Hello from Africa

Hello from Africa,
(Feb 17)
We arrived in Kenya late Monday evening. Yesterday was spent mostly in filling out forms. Today we started doing a little of what will occupy us for the next 18 months.

First we went to the storage containers where some of those blankets, newborn kits, school kits you make at home are stored for the next disaster.

Next, we took garments to a long-time member of the Church family who are rebuilding their corrugated tin home that was burned earlier, along with all their possessions. I assume the floor will be dirt, and they cannot afford glass for their windows yet. The family has 7 children, two of them on missions. The house is twice as big as the old one that burned down, but is about the size of our WV kitchen..... I considered this area to be a slum, but....

Then on to survey the damage done by the fire yesterday to 150 "homes" in the Imara slum. The homes are about 12x12, attached corrugated tin row homes. Each house sleeps 1 to 5 family members. Even though it had been less than 2 days, the people were out repairing and rebuilding....not as complicated a task as rebuilding in the US. The Church teams up with the Red Cross to provide aid to those affected. They have requested blankets, mattresses, tents, mosquito nets, and food (Fanila-porridge for children, rice, maize flour, and cooking oil). Not sure how much of it we can provide, but at the fire in the same neighborhood 9 months ago, the Church provided mattresses, blankets and maize flour. We have the names of the people affected, and when purchase of supplies is okayed by the Area Office in Johannesburg and are purchased here in Kenya, they will be handed out to those whose names are on the list. The attached pictures will show the ruins. There are several slums in Nairobi, one of which has 1,000,000 residents. Each slum area is self contained, with mini-stores and hospitals (see last picture).

On the way back to the flat, we saw people expanding a major roadway. A group of men and women sat on the ground with small hammers pounding larger rocks into smaller ones that would be rolled flat by a tractor roller then topped with asphalt. I understand that it makes a very strong road bed. The traffic is unbelievable, partly because the road system is woefully inadequate; I will leave the driving to John for the next 18 months.

The couple we are replacing will be here for another only 1.5 weeks more. I think we will have a tremendous learning curve, but everyone we have met is very friendly and tolerant.

John flies to Kisumu this afternoon with Elder Esplin to survey two bore hole water wells the Church is paying for in that area. They will not return till tomorrow night.
And this is just the first day on the job!

Sunday we drive to Chyulu for a survey of another large water project. We will not return till Wed or Thurs. I think this trip includes overnighting in a game park.

Love, Sister Udall (Roz)