Written by Shawna Quinn: On Thursday, Cheri and I arrived in Mikinduri. On the way to Mikinduri we met Fr Bernard’s father, brother, and sister-in-law. We’re staying at Fr. B’s compound. On Thursday night we had a great dinner with Fr. B. It was so good. It’s comfortable and like a second home to us. It’s funny though, when you’re looking out your bedroom window, it’s really odd to look out the window and see the church in the same place you’re staying. It’s even weirder to look out the window and realize you’re in Kenya, in Mikinduri, for the third time. We went and we met some people from the community that would help us find disabled individuals for the clinic on Tuesday. Then we went over to see the nursery and read to the kids as they aren’t fluent in English.
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| Shawna and Cheri with local children |
On Friday we went back to the school and I taught class 4 (4th Grade) Spelling and Reading (Language Arts). I felt comfortable, although when I looked around the classroom, it was very different to me, but they were fluent in English reading. The students are so well behaved, that some of the teachers left the classroom to check some work in the staffroom and the students stayed sitting in silence, doing their work. I was amazed. During recess we were able to teach the students the game Hot Potato, with a rock, they were so excited. Then we went back to the nursery and the teacher went for a break and we were able to stay with them without them being nervous and us being Mzungos (white persons); the children were comfortable as they met us before. We got to color with them, they call it drawing, and we were having so much fun. They go to school from 7:30am-5pm, but they have a ½ break in the morning, 1hr for lunch, ½ hour break in the afternoon. Each day we feed the students snack (porridge), lunch (beans, corn and rice) and afternoon snack (mangos or bananas). They are growing so much, Fr.B has a farm and is able to grow all the crops to feed the students, that is why we love Fr.B so much as he has helped so many. The nursery age 3-5yrs have a nap in the afternoon around 2pm. I just love what I am doing and I know I will enjoy the clinics as well. On Monday I was able to teach Social Studies, the students are in Gr.6 and they were learning about lakes and rivers. They want to play Hot Potato everyday now, and I was even able to go running with them today at the end of the day for Phys Ed.
We love this country as much as we love to live in Canada.
From Libby: On Saturday morning, we got to sleep in and had breakfast with Peter Munya, the MP (Member of Parliament) for the Mikinduri area. It was only a chance meeting that Peter was staying at the same hotel as we were. We had a great meeting telling Peter about all the projects MCOH has completed and in the works, and also what our needs are for the community. He was very receptive and vowed to complete the school in Kaguwru. That was a great thing to hear that we weren’t necessarily expecting. Following this, we headed back to Nakematt for last minute supplies and over to downtown Meru at the market to go to the bank and the Safaricom to get an internet stick. Apparently at the Meru market there are very sad things going on, such as child prostitution, but I was only told of this, I didn’t witness it. I did witness a thousand people walking around in a very small area. In the Safaricom office, there were fifty people in the average mini-strip Subway sandwich restaurant. I joined one crowd and tried to wiggle to the front, but as I am not really a fan of crowds and a big fan of lines, this was a nightmare! After 5 minutes someone shouted out that they needed a modem and I added my request for the same. I don’t know how long I would have been there otherwise! I paid only $24 for the stick and went over to the bank where Ted was waiting in line to exchange money. There was nothing different about the Kenyan bank, nothing at all.
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| Dr Ed and Dr Beppe at receipt of Gastroscope |
Then we headed off for Chaaria hospital to deliver medical equipment to Dr Beppe that was donated by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown PEI. It was a lovely drive where we were finally getting to the rural area near Mikinduri. Children and adults alike excitedly waved at our combi whenever we initiated the wave. Some adults hesitantly waved, though the majority were as friendly as the children. Chaaria hospital is an Italian charity hospital that turns no one away. They have many people living at the facility as they are too sick and poor to go anywhere else. It has been in operation for the last 10 years and is sponsored by an Italian order. It is clear that they are very compassionate and were quite excited to receive the gastro scope. Unfortunately, we somehow got one of the suitcases jammed, so Ted tried his best to break into the suitcase using only a pocket wrench.
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| Ted breaking into the suitcase for Chaaria |
Ed and Kathy visited a patient that they had referred to Chaaria from a previous mission, and were able to check on his progress. Sadly, he was not doing well, but that doesn’t discourage Dr Beppe in the slightest. We had lunch at the fruit stand next to the hospital, and I enjoyed the juciest, most flavor-filled mango I have ever tasted. It was peeled on the spot and incredible!
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| Paul and Jack enjoying fresh Mango |
We drove on to Mikinduri and finally arrived at our destination! We went to the new hotel that was built on the North side of Mikinduri market (which we would call a town). The rooms are very similar the Francis Inn that we stayed in last year, but the rooms are arranged in long lines of bunks instead of three stories high. The best part of the compound is that we are surrounded by a large exterior wall, so we can wander within the compound with no problems. There are always children gathered outside the wall, so it can be a sad reminder at the Francis Inn, and much easier to relax here. Luckily we will be enjoying meals here during the clinics but staying again at the Francis as it can accommodate a group as large as will be at the clinics. The new hotel (which is yet to be named) can only hold 24 people at the most, and we will have 32 people during the clinics. Fr B and Chief Alex joined us for dinner, as did Shawna and Cheri. We had a fantastic meal prepared by Bongoman, our chef extraordinaire, and spent the evening socializing and drinking beer. Well, we were also preparing for our meeting on Monday, but I prefer to say we were enjoying ourselves for the whole evening. We also did laps in the compound. There’s a slight hill so we did 10 or so laps and felt like we were finally able to stretch our legs. Fr B also brought Chief Alex’s bosses’ boss to stay with us for the evening. He was a delightful man that reports directly to the President of Kenya! We have been surrounded by some highly impressive political figures, which can only tell me people are taking notice of the work MCOH has done in the area.
Summary: Libby is happy to have finally arrived in Mikinduri and Shawna had a fantastic experience teaching the children in school
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