Wednesday, June 21, 2006 - Week 9 of 10 Garissa

Hard to believe – just days left.
Bobby’s asthma is under control – she has had to make some tough choices, like staying inside most of these last few days and curtailing her duties. But she had seven weeks of fine health, better than at home, for which she is grateful.
Distressing news this week was that of Frank’s mom – she fell, broke her hip, had to have surgery, and her grandchildren have stepped into the gap to attend her. We are both grateful for their care of her.

Another precious camel has died, this one from the most recent herd from Nanyuki. An autopsy is being done and hopefully there will be no more. Frank is facilitating the transportation for the vet and commiserating with the entire
camel committee on the recent losses.

Today is distribution of food at both Rhya and Atheyle, which is a huge undertaking. The last five bags of Unimix has
gone out, the beans, sugar, oil and rice have been purchased and prayers have been lifted up for more project monies
to be given, in order that food may again be distributed in the coming months. CARE has given some provisions for
Atheyle and having the potable water in at Rhya has made a huge difference.

We have had some precious times with our many friends here as we say goodbye. Frank has one more church service which makes 9 different churches visited and as many meetings with the ministerial during which they have supported
and enfolded one another in fellowship and study. Bobby missed school last week but was able to go again on Monday.
The children are into mid-term exams beginning today and she has only tomorrow to be with them before departing.
Everyone is so happy that Jill Hammond is coming to take over on July 3rd. The teachers in Primary really appreciate
the support. Ibraham, the nurse from Rhya, has departed too; to join the Kenyan police force and use his nurse’s
training within the ranks at their dispensary/clinic. He is a fine chap. TB Manyetta continues to serve the community
and on Monday we went to give our love to Helema the cook of many years and Mohammed the clerk who began just
when we arrived. Two good souls giving of themselves for the needy.

Bobby has generated a brochure for Simaho to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Also, she has helped with the planning
for the Anniversary Event July 19th. Frank has taken pictures which we hope we can get transferred to the brochure
while we are in Nairobi, get it printed on pink paper (Zahra’s choice of colour) and get them back to Garissa with Bob’s
team. This is definitely a prayer item! No project is every easy or smooth running.

Frank here. I have just slowed down a bit to add my contribution, talk about going out or finishing our time here in a
blaze of glory. The week started off in a church service, not too unusual. But it was different, the tiny little chapel made
entirely of sticks, just like the nomads’ dogas, was smack dab in the center of a brothel complex. Fortunately the power
was off so we made very little noise and the locals did not make their presence felt until about 11:30 or so. There is very
little contact between the church and the community. In a way, it is so sad. On my first visit last week I counted as
many as 15 teenagers living there as well as another dozen or so toddlers and primary kids and thought, “what an
outreach”, but sadly there is little. This church wants money to move next to the local sewage settling grounds. You
take what you can get in this Muslim area.

Bobby has already mentioned the camel's sudden death and it was one of ours from Nanyuki. A very positive fact was
that this camel was not ill which was obvious as the 7’ tall vet conducted the post mortem. Her stomach was full; there
was lots of fat and flesh on her. I figure this vet, who rides a Yamaha 160 motorcycle, was sent to Garissa because he
could take a camel’s temp without having them kneel down. ‘Daktari’ (the vet) advised the lab results were inconclusive
but was inclined to believe a tse tse fly was responsible. The camel babies are doing fine. Hope that was not too gory
for you all!

Please continue to prayer for us in these final days, as we are finding leave-taking very heart wrenching.
Thank you.
Bobby and Frank

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