News from Africa

Below is another letter from Greg and Lisa, they are helping with an orphanage in Kenya.

"Dear Family and Friends, ((this is from THe first of April Trying to send again)
Another day, another adventure! School started at 9:00, with a short game for the early birds (on time).We have tried to find games that a. don’t cost money b. don’t require any supplies we don’t have HAHA c. doesn’t cause the kids to roll in the dirt, or get sweaty d. don’t require them to “line up”. (Lines seem to be an impossible concept.) So this morning we played “Button button, who has the button?” I secretly slipped it into one child’s hand and they all tried to guess who, then we took turns- they LOVED it. They want to play again! They also like racing by passing objects on spoons. Last week we raced with beans. As the beans fell off the spoons, everyone “helped” put the beans back on-Our side Your side-it didn’t matter. The 2 lines blurred into a blob as the beans made it to the end. Everyone cheered the beans journey, never did get the concept that they were on 2 teams. All were happy, so that is what matters.
Last Sunday we had visitors. About 30 children and youth from a neighboring church came with special music and dancing. Then our children sang and danced for them. Then the lesson, then juice and cookies. (they are called biscuits here). Everyone had a great time, they participate really well with question and answer time, so we know they are listening and understanding the lesson. We counted between 130-150 children last week.
We were to begin at 10:00; we got rolling about 10:45. Today was special, we were absolutely packed. They mostly sit on low wooden benches. Today they were 5-6 on a bench, average of 3 nursing babies per bench. The benches were so close together that the person seated in back of you had their knees in your bum, and your knees were in the bum in front. Good thing they spend a lot of time standing and singing and dancing! The plastic lawn chairs were brought in and added to the end of the rows. About 5 rows up from the back they switched the chairs from the right side to the left side.(no I don’t know why) So as we walked up to give, and walked back to our seats (simultaneously)there was a big jam up at the crossing place. We are beginning to observe without being too surprised. I had the luxury of a plastic chair today. I like to sit on the benches with the other women, but there was NO room. Then the children’s choir came in adding 31 more people. I guestimated about 150 in the building, at least 50-75 standing at the windows outside. Next a baby dedication, with vows from the parents like a marriage, very solemn and serious. Then fundraising for the upcoming trip. First the call for all to contribute (almost a game show atmosphere) as the members brought up donations (amount announced publicly!) to put in the basket. Then the most fun started. The members had brought items to be “auctioned”. They had coconuts, bananas, and a chicken! I was catching enough words to figure out the prices. 20 shillings for the coconuts (1.00US =78 KS)I think the bananas went for 65 shillings (KS) Then the chicken- Harrison said in English “OK, I am coming with the basket and I am not stopping until I have come to all of the pockets!” Then he said “We are giving the chicken as a gift to Lennox(the dedicated baby) to start him off, the chicken will give and give, and the child will be cared for!” Everyone was clapping. Then he came with the basket and collected change. They exceeded the goal of 5,000 shillings by 2,000! All during the fundraising the 1980’s style keyboard was playing in the background. The music was presets I am guessing, old classics, show tunes, carousel music, some old 1970 detective show themes. Little snippets of all kinds of music I recognized. It must have been 100 degrees, with Swahili mixed with English, time warp music, people laughing and cheering, It was fun, but I was feeling really bizarre! Our trip is this Wed through Sunday, about 20 miles away in bush country in an area called G********. . It is in the middle of G****** (tribe) A country with a lot of alcohol problems. Crusades (like an old fashioned tent meeting) are very well received. We have a generator, TV and “The Movie” in Swahili. So pray for us and I will tell you all about it when it’s over. I do know we have a school building to sleep in with toilets and good water. Elvis and Andersons people are also going. We are not sure what to expect, everyone here is really looking forward to the trip.
This week has been the week of injuries. (Not us) First Isaac (kitchen help, about 18 years)cut into his shin with a panga (smaller than a machete). He was in the shamba cutting weeds to prepare for planting. Then Nixon (maybe 8 years) cut into his left middle finger with a panga. Almost took the end of it. He was cutting (whacking) coconuts open. Nixon is Pst Andersons brother Issa’s son. Then Fredrick came in one morning and said “Lisa, can you come with me to see about a woman who has fallen and injured her arm ? They say it is just like this” (visualize an arm at a strange angle) I am thinking fracture. She was across the family yard in a hut with no mud (frame and roof, and window openings) I haven’t quite figured out why they divide a hut into rooms with a framed wall when there is no “wall” I walked in behind Fred, and cracked my head on the door frame! It is at about 5’5 and I am 5’7. Fortunately I was not moving fast. She was on a cot (their version of a bed). Fred spoke to her in Swahili, then turned to me and said, “Alright, she is a drunkard, and she was walking like this(demonstrate a stagger)and she just fell on her arm, so we need to look at it, then you need to come back and talk to her about it.” So we iced it (it was muscle not bone) I gave her an Ibuprofen, and she slept it off. (she is some relative)Then later another family member was working on her with deep heat massage. She was really shaking, and I don’t think it was all the arm. So I need to go talk to her. Then yesterday Shauri (Boy about 8) came with a nasty looking finger, said it was a boil. Doctored and bandaged. I think we are the only ones with band-aids and antibiotic ointment. (John and Sandy were really disappointed when they opened their new first aid kit and it was mostly band-aids. It looks like that is what we have a great need for-imagine that!)They all keep coming back to have it redressed. Nothing really tragic, I am sure that is coming. Fredrick said everyone knows to come to him for help. He asked me last week “Have you delivered babies?” I posed the same question to Greg HaHa! I got just the reaction I wanted! He better get ready! Something really comical happened with all of this band-aid stuff. We were called out on the porch one evening after dinner by Isaac. He had a friend who “needed” a plaster. (band-aid).There was a group of very hopeful teenage boys standing around, and one brave one showed us his “injury”. Greg says “THAT!!!!!” It might have been a slight scratch 3 days ago! Greg was beginning to gear up for a version of “Man Up! You don’t get a band/aid for ……..” about that time he got a wifely elbow in the side-he is getting good at responding quickly to the message. I said very quietly, “They are just boys who want a cool looking band-aid like Isaac. Remember how little kids love band-aids?” Well these were really big kids (16-18) but they really wanted that great looking band-aid. So Mr. Greg simmered down and explained how we will have to save them for bad cuts like Isaac’s leg. They were pretty disappointed!
Monday morn.
Yesterday was Greg’s birthday, we had a family dinner with all 9 children to celebrate. It was eagerly anticipated all day with the children whispering about “Mr. Greg’s Birthday.” (pronounced Gregie, don’t forget to really roll the r!)They sang in Swahili and English. Franklin prepared a mango “pie”. The crust was like very thin short bread. It was in a casserole dish to serve all. The closest thing I could find to peaches, quite tasty!
Well I just reread this letter, some of the grammar could be better! I’ve had several little beginning readers with me, all practicing on a different page. Some in English, some in Swahili. They are very quick learners, I enjoy having them, and they like to practice on us. (My concentration is suffering HAHA)The two little girls who were so afraid of us are now shaking our hands to say “Jambo” and can at least be in our presence without screaming in terror.
Watch for our newsletter in the next few days for some FANTASTIC news about the orphans! We love to hear news from home (please no forwards or attachments! Thanks). Email us if you get a minute! strausz@fbcho.com
Tues morn.
We are well and healthy, really getting attached to the children, seeing growth in all the areas of our work and learning from our mistakes!
Please pray that we learn Swahili quickly so we can better communicate with the people here. Fredrick is a wonderful teacher, it feels like my progress is slow, but this week I realized how many words I was picking up, and how many songs I can sing with. I have several individual words, and can tell the children to “back up!” HA !Remembering to roll my r’s takes concentration.
This is going out this morning! Still no rain.
Love to all of you, Greg and Lisa"