16 African adventurers

October 6th

Darkness surrounded us as we arrived at Manchester at 4am for the start of our Kenyan adventure.
The 16 daring Didsbury travellers had a good flight from Manchester to Nairobi via Amsterdam.
Our youngest member, Hannah, gained a year that first day to become 10 years old. She was treated to bags of goodies by the courteous flight attendants on both flights and was even entertained in the cockpit and photographed in the captain’s hat flying over the Libyan dessert!

The St James and Emmanuel sign waving at us as we passed through customs in Nairobi made us feel at home. We were swiftly taken to the Anglican Church guest house where we enjoyed a comfortable night prior to another early rise…………..

Jo Riley knew that she’d arrived in Africa when she couldn’t wash the conditioner out of her hair in the morning.

October 7th

Nairobi by bus is similar to many international cities, high rises, smooth roads and glossies ads. What’s all the fuss?

Sheila Brannen, the most unlikely terrorist, underwent a luggage search courtesy of the odd looking orthopaedic equipment we were carrying between us. Otherwise Nairobi airport was unremarkable. The flight from Nairobi to Kisumu left on time and arrived early. The flight may have been short but the change in environment was a world away. Kisumu airport is like something from Fisher Price. No-one could quite believe that the baggage handlers wheeled the baggage cart across the apron from where we rescued our belongings at the edge of the runway.

At some point we passed the equator!

Our journey so far had been so smooth, what a contrast to come. We jiggled and jostled the whole 3 hour journey from Kisumu to Kimilili. Alan P asked Sheila what side of the road people drove along. The answer somewhat surprised him – “the side opposite the potholes”.

The IcFEM guest house in Kimilili was such a welcome sight and was equalled by the warm Kenyan welcome.
Karibu, karibu was the cry (welcome, welcome).

October 8th
Meeting new people

The early rising continued, the sounds of the country punctuating the night (someone please kill the cockrell).

Jen regaled us, over breakfast, with the tales of the man she found in her bed. We were relieved to find out that it was only “Ivan the Dummy” the resuscitation tool Jo Riley had brought with her to aid her first aid lectures.

This was a day of orientation with lectures about the history of IcFEM (Interchristian Fellowships Evangelical Mission) and how IcFEM actually functions. It is an amazing tale of God’s power…..Do ask us about it when we return.

In the afternoon, we planted trees, one tree per person from Didsbury. Let me remind you who they are: David Hughes, Sylvia Finlay, Jo Finlay, Frances Vann, Jo Riley, Helen Clarke, Deborah Conibear, Naomi Hughes, Amy Smith, Jen Hyland, Sharon David, Malcolm Rae, Sheila Brannen, Alan Pugmire (now known as “AP”), Hannah Park and Chris Park.

We visited several schools. One had 2000 pupils and up to 100 children in a class. Some of the classes have no desks and everyone has to sit on the floor. These visits saw the emergence of Princess Hannah who experienced such fascination from the pupils that she was almost mobbed on each occasion. She’s certainly the celebrity out here!

Helen Clarke lost some hair, so excited were the Kenyan children, to feel her blonde locks.

Memorable quote of the day, “What are those animals, like small horses with horns?” asked Jo Finlay. “Do you mean the goats” said Jo Riley….”Oh yes, that’s what they are” replied JF.


October 9th
Transportation and transformations

What a day we’ve had. In the evening over our devotions, led by Chris, we learnt of the amazing things that people had been up to.
AP had enjoyed his long, packed, day immensely and still had his characteristic smile in place, even more amazing when we heard about his vehicle journey along the pock-marked roads. All IcFEM Kenyan drivers have PhDs……Pot hole detectors, to aid smoother driving.

Sheila, Frances and Malcolm visited the local market. They met several people who have benefited from the IcFEM COREL schemes. These allow people to have loans to enable them to kick-start a small business. One lady had bought a cow. Sales of the milk allowed her to pay school fees and support elderly relatives.

Sheila and Frances enjoyed their drive home on the “boda-boda”. This is an ordinary bicycle used in an extraordinary way, the passenger travelling side-saddle on the backseat.

Naomi nearly fell down “a hole in the ground” toilet, not a pleasant experience but fortunately could have been much worse.

October 10th
Hailstones and hospitals

We learnt over breakfast about the late night galavanting of Frances Vann. How the least likely people can be most surprising.

Jen headed off early for her trip with the Dutch doctors and enjoyed encouraging the patients patiently waiting for their medical review. Many of the patients had malaria and Jen is now confident in her ability to diagnose this condition. If you have any medical queries please see her on her return.

JoF and Deborah headed off confidently to commence the painting of the school library. Unfortunately blood was spilt though. Jo stumbled and struck her foot on a nail causing the skin to flap open and blood to pour everywhere. However she was happy that this allowed her to check out the local medical facilities.
Don’t worry though she’s looking more than fine now, despite the large injection she had in her rear.

Amy tackled an eye screening clinic set up in a local church. She enjoyed examining the patients to the backdrop of country sounds. The birds were singing ever more loudly when she realised that a hen with a brood of chicks had nestled under the examination table and they were making music merrily, business as usual!

Then the clouds opened and the largest hailstones we had ever seen fell from the sky. Rain is a blessing here in Kenya, we’re not so sure about hail. We hope the Didsbury bunch are not being blamed for carrying the weather with them. Jen dares everyone to take a boda-boda in the eye of a hail storm!! ‘There’s nothing quite like it!’

Before we sign off for the night we must let you know that AP has an admirer!!!! He was presented with a bunch of white lilies and asked for his phone number and guess what?...........he gave it…….to be continued.