How many people can you get in a Rav 4??

How many people can you get in a Toyota Rav 4 – that was the challenge for Friday. We managed 7, its amazing how many bible college students you can get in the boot – we managed 2, but their was room for more, of course still space on the roof. The College was breaking for its mid term holiday, and as I was going towards Mogonjet, it was only fair to give some of the students a lift that way – so we crammed as many as we could in! Although I did see three Kenyans plus a young child on a motor bike and most motor bikes had three persons on them, in the village areas.

The students did their exam today, and most did well, but said they found it hard. It has been an interesting week, I introduced them to the Ipod, and they had never seen or heard of an Itouch before , and couldn’t quite understand how songs, video and tv programmes could be on it. However, it was useful as we played a few sermons from All Souls on it, to give them a break from me! One of the other lecturers couldn’t comprehend how an airplane could travel to the UK without stopping for fuel. We take a lot for granted.

I went out to the school at Mogonjet today and the road has not improved. It was a long, bumpy ride, and we ended up coming back a different way, down a mud track, but it was more smooth. Its Moi day, so everyone is on holiday, so there were no children at the school. However, a few children turned up as there was a Mzungu (white man) there, and so we were able to give out the jumpers to the children and the pencils. I left enough pencils for every child in the primary school, and enough pens for all the children in the secondary school – which is good. I also had some left over for a local orphanage. The building work at the school is going on, they were putting the roof on the primary school buildings, and the health centre has been built, and will have the roof soon.

As we went through the villages on the way back, all the children were pointing at the white man, and looking amazed, some of the adults did the same – evidently not many white men go that way.
As its Moi day, there is a big party at my hotel, so I am not going to get any sleep, there are thousands of people here, and the cars abandoned everywhere. Unfortunately the day you need the electricity to fail it doesn’t. Fortunately, I was invited out by Pastor Chuma for dinner ad I went to his house, which is not that far away. He has five children, who were very well behaved, they are aged from 3 to 12. I had given them each a pop out colour pencil and a colouring book between them, and they spent all evening sitting their colouring. They would all work together on the same pictures – and have given me one for my office.

It was rice and chapatti for dinner, with some meat ( I don’t bother asking what it is – I might not like the answer) and so just eat it! It was a good evening, and he was telling me about the street children that exist on the street s of Kericho, and the work he was starting to do with them. I have marked all the exam papers, just the two sermons to prepare. The Pastor said I could preach the same sermon twice, but that seems like cheating to me.

The breakfast at the hotel is ok, I have scrambled egg on bread, two pieces of toast and coffee every morning, and the waiters knows this, so he organises it when I walk in, the ‘bellboy’ knows I read the ‘Daily Nation’ so he arranges that for me, and all the staff know me by name, and so ask how I am etc. Its quite nice, and despite having no hot water for the last three days, at least the staff are pleasant!

My Driver Ben, is very quiet, he just does as I ask and waits for me, where ever I go, he seems happy waiting at the college as he gets tea and meals supplied by the students, and of course he looks after the paper for me when I am in the college. If the students borrow it, then he always makes sure its back in the car when we leave. He did come and watch the volleyball a couple of times.

So only a few days left, and the back to the UK – I think I will need a holiday!

On Saturday I have been visiting some of the students and going to their villages. I went to visit Stanley, and he lives not far from Kericho – or so he told me. It wasn’t far in KM but it was in time due to the bad standard of the road. He took me to see some caves from which you can walk to Nakuru and it was at the bottom of a slippery pathway. I managed to bank my head on the caves, as it was very narrow to get in – however, no damage done. I saw the young women washing their clothes in the stream.

We then went to his family house, and all the brothers and sisters and children came to see this white man. They had not seen a white man before, and some where scared of me – understandably of course. I was meant to be going to Pastor Mutai’s house for lunch and to arrive at 11 – but I was slightly delayed, and arrived 3 hours late. Stanley and his family showed me around their land, his father has two wives, several sons and daughters. They all have built houses on the land. As it was the dry season, the wives were putting mud on the houses to protect them and make them more solid. They had oxen to plough the fields, but were happy as recently running water had been installed – and so they go the water from a stand pipe in the yard. They gave me some curd milk to drink, which was ok – not sure if I really liked it, but drunk some of it – but had to be careful as I don’t want an upset stomach at this stage of the trip. They then bought out some food – and we had to eat this, even though we were going somewhere else for lunch. After this we all sat under the tree in the garden and they thanked me for their visit, and hoped I would come back with Linda next year. They were all very friendly, and good to share with them. The Local pastor came and on the way back we had to look at his church, and it was very nice, and so as usual the visitor book had to be signed.

After this, we were due to visit Geoffrey’s house, and he had been waiting at the roadside for 3 hours for us, I would have given up! We went to his house, and he has just built a new mud hut, which looked rather good. We met his family, and had milk to drink. After this I went to Pastor Mutai’s house at the college and joined them for dinner. We had a chat in the afternoon, before I did my final visit of the day to another students house – Andrew, who had just got back from Nairobi. His son has been ill in hospital there. So it was afternoon tea with them!

Last night, as it was MOI day, there was a big celebration at the Hotel, and a disco or rave which lasted all night, and was still going at 7am! They had loud speakers and music, so I didn’t get too much sleep, and then when I woke up there was no electricity, they must have used it all during the night.

I have seen 10 people in a Vauxhall estate car – which beats the 7 in a Rav!
Don’t forget to have a look at the photo’s at

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/simon.werrett

Mission Praise

It has been a hard week teaching everyday from 8am to 3pm, and then further preparation in the evening as well as marking assignments. It is difficult to fit everything in and to get to see everyone who wants to have a meeting. The students have been very friendly, and we have started to bond, and I am starting to learn their names. They have a volleyball net here, and so a couple of times during the week we played volleyball, although the cows also use it for grazing, so you have to clear the ‘cow dung’ off the field first, and hope that you don’t land in the remains.

They are quite good at sport, although very limited facilities. My team won the first game and then I retired to let someone else play, very sporting of me, but without my skill they lost the second game. The weather has been warm and sunny, but it rains every afternoon at about 4pm, just as I am arriving at Kericho to go to the shops or visit the internet café. The car played up again with the same problem, it is probably something to do with the petrol they use here, but again we had about six people looking at it in the rain, pushing one part, banging another, even looking under the car and the scratching their heads, but eventually the mechanic from the other day came, and he managed to fix it. The next problem was with the constant turning over of the engine, the battery was now flat! So it had to be charged up, so I decided to walk back to the hotel, even though it was raining, as it was quicker, and I had a lot of work to do.

The book of Romans has been interesting, but it is too complex to teach in one week, and there are a lot of issues the Apostle Paul raised, which we could only scratch the surface on, However it has given them a foundation on which to build any further studies. We also looked at the effect it had on Martin Luther.

The food hasn’t been too bad, we have had rice every day, but a couple of times chicken, and once ugli – which is a solid maize food. I have been eating at the hotel in the evening and most of the time I have had fish, as there is not much more on the menu. I spoke at the AIC Kericho church bible study on Wednesday night, and there was about 25-30 people there, and it seemed to be well received. I have been speaking in the college chapel everyday and we have been studying Philemon, and looking into his relationship with Paul.

I have been invited to visit some of the students homes, and will be doing this on Saturday, the local ones at least. The students who live further away, I am will try and arrange for my next visit. It can be quite complicated trying to fit all these visits in, as well as the other commitments I have.
The college students are very pleased with the hymn books (Mission Praise) that were donated by Eastwood Evangelical, it the first time they have had ‘modern’ hymn books. They have been using them during the chapel services. They were also happy with the pencils and pens the college has received. The college has given them all a few each, and the rest they will sell to them at a discounted price. This not only saves the students money, and they can get for their brothers and sisters, but also raises some much needed funds for the college.

They are all keen to read the English books I have left for them, as well as the study books I will leave. It will be interesting to see how they do in the final exam I will set them

1704 pencils, 912 pens, 40 erasers but only one pencil sharpener

It has been an eventful few days since we left Nakuru, we have had problems with the car, it has rained continuously, a mozzie kept me awake all night, and then I fell over in the mud after church! The journey (or safari in Swahili) from Nakuru to Kericho was uneventful. The road was good, and we had a relatively easy journey. We went through a couple of towns, and it was market time, with the grain laid out on sheets, pumpkins and other edibles placed along the road side. There has been a problem in Narok, near the Masai Mari where about 200 elephants have escaped and eaten all the corn – perhaps they should given them an ASBO!

Room number 10 was available, and so it was back into the normal routine. It hasn’t been decorated since my last visit, and the overall standards of the hotel have dropped. Unfortunately, it is now the only hotel in Kericho, and without the competition, there is no pressure to improve things. I did manage to get a warm bath on Saturday evening.

I had arranged for Ben to pick me up about 2pm, so I could go into town, as I needed to go to the Internet café, and also do some photocopying. It was pouring with rain, and then the car wouldn’t start. The engine would turn over, but it wouldn’t catch – to me it seemed like the fuel wasn’t getting through, due to dirt in the system (I did suggest this – but was told it was a computerised system). Initially, he tried the old fashioned Kenyan method, hit the battery terminal with the wheel brace, to ensure it was firmly connected, and then pour sprite on it – funnily enough it didn’t help matters! But it did look good. The concern then was the alternator was too hot, so he poured water on it to cool it down, although if he stop turning the ignition every few seconds it would have helped. He is the driver, so I kept quiet. There is of course no AA or RAC here, but the guard at the hotel had a friend who was a mechanic, and so he phoned him. I would like to describe how he turned up in his nice van, with all the tools you need, but no he turned up with two friends and a handful of spanners and a screwdriver. He seemed to have a bit more sense, as he didn’t hit the car, he started to take it to bits, removing the air filter etc, and I was hoping he knew how to put it back together. He then said it was dirt in the fuel, but he couldn’t fix it here, he needed to go to the garage. This has now taken over an hour for them to work it out, and he decided they will push the car down there, as it’s an automatic we can’t bump start it.

So we push it down the driveway, over the bumps, and must have dislodged the dirt, as the car starts, but Ben (my driver) just drives off to the garage and leaves me behind to walk, in the wet and the mud. So I walk to the garage, which is in the middle of the town, it not really a garage as we would know, but a strip of land where they can work on cars, no hoist or computers, and definitely no health and safety, as I notice Ben having a quick cigarette whilst the mechanic is playing with the fuel line. At this stage I decided to leave, and go to the Internet café – and then they are worried about me getting lost, although Kericho only has about 3 main roads. As I have been here several times I knew where I was going, although the internet café has moved, and in fact the connection is very slow, so I may need to try another one. I sorted out the photocopying, and then went to the supermarket, as I needed an extension lead for my room as it only has one plug. The problem is I need to charge the computer, Ipod, DVD, 2 mobile phones – and with only one plug it is like a relay race, so with three I can charge some equipment as well as watch TV.

There is a nice new TV in my room, but the only problem is that it doesn’t receive any programs except for the main satellite program downstairs. So you have to watch whatever the barman decides. I tried looking for other channels to no avail.

Sorry, digressed, back to the shopping, I finished it and by now it was really pouring with rain – and I didn’t have my rain coat, it was back at the hotel, as having a car, I didn’t expect to need it! I telephoned Ben and fortunately the car had been fixed. So he was able to pick me up and take me back to the hotel. I stayed in the evening, and had fish fingers and chips. The menu hasn’t changed, and not very appetising, so I stuck with the fish.

I have been reading a book by Richard Hammond of Top Gear fame, and one of the chapters was about do you really need a four wheel drive in Surrey. It then describes their adventure across Botswana in two wheel drive vehicles, Hammonds car called Oliver, the other two had a Merc and a Lancia. It’s a good episode to watch, and very funny, but what I can tell you is that you do need a four wheel drive car in Sitotwet! I was preaching at the AIC Church in Sitotwet, next to the college this morning, and we missed the turning, as they have removed the big sign, and its been a year since I was here last. The service was due to start at 10, that was 10 African time, and it took a while for people to turn up, evidently the rain puts them off. At one stage we were going to take the collection, but the leader decided that a few more people were likely to come, so they would wait. I delivered a Sermon on Romans 1:16, which they said they enjoyed – but they usually do say that. After I had preached they took the offering which was a good sign, as it meant no-one had left during the sermon.


I was then invited for dinner at Pastor Julius house, which was in the village, instead of walking we would take the Rav4. The roads are mud tracks, and it was very slippery, and we found out that the Rav4 was not a real off road car, its suspension is too low, and its four wheel capability limited – we got stuck, and couldn’t go any further. The problem was further complicated by the fact there was a tractor and trailer behind us. All the local kids had come to have a look, not at the stuck car, but at the white man, in his Sunday suit standing with his nice black shoes on in the mud. Although black is not a good description of the shoes, they were now a nice brown colour. All the locals were wearing wellies, but I had my nice Sunday shoes on. We got the car going, and Ben said he would drive it back to the college and wait for me there, as I could walk with Pastor Julius to the village – there seems to be a theme here, he drives the car and I end up walking!

There was a shortcut, which was good, expect for it was very slippery and not good for a white man with no grip on his shoes – and at one stage I managed to slip, and to stop myself falling over, I grabbed at a plant, which unfortunately was a nettle – so not only did I fall over in my Sunday suit (hope Linda is not reading this) but I got stung in the process. So I ended up on the floor, with Pastor Julius saying ‘sorry’ as if it was his fault. A local lad gave me some leaves for the sting, and water to clean my hands. I now had mud all over my trousers. We finally managed to get to Pastor Julius house for dinner.

My next predicament was I needed to go, too much coffee at breakfast, but I knew what the toilet would be like, so I was debating whether I could hold it till I got back to the hotel, which was a few hours away. I knew what Linda would do, but I succumbed and had to go – which was fortunate as I was to drink tea all afternoon. It was a hole in the ground – you don’t need any more details, but the smell wasn’t nice!

Lunch was nice – it was beans and rice, followed by tea. They pour hot milk into a cup and then dunk the tea bag in, which is better then the other option when it comes in a flask, as they always put too much sugar in. We were able to talk about the college and the way forward. He is going to Nairobi to study a Masters Degree, so there will be a new principal, and he wanted to get an agreement regarding my visiting for the next few years, as the College Board are keen for me to visit twice a year as a guest lecturer.

After this we walked back to the college, I nearly fell over but managed to recover my balance in time. We then went to Pastor Mutai’s house, although he wasn’t there but we were invited for tea, and I have an invite for dinner next Saturday. I then came back to the hotel, Ben has washed all the mud off the car and cleaned it, but a waste of time as it now started to pour with rain.

Pastor Chuno came to visit me, and we discuss the upcoming meetings I am taking at his church, and invited me also for dinner, I am going to have a very busy week. He was vey grateful for the assistance given by Eastwood and Shoebury Churches during the problems earlier in the year. It was answer to pray for him and the church, as the money arrived just as funds ran out.

I have a busy week, lecturing at the college every day, but also preaching during the worship sessions every day , as well as a Bible Study in Kericho on Wednesday evening, and also I need to mark the work I set by email prior to coming, and of course writing some exam questions for this week

But as I had nothing better to do during the afternoon, I decided to count the pens and pencils I had brought over – the final total was 1704 pencils, 912 pens, 40 erasers, 1 pencil sharpener, 6 jumpers, 39 Mission Praise books, 1 Mission Praise music book, a wind up torch and some books for the college. I am not how useful 1 pencil sharpener will be for 1704 pencils – but Linda must have put it in. Anyway it is going to make the children and students very happy.

Kericho

My driver Ben, who is married with 4 kids, picked me up from the Hilton at 10am and we had to put some petrol in the car, and the price has risen out here. Its amazing really oil is under$100 a barrel, but the motorists are still being charged the same prices as when it was $150 a barrel. The price goes up quickly, but never comes down at the same rate. It is about 65p a litre here, which is cheaper then the UK.

We went for a drive out to Karen so I could go to a craft shop to buy ‘er indoors’ a present, so I can come back again without her! The trouble is I am running out of ideas of what to get her, as our house is already like an African craft shop! However, I wont reveal the secret purchase, just in case she reads this blog – very unlikely – but just in case! I had my last Latte before we left Nairobi. The roads were quite busy, as it’s the International Trade fair, which the President opened yesterday, and I saw it on the TV.
The road to Nakuru is much better now, fully finished and no holes! It can be done in two hours, and I did see some baboons by the road – they were looking for Linda so they could rob her of her chocolate bar, and were disappointed she had stayed at home.

One cyclist did have an inters ting way to travel, holding on to the back of a lorry’s bumper, you get their quicker and saves all that pedalling I suppose. I also saw a bus with several motor cycles on top. I couldn’t understand why they had to catch the bus, it must be safer to go by bike – I mean I have watched ‘Long Way Down’ and they managed across the whole of Africa.

I had arranged to met Rev Joseph in Nakuru, and we had lunch together- well a late lunch as it was 4pm and then he took me out to Kabarak University. Its Chancellor is the ex President Mr Moi. I was introduced to the Vice Chancellor and Provost, and they want me to stop here next time I am in Kenya and take some chapel services. We are staying here overnight in the Guest House – which is ok, not the Hilton, but better then some places I have stayed in. The rooms are good, and there is a sitting room attached, so I can sit here and type out my blog, ready for posting when I find an internet café.

I had only been here about half an hour and the lights went out, no electricity for an hour – so some never change when you are in Africa.

The walls are thin, so when the mobile phone goes off, everyone can hear it. I had dinner here, which was tomato sup, then chicken, rice and ugli. It was good to meet up with Joseph and catch upon old times, and the progress of work at Mogonjet.

I spoke to Linda on Friday via skype and she was ok, she is having a few days in Newquay with friends, a good arrangement I go to Kenya business class, she goes to Newquay with Ryanair, and I paid for her ticket so she can’t complain. She was having a good time with her friends, visiting the beach, Bodmin and other places.

On Saturday I am travelling to Kericho, and the Tea Hotel, so I hope number 10 is ready

Nairobi

I am out of the country for one day and the Commissioner resigns! I have arrived safely in Nairobi, and am staying at the Hilton. It was a good flight, and I was able to sleep most of the way. I flew from Terminal 5 and now they have it up and running, it is efficient. It was very tidy and modern looking. The business lounge had plenty of food, newspapers and coffee. It even had fresh bacon rolls. The flight was quite smooth apart from one part, where we hit turbulence, and might have been struck by lightening, and it dropped suddenly. I have three bags and they were all full. Only one has any clothes in them, the rest has pens, books and pencils. The big bag weighed 30k and that has hymn books, pens and pencils. I must have a few thousand of each. I will have plenty of room coming back.

It is warm here, but not too hot. I have had a free day so wandered around the City Centre and drank a few coffees and read the paper. It is not as good as The Times but it still informative.

I met a Police friend tonight and we had coffee. We have several conferences that we are involved in organising and so we were discussing them.

I am leaving for Nakuru tomorrow, and my driver is picking me up at 10. I could drive myself, but its very cheap to have a driver, and it also means a Kenyan has a job for 10 days.