Week Seven at IcFEM

On Monday morning we applied the finishing touches to our work in the IcFEM Nursery, by cleaning the windows and then arranging the furniture, before going home to carry on work on the trophy. Whilst doing this we watched a review of 2007 on CNN before it was stopped half way through in favor of a cartoon!

Monday was also New Years Eve, and our celebrations took place in the house, after dinner. The celebrations included playing Uno and then watching the highlights of the weekend’s football action.

I was a little late getting up on New Years Day, and then a little late in getting ready, so missed the New Years Day church service. Once ready, I instead played draughts with the guard, and also a new game that he seemed to make up as he went along. Despite this I managed to beat him, which was a first.

The afternoon was once again spent with work on the trophy, which we eventually managed to complete in time for the tournament on Thursday. We later had a bit of a do in the house, with Trevor and Leslie coming round and having a bit of a special dinner of chapatti, and Soloman’s sausages.

The next day we had a fair bit of work to do in our preparations for the tournament, preparations which had had a few set backs, with no petrol for the bus in the local area, and no credit to try and contact certain people.

Instead of the Dreamland school bus, we instead used the taxi driver, Jose, to pick up the team from Mishiku and from Kamkuywa. With limited space it, unfortunately, meant we had to leave some of the reserves behind and instead just take the team. Meanwhile I went to Temba Temba on Buda Buda, to pick up the Kibinge team, and walk the back to Kamusinga. But there was opposition to this and so we instead used Buda Budas back up to Kamusinga.

When I arrived back to Kamsinga Primary with the Kibinge team there was abit of a surprise waiting. I could see that some of the children were playing with some other equipment, other than ours, and I even saw some kids being taught proper forward defensive (for those of you who don’t know this is a proper cricket shot, when you are batting). I was told that this man was from Lugulu, and Mishiku had hired him to help them with some coaching. This was later found to be false info, he was in fact from the Western Province Cricket Association, and had come up with the Mishiku team when he heard about the tournament. He stayed to help out with umpiring and scoring throughout the day. He seemed encouraged by our work and said he would like to carry something similar on, but there is a problem of funding for equipment. He says there is also an older group he has that he would like to move onto hard ball, but they just don’t have the equipment.

The tournament was a good day. We decided to play a little different rules to normal, so that each person got a good chance to bat and bowl. We played 10 overs a side, with each member of the fielding team bowling one over, and batsmen batting in pairs, with each pair batting for 2 overs each, if they were out they lost runs instead of going off the field. It is a system we use with Under 11 teams back in England.

Each of the 3 teams played each other, so there we 3 games throughout the day. The fixtures turned out well, as the last game turned out to be abit of a final, with both teams on one win each, it was winner take all. This game was contested between Mishiku and Kibinge, with Kibinge coming out on top.

Earlier in the day there had been a little controversy when the scores were written down wrong on the scoreboard. When put correct it mean that Kamkuywa had lost both games, one of the leaders looked astonished, even they had obviously being poor, despite my prediction that they were the best team. In the first game alone they had been out 15 times in their 10 overs.
Once the games were over we all went back to the office for some rice and beans, and for the presentation. We had a certificate, t shirt and tennis ball, for the best player from each of the teams. We had the trophy and certificate for the first placed team, and a certificate for second. The winners were happy and I think everyone had a good day, I even think that it may be carrying on into the future, with maybe further tournaments taking place.

The leader of the winning team was so happy, and me and Mathew received an invite to his house for lunch the next day. It was a good afternoon, and a nice lunch. He was also saying that the kids were really pleased about the day before and that it had been a great day. I was also thinking that I don’t think that I had ever been to a day of cricket like that when I hadn’t heard people moaning about not batting or bowling like Thursday.

After lunch we went for a walk up to the local school for a bit of a kick about with the locals and then back to the guesthouse to begin preparations for my departure on Sunday. These included a lot of washing, which took me up until dark and then I woke up early the next morning to finish off.

This morning, Saturday, I went up to Dreamland to plant some trees, and then began saying my goodbyes.

So it has come to the end of my trip, I have really enjoyed my time here. Hopefully There will be one more blog with abit of a conclusion of my time here.
Thank you for reading,
Adam

Week Six at IcFEM

Christmas week and it has been quite a contrast to what is the norm at this time of year at home, on the day itself we even had a barbeque with the sun cracking the flags. Christmas Eve was spent continuing with the painting in the IcFEM office nursery.

All 3 classrooms are now complete, after further work on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with just some adjustments of furniture, and cleaning of windows to be completed. I’m fairly glad that it is over, the classrooms now look fairly good, but it wasn’t the best job ever. The roof was hard work and then applying the yellow border was hard work because the paint was so thick, and then after spending most of Saturday sanding the paint spots off the floor I really was ready for a soda!

Christmas day itself was boiling hot, and was the first day I ate in the house, and the food was great. The day began with a huge breakfast, of toast, mandazi (abit like doughnuts), bananas and even a small packet of sweets. I got through a fair bit, there was just loads of food, with about 3 buckets of mandazi on the table, I couldn’t believe my eyes when even more came, there was no other option but to tuck in! After this it was time for church, and for me there was a last minute change of plan, instead of going with Mathew, I instead went with Solomon, Trevor, Leslie and Chris to Kamusinga. We set off at around 10:20 and arrived back just before 2. We then had a light lunch, of noodles and cake, before starting on the Barbeque out in the yard.

We sat down to eat outside at around 7, and once again it was a real feast. We had a full sheep, chapatti, chicken, salad, and some mashed potato, and then some cake for desert. Once again I managed a fair bit, and so it was no surprise that a little later, and especially the next morning, I did not feel too well, and missed breakfast the next day, while I tried to sleep it off a little.
Christmas day seemed to be just like any other day really in town with shops open, buda budas in business and people seemingly going about their usual business. It was funny, despite this, on Christmas Eve, I was asked whether we celebrated Christmas in England, and was then told that it was a big thing in Kenya and the people were preparing hard!

Once awake, Boxing Day was spent lazing around a little and playing a bit of football in the garden. I also went into town in the early evening to watch the Man Utd match.

This week has also played host to the Kenyan Elections, with votes still being counted as I speak. It has been fairly entertaining and the last few days, town has been quiet. Even Christmas day was busier. The man at the local shop opened and worked Christmas day, as did a lot of others, but had the 27th off for elections, even once he had voted was riding round watching the voting take place. Over the past few days people have been hanging around any TV they can set their eyes on, and most of the house also glued to the TV. It has been a real show with some results being announced, others delayed, with some ECK officials seemingly gone missing and the inevitable claims of rigging. It is now 3 days after the elections and there is no announcement of the next president and even demands for recounts! There is nothing on TV other than these elections, at least over the rest of the time I have been here we have at least had a small break between the continuous talk of elections.

With only a week to go in Kenya, it seems a shame that I am on my way in a little while, as since Christmas my point of view has seemed to have changed, from being a Englishman thinking “o look this is Kenya” to realizing I have now been living in Kenya for the past 6 weeks and feeling more and more at home with the Kenyan way of life.

Week Five at IcFEM

Week 2 of cricket in the Units, and we began by finishing off with Kibinge. Kibinge coaching has taking place in Temba Temba, and on to get to this place we need to go down a very steep hill, on buda buda, it really is scary, you defiantly don’t need roller coasters, just go down this hill on a buda buda, with the rider trying to avoid the potholes and in the process nearly tipping you off the bike, its horrible. It was good that Constance sent one of the buda buda men away that was drunk, that would have been great going down there with a drunk driver.

The kids turned up at about 10ish, around an hour late, and then were taught more rules and how to bowl, but not how to field as the fielding group started to bowl, as in Kamkuywa, once again messing up the plans. We also lost one of the footballs when it popped on a barbed wire fence, and was told it could be fixed, so just allowed the man to got away and, as we thought, “try” and fix it, but we later found that it is possible and so carelessly lost a ball.

The next day was the day to pick a team, and was once again made difficult by the games stopping and players following Mathew around as he wrote down the names of the final team. In teaching the kids the proper game of cricket we once again had similar problems to the previous group, with batters wanting to bowl, fielders trying to bat, etc.

Its nice to know people’s true opinion and that is what we got during our 3 days in Kibinge, from a girl who liked to remind me that “this is boring” and “I m not enjoying this,” but still turned up each day, and even managed to get into the reserves for the tournament day.

On Wednesday we began coaching with a new group, Misikhu, and began chaotically, with the news that the children had turned up at 9am, when we had said 2 pm! So we sent off and arrived at 12:30, to find no sawdust had been delivered as had been agreed, and then when asking for help from one of the teachers, was asked how much we were paying and then refused help when we said nothing. But the man in charge of the unit, Ken, knew of cricket, and has played in the past and so turned up to give a helping hand. But his passion got the better of him, with him wanting his team to be the best and know the most, but we felt it wasn’t fair to teach this unit things we had not taught the others. After the second day, when the kids were so difficult, Ken decided that he wanted to pick his team there and then, because he felt we wouldn’t pick a decent team the next day, when he would not be present. At the end of the second day we went for lunch to a “certain mama’s” house, who had been a part of the house construction with us a few weeks earlier. So we had ugali and cuku, with the “old mama” from the house also present.

By the end of the third day the team was picked, a little more quietly than in the previous 2 groups, but we did have one lad who we had said could not play because he was too big, still trying his hardest to get into the team, and a unknown woman just turning up and looking at the team sheet, and standing in the middle of the pitch, seemingly not knowing what was going on, but she never said a word, but just stood clueless in the middle of the pitch.
We had some good help from some people who seemed to just turn up from the street, but were a real help, and great at keeping control and teaching. As with Robert, who had helped us with the other two groups, but the end of the week they had a good idea of the game and began coaching on their own.

On Saturday I did some shopping and then went to Kitale to have a look round, and also see if I could get hold of the next “Prison Break” series on DVD. I didn’t really stay for too long, because there’s not a lot to see and it’s not the prettiest place in the world. But I did go into the supermarket, I haven’t seen much like it since I was back home, and some of the prices are funny e.g. Kellogs Frosties at 500 shillings (about 4 pounds) a box. Also being a musungu has it perks, as I didn’t have to leave my bag outside, and queue to do so, as other shoppers did.

Sunday was spent at church and then in the afternoon, carrying on finishing our trophy, which some in the house may be seen as inadequate by the winners of the tournament. Tut Tut, it looks real, and as good as you can get from a water bottle, tub of margarine and roll of tin foil.

Week Four at IcFEM

This week has seemed really long, just thinking back on it now. Also looking back, its been one of those weeks that has been really enjoyable, and hopefully we have achieved a fair bit, but during the week and as it has gone on it has felt really hard work and stressful to a certain extent. We really have seen and introduced a lot of people to cricket.

The week began at Sosio Primary School, introducing cricket to Kamkuya unit. This first day was really funny. It started with kids just coming from everywhere, into the school. We started off with about 50 or 60 kids again, when we were really only equipped for 30 ish. Then, we had only just began when it began to rain, just as would be seen back in England. So we had a brief break under some shelter. Although, unlike England, we began again after about 10 minutes, with the bare areas of ground full of water, and with some of the sawdust we had used for the boundary washed away.

With so many players we had to send some away and just gave them a football to play with, but as the afternoon went on we found that people were finding a way to join in the game anyway.
This is hard because it is great that we have so many coming along and wanting to play, because we don’t just want 20 or 30 people knowing about cricket, but it is really hard to get all these players playing, with only 2 of us and a limited amount of equipment. We could have loads of players on both teams but there is only a certain amount of things to do in the game so some would inevitably get bored, we didn’t really want this to happen.

On this first day we had one helper with us to help control, interpret etc for the kids, but he had never seen cricket either, and so we were also showing him. But he couldn’t understand what I was saying, and in the end Mathew would also have to interpret what I was saying for him before he would pass it on to the kids. It was also good that, with him not knowing anything about the game, he had a fresh view of it, and some new ideas. Well one of these was that, instead of the batsman being “out”, they would get a “red card” as in football, and that is how being out is now known in Kamkuya Unit.

At the end of the day we had to walk back to the office in the unit to drop the bags, and some of the kids off, so we got a hand with the bags from the kids. We had a great precession on the way, and the bag was being carried as if it was a coffin, with kids even just trying to get a touch of it. On our arrival at the office we had a bit of the left overs from the days IcFEM event.
Although I enjoyed the day I believe Mathew found it stressful and not very enjoyable, especially with one of the bigger lads, who shouldn’t really have been there smashing one of the younger kids round the head with the bat.

This was in contrast to the next day, which I didn’t really enjoy, but Mathew did. Although overall the day was a success. We had moved the times from the afternoon to the morning, because of a warning that the afternoon rain could be regular throughout the week, and I was maybe hoping that we may have a few less kids; in fact I think we probably had more. But we did have one more helper, Robert, who has turned out to be a regular and a real help throughout the week, who even began teaching kids how to bowl properly, even though he had never seen cricket before, I think his group were better at it than mine.

We started with a few warm up activities that had been popular at holiday club, and then we split them into 3 groups to teach them a little more about the game and the roles of the different players. This didn’t really go to plan, as they didn’t really understand the concept of a straight arm when I was teaching some bowling. We even had one lad whose arm was going the wrong way, as if he was bowling underarm, and then stopping and just throwing it. I really don’t know where he had got that technique from; he must have a great imagination. Neither did the groups stick to their roles, so we ended up with 2 groups of bowlers and a group of batters, so that they couldn’t rotate, as intended.

The last day, Thursday, was left to teaching the group further rules, so that they could understand real cricket, or at least what they will be playing on tournament day, on January 3rd. We amazingly managed to get them seated and they listened to what we had to say, and understood, it was good to see them later playing a proper game.

Looking back at the end of this 3 days with the unit, we had achieved a lot and the kids had learnt a lot, to say that they could now have a game of proper cricket, with bowlers even bowling properly, some bowlers even had run ups, and they were really enjoying it at the end I think.
At the end of Thursday we chose the 10 players for the tournament, but this number gradually increased to 18. Choosing was really hard work with kids following you round and saying “what about us,” we even had on lad crying that he wasn’t on the team, and he somehow ended up on the list of reserves, and kids trying to get in the queue to write their name on the final teamsheet and others trying to write others’ names on it. Saying that it was hard work to actually do, taking a lot of time, it was not particularly difficult, with some players standing out; with others still looking at us with the same “no idea” look they had had on day 1.

Wednesday was a National Holiday, and so I spent the day making a trophy for the winners of the tournament. So it is made of a water bottle filled with rice, a margarine tub and a tennis ball on top, all covered in papier-mâché. It is good, but as mark says, “it is good for nursery kids.” We then spent the afternoon watching a fair few episodes of “Prison Break.”

On Friday morning we carried on with the painting we had begun on Thursday afternoon, the work which was meant to start on Monday. But we eventually received some help from the painter on Friday morning, about half an hour before it was time to go, after he turned up at least an hour late and then forgot his overalls, which took him an hour to retrieve. But time keeping and attitude to work is quite comical over here in Kenya.

Then in the afternoon we began the cricket training with the Kibinge unit. This was weird because of the work we had already done in the week, and the progress we had made, with Kamkuya and then we have to start again with a new group who once again didn’t have much of a clue, but took to it fairly quickly. Also, impressively, when we arrived, an hour before the scheduled start, there was already a group of about 40 waiting. This was good, but put us in a bit of a rush to set up. Also some of these were actually fully grown men, or at least not the 10- 15 age group we had originally asked for, so once again we had to split up the group and send the bigger ones over to play football, and volleyball.

This seemed to be a successful start, and we had many spectators also, both on the pitch and a fair few buda buda riders and people waiting for matatu’s over the fence.

I spent Saturday finishing off some washing, and then making a football out of sponge, plastic bags and string with Chris, as Mathew went to Eldoret to pick some people up and then get some colored paper so we could finish off the trophy. But the ball is great, I love it.

Then today, Sunday, I have been to church this morning, then returned and had a little kick about on the lawn, and in a little while I m going to go into town, to Mount Crest, to watch the Man U v Liverpool game.

"Nice Time"

Thank You

Week Three at IcFEM

As home becomes more and more a distant memory, and I begin to recognize more faces and begin to share experiences and make friendships, or at least acquaintances, this experience becomes more exciting and real! There are times when you can still slip back into your own world, as though you are back at home. For example today when I was in the guesthouse for a few hours, sorting out pictures and watching some TV, you can easily slip into home mode, and then I went out to collect my washing, and it hit me that I was in Africa, as I could hear some Swahili from over the wall, and just the environment.

This was the week when my real purpose here began, as I am constantly reminded when I am introduced as the cricket guy. Its good when you start getting into the work, and meeting the same people on a regular basis, you get to know them and can have a bit of a chat and a joke. It was like that with the house construction, although that only took 3 days, and so this was longer and more of an opportunity to meet new people. This was highlighted today, when I was walking through town, instead of being asked “how are you?” it was “How are you Adams?” from a few people. You also see some of the kids from the week, and more and more faces are recognizable everywhere. As was also the case today when I went into town to watch football and ended up sitting with a few people I had met previously. They also have so much passion for English football over here, some were really upset that Arsenal had lost, and went storming out.

So my work began this week in the holiday club, which is an IcFEM club for the kids aged 6- 18, just for one week. My slot was in the afternoon from 2 until around 4. But these times changed everyday, depending on when the kids turned up, as the cricket was based at a separate site, Kamusinga Primary, from the club, which was at the IcFEM offices, with a good 10 minute walk between. So most days we wouldn’t start until around 2:30. Which meant we had some time before to have a game with some of the locals who came across, curiously at first, each day to greet us. Some even stayed on to take part in the main event.

The first day was chaotic, with only me and Mathew to look after around 50- 60 kids. It might have been easier if we were just trying to play football or something, but it was difficult trying to teach a new sport.

We had a plan which meant we would speak to the kids for about 5 minutes so that they had a bit of an idea of what cricket was all about. This went down the pan and so we just gave a very brief 5 second demo and let them get on with a game, hoping that they would pick it up as they went along. Luckily they did pick up the basics quickly and were able to have a good game.

After the first day we managed a little more control, when a couple of teachers accompanied the children up to the field. As the week went along the kids picked up more and more and were governing themselves, to a certain extent, towards the end. It was good to see the kids’ competitiveness coming through and even having good arguments about certain things, but in Swahili of course! We even had bits of cheating, with some trying to bat again after they were out, trying to pee-roll the ball when bowling, as well as adding a few extra runs onto the total!

Later in the week we added a few extra warm up activities, which the kids seemed to enjoy, and once again their competitiveness shone through!!

At the end of the week, Thursday, we handed out some certificates and a tennis ball to the best player of each day. I think the kids enjoyed this and eventually some seemed disappointed that they hadn’t got anything.

Friday was the day of the trip to Kitale Nature Conservancy. After everyone managed to squash onto the bus (I think there was about 10 of us on the back seat!) and we got there it was a good day. There were lots of weird animals including a cow with 3 eyes, goats with 5 legs, goats and dogs with 3 legs and a bow legged goat etc.

It was also the first day of a wet weekend, so I had a good sit down in the restaurant and watched a bit of neighbours, before going back to the coach for some bread and soda.

On Saturday we went to Webuye for a swim but scrapped those plans on arrival, as it was overcast, and the pool did not look too appealing, so we ate and played some pool instead. Before going to the cash machine, but getting caught under a heavy shower, so we were stood under some shelter for about half an hour.

Its been quite nice that it has been raining this weekend, its been a nice break from none stop sun and its felt a little more like home, or defiantly what we expect back in the UK.

Other events this week have included President Kibaki’s visit to Kimilili in search of votes. Iv also had to get rid of my hair, because of the heat and because it was really annoying, so now iv got a nice shaven head. Iv also began to become obsessed with “Prison Break” after seeing one episode during the week. Mathew has the full series on DVD, so Iv been watching a lot of that. As well as the rain we are beginning to be plagued with a lot of power cuts. These are really frustrating, especially the ones that last for just a second, but its enough for you to loose your work on the computer and then have to start up the dvd again, and loose my place on the next episode of “Prison Break”. So the blog this week has taken a long time to complete, and I have also seen little bits of “Prison Break” about 4 times! Aside from these little power cuts, we had a long one last night, and my torch ran out of batteries, so I was sat in the lounge in the pitch black!! Luckily I found 1 match left in the box and so when finally managed to find my room, I could at least see my way to bed! There was also a decent thunderstorm last night! So some good entertainment without the TV, or light to read my book, which I am getting into quite a lot also, so I recommend the “Afghan”, and I thank David for leaving it behind!

Right, Thank you, and ill keep you updated!

Inabit

Week Two at IcFEM

Today has been quite hard work. It just shows how lazy iam really because iv not done much at all. I haven’t done a good days work for a few weeks, and I am knackered. Although Iv still got a few excuses to help defend my case. So ill give them a go. Firstly, it is boiling hot, I have to ware pants/ overalls etc, work was taking place at a higher altitude than I had worked at before, I didn’t really know what I was doing and everyone else was speaking in a totally different language.

The work I did get done was quite enjoyable, later in the day I especially enjoyed the mudding of the walls, but after all this did come after I had eaten. I also did some hammering and stamping of mud, this was real hard work, and you can actually feel the altitude. It is also hard when others are speaking in a totally different language. But overall the whole team did a good job, and now the house will be completed within at least 3 days, if not already, instead of the 4 to 5 days that were scheduled.

It is also good to see that Kenyan health and safety is sound. I think this was best highlighted when I went down to collect some mud, and found that a spade was careering down, just a few inches from my hand. But there is a nice relaxed atmosphere. It was also astonishing to see that one man even turned up on both days in a suit to help build the house. This is also the man that escorted us back to the main road on Tuesday and seemed to think that we had never been out on a road before, nor had we seen a bike, and neither did he grasp the fact that Mathew had been here for over 14 months and therefore had a fair idea on life in Kenya.

Apart from all this hard work I did find time to give myself a little break. But at one point I lost track of time, when I was messing around with the kids and when I turned back a fair bit of work had been done. The kids were nice, although I don’t think some realized that I didn’t have a clue what they were saying, so that is why I couldn’t answer what ever they were asking. They also loved my camera and having their picture taken. So when I took that out it was not the wisest decision I have made, I m sure they would have played with it forever. But it was good fun and I actually got some decent pictures for once.

The morning was also good, as we went to the primary school in Mishiku, to tell them about our cricket coaching and also to ask if we could use the field for this, The head teacher had great enthusiasm about this, and gathered all the kids in the school outside, so we could speak to them and tell them about the coaching and try and see how many would like to participate. I am guessing about 30 to 40 put their hands up to say they would, this is good, but I m not too sure how many will actually turn up, and so we will just have to wait and see. The head of the Mishiku unit also seems really enthusiastic and is, jokingly, determined that his unit will win; therefore he is lobbying for a trophy to be bought for when they win.

We also had a nice, quite trip home after a good days work, although the matatu managed to gain a flat tyre on the way. For once we hardly had any hassling, to buy anything, or even to use someone’s mode of transport. Although we did have to walk for a distance, and a downside to this is that there is a constant chorus of children asking “how are you?” At one stage there was even a small group of children that even sounded as though they were singing it.

There are things that are starting to tire me on this trip, and these are the constant hassling, and people looking, and in some cases starring at you, and also little kids asking how are you. It got to a stage today, where some little kids ran out to the road side, and I just braced myself for them to ask “how are you?” but, thankfully, they just had a good look as we walked past. Another thing annoying me is when you just hear the locals speaking Swahili, and “musungu” just pops up in the sentence. Unfortunately this is one of the few Swahili words I know. But I am now starting to sound like an old man, and I probably just need to get some sleep and enjoy these experiences and just take them on the chin.

So…… the house was finished, as far as we could do, within 2 days, and so this gave us a day of preparation for the holiday club, and cricket sessions in the next few weeks, on the Wednesday. This was another tiring day, as it always is when you are not too busy and you don’t get a lot done. I found myself getting quite a few games of solitaire in, but it is much harder on the computer than it is on my ipod, so I m just getting into it, I think much to the frustration of Mathew. But I found my new supplier of bananas, just a few hundred yards from the office, so I had a bunch of them on my way back to the office. The evening was spent watching a DVD, and with no one else around I had to lock up on my own for the first time, which was real fun!! It really is pitch black at night, and as I was told before I came, you really cannot see your own hand right in front of your face in the dark.

Thursday morning I had to do some washing, as the time since I last did some has past so quickly I had forgot all about it. I got up at 6 to get it done! But with my great washing technique I was still at it after breakfast and up until about 9!!! But now I m used to it and I know what to do, I think ill just leave it to the guesthouse staff. Especially as I later found out that I had not been particularly successful with my attempts! Just as I had finished I got a text off Mathew saying they were nearly ready to go so hurry up. So I did hurry up, forgetting that I was actually in Kenya and so there is no such thing as hurrying. On my way I saw Ken, who was coming with us, so he gave me a lift, but we had to stop at his house before going to the office. Then once at the office I had time to have a drink, have a look at my emails, and for the car to be swapped again and then sit about and have a few bananas. By the time we actually set off it was about 11 at least.

We set off on our way back to the house we had been helping to construct during the week to hand it over officially to the new owner. When we arrived I was helped down the slight slope to the house, by a little boy as though I was an old man with a walking stick. But I was grateful. When I arrived at the house it was a bit of a shock, because I had thought, maybe stupidly, that some more work may have been done in our absence, especially with all the helpers we had. But only the window and door had been added, which left a second mudding, the floor and the interior wall to finish. I think ill admit that I wasn’t particularly proud of our work, maybe harshly, but I had to ask Mathew if it was good work, and he assured me it was, and the people seemed happy so all seemed ok as far as others were concerned. I just hope the rest of the work is done well, otherwise id have to admit that I wouldn’t want to be living in it, and Id suggest the lady maybe better off living in her old house, even with one wall missing. This could be a bit hash on everyone, as the woman seemed pleased and everyone was grateful and happy that they had been able to help in this situation.

The handing over was attended by around 60 people, and was a joyous occasion, but it was mentioned that the attendance was a little disappointing. Once again we had Ugali and Chicken, which this time I managed to spill down myself, which at least gave the dogs a good meal!!

Friday was another day in the office, doing preparation work! So I had the opportunity to sharpen up my solitaire skills! No I m only joking, we did get a lot of work done, and are now ready for whatever questions the kids can fire at us about the game of cricket. I hope they understand……. We shall see!

The evening was really interesting! At the end of every month the staff and members of the community join for prayer and fasting. So they fast from Friday through Sunday morning and have a good session of pray through the weekend. So Friday evening we went into the Friday session of prayer. We got there about 8 and were home for 11. This was a first for me, and it is really loud, with people singing and praying, there is even a microphone, although I m sure it is not totally necessary, or maybe it is so they can be heard above everything else that is going on. I m also ashamed to say that I have not attempted the fast this weekend, although I believe we are missing Saturday’s evening meal, o no!!!!!!!! But its nothing compared to the people involved for the full weekend, so ill have to cope!

On Saturday we went for a trip to Webuye Falls and dinner in Webuye and then back to the office to get some work done!

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