We Went to Work Today

Our youngest team members

Today was our first day of work on our many projects - building a study hall, along with assorted tables and benches, building two homes and repainting the interior of Comet House.  While it is a lot of work - it goes quickly with twenty people.  We worked together side by side with local villagers, learned new skills and enjoyed wonderful Kenyan cooking.  Below is a reflection from Julia Reddish, one of our 15 year old missioners, along with some pictures from the day.

It took a team to build desks and benches for the study hall

Peggy showed no fear of heights!

Julia's Reflection

Once upon a time in a country far far away--two plane trips and seven time zones away, there is Kenya. When you look on a map the whole world seems small and close packed, easily accessible. I have traveled all over the United States but I have never been so far from where I know.  When you are far from what you know everything is different with a dash of the similar.

In Kenya I can look out the window and look at the plants, birds and even the dirt and not recognize a thing. It brings a completely new thrill to me. Looking around the only plant I can identify is the grass on the roadside. I am so removed from my element that if I think on it for too long my head starts to spin. The dirt is a different color--a beautiful shade of maroon in some places, and in others it has an almost Georgian clay color, but it is different. The birds sing up in the trees, but they sing songs I have never heard. Everything has been flipped and shaken just enough to make it alien. I am far from what I know and everything is different.

I was working today in The Comet house's yard sawing pipes to make tetherball posts. To cut the poles I used a homemade hacksaw that was better than any bought saw I had ever used. Someone had crafted it by welding pieces of rebar and scrap steel together, It was still a saw and it worked beautifully for the task. Flashing about in golden yellow and browns, a menagerie of small birds dart about in the trees. I have never seen any of them before and their songs are strange but they are bird shaped and can fly about. Everything is different with a dash of the similar.

But that is ok. It's fun to be out of your own world for a while it is exhilarating to be learning so many new things everyday. The trees may be different but they still throw shade. I may not be able to recognize the birdsong but it is still sweet, I can't name the flowers but I can see their beauty. When you are far from what you know everything is different with a dash of the similar.