Back in the Saddle Again

Welcome back to Kenya again Karibuni Kenya Tena

It was a long and a bit complicated return to Kenya after being in the U.S. for my mother’s funeral. I was happy that I was able to see her while she was alive and to attend a very nice funeral in her honor. Newly implemented Covid measures to travel were not consistent for entering country to country and appeared to my surprise from state to state. I was unable to board my first flight, but was able to the following evening. Although I had to spend a night in Nairobi because of no flights due to the curfew, I was able to make it home to Mombasa within forty-four hours.

The heat intensity surely increased while I was away which is taking some adjustment again. My new taxi driver Tete picked me up at noon, the hot, dirty ride home left me smiling again viewing all the chaos taking place and the laughing Kenyans streaming along the roadsides. I was welcomed home by Abdalla who assisted with carrying my luggage into my house. I removed from my carryon a wrapped baby gift for Tete’s new born daughter, Anisa, who was born while I was away and some money, he insisted twice that there was no charge for my airport pickup. I told him that I really appreciate his honesty with me and you just had a baby, so I won that battle.

When I entered inside my house the table was set very nice and a nice lunch was prepared. It was nice for Papa to spend a little time with Abdalla again. By eight o’clock, I was very tired so I crawled into bed looking forward to a long, hard sleep. I tossed until 12:30am and awoke at 2:30 to remain awake the remainder of the night. And so, it went on for the next four nights adjusting to the time change.

Day by day I began to get settled back in by going to the supermarket, going for a shave (haircut), then to nearby café for black pepper chips (French fries) with red hot chili and creamy slaw and touring the neighborhood to receive the many condolences from mums passing. Slowly neighboring youth and students learned I was back so they would come by so we could catch up, laugh and eat. I stopped by school for an update and will resume for classes on Monday.

Wednesday Abdalla requested for me to come to his room and he would prepare lunch, so he could proudly show me his 10 x 10 space since he moved in the evening I left. Proud he should be because he accomplished this great first step financially on his own doing. I was pleasantly beaming with joy as to how colorful, clean, and neat he maintains his place.

Later that day I met with another student who has the opportunity to work in Dubai for a few years which enables him to assist his family here in Kenya. I encourage many students to look for the chance to go abroad to seek employment. They can accomplish more outside in five years then they could here in Kenya within a life time. I contributed the 16,000 shillings ($160) for his expedited passport in hopes he will be on his way as soon as the Dubai borders open for travel.

I contacted Sr. Pauline, who assists the poor youth and families throughout the diocese, to gift her with chocolates from Germany and receive updates from things pending before I journeyed to the US. Oh, she is a busy woman and always has good things in the works. She updated me of a young man who was beat and robbed by gang members, loosing his left arm due to the deep cuts imposed on him. He is a twenty-six-years-old husband and father of two and remains fearing for his life where he lives while recuperating over the past four months. I offered to find them a room and pay for their relocation. I contacted a real estate agent, viewed several rooms the following day and then Peter, the young man traveled to meet me here, chose a room for him and the family of four will be moved in tomorrow (Saturday). I told him that I will gather some of the students and we will assist in moving them in to get comfortable. I plan to write more about him as I gather more understanding of his story.

lso, tomorrow I have planned a small get together with the nearby students we assist in different ways. We can celebrate our presence together with one another again and share a spaghetti dinner and homemade chocolate cake and unwrap gifts supplied by my sister. It took less than a week and I feel I am “back in the saddle”, and a heart filled with joy! God bless you all for allowing these great works to happen.