Up far too early in the morning for a nice breakfast buffet and the bellman/waiter gave me a bill for my spaghetti, and I was on my way back to the airport. Sunday morning there is virtually no traffic so we sped along Uhuru highway. The Nairobi Airport has instituted a new security idea since I was here last. All passengers have to get out of vehicles and walk through a screening station. As I prepared to get out, the driver told me to stay in, and just tell the police that I was old. I did what he said and we zoomed through with no trouble, rather than me having to join the line through the mystery building.
The plane to Kisumu left early because there were very few passengers. When it was time to board, we were shepherded out of the building and pointed down the runway. We all wandered along until someone in a uniform pointed us in a different direction and then we wandered that way in between some planes. Eventually we came to another person in a uniform who pointed at a plane. All aboard, I assume, and then we left. It’s only a 45 minute flight, so getting us boarded took almost as long as flying.
Flying over the end of Lake Victoria I had the familiar feeling of going home, and was pleased to see how green it was. Apollo and his family were there to pick me up and we set off in the same direction as always, although the road has been completely rebuilt, along with the requisite speed bumps. It was amazing to arrive in Ndwara and see every one, although I was greeted with bad news. Someone had stolen my dog Willy, probably because he was an exceptionally nice dog. They had gotten another dog for me, also named Willy, but it’s not really the same, since the original Willy was a gift from Auntie Rose.
After lunch we had a meeting with the sponsored students and their parents. We have now sponsored a total of 30 students, and the first ones are completing Form 4, which is like Grade 12. The parents spoke again about their despair in not being able to provide for their children, or in many cases, grandchildren. They spoke about how they had prayed for help and never imagined that their prayers could be answered. And, as usual, they brought me gifts. One of the mothers made me a beaded mat to put under my teapot on the table. If you saw this thing in a second hand store you might dismiss it as something cheap, but the fact that this woman who has almost nothing saved enough money to buy the beads, and took the time to make it when I know she has no lighting in her house makes it a truly remarkable gift. The parents committee bought be a beaded handbag that says Kenya so when I carry it everyone will know where I belong, and the Widows and Orphans Society also gave me a beaded bag, this time made with wooden beads.
Home for dinner and then visits with the uncles, and time for bed. Auntie Rose walked over from her house, which must be about 4 miles, and she’s 77, to visit with me. I gave her a bottle of Tylenol Arthritis for a present and reminded everyone that they have turned me into a drug dealer among other things. When she heard about Willy, she promised to find me another puppy that would be just as special.