It’s a Small World

A $20 room was good enough to have a great sleep! We woke up refreshed and ready to tackle Kenya. Our goal was to make it to the Luanda-Kenya Ferry for 8 o’clock and we weren’t sure how far it was. We made it, and even had time to stand around and listen to a disturbed man express himself, salute and march.

Michael met us at the landing and brought us to his home with Nancy. It’s quite a large home and they were incredibly welcoming. She served us an enormous breakfast of chai, chapati, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, oranges and bananas. We ate till we were stuffed and then sat back and talked for a few hours. Pretty soon we heard Nancy cooking again and out came the fresh potato chips. They were so ripping good! As we dug in, savoring every crunch, a little sedan came bumping into the yard and about 6 people piled out. They slowly filed into the house while they sang a song. When they saw us their singing seemed to falter, but they soon rallied. Come to find out it was the local SDA prayer group going round, round to all the houses to pray and bless. It’s the week of prayer. They had no idea we were there, and were totally shocked to find a house full of wazungu. When their heads were wrapped around the situation, they started in on the testimonies, introductions and sermonettes. It was very fervent all together. It ended with an impassioned prayer, loud amens and bless yous.

And then it was time for a small boat ride. Not a small boat, but a small ride. The boat, God Provides, was a 49’ wooden boat that Michael built in 2016. It leaked like a sieve. We bumped down to the water and Michael got the boat pulled up, threw some boards over the bilge so we could keep our feet dry, sent someone for fuel and finally we all waded out and hopped onboard. Another random guy joined us to help Michael with lifting the anchor and off we went. It was a gorgeous ride, the weather was perfect and the other boats fun to watch. We couldn’t stay out more than an hour, but then we didn’t get sunburned.

Immediately after beaching, we headed off to Cynthia’s house to greet her and her kids. We had to wait on her to run home (literally) and while we waited we drank large sodas. We had an appointment in Kisii with an old friend, and kept telling Michael we needed to be going, but he would have none of it. We were also going into food stupors, and the thought that we were planning to eat a Large Supper at Maseno and Jaqueline was not helping matters. Eventually he agreed to take us back to Nancy’s house, “but just one minute, we can stop at my son’s school and greet him”. So we greeted Junior. And 200 other kids. And a dog and a goat. And probably a series of shopkeepers and motorbike drivers.

It was troubling to drive into Nancy’s yard and smell fresh fish frying and see ladies rushing around. We were hustled into the livingroom, Nancy was shouted at, and the feast arrived. Fresh Nile Perch, Fresh Tilapia, Ugali, Cabbage and French fries. I wondered if I would die. It was 4 o’clock and we had been doing nothing but sitting and eating all day. I was immensely proud of the boys. Apparently the roles had reversed since we were with them in Kenya last. Heath and I ate moderately, but the boys put on a large show of appreciation. The meal whirled to a close and we took off. Michael told us to drive 120km/h and we would surely make our appointment. We did.

I had forgotten how muddy, noisy and hectic Kisii town was. We met Jack the Pharmacist, who is our good friend, the boys got money and then we struck out for Ogembo and Maseno’s house.

Maseno was our hired help/friend/son and his wife was our laundry woman when we lived in Kenya. They have two kids and live right close to the mission compound. It was dark and cold by the time we arrived, but the welcome was the warmest! It was so awesome to see them again! I snuggled under a blanket that Jaquiline borrowed me and proceeded to thoroughly enjoy myself. They had also invited the Fat Shopkeeper from right there. I always forget his name, so for ease I’ll call him Samuel. He is enormous, tho he had reduced since we saw him last. A tall, skinny in-law named Alfred was also there with his wife Vin. There was a tiny pup running around and a hungry cat.

These people are funny. Like totally hilarious. I am deeply grieved that I can’t portray it in writing, but there is no way to capture the accents, the eye-rolling, or the sight of a 300# comedian in an African Cottage. We laughed till I thought I would loose it, and let me tell you, laughing with a stomach that is jammed full of food is fairly painful. Maseno’s mom came after a while and welcomed us with many words and much dipping, swaying, thanking and praying.

They served us ugali, goat, kale, chapati, tea, pineapple, oranges, and beans. It was overwhelming and yum. Samuel was trying to reduce, but you would never know it watching him eat.

After supper was story hour, which is a Kisii tradition. All the men tell stories or fables or whatever and then they can explain the moral lesson. The stories got wilder and funnier as the evening went on. Samuel would lick his lips and launch off, shifting his massive weight in the chair. His stories involved a Motorbike driver who hit police spikes on the road, flipped his bike and lost all his teeth, just because he was running a bike with no lights; people laying in coffins to escape rain and then popping out and asking unsuspecting people if the rain was over, and such like. He couldn’t always drum up a very legit moral lesson, but that didn’t bother him. Typical Kisii, the darker the story is, the funnier it is. It’s very funny if a story involves someone dying, but if you can chuck in a little torture and agony, that is the icing on the cake.

We had to stay a while after the meal cause according to Samuel you have to wait something like two, three hours after eating to go to bed. Otherwise the food can choke you. He never goes to bed before 2am because he is watching his weight. Maseno’s dad came strolling in and accused us of promising him a suit but not bringing it. He was a bit confused, but Heath gave him a headlamp he had brought, and my gracious, peace was restored! Each one of the men present got one, and they were tickled pink! They immediately put them on and blinded everyone they looked at. The old man’s kept slipping down over his eyes and he’d hitch it up and beam with delight. Now they said they were so happy they wouldn’t even sleep that night. Just lay on their backs and meditate and think about the lights.

And then it was time to go, but of course Mama must have another long prayer. We all rose to our feet, but unfortunately Samuel stepped on the puppy and she was very indignant. Tell you want, over the rise and fall of the Mama’s voice you could hear small snickers. It was the last straw.

We were well lit on our way out and also well satisfied. We’re spending our nights at an empty house nearby. The owners are great friends of ours from FL, but they are currently Stateside. We were sad to miss them. The beds are pure luxury.