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Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 07:14:36 +0300
From: Lisa Stewart <beachplumlisa@bellsouth.net>
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Status:   

Before we take off in the AM for Turkana, I need to fill you in on the 
last week.

On Thursday, Eden and I drove (well. Eden drove) to Lubao where we 
participated in the first day of a three day meeting of the Quaker Peace 
Network (QPN) held at the QPN House, a small place financed by Africa 
Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI) of Quaker Peace Teams. We heard from 
representatives from Friends World Committee on Consultation (FWCC), 
Society of Friends Women International (SFWI), Change Agents for Peace 
Program (CAPP) a Norwegian govt. financed program,  Friends United 
Meeting (FUM) and Takatifu Garden. There was a lot of housekeeping 
business before we heard reports from each rep about the peace work they 
have all been doing since the civil unrest. It was an impressive array 
of Friends working for peace. Takatifu (Holiness) Garden had printed 
onto second hand (mitumba*) t-shirts and polo shirts "Free Kenya" and 
"Love Your Neighbor" in Kiswahili . They have given away or sold over 
10,000 so far for 20 Shillings each, about 33cents. Naturally Eden and I 
bought some and have been wearing them ever since. In the afternoon we 
had some worship sharing and I was able to help explain that to the few 
who were not familiar with it. Most everyone there has had a lot or some 
training in AVP and HROC. Once again I was taken by how committed these 
Friends are to doing God's work. It was inspiring. There were two there 
from Tanzania and three from Uganda and they are even in contact with 
Friends in Ghana, Congo. The Tanzanians spoke no English so someone 
always interpreted for them. In Uganda the Yearly Meeting there has 
established quite quite an impressive mission- with several programs. In 
the middle of the morning Eden had to rush to the bank to put some money 
in the account of our rep to World Council of Churches who was stuck in 
Switzerland for some reason.

Eden and I opted for a hotel in Kakamega with running water only the 
second night they not only had no water and no electricity either. An 
American fire marshal would have gone into cardiac arrest. They melted 
dabs of wax and stuck in candles all over the place - staircases, halls, 
tables. I told myself it was simply another African adventure and was 
happy to have a dry bed, privacy and something to eat besides ugali and 
collard greens. The hotel itself must have been quite an elegant place 
in its heyday during colonial occupation. The foyer and staircases were 
all marble but the roof had caved in during a storm so all the walls 
were water stained. That repair was under construction so the place was 
also covered with scaffolding (made from tree posts) and lots of red mud.

The next day, Friday, Eden went to Kaimosi to participate in the 
interviews for a new hospital administrator while I went back to QPN for 
another round of reports and then they spent along time tenderly 
addressing the problems of frictions in Uganda YM. It brought me back to 
SEYM/FUM. I noted they really cared and will send a team over to help 
increase the peace. Interestingly, they also have an EFI meeting in 
Uganda but they have not much to do with EFI in the US, in the way of 
funding anyway but they do own a piece of property. The discussion was 
so intense, we went more than an hour over. Then Christine from Takatifu 
Garden) drove me back to the hotel with no headlights while Eden was 
texting me that they were trying to jump start John Muhanji's car. I 
just went to bed and watched TV for the first time in more than a month- 
no great options so I realize the Grace's are not missing much by not 
having a TV.

Saturday AM Muhanji picked me up and we drove way up to Lugari for two 
days of "farm planning". I had no idea what that meant but soon learned 
that the Lugari YM owns 300 acres of land that early Quaker missionaries 
had used to create a demonstration farm to teach agricultural techniques 
to local farmers to increase their production and increase the food 
supply. At some point the Kenyan Lake Basin Authority took it over and 
ran it without oversight for many many years. When their lease expired 
the YM did not renew it. When they went back they found that LBA had let 
the place fall apart and the totally vandalized it when they left. They 
took all the machinery, tore the pipes out of the fishery and took away 
all the fencing. Muhanji masterfully led a two day seminar on creating a 
business plan and I took notes (on the parts that were in 
English,anyway). I 3was also able to assist a bit in the evening when we 
planned out the next day. They will have to get a loan, create a farn 
board and pick a starting out project. Their options are crop farming, 
dairy, poultry, bee keeping or fishery.They have a pond, a spring, 
beautiful arable land and a pristine forest full of monkeys.We spent the 
night in a nice clean hotel with lights and running water.

At this point I ave to say something about the roads. They need 
attention - badly. there aren't many paved (tarmac) roads but those they 
do have are so rutted with potholes and washouts that I think I should 
have lost weight just from bouncing - or some teeth.

Yesterday Raymond Ojmbo, the young man who calls me his Mum, picked me 
up and drove me all the way to Lahronda where my friend from last year, 
Evans Nyenzo, had asked me to come and speak with him and another leader 
about Quakerism. I reviewed some Quaker history, the Light, silent 
worship, conducting business in the manner of Friends and reviewed the 
Testimonies. Their reaction was totally unexpected. I thought they might 
get something out of it but never expected that they would be thankful 
"for being enlightened". I felt like Sally Field when she accepted her 
Oscar and said they "really liked me!"  Then, to my surprise, I was 
informed that they have invited 80 pastors (EIGHTY!) to hear me give a 
presentation on June 4th. All I can say is, "Be careful what you ask 
for". The Evans proudly took me to see his home, again a place with 
meager furnishings

After I was finished Raymond was tied up at the Lugulu Hospital where he 
is instrumental in (I HAD TO STOOP HERE _ POWER WENT OUT) setting up a 
computer system in the Lugulu Hospital so I had to take a matatu  back. 
Now that was interesting  -  loud music, BUMPY roads, rattling vehicle 
and very crowded. My first time traveling alone and I did quite well.

I must get off line now to get ready to go to Turkana for a week. Love 
in a rush,Lisa