Week One at IcFEM

My last week has been rather busy since I last wrote. On Monday afternoon Mathew and I went for a walk up to Dreamland. This is the area of land which has been given to the mission by a guy who had a dream about the land being used for the work of god. The land is now being used as the site for the mission’s hospital and primary school, there is also a small farm on site. I had the opportunity to have a look round both of these buildings. The hospital is not yet fully up and running, with a lack of electricity, but it is a large building and there are high hopes and plans from the staff. In contrast the primary school is fully functional. The children seem really enthusiastic, as did the member of staff who showed me round.


Tuesday was my first morning devotion, after which I was out in the field all day with Tatwa, Saskia and other members of the IcFEM staff. We were out working with the Line Ministries, to try and define their roles in the local units. This was a long day, and in some respects an uncomfortable day. Firstly we were sat at the front drinking soda, while the locals were all looking in our direction with none of their own refreshments. Secondly, when I visited to toilet, without thinking, and finding that it was just a hole in the ground with a roof over, it absolutely stank and was full of flies, it wasn’t a very nice experience. I’m sorry for saying this but it made me realize what real life in Africa is all about, because to some extent we are sheltered from this in the guesthouse. Later everyone was fed chicken and rice.

Wednesday was spent visiting the primary schools that have benefited from help from the mission. In the morning we visited Lutonyi and Kamusinga Primary schools, and in the afternoon saw Buko Primary.All three schools were basically the same and, as with the Dreamland school, the pupils seem so enthusiastic. It is not what we would see back in the UK, with classes containing a large amount of pupils, some even reaching over one hundred pupils. They also seem to go crazy when they see us white guys; we attract a lot of attention. But the pupils are really friendly, with some shaking your hand and there is also a constant flow of people asking “how are you?” The teachers, also, are always willing to show us round, even though in some cases the message had not got through that we were coming.

On our return home we met the new group of American visitors to the mission. And the evening was spent, firstly, watching “Only fools and horses” as we waited to see if the England match would be shown. It was and so we had a late night watching the football. Although Mathew and I did not manage to stay awake for the second half, but were grateful for David’s attempts to let us know the score, and wake us for the last couple of, as it turned out, disappointing minutes.


Thursday morning was my first experience of the hectic Kimilili market. It’s not too dissimilar to an agricultural show back in the UK in some parts, and also a British market in others. But it is just so big and busy. Although the fish market is something else, with an interesting smell and different fish piled up all over the place.

The afternoon was spent stocking up on a few things from town, and then just reading and relaxing. But later we had a barbeque to say goodbye to David and also the Americans after their short visit. As well as us who were living in the compound, there were also other members of staff from the mission in attendance. The food was beautiful as always and it was a good do.
I must admit that Friday was, on the whole, a fairly frustrating day. I was out in the field once more visiting a local unit. So I sat through around 5 hours of Swahili speeches, although I did have some translation, so I had a fair idea of what was going on. It was quite frustrating sat down for about 5 hours. Saying this though I did enjoy the journey home and the company of Patrick and Magdon, they are cool people. The evening was spent watching a DVD in the comfort of the guesthouse. Though by this time it had become a strange place to be. It was now really quite. Since I had arrived there had always been at least a couple of guests, and now there was just me and Mathew. As Saskia was out, adding to the other departures of the week.

We were up early on Saturday as we went on a trip to Kakamega Forest. There we saw a waterfall, and monkeys and many butterflies. On the walk we also went up to a viewing point high up, from which you could see for miles across the valley. It really was a beautiful view, and we spent a while up there just taking it in. Later we went into Kakamega for lunch, after which we found we had a flat tyre. This needed changing, and so added to the interest we had already generated. This took a while but we had lots of help.

The evening was spent watching “Only Fools and Horses” once more, and then watching football.

Today, Sunday, has been a busy day. After Mark’s persuasion I decided to join Saskia by going to the Roman Catholic Church. This turned out to be a decent decision. It lasted 2 and a half hours and was all in Swahili, but wasn’t boring at all, there was plenty of singing and dancing. We even had to go to the front, to introduce ourselves. This was weird because I didn’t know what was going on or that they were talking about us, but suddenly got a nudge ushering us to the front.

After the service we went over to Father Peter’s with some others for a soda. We then went with Saskia’s mate Peter, the head teacher of Kimilili Primary, to have a look round his school and then down to Mount Crest for some lunch.

I’m now looking forward to what should be a really busy week, building a house out in Misikhu unit.

Thank you