August 2, 2017 I don’t know why I’m always nervous on the first day.  I never know how many kids will show up and I didn’t have a 4th math teacher.  The rooms weren’t set up and I felt disorganized, but somewhere between 30 and 40 kids showed up on day one, which could mean […]

July 31, 2017 My lazy time is just about over.  The “tuitioning” sessions begin Wednesday with a lot of kids expected.  Fr. Ngaruiya has promised me 3 rooms in a virtually unused hall (each with blackboard) as well as the Mji dining hall.  If all the people who claim they are coming actually show up, […]

July 24, 2017 I don’t think one day so far in my month-and-a-half stay has turned out just the way it had looked through the morning light.  Days at home aren’t like that.  Because this is Monday, cook’s day off at the rectory, he doesn’t bring my paper.  I must walk down to the gate, […]

July 23, 2017 I just looked it up, 9586 miles San Francisco to Nairobi and it is truly a different world in so many ways—and just the same in as many ways.  This is Sunday and I had set my alarm for 7 am so I’d have plenty of time to shower, wash my hair […]

July 22, 2017 Since it’s Saturday, I was eating a leisurely breakfast, when Mungai knocked my door, came in and sat as if he lived here.  I was momentarily taken aback, but then he announced, “Margo I need your advice.  I want to move from Mji Wa Neema and live independently.“  Wow!  That’s a big […]

July 18, 2017 Today is Tuesday, Alison’s departure date.  The plan was to go to the Maasai Market to fill up her 2nd suitcase, have lunch in a nice Nairobi restaurant, drop her early at the airport and be back in Naivasha by about 7.  As you have no doubt experienced, people make plans and […]

July 11, 2017 It seems I am dealing with a time crunch all the time.  Alison leaves a week from today and will take home an empty suitcase if we don’t find some craft items for her to take.  We have not been to the Maasai market for our usual goodies.  When I finally go […]

July 8, 2017 One of my favorite visitors is Catherine Wanjohi, founder of Life Bloom.  I’ve written of her many times, of how we met in 2005 at lunch in the parish rectory.  Fr. Kiriti thought we should know each other.  It was instant friendship/mutual admiration society.  We soon discovered we were on opposite ends […]

July5, 2017 But he was a no-show.  Actually, he had been in the Philippines and returned after a 15-hour flight, so he sent Fr Nyamweya, in his stead and promised to come another time. Like many other events the 10 am mass began promptly at 11 am.  Turned out the girls were having their tea!!!!  […]

July 3, 2017 You may recall I fell the day after I arrived, earning a classic black eye. The eye has faded almost to normal, but evidently I landed such as to nudge my right scapula out of position. I discovered that after the other aches and pains resolved but a very sharp pain persisted, […]