Thur-Sun (4-8 April)
Thursday was the first full day of the conference. The speakers are talking about social issues but the keynote speaker has a Bible address. They talked about ageing and about family issues. The keynote speaker is Ugandan. She speaks very fast but there is a Kiswahili translator (Jane Muturo) which means the speech takes twice as long. We were seated in seven large tents with me and Mary Lord in the “main tent” just behind the speakers. That means that we are seen by everyone! The sun beat
down and even in the tents, it became warm. There was a short break for tea in the morning and then lunch….cabbage, chicken, rice, orange quarters….and back to the tents. Moses Smith (former chairman of the Board of Governors for FTC) spoke, and then it was my turn. I had planned to do the presentation of the Last Supper that I did at Sycamore a few years ago. I could see that the wind was picking up and the clouds were darkening. We were already almost an hour behind schedule. I offered to eliminate my program but they said I should continue. They said I would not need an interpreter. I set up the table while the women sang and danced. The wind was not allowing my cards to stand so Mary Lord suggested that women hold the cards as I read the script. We modified the plan and continued. I think it went well. Several asked for copies of the script so I know this presentation will be given again and again.
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| Samburu women and other dancing. |
The 600 women broke into discussion groups and Dorothy Selebwa suggested that Mary and I might want to go to the GH. We agreed and were given a lift. It was nice to be in more comfortable surroundings by 6. The others came in shortly after and we had a nice supper together…chapatti, beef, chicken, and lentils. Marian had been given a jackfruit and a mango so she shared those. Jackfruit is rather nondescript.
Brenda went to Kisumu to get groceries today so I gave her money to buy me another suitcase. I need it to bring home all the gifts I have received.
Friday
I was up in the night with “running stomach” and it did not get better. I decided to stay at the GH until I felt better. The morning did not go well. I had taken probiotics (from Mary) and Imodium and cipro (from Brenda) but the stomach continued to roll. Shortly after noon, the rains came so I knew I would not attempt the mile or so down the hill to FCK so I took a nap. Linet came back from the conference at about 4 and made me a cup of soup. I hope that Saturday will be a better day!!
It was so hot in Kenya the first two weeks I was here….but now the rains have started so I am cold at night…sleeping with socks and under a wool blanket. It’s kind of nice to be cozy rather than miserably hot. And very interesting how the rains change the climate.
Saturday
When I got dressed, I didn’t see my hearing aid. It had fallen on the floor. When I picked it up, I saw that a rubber piece that fits in the ear was missing. I looked all around but it could not be found. I think that a small creature must have knocked it off and chewed away the rubber. It still works but it a bit irritating in the ear without the padding. Now I have to sleep in this room wondering what creature share it with me.
Mary, Brenda and I arrived late at the conference. Transport had not come but we were offered a ride by RSP folks. They were already an hour behind on the schedule! We sat through the Plenary Session. They skipped the tea break and the keynote speaker began about an hour behind schedule. She preached and then gave an altar call. Imagine 600 women coming forward, all praying aloud, dozens on their knees and the praying went on for twenty to thirty minutes. Quite an experience!
We went to lunch (rice, lentils, ugali, beans, mango) and then Brenda and I met Kennedy Shiverenje. We were going to his house for tea. He didn’t have a vehicle so we began the walk. About halfway to the junction, Calystus came by. Kennedy flagged him down and he took us all the way to Shiverenjes. Dorothy was there with grandbaby Beth. Later the girls, Jackie, Sandy and Faith came in. We had tea and mandazi and visited while it rained. After the rain, Kennedy walked us back to the Guesthouse.
Simon Bulimo came over and we had a nice visit. Supper, visiting, and to bed.
Sunday
A car collected us and we were at the conference by 9. There was singing and prayers and again, many, many introductions. Anyone of stature who had not already given greetings and introductions was invited to the platform as well as many who had. All the 17 Presiding Clerks of the various yearly meetings were also introduced. An introduction here includes greetings and praises so that took a big part of the morning.
The outgoing officers were introduced and given time to give thanks. I was to do the installation later and still had not received the names of the new officers. Gladys returned from a meeting and gave me a slip of paper telling me not to tell anyone. I wrote the names into my short speech and practiced pronunciation.
Then the nominating committee gave their report. It took about 20 minutes as she explained how each woman was chosen and about how they had talked with nearly 1000 women. I think that may have been an exaggeration but possibly not. She announced each of the incoming officers and when Dorothy Selebwa was announced to continue as Presiding Clerk, an enthusiastic cheer arose from the crowd. She is much loved and has done an exceptional job. Then the Keynote Speaker was called to pray for the new officers. She gave an impromptu speech that was several minutes long.
I was scheduled for ten am but they didn’t get to that part until about 11:15. It seemed anti-climatic after the rousing applause and the sermonette but I did what I had prepared. I asked Brenda to help me as I had made small corsages for each one from lace doilies. I also had a doily to present to represent their work. I talked about threads and how many different threads are used to make things…just as we are many different women. Strong, simple, complicated, colorful, etc. Because I had stayed in Dorothy’s home for two days and knew her hope that they would find a new president, I also shared with the women that I was both full of joy and concern when I heard Dorothy’s name. I told them that there was joy because I know how much she is loved. Also when someone is doing a good job, everyone wants to keep them. But I also shared concern about the tremendous work load and responsibility. Frankly, I think the Presiding Clerk of USFW-Kenya has much more work than I do as President of USFW-International. I cited the story of Moses holding up the staff as Joshua fought the Amalekites….but I had the wrong characters (which I learned later). I said it was Joshua and Caleb who assisted Moses in holding up the staff. But I asked the women present if they would assist Dorothy…that she would not stand alone and that they would be a support to her. The installation was complete!
After the offering and a few more speeches, the Keynote Speaker delivered her message. She spent the first half hour summarizing her Thurs, Fri, Sat messages. She spent another half hour “correcting” my Moses story….it was Aaron and Hur who assisted Moses while Joshua led the battle. Because she was being translated, her hour took almost two. Her prayer at the end was not like Saturday but still nearly 20 minutes.
There were a few more details to finish up and then we broke for lunch. It was rice, beans and sucumawiki served outside. The Kenyans served up generous portions and Brenda and I were not able to eat even half. We didn’t want to throw it away but didn’t know how we could avoid it. Then I noticed a few children were eating. There were local village children. I saw one child putting food into a plastic bag. I pointed him out to Brenda so she took our plates and offered them. He gladly scraped our plates into his bag. That would be supper for some family. People were sitting all around and then it began to rain so we crowded in under the verandah of the dining hall. Then it began to pour and blow so we crowded into the dining hall. Of course there was no electricity so it was dark, damp and humid inside. John Muhanji had asked to speak to me so we found a quiet corner for that conversation. Colin and Janine Saxton came to chat for a bit.
My hostess for the night was there to collect me but we couldn’t do anything in the rain. After it subsided a bit, we waded through water to get in the vehicle and go to the guesthouse to get my baggage. Brenda rode with us. Minga, Marian and Jessica had already gone to their next location. Mary Lord had decided to remain in Kaimosi at the GH for a few days before her pre-FWCC conference trip. I gathered up my things, said goodbyes to Mary, Brenda and Linet and set off with Jaman and Ederia to Maragoli.
I took a short nap before supper. Then we ate and because of no electricity, went to bed early. I had a nice battery light so was reading when I received a phone call from Mary. I had dropped my small purse at the GH and it contains my driver’s license, credit cards and cash. Of course I have to get that before I leave and Kaimosi is about 30 minutes away. Because it was my fault (although I don’t remember having it out…it apparently fell out of my tote bag), I didn’t want to ask Jaman to make the drive back. I send a text message to Kennedy to ask if he could bring it on a matatu tomorrow. He readily agreed.
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