Not sure where to start – I guess at the beginning. The time change caught up with me last night, but I did manage some sleep. Had a good breakfast with my purchases and coffee! Dressed in my scrubs and headed down to meet Barnabas and Mike for my ride to the clinic – Boundless Love – founded about a year ago by Barnabas. After a bumpy ride there (I wouldn’t feel like I was in Africa without that) we arrived. The clinic is quite small with a center corridor opening at each end out onto the street. Now I must say I am not staying anywhere in Nairobi where tourists might come. It is a slum. There are little lean-to huts lining the road with clothing, vegetables, meat, charcoal, and on on, for sale. The taller buildings behind are draped with colorful clothing. Discussion on clothes at a later time. There are puddles whose origins are best left unknown.
At the clinic, I met Lucy, the administrator, and Jayson, the director. He is a nurse practitioner. Everyone was very nice and I got a tour of the meager place. I won’t comment now as I need more time to give an accurate assessment. Jayson and I chatted for quite awhile as there were no patients. So all I could do was to sit, sit, sit, and I did not like it, not one little bit. I needed a Cat in the Hat to liven things up. At about 2 a woman came in for an injection so I was challenged to take her blood pressure and weight. I did no harm. And that was it for the day. I kept asking if there was any stocking to do (not sure if there was enough of anything to stock) but there wasn’t so I just waited out the day.
The doors at either end were open so all the street noise came in. Especially the grinding right across the road – no eye or ear protection. At least it wasn’t a boy. This was a school holiday so there a few little parades of preschoolers going by, dressed in cap and gown. They were so cute! A highlight.
At the end of the “work” time, Jayson was taking me back to the apartment. I thought that meant a ride but nooooooo. We walked, dodging motorcycles, large trucks, carts, and people. Then we walked through a section that Jayson called a ghetto. It was a narrow path running between open air shops. In the middle of the path ran a stream of grey water and as the path involved moving from rock to rock or hump to hump, I was greatly relieved I did not end up ankle deep in that water. My shoes and socks would have gone in the garbage, and I’m not sure I would ever have a relationship with my feet again. Then we got lost and Jayson called for an Uber driver who only had to turn around once.
Obviously, I am back and in my room – a virtual retreat! I will be seeing Barnabas and Mike soon. There will be some serious conversation tonight.
I am still grateful for being here and that walk reminded me again of the vast privilege of my life. Seeing the little children playing there and knowing that this is life for them is always hard to take.
I really appreciate your prayers.