Mar 3: Day 5 – Visit to Dede

We spent the night at a Retreat Center in Kilgoris run by the Little Sisters of St. Joseph. The night was very cool and storm came through the night. Power was out for a few minutes but came back on later. We had a delicious dinner and refreshing morning breakfast. Before we left, we had a group picture with Sr. Rebecca.

We then drove through mountain ranges and saw tea plantations everywhere around Kisi. We eventually arrived in Dede around noon. This place was a property being developed by Fr. Joseph for his retirement and also sharing with the community. More details about what he is doing is posted here.

Currently, nuns Sr. Pacifica, Sr. Virginia and Sr. Celeste are residing at the house while working reaching out to the local community, prepared us a very delicious lunch. Together with some local people they are working with we shared lunch.

We left with scarves with Kenyan print as presents and Fr. Joseph got a different one (white) as he is local.

We then left and proceeded to Fr. Joseph’s ancestral house, now occupied by their eldest brother, Francis whom we visited unannounced and had a great time.

Their custom is to first offer prayer upon entering the home and then introducing each other afterwards.

Francis asked if we would like some avocado and Mitchelle said yes, expecting to get a couple that’s already on the table, but to our surprise, he climbed the nearby tree and began shaking the fruits off the tree. Fr. Joseph had to stop him as we would not be able to eat it all, but we still end up with a sack full of avocado.

They also have in the yard sugar cane and we tasted some and brought with us a few stalks. after awhile Francis 1st wife came home and we had a picture in the front.

Beth get to eat sugarcane for the first time fresh from stalk itself…

After the visit, we drove to our place for the night in Kisumu. Dinner was waiting…and it started to rain as we were heading to the dining area.

Fr. Joseph’s Projects

On Fr. Joseph’s land, on which he plans of settling when he retires, there are several projects going on.

Community Water Project

Clean water is challenge anywhere in Kenya and in this local community, Fr. Joseph through the generous support of everyone, had installed a solar pump to provide water to the community.

The pump is on an edge in a field and it pumps water into 2 large tanks inside a fenced compound, there it also housed the solar panels. From these 2 large tanks, water is directed to another tank where the community can access (picture with Tony Jones). This tank is on the side of the road.

Community Outreach

Fr. Joseph works very closely with nuns of the Little Sisters of St. Joseph and with their help they are reaching out to the community and helping them. Teaching them self sufficiency. on the land, they’ve planted vegetables, watermelons, sweet potatoes, and other crops. Fr. Joseph plans to start a seedling program that the community can afford and sustain.

Hospital

A portion of his land which he had fenced in, is being donated to a group that will build a hospital. They just needed a piece of land to build, so he donated a 5 acres of his land.

Adjacent to his land, he has learned that it was up for sale, so he had talked with a congregation who is looking to build a school and they are working towards getting that land to build a school.

And whilst he’s not retired yet, he had let the nuns use his house as their base for their community outreach. And this is where we met Srs. Pacifica, Virginia and Celeste who were all there only less than a month.

Mar 4: Day 6 – Explore Kisumu

We spent the day around Kisumu which is the 3rd largest city in Kenya (after Nairobi and Mombasa).

We started the day at the Kisumu Museum featuring wildlife around the area and the culture of the Luo tribe, where Fr. Joseph belongs to. This is also the tribe of Obama’s father.

Fr. Joseph started conversation with school kids visiting the museum and introduced Isla as they were also high school kids. They asked lots of questions and was fascinated by her hair. You can barely see her in the picture below :=)

We were entertained with a tribal dance from the Luo tribe.

We then left and visited nearby Mt. Kit-Mikayi. This place was deemed sacred to some locals and you can see leftover wax in certain areas from candles during prayers. The kids enjoyed climbing on the rocks and exploring the place.

At the base of the mountain, we were graced with dancing from some widows who are selling some snacks and souvenirs to earn a living to support their families.

We then left and visited (unannounced) Edward’s mom who lived nearby. We again experience local hospitality. We prayed and then introduced afterwards. We were served the best, if not one of the best and delicious Mandazi that Edward’s mom prepares and sells for a living. We were also served roasted peanuts which were grown in her own garden in the yard. Also the best roasted peanuts we’ve ever had. We brought the leftover and shared as pulutan after dinner, drinking Tusker beer and Amarula.

After the visit, we explored Dunga beach along Lake Victoria and relaxed at Dunga Hill Camp.

We then headed out and spent the evening again at the same retreat center. The only time, aside from Savelberg in Nairobi, where we stayed for more than a night in the same place.

Mar 5: Day 7 – Travel to Eldoret

We started the day with breakfast and left Kisumu to Eldoret which we will visit Fr. Walter Cheboi. But first, we attended mass at St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Cathedral in Kisumu which was in the local Luo language. I’d say the language was very beautiful. The priest tried to mix English in so we can understand part of it when he saw us during the service.

We then drove and headed for Eldoret, where we met Sandra who was vacationing from the Netherlands, while Fr. Walter was still busy with Sunday masses. We ate at a mall in Eldoret and missed pizza so much, we ate a whole extra large pizza. We also discovered Black Currant Fanta.

After lunch, we headed to visit Chipkiit Falls nearby, but it has not rained in the area for awhile and the water was low and not as spectacular as when there’s enough water. the guide said, the best time would be in August.

We then headed to Fr. Walter’s parish and was greeted at the gate with dances. it was like a ceremony, we shared introductions, and of course cake. The kids then interacted with each other and I believe had a great time together. One of the girls said, hope you don’t have to go.

We then proceeded to our retreat center for the evening where dinner was awaiting us.

Mar 6: Day 8 – Travel thru Lake Bogoria

We started the day with breakfast at Eldoret and left to visit Lake Bogoria on our way back to Nairobi. The estimate on the travel time was way off, initial estimate to get to the lake was 3 hours, we got there in about 6 hours.

To get to the place, we were driving along scenic mountain side with lots of climbs, descents and windings. it was also our first time during this trip that our driver got to pay the police at all the many stops we’ve had. apparently this time, there was no escaping.

Once we got to the lake around 1 in the afternoon, we were starving and it was hot, we learned that they were charing us 100USD/person as part of the entrance fee. We were willing to leave the place despite the long travel and Fr. Joseph was able to bargain for half the price they would have charged us.

So we continued our journey after paying the fee and went inside the rough terrain on the lake. Our car took another beating as we trudged through unpaved roads. at the lake we get to see lots of pink flamingo savoring the riches of the sulphuric waters of the lake. the lake is along some hot springs from a volcano.

We get to try to boil some eggs using the boiling water from the hot springs. But we did not eat any :=)

After the lake, we headed for Nairobi and get to eat a very late lunch at a Naivasha mall where Francis savored another pizza, and an ice cream…

Mar 7: Day 9 – Kibera and Fr. Joseph’s Apartment

Today, after resting during the morning, we left and visited Kibera slum after lunch. We visited with Sara and their school and day care to help parents find gainful employment, while they take care of the kids.

The name of the place they are running is Mary Mother of Hope Educational Center. Jackie, who used to be a social worker, help establish the school and daycare at where they are now located.

After the visit, we then headed for Fr. Joseph’s place, which is at the first floor of an apartment complex. He borrowed chairs from the retreat center as he don’t have enough seating for all of us.

Mar 8: Day 10 – Explore Downtown Nairobi

Today, we explored downtown Nairobi. We started at the Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family and we got to participate on a first mass of a newly ordained priest as he celebrates it with school children.

We then walked to the city center…

We then headed to the Memorial Peace Museum, where the site of the US Embassy was when terrorist bombed in in Aug 7, 2001

After lunch, we headed to the Mother House of the Little Sisters of St. Joseph which is in Karen. The compound has a trade school, a novitiate, a tailoring section where they make liturgical vestments for priests, a garden with monkeys and birds roaming around, and a lot more but we did not get to see.

We were treated with tea/soda, muffins, and samozas that tasted very good that I had at least 4 of them….

The school kids were outside playing as they were celebrating International Women’s Day.

The novitiates were very fun and full of life. We got treated with songs and dances.

Mar 9: Day 11 – Visit with Rhea and Sara

In the morning, we were arranged to visit with Rhea, who is a missionary and their group helps a school in Kibera. She hailed from Davao, Philippines…

After the visit with Rhea, we drove and visited with Sara and her family in Kibera. We were treated food and presents. There I learned how to peel a boiled egg with a spoon.

Comet NEOWISE: viewed from our yard

the comet is the white dot with the tail, as seen from our yard…

Jul4th fireworks @ DuQuoin

fireworks last night at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds
July 3, 2018