There are many problems in Kenya. There are many frustrations. There are many challenges to overcome. But time and time again, I am overwhelmed by the genuine kindness of many of the people that I meet. Here are some of my experiences.
I really wanted fresh eggs. There is a local farmer who was recommended but I did not have time to go to his house because of the long hours that I was working. Amos must have heard about this. At the end of his working day, he walked for an hour to get me eggs and presented them to me with a flourish. I was so touched.
Rispa was headed to Kiserian. I asked if she could get me a few things from the market as I had run out of fresh food. No problem. I didn’t want to overload her so I only asked for a few bananas and tomatoes. “Eh? What can you cook with that?” was her response.
A few moments later, she had managed to wrestle my entire shopping list from my hand. She would get everything that I wanted. I knew this meant she would be unable to carry her own shopping. No matter. She would get that another day, she insisted.
I managed to drop my mirror. Apart from the 7 years bad luck likely to come my way, I couldn’t see enough to even brush my hair. Wambua can fix anything. He examined the mirror closely. The answer was superglue! I gave him the money to purchase it whenever he could manage. During his lunch hour, he walked to town and back – an hour’s walk – to get the glue right away, so that he could fix it for me that day.
Susan and I were in Western Kenya visiting the Crying Rock with Richard and Lesinko. It was a steep climb on a very uneven and muddy path. While it was a challenge going up, it was almost impossible to get down unaided. I was not dressed for hiking as we were on our way to a burial. I felt sure I was going to fall flat on my face. This would be a disaster. “Muddy Muzungu Disrespects the Family,” would be the newspaper headline.
The men strode ahead. It is the Maasai way never to offer to help a woman – she is as strong as you! Not this woman, mate! But Susan waited for me, showing me the best route and gently taking my hand. She walked at my pace and filled me with confidence that she knew what she was doing and I would be just fine. I was and what’s more, she completed the descent, in a full length white dress and cloak, without so much as a speck of mud landing on her! What a woman!
So, whenever the job seems too big or the challenges too overwhelming, I think about the kindness of my Kenyan friends and colleagues.
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