It’s
the final full day here in Africa, in Kenya, at Kijani Farm, at the base of the
Black Hill. Last night was a great
evening of joking and laughter around the campfire with our Team and our Maasai
friends. It proved the point that if you
have a good fire, people will gather; and when you gather a bunch of guys (and
a girl : ) you can guarantee that it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s the type of fun that extends beyond
language barriers. In between our
playful bantering, Moses kept saying a word that sounded like “Mo-dinna” and
would howl; saying it was a hyena. I’ve
since looked that word up, and that’s not the Swahili or Maasai word for hyena;
which makes it even funnier, because who knows what we were all
laughing at. The joke was on us I’m sure
(The “mzungu”-white person). The Maasai
language is referred to as Maa. The
closest Maa word I could find was “e-modiei,” which is the word for the dung from a grazing
animal; which technically makes it borderline hilarious when I remember the
dialogue from the evening. John
had us rolling as well with the way he and Nyles would jest with each other. They were simply carrying over their good
natured teasing that had been going on ever since we had arrived. Jake usually ended each bout with a simple, "Yup."
Todd, Gabe, And I Slept Overnight In Our Hammocks
Todd,
Gabe, and I slept in hammocks last night that were strung from beams and header
boards in the STEM House we’ve been building.
I suppose that technically means we’re the first ones to sleep in it,
which is weird since it doesn’t even have a floor yet. The cement for the raised floor will be
poured on top of corrugated metal next week after Jeff and Brian fly home. During the night the temperature went down
and the wind blew. Because of that, I
was chilled and slept lightly. Early on
I heard the wart hog out along the drive into the farm. Soon after I went and got my sleeping bag out
of the tent. I went from being a bit
cold to a little too warm, but I wasn’t complaining; I had slept outside in the
open air under the stars and moon. When
we got up, Todd and I ran up the road and halfway up the second ridge past the
Old Mzee’s boma. In the beginning we ran
with a Thompson’s Gazelle up in front of us.
Upon our return we walked the last half mile back to Kijani. It was the fifth day in a row that I’d run. Typically I’ll only run up to three
consecutive days to let my body rest. Since Sunday morning
I’d run 26 total miles, and what with the heat, altitude, and then working
outside all day, it was enough. It’s
just that I couldn’t pass up running in Kenya.
My Prints Next To A Gazelle's
Today
our Team put on the North and East side walls for the house. Later, when Brian, Gabe, Noah, Nyles, and
John came back from the village with some more sheets of metal (it was a packed
truck), they completed the rest of the roof too. It was a productive day.
After
a late lunch, Brian said we should spend the afternoon getting our gear
together, taking a walk, or journaling before we leave tomorrow. I decided to do each of those things.
I
started by heading over to an area where we had found an old giraffe bone five
days ago. I began circling the ground
out from the epicenter of that place and found many more. This is a trick I do when I find a bone back
home in the woods. Of course the bones I
was finding were huge, and although aged and sun bleached, they looked so cool
that I took some pictures of them. Next
I took a walk looking for tracks. I had
found some while Todd and I had been running so I added to those. It fits today’s blog theme on imprints.
A Giraffe Leg Bone
The Giraffe Bones I collected (And Tortoise Shell)
Boots Were A God Send In The Bush-Especially With The Thorns
Gloves Also Helped To Avoid Thorns-The Maasai Used Their Staffs
The Shamba (Property) Wall Of Stacked Thorned Branches
The Boma Area From The North Side
Todd
says it’s called “branding” in the graphic design world. He says branding is when he takes a theme of
colors, and pictures, and the arrangement of it all and applies it to a
company’s letterhead, work shirt emblem, webpage, etc. Whether a brand or a print, I’ve been
thinking of what impact Africa has had on me and if I’ve had any on it. Once upon a time, people thought Earth was
the center of the Solar System and everything went around us; as if everything
is always about us. Now of course we
know that many planets, most much bigger than us, revolve around the sun, and
in turn we as a solar system revolve within our Milky Way Galaxy. Our galaxy even revolves within the known
universe. We are always moving, and
moving in multiple ways. It makes you
think.
A Hyena Tack To The Left Of Mine
An Animal With A Heavy Tail
A Small Cat Print Crossing Beneath Mine
A VIDEO ON THE MARCH OF THE ANTS:
I
think of the animals that leave their prints in the dirt. I think of the ones that leave their bones to
slowly return to the dust. I think of
the sights and sounds and smells. I
think of all of that as I sit here at the base of the tallest tree on Kijani’s
property. I placed three different kinds
of rocks at its base; my only physical imprint that I’ll leave behind. One looks like your typical field rock. One has a volcanic heritage; perhaps from
back when Kilimanjaro erupted unknown eons ago.
The last rock is actually my favorite since I’ve been here. It has an orange and white hue. What is unique about it, I happened upon by
pure accident. While walking the
property a week and a half ago, I stuck a few of them into my pocket. Later that evening after dark, when I took
them out and threw them down beside our tent, sparks jumped off their surface
when they bumped against each other. I
just know that I can make a fire from them, and I’m excited to try. So anyways, a large one that I found here on
the property I’m leaving with the other two at the base of this tree. Some of the other rocks I’ve collected like
this, I’m going to give to the rest of the Team tonight. Besides its apparent beauty, I figure it can
hold a deeper significance in how we can bring back the “fire” to the United States;
that fire that has burned in our hearts while here in Africa.
The Tallest Tree On Kijani Farm
The Three Rocks I Left At The Base Of The Tree
The Rocks For The Team
A Termite Mound
Flowers On A Cactus
The Thorns
Journaling
360 VIDEO OF WHERE I SAT (LISTEN TO THE BIRD SOUNDS):
There
is no doubt that Africa is unique, and raw, and beautiful, and different. It’s a place I highly recommend visiting if
you have the chance, and are willing.
It’s also a place I hope to return to some day. I know it will be different than what I’ve
experienced these past two weeks, but much will still be the same as well. Things are always changing and moving. My prayer is that the heart of Kenya, the wildness, and specifically the Maasai people, will remain despite any changes
that may occur.
So
the theme is “prints.” Over the course
of my daily blogs, you can see how the land, the environs, and the animals have
influenced me; areas that I can easily relate to. At the same time there are the people. Good people.
They have shown me life from a different perspective; these Maasai,
these herdsmen. Life may be simple here,
but it can also be difficult and raw; not unlike anywhere else in the world
depending on how you choose to live life, and how life “plays out” beyond your
control. May my smile, my easy going spirit,
and my work leave a lasting impression here around Kijani. I am that guy; the “ormalimui” (teacher) and
“enkuatata” (runner) here on the flip side.
See you along The Way…
Kristin And Patty Scholz
Todd And Noah Join Them For A Hike Before Dinner
These Two Pictures Below Are A "Before And After" Of My Son Todd. I Made A Birth Stick Beforehand, And Then My Wife Cindy And I Held A "Behold" Ceremony For Him After He Was Born. We Presented Him To God Like Kunta Kinte In Roots Who Said, "Behold! The Only Thing Greater Than Yourself."
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