for the month. (october)

Do to a variety of events that occurred during October, I have chosen to only write one post for this month.  At the end of September some friends and I hiked through Hell’s Gate Gorge, the original plan was to bicycle through, so I was prepared for that – I ended up hiking/climbing in TOMS for 4-5 hours, surviving in the end.  It was a beautiful place, and I was again amazed at the diverse landscape of Kenya.

During the first week of October, Kevin and Helen Jenkins were in Kenya with World Vision.  It was so great to see familiar faces, as well as interact with the work they are doing with Kevin’s new role as President of WV International.  We visited a WV Area Development Project in one of the slums, Soweto Tulia, it was encouraging to talk with WV staff as well as the local community based organization that is helping with the project; I was reminded how great human potential is.  It was also fun to have Helen come see where I was living at Daystar.

For Fall recess, Lora and I ventured to Kisumu – with the final destination being a rural village called Lwanda.  Meeting my Kenyan family was amazing; there love for people is incredible – meals and conversations were shared by many visitors, us included.  While we were there we walked through the farmlands and visited the school there (Lora and I are doing research projects about using Solar power there as an appropriate technology, so it was awesome to meet with the Teachers there).  After our stay we went back into Kisumu, and trust me to fall out of a Matatu on our way back.  At first, because the pain was so great I thought I had broken my foot; thankfully it was diagnosed as a sprain/fracture.  Getting back to Nairobi was less than comfortable, 8 hours on a bus with painkillers that were sub par was not fun.  What made it manageable were the stunning green fields of tea that we were surrounded by on the drive.

Oh and a word for the wise, avoid Kenyan hospitals at all cost.  Somehow I have become rather acquainted with them on this trip.  At least they gave me crutches!  I spent the rest of the month healing and finishing final papers/projects I had been working on.  It is unbelievable how close looming graduation is.

November holds Lake Victoria (Mfangano Island), Mombasa, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania.