Saying Farewell...

As you are saying goodbye to people you realise that is all about the relationships that you have built with people. You could have implemented the best project ever- but if you don't have the connections with people then there is no heart to the project.

I really hope that we have given heart to the project.

Good-bye Vigurungani

Our Valentine's Day celebration with Noel!

She made us matching skirts as a going away present.

Our ceremony for our Vigurungani Water Techs and Educators

Goodbye Kazamoyo

A great way to spend our last weekend in Kenya.

I miss this this energy and learning new dance moves.

The Water Interns on the beach

Good-bye Kenya

Where does the time go?

I can't believe it but I have only 5 more days in the field- then we will be heading back to Canada the middle of this month. How does one begin to close the chapter on such an experience? There is still so much I still want to experience and people I want to continue to get to know but the plane is leaving and I have to be on it.

I want to share a couple pictures out of my 300 that I took in the last 2 weeks.

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

It was funny because Taya and I were working on taping a poster under a lightbulb in the house and we began to notice that there were these large bugs that were bothering us as we were trying to tape, and of course some were getting stuck to it. More and more started to come inside- about a hundred... and then we looked outside! There were thousands of flying termites trying to infest our entire house. Apparently during the rains the termites come out-

Insect to some... food for others- after being fried and de-winged.

Daughter and son of one of our water filter technicans.

Peace, Teresa

More of a "journey" than a vacation.

Maasai Mara safari.

twiga-giraffe

simba-lion

Even though we saw some very cool animals, talking with the people who worked at David Livingstone resort was the highlight of the safari for me. They even taught us some Maasi words and about their culture. Learning and trying to speak the language breaks down many barriers and helps me feel less like a tourist. (Oh and I must say that the wide selection of food that the resort was really nice- bring on the vegetables that are not tomatoes, cabbage or onions)

Our Maasi friends.

Lake Naivasha. Our home for a little longer than planned. But we tired to make the most of it by...

searching for cheap food (which we found for 50 cents-but we paid more for it in other ways :~), heating our food with solar power-but watch out for hungry birds, helping the local weaver make table coasters, biking 40km around Hell's Gate park (do they call it because of the steeps hills and bikes that lack tread and brakes), walking through the gorge with hot springs, chatting with the local people...

Lake Naivasha

Searching for the "panya" routes -"local trails" to cheap food!

Adventureous Taya on our long and very steep bike ride.

Please continue to remember Kenya at this time- that peace would be in the hearts of the people and that each person would not see a tribe, the other political party or an enemy but see the other person as a Kenyan that wants the same freedom and peace for their beautiful and diverse country.

Teresa

Not to Worry!!!

I am safe and sound in Kenya, so not to worry!

I know that media likes to focus on only the "news worthy" dramatic situations and thus many people in the west are left thinking that the whole country of Kenya is worse than the reality on the ground. There were days when we would not venture out but things are back to normal- people are out going about their regular life.
It has been cool to see how all our plans have been directed right from the time we were planning our Christmas adventures- (I will post pictures of our trip when I return to the coast). We decided to be dropped off at a small town North of Nairobi after our safari in a game park. It was here that we were perfectly situated in between the things happening in Nairobi and another city further north. So while things were happening in Mombasa, where we normally stay and in Nairobi, where we were planning on visiting, we were safely by the lake. And to add to the experience, we unknowingly stayed at the same place I stayed when I was here last year and I was re-acquainted with my Maasi friend who was very kind and hospitable to us during our stay. So we were good!

Thank you to everyone for your concern and for checking in with me during this time.
You can continue to remember Kenya during this time.
As I try to wrap my head around the actions of people acting violently during this election and as I talk with people here- I am beginning to get a small glimpse of the build up tension, hurt and oppression Kenyans and Africans have felt for many years. So when you finally have been given a chance to have your voice heard through the opportunity to vote and then elections are faulty; it is an injustice and a cause for anger. A good reminder to people in the West who take our freedom and independence for granted. But Kenyans are hopeful and desire to restore peace. They have faith in bigger things then their leaders.

Amani (peace),
Teresa

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas from the beaches of Kenya!

Since we are lacking in the snow area this year, we thought for Christmas day we would make a "sandman" at the beach. We even drew a crowd of kids that wanted to join us in the making of sandman. Perhaps it will be a new Kenyan tradition...

Wishing you laughter and joy this Christmas season!

Jesus: "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" John 10:10 (AMP)

The beautiful invention of the bicycle!

My friends (Patrick, Abraham, Taya) and I embarked on our 2 bicycle adventure this past Saturday while we were staying in the village.

One thing I have learned thus far being in Kenya is when you think you know how long something will take, assume that it will take waaaayyyy longer. It is 25km to our destination and it is supposed to be a 2 hour ride... but it took from 9am until 6:00 to return home- with a 2 hour break to watch our friend's soccer game.

From this experience my new moto is, be prepared for anything! When the little voice says, carry water, your leatherman, some money and some snacks, listen. Even though people often question why you seem to be carrying too much stuff- there are times when they come in handy!

But another important thing I have learned is that if you are with the right people you can have a considerable amount of fun!

Who knew it could be so fun...

and so tiring...

or we could get so many tire punctures in one trip (over 5)...

Later in the week... testing out the tire repairs.

Our New Home!

Digging our garden. Our friends hanging around.

Since moving into the new village we are working in- I have been given a glimpse of the difficult reality of water for the people in rural Kenya. And as much as our team wants to live like the community- we can not in the area of water. We must bring tap water in many containers of water to our house which is then treated to make sure we do not get sick (we also collect rainwater). But we struggle to have enough to last for a week, rationing the water for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, bathing and cleaning the house. This is sometimes difficult and we often run out. The necessity of water again reinforced.

But THEN I look at the situation of everyone who permantly calls this home- they do not have the luxury of a shipment of clean water but are required to walk quite far to a water source that looks like this-

And for water that looks like this-

And this-

Dam water vs. Tap water

This past week we met with a health care worker in the community to discuss this issue of water and find out the effect on the health of people. Much of the sickness he treats is a result of the water people drink and the lack of sanitation facilities. A water sample was taken recently and tested in a lab and it was found to be so contaminated that the health care worker would only report that the results were "embarrassing." Now I am not an expert in water but I now seen with my own eyes, the level of contamination and how sick it makes people.

This again reinforced the importance of the filter. In my head, ideally it would be great if everyone had access to piped water from a spring but this is not going to happen very soon or maybe at all. While the promise of piped water to rural areas from the politicans continues-(especially during election time) these people continue to hang in the balance. It is especially the children who suffer from taking this water. We have met many children along our way with skin problems and stomachs expanded from worms from the water. So really, the next best option for these people is the filter. Taking the water they already have and making it safe to drink.

If you are interested in helping continue this work of building filters to provide clean water for people, check out the "Turn on the Tap" project on the Samaritan's Purse website. There is a video on this link that explains the filter program more in detail.

http://www.samaritanspurse.ca/ourwork/water/Default.aspx

If you do decide to support "Turn on the Tap," please send me a message or email so I can thank you. It really makes a difference in the lives of many people.

Peace and Joy to you during this Christmas season.

Teresa :~)