BLOG 7 14th Feb.
I slept better last night; the temperature had dropped to about 24 C, and the wind from the lake makes a difference. But by about mid-night, the wind ceases, and the humidity increases.
Up early to go to the morning mass in the little chapel. I find it quite amazing that living in a guest house with four catholic priests, they are very willing for me to take communion with them … unheard of in the UK.
I'll have to cut down on food when I get home … here, I'm having porridge, fruit, bacon and egg and toast every day for breakfast … but my excuse is that the Malarone is better absorbed with a fair bit of food, rather than on an empty stomach.
Tuk-tuk and workshop again; the student Evans is getting a little better at cutting along a line. Paul also has him marking around all sides of a piece of wood, and then cutting it into short lengths. He eventually joined/nailed the pieces together to make a small box, with a slot cut in it to make a money box. I showed him how to see if the slot was long enough with a 10 sh. Coin, which I 'accidentally' let slip into the box !
I have spoken to Joan, the bereavement counsellor about Milly, the child we befriended last year with her identical twin sister, Caro … Caro who was run over on the main road, right in front of her mother six months ago. Milly is obviously still very traumatised; what Joan calls ' a frozen child'.
I went with Paul to the mothers house, and through Paul as interpreter, we told her that the child could get free counselling to help her with the loss … and it was then obvious to me that the mother needed it too. It is so good that the Pandipieri mission now has bereavement counsellors trained by Joan who work in a play centre with children and their parents. Most of the clients are bereaved due to HIV, but the death of a loved one is a death, whatever the cause. Milly's mother thanked me, but it was too formal … I shook her hand and gave her a big hug, and she was full of tears. One mother at one with another, despite neither of us understanding the others language.
When we left her home Paul reminded me of the words on the HATW leaflets: “Our hands … may need to hold a sick child or comfort a grieving parent, they may sometimes be asked simply to hold the hand of another, but there is always more to these hands than practical help alone … “ I feel that today this is what we have done for a child and her mother. I have passed on the child's details, age, school, etc. to Sr. Bernadette and she will follow it up.
Mid afternoon and the temperature has soared to 37.5, with a hot breeze. I stayed in the house this afternoon, and had a nap for an hour. In fact, its almost impossible to stay awake.
People come and people go from the guest house. There are two priests from India; one from Dunga (the fishing village by the lake); the three Dutch fathers … two retired and living here permanently, and one who runs the guest house. There is a Luo priest from South Nyanza staying for a few days rest, before going on to Nairobi; an Italian lady who speaks Dutch and German as well; Joan from Devon … and a few others who come just for a day or for a meal. I'm possibly the only Anglican they have had for a long time !
Coming back to my room from supper, there is a wonderful scent in the air as I walk along the corridor, which has only bars and mesh, not a wall or windows … so any breeze blows through and into the rooms. There must be a gardenia bush * outside for I think that is what the scent is. I must go round the back of the house tomorrow and investigate !
* it was a type of jasmine !
Now time for bed … to the sound of lions grunting and roaring !!
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