After a really wonderful time with my family and friends in India and the US, it was good to arrive back in Kenya last month. Long ago, it become my second home.
Naturally, I was eager to see Agnes and her boys... but first things first. I've learned through the years that jet lag is a serious issue. So... I eased back into a routine by allowing my body to slowly adjust to the 8-hour time difference from New York City. The next - urgent - item on my agenda was to find another house, move, unpack, and get settled.
Finally, the time came for me to travel upcountry to Misikhu. I visited Agnes and her boys last week.
It may seem odd, but I didn't inform Agnes about our fundraiser or the money that came in. It wouldn't be a good thing if word spread through the very effective "African grapevine" that a "mzungu" (white person) was 1) in the area, 2) with money, and 3) ready to spend it to purchase land for someone.
I knew this would be the prudent thing to do... and I was also advised of the same by several of my Kenyan friends.
We will go about the process of looking for land in as quiet a manner as we can manage.
The day for celebration will arrive soon enough. Once the land is purchased... and again when a house is built and readied for Agnes and the boys to move in... there will be plenty of excitement and joy expressed!
Sorry there isn't a photo of Adu (Anderson); he was at school when I took these other pictures.
All over Kenya, farmers have eagerly anticipated the start of the "long rains", so they can begin planting this year's crop of "maize" (corn). For the second time, Agnes has "hired" (rented) land to grow her own crops. When I visited her, she had fertilizer and seed purchased... and was waiting for the rain like all the other farmers in Kenya.
I just talked to her and found out it started raining yesterday - at long last.
Farmers drop maize seed, beans, and fertilizer in each hole in their plowed soil. The beans mature quickly and are harvested before the maize. She and her boys will be quite busy for the next few days, as they plant their acre.
While I was there, we started the slow process of looking for suitable land to buy for Agnes. My friends, Bishop and Margaret, asked a friend of theirs, Ronald, to assist Agnes and I in this process. I can't show myself until a piece of land has been found and a price agreed upon. Otherwise, when the potential seller sees me - a "mzungu" - the price will go sky-high.
Because Agnes is a woman and also because she doesn't have any experience buying land, Pastor Ronald will act as her escort, so-to-speak. It's only recently that women have been given the constitutional right to own their own land. And... unfortunately, in Kenya, women are still considered second-class citizens in many ways.
It was recommended to me that Tony go along as they look at land. This is for several reasons - so he can learn about buying land, to be another pair of eyes, to share his opinion, to bolster Agnes' spirits, and to have a sense of pride and ownership once the land is purchased. He finished Class 8 (eighth grade) last November and is hoping to get a chance to attend secondary school. In the meantime, however, he's at home and available to tag along on the hunt for a piece of farm land.
Ronald, Agnes, and Tony looked at four pieces of land while I was there. Two were not suitable and the other two may possibly be considered.
Ronald is also a farmer... so after both he and Agnes have this year's crop planted, they will continue to look at other pieces of land.
In the meantime, I am gathering advice and information about the whole process. It's more complicated here than it is in the US. In fact, virtually nothing is straight-forward and simple in Kenya!
For instance, the culture in Kenya is strong on community and community-based decisions (as opposed to the Western world's individual "every man for himself" mentality). Because of this, it will be prudent for us to talk to the extended family of the land owner. We'll want to make sure that no sons are expecting to inherit the land we buy. Additionally, we will likely speak to the local administration of Misikhu - the "chief" and/or "sub-chief" - to confirm that there are no disputes regarding the land.
The purchase process will also involve a Title Search, a survey of the land, a trip to the District Land Board, and the services of a lawyer. And then, finally, the exchange of money.
Then - after all of that - we'll hire a few guys to build a simple house and a separate kitchen, plus dig a pit latrine. If there is enough remaining, we may dig a well and put up a fence.
Throughout the ensuing months, I will keep you updated. In the meantime, the money that was contributed is safe in the bank and earning interest :)
Please pray for Agnes:
Please also pray for me, as I walk through this entire process.
Thank you so much for caring about my friend, Agnes!
Naturally, I was eager to see Agnes and her boys... but first things first. I've learned through the years that jet lag is a serious issue. So... I eased back into a routine by allowing my body to slowly adjust to the 8-hour time difference from New York City. The next - urgent - item on my agenda was to find another house, move, unpack, and get settled.
Finally, the time came for me to travel upcountry to Misikhu. I visited Agnes and her boys last week.
 |
| Agnes sees photos of the people that got her aprons. |
It may seem odd, but I didn't inform Agnes about our fundraiser or the money that came in. It wouldn't be a good thing if word spread through the very effective "African grapevine" that a "mzungu" (white person) was 1) in the area, 2) with money, and 3) ready to spend it to purchase land for someone.
I knew this would be the prudent thing to do... and I was also advised of the same by several of my Kenyan friends.
We will go about the process of looking for land in as quiet a manner as we can manage.
The day for celebration will arrive soon enough. Once the land is purchased... and again when a house is built and readied for Agnes and the boys to move in... there will be plenty of excitement and joy expressed!
 |
| Zach eats breakfast, as Pope prepares more tea. |
 |
| Duane |
Sorry there isn't a photo of Adu (Anderson); he was at school when I took these other pictures.
 |
| Pope (short for Popino) |
All over Kenya, farmers have eagerly anticipated the start of the "long rains", so they can begin planting this year's crop of "maize" (corn). For the second time, Agnes has "hired" (rented) land to grow her own crops. When I visited her, she had fertilizer and seed purchased... and was waiting for the rain like all the other farmers in Kenya.
I just talked to her and found out it started raining yesterday - at long last.
 |
| Bag of DAP (diammonium phosphate) fertilizer |
Farmers drop maize seed, beans, and fertilizer in each hole in their plowed soil. The beans mature quickly and are harvested before the maize. She and her boys will be quite busy for the next few days, as they plant their acre.
While I was there, we started the slow process of looking for suitable land to buy for Agnes. My friends, Bishop and Margaret, asked a friend of theirs, Ronald, to assist Agnes and I in this process. I can't show myself until a piece of land has been found and a price agreed upon. Otherwise, when the potential seller sees me - a "mzungu" - the price will go sky-high.
Because Agnes is a woman and also because she doesn't have any experience buying land, Pastor Ronald will act as her escort, so-to-speak. It's only recently that women have been given the constitutional right to own their own land. And... unfortunately, in Kenya, women are still considered second-class citizens in many ways.
 |
| Pastor Ronald, his wife, and his son Boaz, in front of their house |
It was recommended to me that Tony go along as they look at land. This is for several reasons - so he can learn about buying land, to be another pair of eyes, to share his opinion, to bolster Agnes' spirits, and to have a sense of pride and ownership once the land is purchased. He finished Class 8 (eighth grade) last November and is hoping to get a chance to attend secondary school. In the meantime, however, he's at home and available to tag along on the hunt for a piece of farm land.
Ronald, Agnes, and Tony looked at four pieces of land while I was there. Two were not suitable and the other two may possibly be considered.
Ronald is also a farmer... so after both he and Agnes have this year's crop planted, they will continue to look at other pieces of land.
In the meantime, I am gathering advice and information about the whole process. It's more complicated here than it is in the US. In fact, virtually nothing is straight-forward and simple in Kenya!
For instance, the culture in Kenya is strong on community and community-based decisions (as opposed to the Western world's individual "every man for himself" mentality). Because of this, it will be prudent for us to talk to the extended family of the land owner. We'll want to make sure that no sons are expecting to inherit the land we buy. Additionally, we will likely speak to the local administration of Misikhu - the "chief" and/or "sub-chief" - to confirm that there are no disputes regarding the land.
The purchase process will also involve a Title Search, a survey of the land, a trip to the District Land Board, and the services of a lawyer. And then, finally, the exchange of money.
Then - after all of that - we'll hire a few guys to build a simple house and a separate kitchen, plus dig a pit latrine. If there is enough remaining, we may dig a well and put up a fence.
 |
| Joseph (one of our motorbike-taxi drivers) and Tony (Agnes' first-born son) |
Throughout the ensuing months, I will keep you updated. In the meantime, the money that was contributed is safe in the bank and earning interest :)
Please pray for Agnes:
- daily bread for herself and her sons
- successful crop for her maize and beans
- customers for her sewing business
- good health for all of them
- a nice two-acre piece of fertile farm land
Please also pray for me, as I walk through this entire process.
Thank you so much for caring about my friend, Agnes!
