Friday 9th AugustIt was another very full day today. We started with breakfast at a civilised 8.00a.m. and had an hour or so to laze around before setting out to visit Olooltoto church and the Masai village. The church is part of Pastor Tom’s People for Jesus church and is built out of corrugated iron; we thought it would be very hot but in fact it is so cleverly designed that it was quite cool. From there we walked across the Mara  to visit the Masai Homestead of one of the parishioners. We were guided there by some of the church members in the most colourful and attractive costumes, hung around with bead necklaces and bangles. The kraal was surrounded by a brushwood and thorn fence and inside were two houses and we were invited to visit and see inside. The houses are built of wattle and daub with a fire in the middle and bed recesses around the outside and I think must be rather similar to the crannogs that we lived in long ago. It was surprisingly cosy although very dark because for security there is only on small window.From there we went back to the church where we met some of the people that Mission International has been helping, including a Masai girl who was rescued from forced marriage at 13 and is now in her second year training as a nurse. Hugh was presented with a special Masai shirt as a thank you along with some Masai jewellery for his wife and then (rather to our embarrassment as we have not done anything for the community) the team were all presented with Masai blankets which made us a very colourful sight. With luck you will see photos of us on the Mission Matters facebook page. The local women also had a selection of the jewellery they make available for sale, and it was good to think that the money we were paying would go direct to the maker.After that it was back to Africa Hope for (a rather late) lunch and then load the bus and set off back to Nairobi. This journey was quite straightforward this time with some spectacular views of the Rift valley along the way.This will probably be our last blog post as Hugh is scheduled to fly off to Malawi tomorrow morning, but we will look out for an internet cafe or we may be able to post from the airport on Sunday morning.You will have seen the news of the fire at JKI Airport. As of today, Turkish Airlines are telling us that our flight will go ahead as planned. We are monitoring the situation and let you know somehow if this changes.Miss Scott

Masai Mara MadnessWoken up at 3.30 am, absolutely dead, to have breakfast in time for leaving at 4.30am. The journey from Narok to the Game Park took about 2 hours on what can only be described as the Highway to Hell. This so called “road” filled the bus with death dust which stuck to everything. While we were being suffocated our organs felt like they were exploding from the rollercoaster ride of the road. We arrived at the gate at about 7am were we expected to pick up an armed ranger. This did not happen and we went in with our strong hearts. Animals were not in short supply, wherever you looked there was something strolling about. Wildebeest, Zebra, Elephants, Lions, Gazelles, Vultures, Hippos, Ostriches, Monkeys and Giraffes. It was an incredible experience seeing animals we normally see in cages. Half way round the park, our trusted bus lost its battle yet again and died not far from lions. Our heroic bus driver Jon, also known as DJ, hopped off and hacked away at the wheel arch as the axel had slipped making the wheel rub against the wheel arch. Seeing DJ bend and tear his bus down was extremely emotional, I’m sure we all shed a private tear for him. His efforts were successful and we continued on and approached the border between Kenya and Tanzania. All it consisted of was a rock like statue with the letters ‘T’ and ‘K’. After a few photos we got back on the bus and headed for Hippo Lake.Hippo Lake must have contained about 40 plus Hippos kicking it in the sun. On approaching the lake there was sign that said do not approach without an armed guard, as the Hippos would charge, apparently. We then came across the river separating Tanzania and Kenya. This is where the largest migration of Wildebeest happens every year. There was a smell of rotting carcasses which we soon discovered was 5 Wildebeest that had been taking by the river and had drowned, left to decompose in the sun with vultures tearing at them. The smell was a mix of rotten meat, with a sprinkle of gym locker room and a hint of good old country smellage left to stew on the African sun. We had a quick toilet break at the border and got close up to some monkeys that were very curious of us. It was then lunch time and we left the Game Park to go to a local hotel where we found our Ranger. We then went for a hunt for crocodiles with the ranger, but they had been scared away by some fearless cows. We then decided it was time to head back to Narok, but before that the bus had to be fixed. On the way back DJ stopped at a garage where we stayed for about an hour and attracted some of the local Masai kids. Once the bus had been seen to we headed back to Narok. About 30 minutes after leaving the garage the bus battery failed and we were stuck in the middle of a savannah. Luckily DJ the Magnificent worked his magic and the bus rose again. We arrived back in Narok at about 10 where we immediately went to bed after a 20 hour day. Signing off once again in the safety of our guest house in Narok. Peace and Jam.Callum & Jon

Wednesday 7th August.It seems I have landed a most opportune day to write the journal entry for very little happened.  That is not to say however that it was a boring day.  Emotions were high when we departed Ahero Pastoral Centre for the last time and adrenaline was pumping as bags were hurled on top of the minibus.  Callum displayed heroic Tetris playing abilities by almost single-handedly loading up the back of the bus with computer units.  It was poetry in motion, like watching the prima ballerina on opening night.The scenery as we moved south and east changed significantly from flat plains with rice to rolling hills which were very green and covered in trees protecting attractive, expansive tea plantations.  The bus suffered a minor hiccup with the fan belt but as always, wherever one breaks down there is someone on hand to offer assistance.  After five minutes Driver John was on the back of a motor bike with a kind hearted local back to the previous town to retrieve another fan belt, and within the amount of time it takes the Dens Park XI to slot 5 past a dumb-founded opposition we were back on the road.  We arrived in Narok around 16:00 to the Africa Hope hostel. It could not have been better, and the warm showers and comfortable mattresses provided welcome respite from a long journey.  I must admit I was feeling a bit worse for wear today and the previous night is something I will not go into.  A dark dark place.  I would not have made it down for tea had the team not kindly collected outside my room to provide a rousing rendition of Old MacDonald which had me springing out of bed right into my boots and cart-wheeling down to the canteen.This has gone on far longer than my planned “Drove from Ahero to Narok” entry so I will sign off and let Jon and Callum narrate our inspiring and unforgettable day at the Masai Mara on the 8th.Good times. Mr MacDonald.

Lakes,  Leopards and  leisure  – Rhona What a busy day! We started off with a visit to the cattle market which was an empty coral when we got there but soon filled with lots of young bulls, a few cows and lots and lots of goats and sheep. We almost had Pastor Tom believing that we had bought a young cow because one of the locals tied one up next to Danielle. We left before the public auction started but saw lots of strange handshakes doing deals. Onwards from there to Nduru beach for our sailing expedition. After putting on our life jackets (buoyancy aids of sorts) we went onto our boats for our trip on Lake Victoria. Immediately they headed towards some hippos out in the lake a little. Some of us were more seaworthy than others, and the young boys on our boat were trying to show off a little, but their jumping off the boat into the lake and rocking was making some people nervous. We got a good view of the hippos though and the crew picked some papyrus for us.  It was a lovely day, not too hot but the lake was quite misty, very pirates of the Caribbean. Lots of birdlife to see also. Next , off for our treat out. This time we went to the Vic hotel, just next to the supermarket. It was really nice. More so than last week. The team got their longed for hamburgers!If that wasn’t enough, from there we went to the impala sanctuary. This is really a zoo on the edge of Lake Victoria where the impala live and just wander around. They also had lots of other animals who have been rescued and hand reared. Monkeys, Ostrich, Rhino, Lions, leopard, cheetah and Giraffe.  Jon and I were a bit nervous when these little monkeys came running up to us. The best part though was some of us were allowed into the cheetah enclosure to pet the cheetah. It was so cool! What a highlight, she was really purring and rolled over with Mr Mac, but we were still wary. Mr Mac got some really good pictures and trekked into the dark jungle after the zebra. Hard to believe that is our work as such finished, I am awed that our little team have accomplished so much. We have completed a building with a classroom and school office, now with roof, windows and doors and we are now chilling and starting our journey to the Masai Mara and back home.

Praise the Lord By Iona and Megan
Today we set out at about 10 o’clock but we were down four men, three were ill. We have been dropping like flies… or mosquitoes the past few days.  Before reaching our destination we encountered a few problems on the way. Yet again, because of the rain, we found ourselves in a sticky situation by this we mean we were stuck in the mud, literally. So we hopped off the bus in our Sunday best, dresses, suits and sandals to resolve this issue. Many gathered to watch the heroic effort the team put in as we lifted the bus free and carried it to safety. Driver John shed a tear at our triumphant efforts. However, we quit while we were ahead and hiked the rest of the muddy path to church. The church service lasted three hours which included preaching and singing in a joyous harmony. After church, we set out on our long trek back to DJ Airlines. After lunch we travelled to the supermarket. DJ Airlines has now gone reggae courtesy of Dilara very generously buying John a Bob Marley CD.Only a week to go, hope you aren’t missing us too much.Mrs Duncan: Happy to report that all souls appeared for dinner, though some reduced appetites.  I’m sure you will recognise the use of poetic licence.

A Sticky StartBy Jon and Callum. Woken up today at 5am by call to prayer over a tannoy  system and then the choir at 6am. It never ends…We had breakfast this morning which consisted of sausages and bread, we then left for the school at about 8.50. About half way to the school the bus encountered a small ditch in which we got stuck in, as it had rained over the night and a tractor had ripped up the road. Many of the locals came out to help free the bus.  We moved stones from the below the bus and put them under the wheels. Then more than 30 of us pushed the back of the bus, freeing it from the mud. It was a good effort from all. Pastor Tom decided it was too wet for us to continue in the bus and so had to walk the rest.After walking for 30 minutes we arrived at the school were we watched the builders construct the beams for the classroom roof. Mr Macdonald presented the head builder with two saws and two hammers as well as  giving another builder a wanted football. After this we headed to Pastor Tom’s house and were each given four bags of flour and one bag of sugar. These were for the houses of the farmers who were working on the St Andrea’s farming project – Swahili for St Andrews. We entered 18 mud houses owned by the farmers and gave them the flour and sugar, as well as paracetemol and baby wipes if there was a small child. They expressed how grateful they were and we said a few words of thanks to each. Then we had lunch, this time in Pastor Tom’s house. It was rather cramped but cosy. The meal was excellent which included chicken, chapattis, potatoes, soup and fruit. We returned to the school after and watched the roof beams coming together. We also played with the children and showed the photos and videos from home, and taking photos of them which they were very keen to see. Leaving the school we went back to Pastor Tom’s house and had some light refreshments. We then trekked back through the mud, losing Jon’s flip flop in the process, which snapped. We returned to the bus driver Jon outside singing and dancing with over 20 local children, passing the time. On the bus heading home, it seemed as if everybody outside waved and smiled at us. Many of the small children also ran towards the bus extremely happy and screaming Mazungu. It was great and we all got a buzz from it. We came back to Ahero and had 2 hours of chill time and then had tea, which was a vegetarian meal; lentils chappatis and potatoes. Another busy day coming to an end and we are all looking forward to the church service tomorrow. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain us out again! Lights out from The Kisumu County, Kenya.Stay Frosty.

Friday 2nd AugustThis morning we visited Kisumu museum with a brief stop on the way to buy and then deliver half a sack of maize to the VISPA orphanage. The museum is in a park just on the edge of Kisumu and, since it is after exams and nearly the end of tern in Kenya, there seemed to be about 50 school parties already there when we arrived, some of them from as far away as Narok.One of the parts of the museum is a reconstruction of a traditional Luo homestead (we are in the Luo area). Pastor Tom is Luo so he was able to explain even more than was on the notice boards and he told us that he remembered helping his father to make the basket work granaries that dotted the courtyard. There were separate huts for the first wife, the second wife and the third wife as well as for the first son and the second son, much to the amusement (and initial bemusement) of the team. There are also a range of animals to see: we gasped at the crocodile and cooed over the tortoises, especially when they were allowed to hold a tiny five month old one. The aquarium had a more mixed reaction and I think ‘horrified fascination’ might be the best description of the reaction to the snake gallery! The team were all then treated to sodas by Mr MacDonald.From there we went to visit the Daima home which is in Noiakach constituency which is on the other side of Ahero.  Daima means ‘steadfast’. This is a feeding programme started by a business woman called Jen; she feeds more than 35 children every day; for most of them this will be their only meal of the day. She also sponsors some of the children through education and we met a young man called Eric who is one of the first children she fed who is now at university studying English literature and linguistics; his ambition is to be a speech therapist. (Some of the girls sold Iona to him as his first wife, but we kept her with us). Jen’s ambition is to open a home where the orphans can live and where she can feed more of the children and also help support some of the older people of the community. Jen also provided lunch for us which was a veritable feast, served in her own home which is where she also feeds the children. Some of the children sang and danced to welcome us and I think all of us were very impressed with the work she is doing. It was a little disappointing to not be able to spend time with the children.It was a good day, but I think we are all hoping very much that the weather will be good enough tomorrow to let us go back to Kandaria. We hear that the roof is constructed but still on the ground and we are really looking forward to seeing the progress and meeting the pupils again.Miss Scott

The pupil’s blog post for Wednesday can be viewed on Hugh’s blog at

http://theambassadorsnotebook.blogspot.com/

We have no idea why it wouldn’t post on ours!

Day 10.  1st August 2013.We awoke today to the team bus undergoing a spot of simple treatment.  Driver John’s son and his colleague had been called to travel overnight from Nairobi to give the ultimate flying machine a once over.  It is running fine now but we had a half day today in order to allow time for the check up this afternoon.Hugh was laid low today as a result of the ‘Masai’s Revenge’ so Jon stepped up and delivered a resounding grace before breakfast.  Tears were shed.We set off around half nine and headed to VISPA (Vision and Passion) Orphanage just outside Kisumu.  The stories we have to tell from here can really only be told face to face and using pictures and videos that were taken but what can be said is that it was a very moving, exciting, interesting and enlightening experience.  It started in 1993 in order to deal with the large numbers of orphans from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, starting with one building but has now expanded to accommodate 80 live-in children and a total of 390 children at the school in total.  We were greeted by a delightful group of children who sang a welcome song to us and we were then shown around the school buildings (pictures will explain it better than my stunted prose!).  Having been shown around the classrooms and introducing ourselves to the students we handed over a box a gifts including paracetamol, clothes, some games and a football which was very well received.  Bubbles were blown, songs sung, footballs kicked, and dancing was done by our team for them and by the Kenyan girls for us.  In fact, the Kenyan students compete nationally in Highland dancing contests, who would have thought!?The afternoon was spent in incident free fashion, lounging around reading and Pastor Tom very kindly brought everyone an ice cold Mango drink.

There was however, one very emotional and heart rending moment, I will allow the words of those most affected by this earth shattering event to share it with you as I feel I would serve only to deal with this too lightly…“It was a few days ago now, Eve and Clarissa rescued ‘Chow-mein’ the Praying Mantis from the depths of their chamber.  We believe he has been mentioned previously.  Today, tragically, ‘Chow-mein’, lost his battle with this cruel, challenging world.  He was laid to rest during what has been described by on-lookers as a “modest, solemn yet oddly fitting send-off” for one who had been a reliable albeit too briefly known, friend and confidant.  Evening news reports that there were five dedicated friends in attendance – Eve, Dilara, Clarissa, Megan and Alex.  He was buried and a few words, through a veil of tears, were spoken by Driver John.  Rest in pieces Chow-mein, you will be missed.”Mr MacDonald