Corwin & Peggy gave their mission report to the Kenya Mission President this morning. A wonderfully successful mission with around 93% of the children in their areas given the measles “jabs!” as compared to around 75% in the rest of the country. Lawana and I gave around 3/4's of our time to the work and loved every minute of it. It's been pretty expensive, as we had to pay our own travel, $2,000 vaccination shots, and other expenses that the Church covers for missionaries, but that's a small cost compared to the great blessing it has been to us. Once again it has been proven to us that you always receive back far more than you ever give to the Lord and His work.
Nairobi is very different from our trip so far.
It's the capital, a bustling, modern, 4 million population city. Well-dressed people in suits, chic dresses and heels. Cooler weather. Nice mission home and chapel, though much smaller and not as nice as the average chapels back home. However, even here there is still poverty. We passed by the huge slum, the 2nd largest in the world, where Shelly's family contributed to the slum band. And, when you get outside the more modern downtown, you go into the usual crowded, poorer general living condition. However, the Ogborn's nice gated and guarded apartment is by Statehouse Road by the Kenya President's residence and many embassy places from
all over the world. It's a lovely, green area. Beautiful, unusual trees and flowers are bursting out everywhere in this Spring weather and clouds are forming for much hoped for rain.WHOOPPPEEEE! As I finished this writing later in the day it is raining!!!!!!! It's the first rain since we have been in Africa. We hope it's also raining in the drought areas elsewhere, although slick clay-like roads may keep us from our closing safaris. We would still want that, though, for those poor people desperately waiting for rain that hasn't fallen there for almost 3 years. Even here we see long rows of trenches that have been dug to catch as much of the precious rainfall as possible.
So far, Lawana, Peggy, and Corwin have gotten sick, mostly diarrhea/stomach problems. We continue very careful about what we eat and cleaning food. Ironically, they got sick after eating a gourmet meal in a 5 star lodge, so you can see why it's such a concern. We yearn every now and then for good old KFC or Burger King and a regular American pizza or hamburger. Chicken and pork dishes are quite good here, but beef is not so hot. Goats are everywhere, but so far we've avoided that. Our meals in the apartment are lots of protein drinks, egg sandwiches, peanut butter, and carefully-washed fruits and vegetables, which are delicious! We never complain, knowing that there are millions all over this vast country that go to bed with nothing to eat. We feel pretty ashamed sometimes when we know that our living conditions are literally better than 99% of the country. So, count your blessings when you sit down to dinner and go to bed tonight!
We hope you are enjoying the beautiful Fall weather and colors back home. We miss you and love you very much!
“Kwahari” (Goodbye) from Nairobi,
Dick & Lawana
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