Friday, June 8th, 2006 - Week 7of 10 in Garissa

What is four feet long, 12 inches high, looks like a crocodile, runs like the wind and lives just outside our back door? A monitor lizard. We have a zoo in our backyard. There are beautiful turquoise and red Iguanas, skittering baby mongoose and mama and papa mongoose (we do not like, they kill the chickens in the neighbourhood) and the pet rat from the garage returned in the truck after repair, leapt out and we presume now resides in our area. No more camel spiders though. We found out what it was and it does bite and it is harmful.

Bobby’s best friend from the previous visit, Fadia, has finally returned to Garissa after the birth of her fourth child, a son. He is chubby and looks just like his daddy. Bobby got to hold him and give him a kiss on his newly shaved head – a Muslim tradition.
Last weekend was wonderful. Our medical student came from Nakuro to visit on Thursday and stayed until Sunday am. She has a very kind heart, a beautiful nature and was a joy to have around. We got to know each other and it was sad to part. She has another two months in this term then two more years and a year of internship to reach her goal as a medical practitioner, which should provide her with, secure employment in Kenya for the years to come.

Sue the short-term volunteer from Ottawa, sent by Ron Ward, will be here another few days then we will be on our own again. She is teaching at the high school level and doing research on female education in the area.

This week at school for Bobby was a nightmare on Monday. They have their staff meetings whilst school children are on site so they leave them to just tear around in the facility and yard for however long it takes. Bobby was asked to run math classes as usual in sequence until they returned. It began at 8 am and the teachers returned at 11:05. Those in class were upset and those outside were a big fat nuisance as they were bored – all 120 of them as there were 30 in class. However, Wednesday made up for it, as it was the day Bobby got to plant a tree in the compound of the Pastor as this is ACC & S Education Week and that was part of the celebration. Dignitaries planted trees. ACC & S is a denominational church and education society. Also, the teachers ordered a Kiamba (musical instrument) for Bobby from outside Garissa and gave it to her.

Frank made some super contacts this week, especially Monday. So very many people in Garissa Town now know who we are and they give us rides, stop us to talk, give us fresh fruits from their stands and just enfold us in such special ways. The truck driver from the camel trip telephoned Frank to see how he was doing and asked if they are going back to get the other camel and her newborn! He has a real affection for Frank. We have taken water barrels out to the camel herder to enable them to treat the camels for an annoying parasite, which causes their noses to bleed – they needed 60 litres of fairly good water.

This past Sunday we attended the Anglican Church and were truly blessed. This coming Sunday we are going to the ‘other side’ to our first Baptist Church and have been invited to stay for lunch. We are so looking forward to it. We are taking Sue too.
Tuesday we both went to Rhya for the day as our young male nurse who is leaving to joining the Kenyan police force with a view to being a nurse within their ranks, turned everything over to Lucy the replacement. It was rather sad as we have spent some very hectic days with young Ibrahim as we did feeding, clinical care and food and mosquito net distribution over the last two months. Oh well, onward and upward with Lucy. At the other camp, Altheyle, their was a distribution day and we dropped off four workers there where there was also a seven van contingent of photo-journalists doing coverage for the UN of the continuing drought, feeding, clinical and distribution projects in the NE Province (known locally as NEP). Nothing has changed since we arrived and we have had four such ‘visits’ with none of them bringing food, medicine, water barrels, or money. Just looking. It is very disconcerting. We are so happy the cistern and tank are now operational at Rhya. The monies gifted by White Rock Baptist Church were sufficient to cover this project. Thank you brothers and sister in White Rock.

Cannot believe we have just over three weeks until we leave Garissa. Now we feel rushed with small projects we have to complete. God has been so good!
We pray thankful prayers each day and also prayers of love to you all each morning. Will see you soon.
HI FRIENDS AND FAMILY. We have learned something about the internet in the last few weeks. For one thing, your messages to us are truly longed for and appreciated. Please be brief however. Attachments, photos and any extras shut the system down and the operators and other users no longer have to look and see who is responsible, it is usually us. Love to all.
Bobby & Frank

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