One of the expeditioners currently in Kenya is Kevin Nielsen. Kevin was a missionary in Italy with Bret 30+ years ago, and is an expert in earthen dams in third world countries. He and Bret connected a while back, and got talking about the work we do in Kenya, and Kevin's expertise just happened to be something we could utilize. Land has been purchased and a Koins farm is being established. It will be both an example of what can be done with a small plot of land, and a hands on experience for local farmers who will be allowed to farm a piece of the Koins farm. With help from Self Reliant Agriculture, we will be training local farmers to farm better, to use the land to raise better and healthier crops, as well as fish and animals. Part of the requirement of such a farm is having available water. There is a riverbed adjacent to the Koins farm, but it only has running water for a few weeks of the year, during the rainy season. With the help of Kevin Nielsen, a dam is being built in this riverbed that will allow that seasonal water to be contained, and it will provide year round access to water for crops on the Koins farm. Once we can prove that this dam project is feasible and affordable, we can consider building additional dams within the Koins service area. The rivers flow hard and fast during the few weeks of the rainy season, but the water ends up in the Indian Ocean, then the rivers dry up. By providing a source for irrigation water, we could make a huge difference to the lives of local farmers.
Kevin called a few weeks before the trip and asked what his local church community could do for Koins. I suggested they make baby blankets that could be brought and distributed to the clinics within the Koins service area. The response was great, and this was Kevin's communication with Bret prior to departing for Kenya:
Kevin Nielsen with baby blankets for Kenya
Just a heads up, as you know, I asked for blankets to fill my
suitcases. Well, the Relief Society sisters in our stake put out the
attached notice and we got more than a suitcase full. A portion of them
are shown in the attached picture.
There were many expressions of this being the most rewarding
humanitarian project they had ever done. They are anxious to have me
return with pictures and report about the end result. As I mentioned
to Jami, I actually cannot get them all in mine and Shad’s
suitcases so I’ll be storing some at my house until my “next” trip to
Mnyenzeni!
I am looking forward to seeing the results of the dam building in Kenya, and to hear of Kevin's experiences, both in dam building and in distributing baby blankets. Within the last 2 days, there have been 5 new babies born in the Koins service area. Each new baby will return home from the clinic wrapped in a new, clean, warm blanket donated by caring Americans.
A post from Karen Timothy, a July 2011 expeditioner:
One of the great things expeditioners get to do is come up with some sort of project they would like to do while in Kenya. While most of us chose to teach in the schools as part of that, we also chose other projects that would benefit the villagers in some way. Tara and I pooled our money with that of Tingey’s and Workman’s to make science kits for the schools. While some of the supplies were purchased at home and taken over, most of what we got was purchased in nearby Mombasa.
Karen and Sue with boxes ready to fill
It took a little doing to get everything we needed but finally it arrived and the task of assembling began. The boxes themselves were bright blue trunks roughly 2 x 4 feet in size. In each one we were able to put a microscope, litmus paper, beakers, test tubes, magnets, charts, batteries, and other sciency stuff. We had just spread it all out on our dinner tables when Buffalo came in and stopped short. Buffalo is a man, probably in his 50’s, who serves on the Koins board and has been a lifelong teacher there in the village. He is a bright, pleasant man and a great advocate of the students there. I was so humbled as he approached the boxes laid out on the tables. He had heard we were going to provide science boxes to each of the schools but he hadn’t thought about what that meant. As he peered into the first box he literally caught his breath. “Microscopes?” he asked. “You are going to give every school their own microscope?” When we nodded our heads, his eyes filled with tears and he spoke almost reverently. “Not even the secondary schools can have a microscope.” He picked up each item we had placed in the box and marveled that we could think of such a fine gift to give the 10 nearby schools, including his. (Cindy gets full credit for thinking of this. She really has a grasp on their needs.) He just kept shaking his head in amazement and grinned from ear to ear as we finished filling the trunks.
The headmaster of the Bofu school receives a science box
Again, I was reminded that because we have so much, we sometimes lose our “awe.” As we delivered these boxes to the schools you could see Buffalo’s reaction repeated by each new headmaster or teacher who opened it up. At one school, Cindy took it into an 8th grade class to open in front of the kids. As the lid was lifted and they could see the picture of the microscope on its’ box, they erupted into cheers and clapping while the teacher just jumped up and down! I wish you could have seen the joy you brought to these students. They will now be able to learn in a whole new way and the possibilities of where it will take them are limitless.
Buffalo explains the science box contents
To understand how valuable a microscope is you need to imagine the frustration of the people in the villages who get so little help from outside. While the Kenyan government has medication that can cure malaria, patients can’t receive the medication until they have a confirmed diagnosis of the disease. Never mind that they drink from the same watering hole that cows, goats and sometimes elephants do ( and they don’t just drink there, mind you…) or that they have all the symptoms of malaria. If they have not had a blood test confirm malaria, they get no treatment. Being painfully aware of this after 8 trips to Africa, Cindy spent last school year helping her students raise money – about $1,500.00 – to buy a microscope for the dispensary in Mnyenzeni. The first week it was in operation, 8 patients were tested for malaria. Six of them had confirmed cases and were able to get medication to cure it, literally saving their lives. While the microscopes you and I provided were not strong enough to detect malaria, these students will learn how to use one and hopefully spur some of them on to a course of study that will improve the quality of their lives by providing more competent health care.
Cindy observes the microscope in action
When my uncle, Bill Seliger, heard of the need for microscopes, he changed his mind about selling his on ebay and instead, let us take it to the village and place it in the dispensary. I should say he let Tara take it. He had carefully packed it in a small case, providing photographic documentation and explicit description so that we didn’t keep getting held up in airport security. It was a 23-pound treasure and Tara hand carried it through 5 airports along with her own 50 lb. bag making sure that it didn’t get bumped or disturbed. We were all glad when it found its new home in the dispensary. While they did have the microscope from Windridge, it is electric and that can be a problem. For some reason that we never came to understand, the government randomly cuts off the power and they can go from hours to days without it. While most villagers would never know it happened because they don’t have electricity in their homes, we experienced it for a little over a day and found it to be really irritating. While it doesn’t affect the air conditioners – because they don’t have any - it does wreak havoc with the refrigerators, power tools, sewing machines, and the one microscope Koins has placed in the village. With this additional one, the power outages will no longer have such an impact on the sick.
A microscope for the clinic that doesn't need power
Thanks to all of you for helping provide science boxes for these 10 schools. It really was Christmas in July.
During our July trip to Kenya, I spent a morning in the dispensary, working with the lab techs who use the microscope. I had a chance to talk to them about the importance of the microscope, how it is used to detect a variety of diseases, and more importantly, gives them the ability to accurately treat patients who arrive sick at the dispensary.
Medicine at the dispensary
Antibiotics to treat malaria
I watched with great interest as the lab techs washed and disinfected slides to reuse, and talked to me of their training and work history. They showed me in the microscope how to detect malaria in the blood. It was fascinating to see order and procedure take place in an area of the world where so much is chaotic and rudimentary.
Villagers waiting to be seen at the dispensary
The well baby area of the dispensary
Mnyenzeni is the only dispensary in the rural southeast coastal area of Kenya that has a microscope. It has greatly increased the traffic that flows through the dispensary. At any time on any given day, there will be 25-50 people outside the small building, patiently waiting their turn to be seen by the nurse. The dispensary has the ability to take blood and urine samples, test for diseases, do prenatal and postpartum checks and well baby checks, and prescribe drugs. There is a large clinic adjacent to the dispensary being built by the Kenyan government. We are hopeful that upon its completion, health care in the Koins service area of Kenya will rise a notch.
Clinic under construction in Mnyenzeni
Clinic being built right by the dispensary in Mnyenzeni
With the addition of the microscope at the dispensary, Koins has helped save lives. In less than 6 months, there have been many lives saved by the detection of malaria, tuberculosis, bilharzia, cholera, and other diseases that can be found in the blood or urine.
We are hopeful that upon completion, the clinic will provide an opportunity for Koins to bring in medical doctors that can treat more complex issues.
Cindy Workman and her 6th grade class at Wind Ridge Elementary School in Farmington, Utah, raised the funds necessary to purchase a microscope and related supplies for the Mnyenzeni clinic. This microscope will be used to look at blood samples and determine if sickness is caused by malaria, tuberculosis, or some other disease.
Prior to having this microscope, the general prognosis was determined to be malaria, and if malaria medication was available, that was what was administered. This would be comparable to going to an American doctor and being told that every sickness was the same thing, and everyone being given the same medication.
Mnyenzeni is centrally located in the Koins service area, and within reasonable walking distance, allowing people access to this health care. The nearest hospital is not within walking distance, so this will allow people to be treated locally, where otherwise they might not be treated at all.
The first day of use, 80 blood samples were tested with the new microscope.
We are thrilled that the 6th graders at Wind Ridge Elementary School chose to raise funds and donate generously to Koins yet again. This is a special gift to the villagers that will save many lives.
Celebration for new microscope at Mnyenzeni clinic
We had a leisurely morning, which was really nice. We started sacrament meeting a little early, but we were all there, so it was perfect. It was cool to have Paul and Curt bless the sacrament and Brayden pass it, right here in the KCC. We followed the normal script for a fast and testimony meeting, with Mike conducting the meeting (he is in the bishopric at home). It was a very good meeting. I think we all enjoyed hearing from most every member of our group. It was emotional at times, heartfelt and open. It was the best sacrament fast meeting I have attended in a long time.
I think the thing I love about being in Kenya is the people in our group. I love how this humanitarian work brings out the best in people. And I mean the best in whatever they are. Some people are naturally good at interacting with children, some with different cultures, some are good with their hands and building, some are organizers, but by and large, all have good hearts and are here for the right reasons. I know I should be loving working with the Kenyan people, and enjoying that cultural interaction, but I find it awkward and difficult at times. I really don't understand the culture, I am offended often by the way the women are treated and that sometimes makes me uncomfortable with the men. Bret is just the opposite, he loves the work, he is comfortable with the men and being in a position of power here. He interacts well with the children and has a way of getting the women to respond to him. I often feel the discomfort of the men when they work with me, as a woman, but knowing that as wife of "Baba Bret" they have to treat me with respect. Being here really puts me outside of my comfort zone, on so many levels. Another issue I am dealing with is that after more than a week, my night time combination Ambien and Malarone starts making me restless and nightmarish. My dreams are becoming very vivid and strange.
Buffalo demonstrating borehole well at Mwache
Marcie at Mwache borehole well
Jason, Austin and McCall
Our group walking to the well at Mwache
Leigh getting crazy climbing the tree
Paul getting crazy climbing the tree
Anthony Yama's parents met us on the path near Mwache
Kendy faces her fears in the cornfield
A village woman, preparing food and caring for her children
After the service, we had a sandwich lunch, cleaned up, then a few of us got in a van and went to Mwache to see the bore hole well in action. There are 3 bore hole wells that LDS Humanitarian built in 3 different villages in 2009. It is quite amazing to see them pump clean, unlimited water so effortlessly. Anthony's parents walked from their home up the trail to visit with us. His father is sick with malaria, and his mother is recovering from a terrible foot injury, so it was with great effort they came to see us.
Chakaya, the nervous groom
We returned to the KCC and the wedding guests started arriving. Chairs were brought over from the secondary school, and the front yard of the KCC became the gathering place for about 200 people. Chakaya arrived, and we joined the crowd in the yard as we awaited the bride. It was kind of comical how they blended American traditions and who knows what other traditions for this wedding.
Women cooking for the wedding crowd
Women singing to greet Kwe Kwe, the bride
Kwe Kwe arrives and is escorted to Chakaya
The bride's father and sister
Chakaya and Kwe Kwe prepare to be married
Kwe Kwe reacts to a comment of Bret's during ceremony
The bride and groom kiss (not a typical Kenyan public behavior)
And they are married (notice the interlocked pinkies...)
Our group made an arch for the newlyweds to walk through
As Kwe Kwe arrived, the women from the kitchen came out singing and dancing and welcoming her and her entourage. The rest of the women in the crowd joined in. As she was escorted from the car by Dallin and her bridesmaid, there was a line of women that threw rice at her. She walked up to the porch of the KCC, where Bret and Chakaya were waiting, and Bret asked her father to come up and give his daughter to Chakaya. Then he proceeded with a ceremony that blended traditional US wedding vows with kind of a "make a new start, don't do what Kenyan men typically do" recommendations. It was interesting to watch the reactions of the crowd to this different kind of wedding. Kwe Kwe seemed embarrassed at some of the things Bret was saying, but I think ultimately she was excited about getting married, in her shy Kenyan way. The funny part was when they cut the cakes we bought, and fed a bite to each other, then another bite, then a bite to their best man/bridesmaid, then the parents and then all the guests. I had to leave. It was just so funny. Shortly thereafter, the music and dancing started and didn't stop until about 8:00 p.m.. Lots of pilau was served along with ugali, and most guests stayed outdoors, although Johnson's wife and kids and Lucy, Anthony's wife, and kids came inside and ate and played games and had fingernails painted by our group.
Austin and Catelin dancing
A large pot of pilau, ready to serve to the wedding guests
Our group was pretty exhausted by the time the last guests left. We bypassed P&P because of our testimony meeting this morning, and had an early bedtime.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Everyone was up early preparing to depart for the safari in Tsavo.
Bret and Anthony left for Mombasa. I deep cleaned the KCC, and with the help of the kitchen staff we washed and bleached every single dish, table, surface, and tidied up inside and out. I began washing my clothes, and Emily took over for me. She kind of laughed as she walked up to me, asked me if I used a machine at home, to which I responded "I have a machine for everything at home!" I hate to admit, but I was happy to have her finish washing the clothes for me. I showered and spent much of the rest of the day in the KCC updating my journal and getting caught up on Koins work. All day one of the board members was outside the KCC watching over me. I didn't mind staying in. It was hot outside and I had a chance at quiet and cool productivity sitting in front of the fan.
Foundation of the new clinic in Mnyenzeni, just in front of the dispensary
In the afternoon I took baby blankets up to the dispensary, and took a few photos of the foundation of the new clinic being built. It is quite exciting to think what it might offer to these villagers. It looks to be about the size of the KCC.
Tool crib in workshop
Workshop, neat, tidy, organized and in good working order
I walked over to the workshop with Buffalo, Chief Tuku and Eliud. They showed me around, pointing out all the work that had been done since we had been here. The workshop really looks great, Mike and Curt have done an incredible job with that building. It is tidy, the tools have been organized, hand tools labeled and marked where they should be stored. The workshop workers have been trained by Mike and Curt how to care for the tools, the building, how to sharpen blades, replace broken parts, keep track of tools. What a difference from when we arrived. Curt has agreed to take on the role of Workshop and Construction Management on the Koins board. It will be wonderful to have him in charge of the workshop on a full time basis, and for him to get our construction costs down to a science.
Sewing center workes busy making Koins purses
Bret arrived and started a discussion with the Kenyan board members about how they had done the electrical work in the workshop. I walked over and checked out the sewing workshop. They were busy sewing our bags and pajama pants.
Bret and I accompanied Chief Tuku to Mnyenzeni, and we went to the home of Peter Mrabu (Purity's dad) and spent some time visiting.
Back to the KCC for dinner, just Bret, Paul and I. It was nice and quiet. We finished our pilau and fruit with hot scones and honey, then cleaned up and headed off to bed early tonight.
Tuesday, August 3
Up at 7:00 this morning. Sometime during the night our netting came untucked, we had mosquitoes in our netting so all night I was getting buzzed by them. It was very annoying and I woke up to blood spots on the sheets, and as I smashed a few of them there was blood on my hands. No itching though. I don't know where they bit me. Not a pleasant thought, with the prevalence of malaria here.
I took a morning shower, then we had breakfast with Purity's dad and discussed his desire for his son, who is high in his Form 2 class, to receive a scholarship. He missed qualifying by 5 points on his exam. Bret told him to retake the exam and we would be happy to take care of his scholarship once he qualified. He is a nice man. We discussed some American customs, like Bret accepting our son-in-laws as extensions of our family, having dinner with them, traveling with them, being friends with them, and he had a hard time understanding that. It is so not Kenyan custom to be friendly with the son-in-law. It is as if they lose a daughter when one gets married. Bret encouraged him to try that new idea out when Purity is married in the future. He looked doubtfully at Bret, but didn't say he wouldn't do it.
Rain coming off the roof of the KCC
Bret on the road with a boy tending goats
Local bread delivery
Brand new baby at the dispensary
Young mother returning to her home with a bucket of water from the river
A man we crossed paths with carrying chickens (alive)
Woman and her daughter cutting wood
A heavy rain came down for a few minutes, then Bret and I went on a walk through the countryside up to Chikomani. Along the way we shot some photos and observed Kenyan life. As we were heading back we came across two women cutting sticks with machetes and binding them and putting them on their head. It was interesting that the first thing that happened was the younger woman asked us for money for taking her photo, then she asked for Bret's shirt and his sunglasses. We offered them candy and I gave them a bag of dried mangos. They seemed happy with that and didn't mind that we followed them back towards their village. They even seemed to be encouraging us to stay with them. They spoke in Duruma and only knew "give me 50 shillings" in English, but I showed them photos as I took them and that seemed to please them.
Woman with her baby, cutting wood
Pregnant woman who was cutting wood.
Women carrying wood back to their village
We got a call from Johnson asking about going to the Massai village on the way back from safari. Bret has had bad experiences with the Massai, who are used to dealing with and abusing tourists. He has had experiences with people spending way more than necessary for trinkets, and also with a couple girls being cornered and groped on a previous trip. He didn't want the group to go, but the majority ruled and he just warned Cindy to keep an eye on things.
Matuwa on the roof of the KCC
The monkey, Matuwa, who is Dallin's pet and an occasional nuisance, keeps running on the roof of the KCC. It makes an amazing racket. He was tied up behind the bathrooms in his little shack, but eventually he chews through the rope and then runs around like crazy. The local kids tease him and he chases them and grabs and bites their ankles. Both sides seem to feed off the attention.
Anthony's portrait from Rebecca Peery
The group returned from safari about 4:00, so we caught up with their activities as some headed to showers. We had a lot of rain today, so it is really muggy and sticky tonight. We presented Anthony with a portrait painted of him by Rebecca Peery, an artist and friend of Koins. She want to Kenya with the March expedition. Anthony was so happy with the painting of himself.
