At morning assembly, Mama Bakhita shared with us that today is the anniversary of her son’s death. His name was Eric and he died suddenly 4 years ago in his thirties. Bakhita cried and it was very moving.
Afterwards, I finish typing up the grant request. Then we head out to Mvomero, the farm owned by Amani. It is 40km away, about an hour drive on the dirt roads here that are filled with massive holes and puddles. The rain has been very heavy. Alice, Rachel and myself get on the back of the pick up truck owned by Amani. It’s rainy and windy and we are sort of getting slapped by the elements but it is so much fun to be on the back of the truck. Many people wave and say hello. We drive by so many Masai men as we are entering a more Masai populated area but I cannot take picture due to the speed and I have to hold on to the rail! The road is so bumpy I don’t want to fall off. We also drive by a zebra and ostrich farm. Mountains in the nearby distance surround us, the clouds are in and out but the light has an amazing quality here. I feel like I haven’t breathed such fresh air in a long time.
The man at the back of the truck is called Nalenti. He is mentally handicapped but very physically able and helps around the centre. Her laughs and talks a lot and can just fill a room with joy. He is quite incredible actually.
When we arrive, the center is much smaller than in Chamwino Morogoro. It is surrounded by fields, a pig and chicken farm. There isn’t electricity or running water but a well with a pump right outside. The cooking is done outside in a hut. Most of the kids who live here are in their teens and help at the farm. There is one very little girl who is autistic. When she gets excited which is quite often, she shouts and sometimes hits. She is incontinent and a rape victim. She is about 8 years old and very pretty.
I go sign the guest book of course. I get a tour of the rest of the facilities where seminars and workshops are held. They are building benches for the classrooms and I also get to see the arts and crafts work. Beautiful wooden earrings are drying. There are also hand made cards being made by a local artist who does everything with dried banana leaves. Then we hang out with the youth.
For dinner we are invited to the church to have dinner with the priest. We drive there in the back of the truck again into the night which again is so much fun. I feel like I am 15 again. Dr Ken and Dr Anne have joined us so it’s more of a formal dinner.
Later we come back to the residence. Rachel, Alice and I are sharing a room.
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