Mead Minutes: Last Times
Good morning from Kenya! Early mornings have seen nice thick blankets of promising dark clouds cross Kijabe and drift across the Rift below. Each day we look for rain, but our hopes are not wringing the clouds and drenching the land. The roads are dusty, red paths both in Kijabe and down in the valley. The yard and valley still cling to their green colors, but the deep green of healthy growth is slowly fading under the strong African sun. Crops and, therefore, people are stressed as the rains go to other locations.
When I first awoke today the skies were clear and the stars shown brightly. Gradually the stars faded into the gray, and from above a chilly breeze carried yet again the clouds. The clouds coalesced into a mottled canopy, but, once again, no rain. Maybe later today we will enjoy gooey mud. The weeks have been very hectic; I have enjoyed the early morning quiet, sipping my coffee and letting my mind wander.
Each year there is a traditional time at Rift Valley Academy where they have a weekend they call ‘re-entry weekend.’ When Jana and I served as class sponsors we attended a few of these events. The students of RVA have come from many backgrounds and have lived a life far different from the places they are going to live. Some students transition very well; other students struggle fitting in.
Re-entry is a time to talk about change, loss, leaving, and the future. As I was listening, I could appreciate the talks as they applied to the students and my children. Now as I face my own leaving, my mind drifts back to the talks from a different viewpoint.
We all face times when we leave one situation and journey on to another. Some transitions seem easier than others, but all will cause a degree of stress. For RVA students, the changes can be dramatic even as they enter their passport country. Some students leave friends with whom they have shared dorm life for years as brothers or sisters.
Language, although familiar, will be embodied with different slang expressions, phrases from TV shows never seen, and experiences foreign to them. Football may be a game where teams line up in heavy equipment crashing into each other and kick the ball only rarely. Few may care that your favorite team, Barcelona, beat Man U or even know who they are.
The weekend probes the keys of leaving well. A new place can be viewed with fear, seen as second-rate to where you were, or as a new opportunity to live and enjoy. Issues need to be resolved so regrets don’t follow you. Good-byes need to be shared. You need to plan to step out of your discomfort and get to know people in your new location. You need to step forward and join in your new life, not huddle in your memories. I enjoyed the weekends then, but now find the thoughts a little more anxiety provoking. I too must listen and learn.
Re-entry for seniors signals the beginning of the end. The next phase is often called “last times.” Students celebrate the ‘last time’ for Mama Chiku’s restaurant stew and chapos (although many push this last time with this group, that group, the guys group, etc.). The last time for a piki excursion (motorcycle) into the valley to chase gazelles and zebra. The last time for a waterfall trip. The last time for grabbing your shuka Maasai blanket and going out into the hills for the night, sharing chai and stories with friends. And the list goes on, varying from student to student.
Last weekend Jana and I had one of our ‘last time’ events; we traveled by way of Maji Moto to the Masai Mara. The Mara is probably one of my most favorite places on earth. The Serengeti plains stretch from southern Kenya way into Tanzania. The vastness of the views shrinks you as a mere person into microscopic dimensions. The people and animals are phenomenal to watch and meet. I would rather meet people than some of the animals on a close-up basis, of course; friends versus lunch, if you understand.
We traveled with our friends Jeff and Betty along with their kids. Abby and her friend Katy came as well. I love to share first time experiences with people new to Africa. The awe and excitement is contagious. We briefly stopped at Helen’s and Ntutu’s place to meet the widows and have lunch. As always, we celebrated. We observed the widows selling their wares, taking another step toward independence. Then off to the Simba Lodge for a great time.
The last two hours of road travel to the Mara is very rough, but it is another element of experiencing Kenya. The lodge is very nice and just at the edge of the park. Now for you linguists, Masai Mara is spelled with one initial ‘a’—a place. When you are speaking of the people you write Maasai; their language is Kimaa. I would hate for you to make a mistake.
Jana had never clearly seen a leopard, and I had only seen one in Nakuru prior to this trip. We are definitely ‘leopard challenged’ when it comes to game parks. Others we know seem to have leopards constantly seeking them out. Well, we did indeed see a leopard very clearly sitting in a tree! Yes! We also encountered large prides of lions. We saw several cheetahs. The most amazing sight was Saturday evening as we were coming back to the lodge. We saw a group of seven cheetahs walking together. I have never seen that many cheetahs in one location. They are beautiful cats.
Saturday we traveled on one drive down toward Talek in the park. The Talek River winds through the area; one place is called ‘Hippo Point.’ As we were peacefully watching the heads of these large creatures popping out of the water wiggling their ears, a deep throated roar erupted. We spotted two huge males; one decided the other was encroaching on his watery domain. I happened to be in a great viewpoint and pushed my camera into the continuous mode. These two huge beasts lunged, jaws open wide, tusks poised to injure, creating a major spectacle. Very soon the show was over, and the river surface settled leaving only bobbing heads. I was reminded that although the animals may look docile – almost like pets – they are definitely wild, and danger lurks close-by.
Hippo battles, a leopard, cheetahs galore, lion prides with a plethora of cubs, a vast array of animals, special friends, and great accommodations – what a great ‘last time’ adventure. Jana and I both felt a little sad arriving in Kijabe, mourning just a little. Who knows when we will visit our friends and the Mara again?
Once again this week, CURE had a patient with TB of the spine. The story has a twist; this girl was seen a couple of years ago and also surgery was recommended, which was too costly, but she did receive TB meds which helped her. About 6-7 months ago, however, she had a late collapse and nearly complete paralysis. The family finally heard about and arrived at CURE. We did surgery front and back, decompressing and stabilizing the spine. Surgery went well, and we pray for restoration of function, but the prognosis after waiting six months is not as good. You may wonder why it took so long to find CURE; I wonder how she found us. She is a Somali who came to Nairobi seeking help.
Yusuf, the young man I wrote about last week, was able to go back to his home in Nairobi Thursday. The family was thrilled when surgery was safely done but no where near as grateful as at discharge. Yusuf has regained his triceps strength and hand sensation to a significant degree. Yusuf can now bend and straighten his hips and knees as well as wiggle his toes. Although he is weak, in all of these motions God has granted Yusuf early recovery in a remarkable degree. Yusuf must make much more progress before he has a chance to be able to stand and then walk. Restoration of sensation all the way to the toes is a huge step. We celebrate God’s goodness with Yusuf and his family. CURE will continue our ESP support as we travel with Yusuf and all our patients in His grip.
