Clearing out the Library!

All of Denise's personal belongings were neatly stored in the library...thanks Tom!  Now we had to tackle the daunting task of clearing out this room so that it can, once again, be used as a library!  Here is the 'before' picture - at the end you will see the 'after' picture.

 We found some ear muffs...so of course Denise had to model them :)

 Tom is trying to retrieve all the items we are trying to get rid of.  If it was broken, had not been used in years and/or irrelevant then it must be tossed!

 Denise found some skirts she treasured years ago...not sure they still fit!  No problem, just try them on.  So - the boys (Mzee and Tom) had to turn their backs :)

 We found hats...pretty cute, doncha think?

Tom modeling the necklace he found

 ...and Jim found one too!

 Salvation bracelets lovingly crafted by the youth at Denise's church in the US...Denise telling the salvation message using each different colored beads...

 Giving one to each of the boys...

 Even Jim!

Tom telling the story

 Denise offered to give each of the older boys several of the bracelets if they were able to tell the message...so Tom practiced and did a great job!

 Celestine (a sister-in-law) also joined us and found lots of fun things :)

 Even Kennedy (nephew) found a cool T-Shirt...

 Prescription sunglasses that Denise wanted to toss...hopefully no one will try to wear them!  I tried to get Tom to not smile, but Denise kept making him laugh...this is the best he could do...

Lean and mean Mzee!

 I found a pink head band and just had to try it on Jim - cute!

 End of Day 2 - boxes of trash to be burned...I took these shots from the window...

 Sorting thru to remove combustibles (and I suspect also items they want to keep!)

 The fire is growing!

 We worked a total of 3 half days and look what we accomplished!!!

We tried to work in the early morning hours before the heat of day, but unfortunately most of our time was spent in the middle of the afternoon to early evening...but we did it!  And even had some fun in the process!  Look at the "Kitere!" entry to see all the stuff in one place ready to be loaded into the vehicle.

Overnight in Kisumu

Kisumu is near Lake Victoria so of course we visited the lake while we were there :)...but our primary reason for going was to visit Denise's sister-in-law Tabitha...so we will come back to the lakeside photos!

 We left VERY early in the morning so some of us slept on the way...

Tom and Mom

 Tim and Jenny are missionaries serving in the area - to local pastors and with an orphanage.  Denise had some books she felt would be valuable for Jenny, who is a nurse, to care for the kids at the orphanage...so we met them for lunch when we arrived in Kisumu. 

Tom, Denise, Tim, Jenny and me

Then on to Tabitha's place :)...she lives in the largest slum in Kisumu, called Nyalenda.  Her home was modest but oh so welcoming.  Especially when she brought out her yummy green grams and chapatis.  Even though we had just enjoyed lunch with Tim and Jenny we gobbled up the food so graciously offered by sweet Tabitha.

Tabitha works at a children's home called New Life Home Trust.  Her best friend and co-worker Eunice came while we were there.  What a treat to meet her friend :)

Denise, me, Tabitha, Eunice

We had purchased a few items for Tabitha when we arrived in Kisumu...here Denise is presenting our gift.

Mom and Tabitha

Mom had felt sick so did not come with us to Tabitha's.  As it turns out we were staying at a guest house within walking distance of New Life Home!  Since Tabitha was working nights she came to have breakfast with us when she got off work the next morning.

Can you believe she just pulled a 12 hour shift???

A small market in the parking lot of our guest house sold many items including this traditional Luo instrument called a Nyatiti.  Here Tom is singing, Mom is 'playing' and Denise is clapping (and I am shooting :))

That morning we set out for Lake Victoria - Mom had never been there and we certainly could not leave Kisumu without visiting!!!

Colorful baskets for holding fish...

Repairing nets

The fish market.  This is where the ladies come to buy fish to sell at the markets in town

Fish on the left is Talapia, bigger fish is the Nile Perch

Mom shooting some sardines...

Picturesque!

Local bar

 

 Our guides were very informative...answering all of our questions!

 

 I stood patiently with my camera trained on this scene to catch some of the negotiations.

 Mom was trying to engage this lady...but she was all business!

See the hand dropping a fish into the blue basket?

 I think she has selected some fish...

 Now she is teasing Mom saying that she is working and if Mom wants to take pictures she can pay for her time :)

 

Lots of birds

 I watched this boy for quite some time as he maneuvered his boat around the water hyacinth.  This plant is causing severe problems for the lake; killing fish, trapping fishermen and overrunning everything.  The plant is native to South America and was obviously introduced to this area through human activity.  It is growing out of control because the insect that eats it is not indigenous to this area.

 

 

 

The plant harbors snakes and other dangerous animals so walking in it can be tricky

I watched this lady from afar as she fetched water for washing clothes...

 

 Next to the boat is a fish farm where they raise Talapia...I just love the photo :)

A certain bird built this nest - it actually has 3 rooms inside!

 

 These are solar lights...they are being charged.  At the end of the day they are rented out for, I think, 20 shillings per day (or night!) and brought back the next morning to be recharged - great business idea!

This couch and chair were made with dried hyacinth stems - very creative way to use that pesky plant!

 This whole area is very environment conscious...it was gratifying to see that people are beginning to care about conserving Kenya's resources.

 We hired a mechanic in Nairobi (Jeff) to look at Denise's vehicle, make it road-worthy and drive it back to Nairobi.  As it turns out he was in Kisumu on the same day we were returning to Kitere so he rode with us...ummm...not enough seats!  So Tom graciously agreed to sit on Jeff's lap (and Jeff graciously allowed it!)

 We had a great little side-trip to Kisumu and it was awesome to see Tabitha.  It had been 4 years since I had seen her.  We had worked together for two weeks as volunteers at New Life Home in Nairobi and Tabitha stayed on, becoming eligible to be hired for pay.  She was glowing with happiness to be on her own and have two of her three children living with her.  Her first born is at her house in the Kitere area.