Whether it was Mexico or Kenya, we have always been advised to avoid salads when eating out. Apparently that is good advice, even at fancy restaurants. Donna ordered a Caesar’s salad Friday night and paid the price. She didn’t get much sleep nor did she stray far from the bathroom. Saturday morning she took some medications that helped and with some rest she felt well enough to get to Church Sunday morning. I was thankful and relieved.
It is my intention to share some more pictures from our Maasai Mara excursion each week. I kind of like the contrast between these two Baboons and the Maribu Stork couple. What do you think?
We attended St. Andrews PCEA church 
in downtown Nairobi. It is more or less the “flagship” PCEA congregation in Nairobi and it was a lovely facility. We were not the only visitors attending. A group of perhaps 12 young adults from Hungary were completing a week long mission trip to Presbyterian churches in Kenya. They apparently had a good experience and were inviting a group to come from Kenya to visit Hungary. (Photo by Dan Chira)
St. Andrews is only the third church I have had the opportunity to visit. Some things were pretty much the same in all three settings. What is the time for a prelude (usually on the organ) in our churches is given to singing “Praise” music beginning up to 30 minutes prior to the formal beginning of the service. At the Church of the Torch, this is led by all those primary school children. At St. Andrews, the singing was led by a group of praise leaders – a small chorus.
This is interrupted by the processional of clergy and worship leaders, led (usually) by a youth carrying the Bible. By this time I am beginning to know some of the songs and enjoy clapping and singing along.
Once underway, the service is made up of prayers, scripture lessons, introductions and intimations, offering, preaching, and singing – much like our services. Visitors are typically asked to stand and introduce themselves. At St. Andrews Donna and I were given rose buds to wear or carry.
I experienced some nostalgia Sunday on seeing a pipe organ as we entered. I was looking forward to hearing organ music. But, alas, as has been the case in each church we have attended, the organ has been replaced by an electronic keyboard. It just sat there at the back of the sanctuary, silently.
I called this Post, “Rough Weekend” not only because of Donna’s bout of the Kenya Kwikstep, but for what we learned as the new week began on Monday. Gladys, our Saturday On Call chaplain was called to comfort the grieving after the drowning death of a high school student at an “open swim” party. Earlier that day we had passed through quite a crowd along the road near here as we made our way to Nairobi to do our weekly shopping. On Monday we learned that one of our students had the misfortune to be in the middle of a shoot out Saturday morning (the crowd we had seen) between the police and some thugs who had hijacked an automobile. At least three persons were killed including the owner/driver of the auto. We were glad to know Patrick was not injured, only frightened.
It is a sad fact of life here that this kind of violence is fairly common. Donna’s psychology about this is to presume there are still lions or other dangerous animals in the bush and stay on the alert at all times. As a general rule, women do not walk alone (and many men exercise similar caution), especially after dark. We are told to go in larger groups of four or five at a time. Even so, we hear stories of persons being beaten or killed when caught out by these thugs and robbed of money, jewelry, cell phones, anything of value. And this danger is particularly relevant for whites, who are presumed to have money and valuables. I have been grateful for the availability of the Dykstras and Joseph to take me around when needed, so I don’t feel like a total prisoner. Thankfully the area around the hospital and university are relatively safe.
We had planned to visit the National Museum last Saturday, but as noted above, Donna was in no condition for an outing. So, we went on Monday afternoon instead. Lyle and Terry had not been there for a few years and were delighted with the changes and improvements – except for the loss of a model Kikuyu house they were hoping to show us through. (Beneath the sculpture, that is Donna, Lyle and Terry)
I was particularly interested in the early bones. Pictured is “Turkana Boy,” one of the most complete early skeletons, estimated to be 1.6 million years old. 
Kenya is the home of many of the earliest human fossil remains and the National Museum is home to many of those discoveries. It was also fun to find the stuffed versions of many of the birds we had seen last week at Maasai Mara. I learned a good deal in three + hours we had to wander about there. I couldn’t resist purchasing a copy of Peoples of Kenya by Joy Adamson (author of Born Free and other well known books). She went about Kenya photographing and painting persons for the more than forty tribes who make up Kenya’s population. It is a fascinating book and I look forward to continuing my education.
This coming weekend we are off on another excursion – this time to Nakuru. Nakuru is the fourth largest Kenyan city. Three of our students are from Nakuru, and it is the home of my friend Arthur Ndoro with whom I have (so far) been unable to connect. Nearby is a spectacular volcanic crater with active steam vents, and a National Park famous for Flamingos and Rhinoceros. One thing that will make this trip very special is that we will be going with Joseph and Agnes (his spouse). Donna has yet to meet her, and we are looking forward to an opportunity to get acquainted. Joseph has said he would like us to visit a nearby lake which is known for its hotsprings. We will leave Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening, so it will be a pretty quick visit.
I have invited the students in our group to write a paragraph or two about their experience in CPE so far. I hope to be able to begin including one or two of these contributions in the next posting. In the meantime, we are doing well. I am already grieving Donna’s return to Indiana on Tuesday, March 23. Her month here has gone by way too fast, but it has been wonderful to have the time we have had. Please continue to keep this mission, our students and the persons they serve in your prayers; and prayers for safe travel for Donna. Peace, Cal Brand 
