to 2 miles from Pamba to Soroti). We got bike taxi's- there is a cushion over the back tire and you sit sideways (because I was in a long skirt) all the way there. On the way home we took piki's (motorcycles) and so I got to ride my first motorcycle ever in Africa. Without a helmet. Sideways. On dirts paths. With a random guy I didn't know. My dad would be so thrilled! 

Tomorrow morning we leave early to make the long trek to Kampala. We fly out at 7:50p and should be in Nairobi around 9p. Pray that our trip to Kampala and our trip to Nairobi goes well, and that the Calvin group gets there safely, too, so that Alli and I are not stranded alone. Kenya elections are also approaching soon, so there is a lot of political unrest. Some Ugandan's told us today to be careful because it is not safe right now, so please pray that this will not affect us. 

This is Christine's square. Less than any home we have ever seen in Grand Rapids.

You sit on mats, and just hang out in the shade. Here I am holding baby Ashley- just 12 days old.

Roda.

Pamba, Soroti, Uganda, Africa. 

Near Christine's square.

Michael @ Amacet.

Uganda has the best oranges ever! Yes, they're green oranges.

Rebecca :)

My helpings are small, but this is still considered polite :) And Sue, I am getting my protein so don't worry! On the bottom left is greens, bottom right is Etoppy, top right is Irish potatoes, and top is rice.

A wild monkey!

Troy's festive African-wear.

Sewing headbands on Ashley's birthday.

 

This is the street corner right outside Tiesenga's yard in Pamba.

Joshua 2 (he made Tad's catepult), Troy, Aaron, and Joshua 1

Making the slingshot.

Enjoy!

Pce. & Blessings.
Jess