Some miscellaneous shots. . .

the Nile

                   

roller-blading/ entebbe

                                                         

fatuma and shukran

Ik girls at school

Oh no, is it time to go home already??

The week with Terrill and Amber was coming to an end.  On the day we were all going to climb the Kaabong rocks, a “neighbor ” lady, collecting the charcoal she had made, was bitten by a puff adder snake.  Amber dropped what she was doing, and took the lady to the hospital.  The bitten foot was hugely swollen, and a bloody ooze was coming from the bite on top of her foot.  She was in pain, so Amber gave her 1000mg of Ibuprophen.  When we got her to the hospital, the women’s ward was empty except for one patient–the workers were out to lunch.  Some of the beds were without mattresses, and others were covered with dirty uncovered foam mattresses.  We deposited her there, informing the Nurse assisstent that the lady needed anti-venom, and then left.  Sitting out by the vehicle was a lady who appeared to be 9 months pregnant.  She pulled her dress up and unabashadly and sadly showed us her huge abdomen, stating that she was NOT pregnant, was hungry,was a widow, and kept her son out of school because he was the only one who could get water for her etc.  If she wasn’t pregnant, then certainly she was very sick with something—a tumor, cancer????  Amber mercifully went to town, bought some food, and took it back to her. . .only to discover she had left.  We found she had stopped a UN truck and was begging from them. She walked back to us with a happy smile on her face—too happy and not appearing sick at all.  Was she pregnant after all??  God and she knows.  At any rate, she got food:-)   I could go on about the conditions at the hospital, but I will spare you that.  Ask me if you are interested.

While we were at the hospital, Arlin and Terrill climbed the very very  high Kaabong rock.  I will try to install a tiny video of them.  You can hear it is very windy up there!

kaabong rock

The last day we were  in Kaabong, we enjoyed playing Scrabble.  I don’t remember who won the games, but I do know who didn’t win them:-)  It was fun anyway.Monday morning our flight with MAF was delayed, so Arlin and I walked about 35 minutes to the HUGE corral where all the cattle are kept at night and guarded by soldiers.  We almost arrived, but turned back so we wouldn’t be late for the flight.  The week after we left, Terrill said the corral was attacked at night and they heard machine gun shots.  

I didn’t cry till AFTER the plane took off and we LEFT our son waving on the ground.   

tough moment

Our flight from Kaabong to Entebbe via MAF seemed long, but was only two and a half hours.   I think it seemed long because we were leaving and not coming.  Plus it drove home the fact that Terrill and AMber are REALLY out in the boonies–far far away from not only us but also from the rule of law.

 From the airplane it was amazing to see the villages sparsely scattered through vast expanses of land.  As we neared Entebbe, the landscape became much more green and the riverbeds were no longer dry.  We actually flew through rain.                                     

village

Some shots from the MAf plane. . .

dry river bed

rain on the plain from the plane

The trip home was long–44 hours from rising out of bed in Kaabong, to crawling…or I should say falling into bed in Tillman’s Corner, Al.  We are grateful to God for safety, friends, and family.  It has to have been one of the awesome-est trip ever!

God is Faithful!

Kamion–IK-Ville

We started on our trip on Tuesday morning to visit the mountain people-the IK–who lived about twenty-miles away.  It took us at least an hour to get there.  I was a bit concerned about food and feeling faint if we did a lot of climbing.  Terrill informed me that I didn’t have to worry about what they would serve us, since they are not hospitable in that way–certainly different from the other culture we have been accustomed to in Africa–where EVERYONE wants to serve you something, no matter if you are miserably stuffed from having eaten countless times prior to coming to visit them.  We took some snack food along to Kamion, as well as Paul, an IK man who can speak English.

Paul the lil IK man

The weather was threatening rain. . .which was disappointing because we were anticipating a fabulous view from the escarpment on which the IK of Kamion live. 

 By the time we reached the little school, the heavens were about to pour and we ended up in the principal’s office (Edmond-a Karimojong) for twenty minutes or so, wondering if we needed to turn back, there was such a downpour.  Terrill’s showed us the unfinished mud-baked brick house they would love to live in, if and when things become a bit more secure.  The Turkana tribe had just raided the “pantry” house of supplies in the summer.

broken intoprincipal

school kidspretty school girl

One little girl made her own umbrella when it started to rain. . .After waiting a half hour or so, we saw the clouds part and headed up the wet trail toward the Ik village.  The IK village had a low door, and we encountered only children inside. . .they informed Paul that all the adults had gone to another village to drink beer.

inside the fence door

wheredoor

    The village was right on the EDGE of the escarpment… making it easy to run down the slope if attacked.

village fence

from the inside

People began getting the word that we were there, and visitors started coming one by one. . .soldiers, children, adults from who knows where…   A man came that could speak swahili and we had fun talking with him.  He eventually talked me out of my jacket. . .he didn’t mind that it was a woman’s jacket .

swahili man in ik country

The view was spectacular. . .pictures simply don’t convey the vastness and beauty and the unspoiled, unpolluted nature.

rain movinamber is great with the kidscontemplation...more contemplation. . .africa the beautiful

It was finally tim (our stomachs told us) to go back home.  It was VERY HARD to extract ourselves. . .back at the school kids were already “messing with” the car. . .a crowd was gathering around and the “swahili man” was finishing his deal with me to get my jacket.  It is easy to feel desperate to get away when you feel pounced upon and or swarmed.  It is a RELIEF to pull away and head home.  We took two more people than we had come with, and we shared our crackers and cookies.  Just the brief social interaction with people so “other” than ourselves was exhaustin.  I can see where Terrill and Amber will need periodic reprieves.  We said our good-byes and were off!Good-bye till next time.   I’ll tell of our last days in Kaabong!!    Ilakasukotiak (Thank You in Icetot) for reading my blog!  the last is coming.

KAABONG

     It was what we had really come to Africa for. . .to be with Terrill and Amber in their environs and see the people and the problems they face.  Each morning  Terrill had hot water in the thermos by the time we got up, so we made our coffee and had our quiet time.  I went to “the rock” –a high rock in the back of the compound.  It took some maneuvering for me to get my coffee up to the top of the rock.  Arlin usually sat in the screened off porch in the back where he read.  I was able to watch the herdsmen (really herds’boys’) take their flocks out to pasture from the rock.  The last Sunday morning at Kaabong, I counted fifty herds coming over the hill-most of them coming right by the compound .  The shepherd boys liked to show off when I was watching–or try to greet me in English.  Arlin later joined me on top of the rock for our prayer time. The temperature was perfect– with a stiff breeze blowing.  There was the clinking of cattle bells, padding of hooves, the talk and laughter of the shepherd boys, and the whack of their sticks on the backs of cattle or donkeys to keep them moving.  such and idyllic patoral setting.  i could’ve sat there for hours if the stone seat had been softer!  

Terrill made the breakfasts and they were very very good.  We had millet mush (drinkable) two or three mornings, pancakes, eggs with a unique oatmeal (gotta get the recipe) and I forgot the other meals but they were splendid.  For three lunches we had beans and ugali or “autop”  and another meal we had chapatis.  The evening meals were usually around seven o’clock and Amber went all out with delicious meals.  We loved the fresh lettuce from their garden, and had delectable salads. 

evening salad

our beans a cookina herd viewed from

Terrill worked on the language and managed the workers. 

the computer a vital toolIt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber held clinic till about 1′oclock each day. 

 

 

 

 

 

sick boy

 

 

 

 

There is a problem of jiggers.  Amber said this little boy is the “jigger doctor”–needing only a safety pin to get his work done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Arlin and I walked to town one day and we got some tea “chai” and chapatis. I never tired of that.. .chapatis that were nearly dripping with grease. . .

greasy chapati

Arlin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually I am quite pleased that I put such an ugly picture of myself on this blog.  I look like a wild woman, having walked to town in WINDY weather!!  well, it is always windy except before a rain.  Arlin was adamant about wearing his hat!!  it looks like it paid off:-)  He chose samosas for his lunch.

This is Kaabong. . .

de las ‘n de bess

We flew back to Entebbe to the SIL house for a day of “recovery” from the whirl wind of activity in Tanzania.  I felt a bit hyper on our last day in Entebbe, and proceeded to wash Terrill’s Nissan (our children all know that I am a fanatic about a washed car—for some reason none of them feel the same:-) .  I used a bucket of water and a cup to wash his car…much too fun.  I knew it would be soundly splattered on our trip up to Kaabong the next day, but i did it anyway.  Also, I wanted to do two loads of wash in the washer at the SIL office, but quickly changed it to one load (colored and white together) when it seemed like it would take hours just to fill the machine—the water barely even trickled in.  As it was, it took me over an hour just to fill buckets of water at the sink to speed up the filling of the washer for the wash load and then again to rinse.  I do believe i prefer hand washing to that trying task.  Terrill and Amber were busy packing up their things to take to Kaabong.  I was amazed that in Kaabong there is no market other than a mat  or two of a few tomatoes, onions, eggplant, and maybe bananas.  One day among these veggies there was a fly-ridden bloody goat head for sale.  hmmmm

We bagan our trip back early Sat. morning. . .

ready to roll

we got it all in!Yea!

Three  of us sat in the second seat –we took along an SIL photographer, Arlene Moe.  Having her along was worth giving up a window seat–Arlin and I took turns sitting in the middle. The first day was great.  We ate hard boiled eggs and drank some yoghurt that I had bought in Entebbe.  In Mbale we ate some real “kinyeji” food at a local hoteli-chapatis that you could squeeze the oil out, beans and rice.   The choo (latrine) was truly atrocious–the pungent order reminding us that we were not home.  I got to buy a dress there, hanging on a cross in the street.  The green and brown color were perfect–but I don’t understand the royal blue zipper??? 

In every town or village there were store fronts, hoteli fronts, or whatever building it may be, that were painted a very hot pink.  These were painted by Zain –a cellphone company in E. Africa–and were their way of advertising– but the hot pink stood out in stark contrast to the warm browns and greens of African foliage and the orange dirt road.  The clash was an anti-aesthetic assault to the eyes and my family wearied of my complainings of it…like WHAT WERE they NOT thinking??? when they chose hot pink.

see, you agree with me!

We arrived at Sipi Falls in time for a two hour walk (maybe it was less than that).  Terrill had not slept well so he opted to get some sleep.  We all rested for a while and then Amber, Arlene, Arlin and I followed a guide on a footpath, down, around, over, and up on our way to the falls.  Arlene had her EXPENSIVE camera and it started to rain!  We managed to make it to a shelter when the sky let loose.  We must have waited a half hour and when it did let up, it was too late to go on and be back before dark—at least before supper.  So we “wended” our way back, and Arlin and I proceeded to climb the small mountain behind our reed , lightless cabin.  We had to push a cow off the narrow path to get to the top, but it was worth the effort-even though at that time my right hip felt like it needed a replacement.

it rained!

will it rain?

views from our mountain

 

 

  

Sipi Falls

We waited for our supper at Sipi Falls which was supposed to be served at 7:00 P.M.  but I think we shivered in the dark at a table until about 8 o’clock, but the food was worth the wait.  Greens, rice, and beans???  can’t remember for sure what it was but  it was good!  The shower house was a circular reed or mud hut, with many windows having only cloth curtains hanging.  The wind was strong so that the curtains blew completely open and with a kerosene lamp to light it, (that is if you could find a kerosene lantern)  any and everyone could see you showering.  I might mention that the water was entirely cold and the drain was stopped. The wind was quite chilly   so we went to bed without a bath.  The pillows were so big and hard that your chin touched your chest if you lay on your back!!  Nonetheless, with the wind howling outside, we slept well!  Thankfully, we did have our bathroom attached to our room. . .

day 2

nice

\

Some 4-wheel drive moments that we all enjoyed but especially Terrill!

The following pictures are of the sights we saw along the way on the second day of travel to Kaabong.

church

rock mountain..the chieff-i-n-a-l-l-y arrived!

finally arrived!

WOw this takes long to do…this turns out not to be the last or the best!  That is yet to come!

Let’s see. . .where was I???

When we arrived in Musoma, we hit the old favorite spots. . .Mama Riziki”s– where we ordered beans and rice–, and Mama Flebs, where we got soda that was really COLD  and other goodies not found in the market.   This time she also had drinkable yoghurt!    We went by Dr. Magere and his nurse after nine years immediately said “Schrock…Velma!”  There was a sick mother lying on the bench in the hallway and her 18month-2 yr old boy wanted my bottle of water.  He fretted and reached, so his sick mom pulled out her breast and try to get him to drink from her.  Warm milk didn’t compete with cold water in that warm hallway, so I ended up giving him some from my bottle lid. . .and eventually gave him the whole  water bottle!

Dr. Magere

People SEEMED  glad to see us:-)  We went to the market and saw the mshonaji that had sewn a beautiful skirt for me in 1998 (which I still wear) and he wanted to show off the suits he is now making—right on the alley with a treadle machine.

check out that suit coat!!

Out in the village of Nyabange Arlin and I got to sleep in our old house.  We walked down the path toward the lake, looking for the little girl that was named after me—who was a baby when we left in 1999.  A bunch of children were playing, and a girl came running up to me and asked me if I was “mama Terry”.  I said I was and asked her name.  “Mimi ni Velma” (I am Velma) , she said!  We also met little “Arlin” who is a star pupil in the Nyabangi elementary school.

the two Velmas

 

the two Arlins

We had quite the time trying to extract ourselves from Nyabange and our friends there.  We had tea with Maico and his wife.  Some of you remember their son Simmi, who was mentally impaired from a childhood fever.  He is now married and has a child.

Maico and Naomi

Maico and Naomi have so many children (lost count) and now the grandchildren are multiplying.  They have no more cattle due to paying doweries for their sons’ wives, so we had plain dark tea with rice .  It was great eating rice that had been cooked over charcoal…it was great being in their house again, and surrounded by their love.  Maico is now completely blind.

simmi and his beautiful wife and child

Arlin and I needed to get on the bus in about twelve minutes, but I needed to use the bathroom (or at least I had a compulsive need to go before the three hour (actually turned out to be a very long four hour) ride with many stops.  I had to walk about a block, go down some back alley to a latrine someone had shown me.  To whom it belonged, I know not. I passed a carpenter in the courtyard where it was located and acted like I had a perfect right to use the latrine.  Maybe I did, but I am not sure.  I did manage to make it back to the bus on time, but had Arlin concerned!! 

joseph and jeanette nyakyema

It was quite lovely to be with Joseph and Jeanette again.  Their house was lovely, and the bed very comfortable so that their four barking dogs and chatty neighbors did not rob us of our sleep.   

I shall retire for the night at this time, only to recount the last and best part of our trip tomorrow!

AN UNFORGETTABLE, INCREDIBLE SAFARI!

we began our journey by having to toss our four cans of Ensure (I was thinking ahead of some slim rations on US airlines!) into the trash can…which i was loathe to do, so i went back through security , hurridly drank a can, re-removed my shoes and AGAIN  went back through security  to join up with Arlin. We flew from Mobile-New York-Cairo! Flying at 600+ mph over six miles high is no small miracle.  What convenience we can enjoy that our ancestors have missed!  
 
CAIRO

   In Cairo we sailed breezily through customs with all Terrill’s extra luggage. . .stuffed it all in a taxi and headed for our fourth floor room in a hostel.

I

 We always used the stairs, giving this man reprieve from his job!

elevator operator

 We had just arrived when the three days of post-Ramadan celebrations were beginning, and our street was ”the happening place”.  We’re talking about a non-stop cacaphony of horn blowing and of the low rumble of hundreds of voices four stories below us.  We had no AC or fan, so were obliged to let double doors wide open to the night air.  Along with the breeze came , uh, mosquitoes and flies which for some reason we weren’t expecting, since there isn’t malaria in Cairo.  Oh well, early one morning Arlin found the bug spray in one of our bags.  I must have missed my face, because i got over twenty bites, and a sizeable  hard knot under my eye (not red or itchy) that changed my profile and made me less glamorous–ha ha.  We ate our breakfast of coffee and a piece of hardish bread with unsalted butter and fig jelly of all good things!  THe second morning we had strawberry jelly, but it was brown just like the fig…hmmm, didn’t taste very fresh—but then what can you expect for $10 a night!! 

 When not exploring the sights, sounds, and tastes of Cairo, we were either sleeping or hanging over the rail watching the incredible driving habits and skills of the traffic below.  The last night, we had to leave at midnight for the airport, and our street was closed off to cars, so we had to take two large suitcases of things for terrill and amber as well as our own through this crowd!

Before we left Cairo, we rode a camel for two hours to the pyramids, saw papyrus being made, wandered the streets for miles, ate at the best cheap places (according to “Lonely Planet” travel book) –drank fresh mango juice as often as we could.  see below!!

The camel ride started out rough as the camel was walking on pavenment and i was beginning to wonder if I could make it for two hours, but as soon as we hit sand, it was smooth sailing.  I felt like I could’ve ridden all day.  I talked our guide into letting me “drive” my camel by myself instead of being led by Arlin’s camel, and he finally consented even after I refused to give him a bribe.  the pyramids are as amazing as they look! 

Yes, it IS as fun as it looks:-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

am I happy?

Is the camel happy?

The second day we went to the Egyptian Museum.  There were two floors, and you can’t imagine all the things that have been retrieved from tombs.  The Museum was crowded with people, and very very hot…again, no AC.  We chose not to have a guide, because we wanted to see what we wanted to see and the Egyptian speaking English is very hard to understand..  When I needed to use the bathroom, a lady wanted to charge me for a few squares of toilet paper…but I had my own.  The museum, once they had you inside, were going to charge us $20 USD a piece to see actual mummies, which we decided not to do.  We were able to see mummies of animals, including a huge crocodile.  All these places we walked to, running in and out of traffic!  We were surprised to see many many couples holding hands, and a lot of the girls were wearing slacks, though they had their head covering.  Groups of children without parents were wandering the streets, and it felt safer than being on the streets of Mobile–certainly safer than Prichard.

   On our third and last day in Cairo, we “shopped’  at a bazaar but bought very little.  We did buy tee-shirts but were disgusted with the rudeness of the vendor who  insisted on my buying a dress after lowering the prize way down.  When we decided not to get it (I couldn’t figure out when I could wear it) he showed obvious disdain for us.  His fawning and flattering stopped immediately!  We walked down to the Nile after dark and down a steep bank to a waiting sailboat (felucca).  I saw about two feluccas (without any lights on) along with many lit-up party motorboats.  We paid for a half hour ride–I assumed would be going down the Nile.  Instead, we zigzagged across the Nile and back, going across and back while the party boats were going “up and down” the Nile.  It felt dark and dangerous but was nice enough with a great breeze for the sail.  Our boat reminded me of the size and kind Jesus and the disciples must have used.  At one point, the little Egyptian driver ran up to the hull of the boat and started waving his arms and shouting .  A party boat was heading straight for the side of the boat I was sitting on (it was just Arlin, I, and the captain in the boat).  It didn’t seem possible that a crash could be avoided, but at the very last second, the boat turned sharply, and instead of hitting us squarly, we got thwacked soundly on the side by the side of their boat!  We missed getting a swim in the Nile by a split second!

 

arlin and the captain

 

 

boats like the one who hit us

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