Kenya Bound

I leave on Friday.  Drive to Chicago, board a plane for Amsterdam and then another plane for Nairobi.  Between 8 and 9 hours for each flight, with a 4.5 hour layover in Amsterdam.

In Kenya, Willie and I will be helping build out a couple of water systems in some remote compounds, water systems composed of a deep well powered by solar panels that bring fresh water from below ground to a people whose only water source is a muddy river or pond.  The traditional water supplies have been drying up because of a severe and prolonged drought caused by four failed rainy seasons.  The latest newsletter from Kenya Hope describes this situation:

Were you aware that 80% of the Kenyan population lives in what is known as Arid and Semi Arid lands (ASAL)? Under normal weather conditions these regions are often dry, experiencing what are considered the "heavy rains" between the months of April to June. Shorter rains typically fall between the months of November and December.  The Kenyan government's National Drought Management Authority has stated that 22 of the 23 counties that are listed as ASAL are now considered under Alert & Alarm drought phase conditions. For us, that means 98% of the communities, families and children we work with are in this zone of alert and alarm drought conditions. When you hear the word "drought," what is the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps you think of dry, dusty landscapes with water rationing for yards and gardens. The situation in Kenya has advanced far beyond this dry and dusty stage. the landscape has become a study in brown and tan hues, as the ever swirling dust mutes the vibrant colors of the environment. It means that the rivers and ponds are dry, or drying up, and that there is no pasture land for livestock.  For cultures like the Maasai, whose lives and world revolve around their livestock, the disturbing and destructive lack of food and water is a death knell, as they see their herds dwindle with each passing day. Without sufficient nourishment, the animals are not producing milk, another mainstay of the people's diet. The World Food Program's recent report regarding Kenya stated that 29% of children in rural areas are stunted in their growth.

For families that were on the verge of poverty prior to this drought, life now seems almost hopeless. With their herds so emaciated, they can't sell them. Limited resources are forcing families to make hard decisions such as whether to purchase food, or seek medical help when needed. Should they use their money to buy food or send their children to school?

We’ll probably also be helping out with the distribution of food aid.

We met at the Kenya Hope office today to pack suitcases.  We’ll be traveling with the limit of two checked bags weighing 50 pounds each, bags stuffed with clothing and supplies and plumbing fittings that are hard to find in Kenya.  So in addition to what we will be doing at the destination, we are couriers, transporting supplies. 

Move over, FedEx.  There’s a new kid in town.

I’m leaving against a backdrop which has a lot of moving parts.  My mom is under hospice care, struggling with a delicate balancing-act of competing medications and side-effects on several fronts.  She has lost quite a bit of weight lately as a result of eating practically nothing for the past week.  Nausea and an upset stomach really quenches the diet, but some of this may be caused by the anxiety over all the aforementioned side-effects.  Add in a heart that was severely damaged by a heart-attack seven years ago and Alzheimer’s disease and you get the kind of mixture that had me questioning whether I should be making this trip at all.

On the other side of the family, we just moved my father-in-law into assisted living as it became too difficult for my mother-in-law to continue to care for him at home.  After just a few days in his new home. It became evident that the level of care here was inadequate for his needs.  So, we will be moving him in a couple of days to a new room, one where the level of care is higher. We are thankful that this new room is in the same facility as the old room, and this facility is literally across the street from our home, so this really helps with the care and visitation.  As the effects of post-polio syndrome continue to progress, it seems to be a continual catch-up game trying to tune the level of care to his needs.

It’s a great time to leave the country, right?

So we’re racing to get this move done before I leave the country.