9- Garissa

Once I sent that text to Kiaruuh notifying him that I was in Garissa, I called him to see where he was, and where we could meet.  Kiaruuh didn't seem so surprised on the phone, and asked me to give him ten minutes before meeting at the local Hospital parking lot.

When he came, with a friend, his head was bowed and he walked slowly.  I saw that he really was more than surprised, he was shocked.  We shook hands and exchanged a too-formal greeting for a bother and sister.  Kiaruuh couldn't even look me in the eye, because he was so astounded.  And he was without words.  He had never spoken to a white person from the U.S. and this was no small event.  I found out later what a monumental thing that this was. They respect Europeans and whites tremendously, and no white person has ever visited his area of the bush before.  Although there were some UN workers and such in Garissa from time to time, they were rare, and he hadn't spoken to them.

After a few moments of greetings with Kiaruuh, Fredrick began to speak to him in Swahili, and as they talked, they looked at the ground, thinking hard about something, and spoke in a serious, concerned tone.  I didn't know at the time what they were discussing, so I tried to insert a comment, and Fredrick turned to me and said, "First we find you a safe place to go tonight.  We go there, then we can talk after that."

I learned later that Fredrick had been awake and working Taxi since 3:00 a.m., picking up missionaries from a flight.  He hadn't eaten all day, without a complaint.  He took the job to put food on the table, he said, and he had planned to make it home that night, but now it was dark, and he wanted to stay, to keep me and Dallin safe and well advised in Garissa.  Although he didn't even know me, Fredrick had such a kind human heart that he wanted to see that no harm would come to us.  He was sacrificing a lot of time, and was giving a lot to keep us in safety's paths.


That night Fredrick our driver and Kiaruuh assured that we stay in a very safe place, and we found a nice hotel available that catered to international travelers.  I offered to let him stay in a room there too, and Fredrick finally ate well, at the restaurant there.  

Dallin and I found our room to be quite pleasant, and relaxed with showers and phone messages using the wifi...we were entertained by the sporadic air conditioning due to the constant power failures, but we were comfortable.  It was nice to laugh and unwind, and even nicer to chuckle at how we had really made it all the way to Garissa.  I prayed in gratitude that night for the good people who had helped us to get there, and for the pleasant day it had ended up being.




The next morning we met again at the free, very nice breakfast.

Over our meal, Fredrick asked if we planned to go back after the graduation was done, or if we would follow Kiaruuh out to the bush where his family lived.  He looked worried about that idea.  I told Fredrick that I had two reasons for coming out to Kenya, the first being to attend the graduation, but ultimately, I was there to bring the word of God out to those people who are praying daily to become closer to God.  I just couldn't go home until that was done, and it could only be done by going out to the bush.  I would go.

I told Fredrick thank you for all that he had done, and how grateful I was for all that he had sacrificed to bring us safely all the way to Garissa.  I told him that we would welcome him along if he wished to accompany us to the graduation and then out to the bush, but that I could not pay him anything for it.  

Fredrick said that he would stay with us.  He would drive, and accompany us through it all, to the graduation and then that night out to the bush, standing by us to ensure our safety and protection, and to help bring about success with the thing that we had set out in faith to do.  This meant sleeping overnight there in the bush, going without paid work, and without seeing his family for days.  I will never in my life be able to fully thank Fredrick for his sacrifice and faithful devotion to the work of God.

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Fredrick and I walking toward the taxi after breakfast.  I began to wear a head scarf, to respect 

the religions of the people I would see.  Good Christian women always cover 

their heads in Kiaruuh's church, and to a Muslim population in Garissa, a 

covered head is a modest woman.

We went to the Graduation, at the college where the first facebook chats began.

  

The tent of the graduates, who sat in the middle of the courtyard.

At the Teachers College Graduation in Garissa, the graduation was held in a courtyard outdoors, was long and quite hot, but very festive and entertaining.  

As soon as they started singing, I had the time of my life (hear a song at the end of this page). 

         

This little Muslim girl was sitting in front of me,
enjoying her baby brother

We enjoyed music, acting, speches, and of course the greatest moment, the graduation of the scholars.  

We attracted a lot of attention, but in a good way,

and people were  glad to see and meet us. 

Kiaruuh was so happy, and he introduced us to everyone he knew.

Kiaruuh is wearing traditional gift necklaces over his graduation gown, given by friends.  A fun college girl named Charity became my instant friend, and she is the one hugging me. She smiled constantly, only stopping for the picture. I started to learn that this was their way in front of a camera, to be serious and respectable for the photo.

 

Dallin wearing the gown and neck wear

Kiaruuh had already called his family back at home (who couldn't afford to be there), and they asked if we would please come out to see them in the bush.  We told them that it would be our privilege, and our next stop.

NEXT PAGE: 10- To the Bush