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How You Can Help - Letter From Kenya |
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The Greatest Gift You Can Give Someone Is Yourself November 2003 Hello everyone! As I write this I am sitting at home listening to some big band music after having had some yummy blueberry pancakes and oatmeal. This may take awhile to write considering I need to get up and dance around every couple of sentences, but I promise it won't take another three months! This letter will be in two parts as I have much to let you know about. It is nice to be home and have luxuries, such as a shower that I don't have to cup my hands under in order to wash and of course a much missed radio, but I already miss so many from Timau. So, let me catch you all up on what has happened since I last wrote, and on my future plans. If you had not heard, in July I had gotten malaria. It started with me putting on as many clothes as I could wear at once, including my hat (the only time I got to use it- plan ahead and be prepared!) and shuffling to bed shivering. The next morning I was escorted to the dispensary where I tested positive for malaria. From there I started the course of medicine I had brought with me and went to bed. I slept for four days, only getting up to take water and go to the bathroom. I couldn't keep anything in my body and felt totally repulsed by food. Whenever I woke all I wanted to do was go back to sleep, which I promptly did. I have never slept so much before and felt so utterly exhausted. Once I felt able to get up, I started getting myself back into my routine. It took me a couple of weeks to get my appetite and all my energy back, but now I am once again waltzing around. Having had malaria I have a much greater compassion for those who are sick and I have a greater appreciation for being so healthy. Sicknesses are a way of life for the people of Timau; they have to deal with constantly being sick and not having the proper medical care and definitely not as much of a healthy body to begin with. Their stamina and toughness to handling life's hardships inspires me to forever strive higher and further in helping others. Love one another regardless of their behavior, no exceptions, because the greatest gift you can give someone is yourself. In August I was offered the opportunity to go on a five-day tour around Kenya as a chaperone for the primary schools graduating class, free of charge. I am not into doing "touristy" things, but couldn't pass the opportunity up. It was a great time as I got to know the girls much better and got to see the beautiful Kenyan countryside. Because I still wasn't 100% healthy all the sitting in the bus helped me to rest up and recover, plus the girls gave me new and exciting hairstyles (those styles stayed in Kenya!). We covered many miles, and many extra miles as Father tended to get a little confused/lost. The girls named our bus the Timau express, as Father was known to take off while we were still loading the bus, this helped ensure that there was no dawdling! One time we had pulled over so that those who needed to take a toilet break could. The girls and I were all spread out among bushes relieving ourselves when all of a sudden I heard some dogs barking and saw the girls streaming by yelling. The girls had gotten surprised by some herders and were chased back to the safety of the bus. There wasn't any pulling over after that! The first day we went to Thompsons falls and headed to the Rift valley. At Lake Nakuru National Park we saw giraffes, zebras, flamingos, water buffalo, antelope and a white rhino. One of the girls said how the zebras were just fancy donkeys! Day two we drove thru the Rift valley crossing dry riverbeds where the roads and bridges were ripped apart from the power of floods, it amazes me what the bus went thru to get us to so many fantastic places. At Lake Bogoria and hot springs the flamingos created the appearance of a pink ribbon around the circumference of the lake with splatters of pink all over, reminding me of rose petals floating upon the water. Some areas of the lake were so hot it was boiling, from a distance it looked as if there were little fires all over because of the steam pouring off the water. Some of the kids boiled eggs and maize (corn) in the water for lunch. I had bought a watermelon, the first time any of them had the pleasure of eating some. Day three was the most adventurous as we ended up on Crater mnt, using roads that were not ever intended to be used by a bus. We ended up picking up a little boy to help guide us up the mountain and made his day by sharing our candy and paying him for his help. I could've walked up faster than it took us to drive, regardless, Father had vetoed my idea to take the students hiking, or even to allow this section of the trip next year. I personally loved it, the mountain has a spectacular sweeping view that I would've loved to have a hang glider to soar over. Day four consisted of a dash around Nairobi visiting Parliament, a museum and parks. The last day was very long as we took the long way home, making it even longer by passing our turn point. The extra mileage just added to the fun! We stopped off at a power plant and had a tour, it was quite impressive. Breezing thru the dry landscape we passed baobab trees and made our way back home. Across the road from the mission is an orphanage where 23 children ages eight to twelve live. I spent a lot of time playing with the children, I had brought and been sent some fun items to use with them. It is amazing how such simple items can bring so much joy. They would be thrilled when I would bring stickers for them to put on their hands. Some would try and be sneaky by taking them off and sticking them on their ankles, but I wasn't fooled for too long as I noticed the cleaner sticky areas outlined on their hands and their big sly grins begging for another. I had also brought some glow in the dark star stickers that they stuck above their beds. Bubbles would make them screech with joy and punch balloons brought peals of laughter. A friend had sent me some long skinny balloons to twist into various animals (luckily it came with a how to book), I think I had more fun than the children as I turned and twisted out dogs, parrots, swans and snails. I had always wanted to be a clown and enjoyed the moment with much joy! We also went on walks together, more like races as the children would periodically take off like the wind! Whenever
I spent time with the orphans I always felt relaxed and refreshed afterwards, it just felt so good to race over the
dirt while hands clung to me and laughter resounded in the air. This is what life is about! When Jesus tells us to
be like children, he not only means it by being joyful and innocent, but also by putting all our trust in the Lord
as children fully trust those who care for them. Imagine sitting in the lap of the Lord as you share your joys and
give up to Him all your sorrows and worries. Trust in the Lord and he will make your paths straight.
Love, Debbie Schachner |
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