A special report from Catherine.
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This month's newsletter is Catherine's last email as she wrote it. It speaks for itself. |
Hello, everyone,
sorry it's been so long since an update- I've been
sorting out plans on this end, a process which came to
an abrupt halt this morning, when i was told by my
booking agent i couldn't change my plane ticket home.
so, i'll be returning to the states on sunday, the
fourth of july. guess i didn't read the fine print,
but actually, i did- it's just that these websites are
much like the Bible in that they are open to
interpretation, and i read what i wanted to read...
as i feel that i have done roughly half of what i
wanted to do here, i will be returning to kenya after
a brief visit to the states, maybe 3 or 4 weeks, to
finish the job: train Mama and other interested
community members in sustainable ariculture, leaving
the garden in more-than-competent hands.
the garden passed through its short-lived rainy season
with a flourish, so we've been harvesting peas galore,
cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, beans, sukuma wiki,
chard, and some sweet herbs, but the dryness is
turning the place yellow and we are all praying for
rain. other regions of the country are suffering even
more greatly due to the drought. in one district, 80
people have died because of food poisoning from eating
mouldy maize, and death by starvation is climbing
steadily. there is flooding in the wetter regions,
with no infrastructure for even distribution of
surplus of any sort.
as good as it will be to see you all, i hate to leave.
not only is my work unfinished, but i will be leaving
newly deepened relationships, a country whose secrets
are slowly becoming part of me, and all the unexplored
(by me) vastness of spaces, times, and peoples i am
only beginning to understand. i console myself with
the knowledge that i must return as soon as possible,
that when i do, i will be renewed by my contact with
loved ones, more focused by the juxtaposition of
worlds, more clear on where to go next.
there's too much to even begin telling stories about
the last month or so, so i'm counting on updating you
all once i get home, God willing. I'm excited to get
back to america, to see what images project themselves
onto my kenya-colored glasses, which ways the ground
has slanted under my step...
once again, i thank you all for your support
throughout, even in my silences, without which i could
not have done the little bit that i have been able to
do here. hopefully, i will be seeing you all soon.
salaam,
catherine
p.s. i'll be arriving in boston, heading to maine
almost immediately, where i'll be reeling from jet-lag
and culture shock for a bit, after which i'll make
more plans...
Catherine has returned safely to the USA. She will be updating us on the details of her work in Kenya and raising funds for her return journey. We trust she can return and complete her work for the Joseph Waweru Home School.
Expanding Opportunities is a non
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