Day 8 “A little R&R for some of the team”

Lance, Julie, Duncan and Jillo left early in the morning (530am) with Francis Omondi to go to Garissa. Unfortunately, due to some violence that had erupted near Garissa, Faria was not able to go because the trip had become a little more dangerous. Rachel and I woke up at 9am (the latest we had since we got here) and because the team looked so peaceful sleeping we made eggs and pancakes till we finally woke them up at 1030am. Laura and I were supposed to wait for Mary Walugha in order to go to the Pharmacy to purchase some medications for the medical camp on Saturday. However, it was 1230pm and they still weren’t here. So, we asked Naomi to stay and wait at Lancaster while the rest of us went to the bank to change out our money. We decided to walk to the bank; one because we didn’t have a car, but the other was because we wanted the team to get their first taste of Kenya. The bank took some time with all 8 of us changing money but when we arrived back home, it was 230pm and still no Mary. Therefore, Laura and I waited with Naomi (and Doug was napping) while the rest of the team walked with Rachel to the Hurlingham market.
Finally at 330pm Mary Walugha, Sammie, Angelina arrived and we discussed our budget for medications and also the protocol for the pharmacy here in Kenya. However, because the meeting had occurred so late in the day, the Pharmacy closed at 430pm and with Kenyan traffic jams so recurrent, we were told that we should not purchase medications until tomorrow. Laura and I then went to meet the team at the market but didn’t make it far because they were on their way back home. It was 500pm by this time so we taught them the Kenyan card game, “pick” to pass some time till we went to dinner.
We were all very hungry so we walked to the Nakumatt to take them to the restaurants that we knew they would like. Once we arrived after our 10 minute walk through Nairobi, they looked at all the dinner options and decided to just eat at Zincs. This is the restaurant that we had eaten at before so we knew it was good and everyone would like it. As we ate we talked and talked about the plans for the trip and their travels here. Finally, when we finished eating, all of us decided to get some gelato at a place called Rendezvous. They had so many flavors from passion fruit to straccatello. It was very good and hit the spot after the long walk in the hot weather. We then took a Citi Hoppa home. It was an interesting ride with the music blaring and Christian quotes all around. It was nice though because it was quick and accommodated us all. We then jumped off and arrived home at Daystar University.
As we arrived it was late around 9pm; however, Lance, Julie, Duncan and Jillo had not returned yet. We had been communicating with them all day via cell phone and knew that they would not arrive till late, so we passed our time playing “pick.” Once again the teacher (me) had lost the game and they dominated me even though they had just learned how to play. They loved the game and we played till Lance, Jillo, Duncan and Julie arrived back at midnight. They looked exhausted after a 12 hour ride there and back through pot-holed roads and road blocks guarded by armed guards. However, they were very excited about the things that were going on in Garissa. It is truly amazing about what they are doing with so little and how much more they could do if they had funding. They have a clinic and school and a missionary training center as well as a boarding school. The team who traveled to Garissa enjoyed a wonderful Kenyan meal and had a great time getting to know the Omondis’. On the way home (in the dark) Julie developed gastroenteritis and by the light of the moon, used what we call “bush toilets” (bushes by the side of the road). We forgot to bring a flashlight, so she got stuck in the thorn bushes and still has a thorn in her finger for a souvenir. Francis Omondi and his family truly have a heart for the people who are suffering and have been in Garissa for 22 years. After a quick team meeting about what the plan was for the next day we finally went to bed around 130am, excited for the next day of workshops.