Bursting at the seams.

After visiting a beautiful, serene setting for a campsite and speaking to a national park ranger, we finally arrived at rural Kisumu.

We were greeted by a sea of smiles and outstretched hands from the children of Kirindo. What a lovely welcome we had with so many people pleased to see us even though we were strangers. It took a while to get used to the basic amenities but after just one night we felt settled and even at home with the giant wasps and mosquitoes for company at night.

From dawn until dusk we played, danced, sang and laughed with the many, many children who followed us with eager faces. Our arms are now aching from the sheer number of hands we shook and are bellies are gladly full from the copious amounts of food we were met with at every homestead. I have never eaten so well in my life: ugali, dagga, talapia, scumawiki , chapati, samosas, fried dough balls, soup, onions and tomatoes, ground nuts, green gram and cabbage!

The rock in the community is obviously Margaret Kawala, a widow from a nearby village and an inspiration to all! The Kosimbo Widows group will forever stay in our minds as determined yet modest women. They are the driving force in the community, despite their many responsibilities from caring for orphans to running their individual businesses, from chores to cooking for their families, and from supporting one another to caring for their livestock. We felt truly humbled in their presence.

On Sunday afternoon Roz and I left Kirindo with a tear in our eye and a heavy heart. We are determined to help the community with their desire to develop and have already started planning.