The Rainy Season

It is the rainy season.

That is a simple statement and pretty straightforward, but I have to admit that I didn't really know what that meant a year ago.  Not really, anyway.  I remember reading another doctor's blog last year, and she said that it had rained for 42 days straight and the clothes were hanging all over the house to dry.  Our family kind of laughs that we all run for the clothes line when the rain starts now, and we are thankful that we found a well-used, circa 1960's dryer for "emergencies."  The muddy footprints in the house are ubiquitous (all of our kids will spontaneously pick up a mop to erase them), and the bug count inside has exponentially increased (although, no more tarantulas!).

These are all minor inconveniences and, truly, it makes me rejoice that much more when the sun emerges from the dark clouds.  The sun is a treat now - warming the air, drying the ground a bit, helping the plants grow, and lifting our spirits.

Until a couple of weeks ago, the rains were stronger both day and night.  However, it seems to me that the storms are now mainly strong at night.  On Friday night, we had such severe storms - the water poured in through our kitchen ceiling, and the thunder and lightning raged outside.  In the morning, we realized that 3 of the 4 roads connecting Kijabe to the outside world were impassable due to mudslides, RVA had lost a chunk of its fence, and many water pipes were unearthed.

The petrol station in Kijabe was in the path of the trees, mud, and water.  To my knowledge, the underground tanks were not damaged.

 

Water pipes unearthed beside the main road.

Several trees that crashed into the AIC Kijabe Church sign, just across from the main RVA gate.

This is the tunnel that goes underneath the railroad tracks on the main road.  This is actually a tarmac road.  This photo was taken after the mud and debris was cleared from the tunnel.

This photo was obviously taken BEFORE the debris was removed - it completely blocked the tunnel. (Thanks to Jullie and Jim for the photo.)

This photo was taken on top of the tunnel - you can see the railroad tracks in the midst of the debris, and the tunnel in the lower right corner.  The water was actually going over the railroad tracks. (Another thanks to J and J for the photo!)

I panned out, so you can see that there is not a lot left of this road, although you can technically fit a car on it.  The engineers are still assessing for safety.

The photos really don't do justice to the scope of the damage here.  I am standing near a huge swath of earth that was completely denuded by the force of water, mud, and trees flowing down the hillside.  The steps are at the edge of the RVA campus, and the fence has been washed away.

From the photo above, I turned right and looked uphill.  The mud here is quite deep - I should've gotten a photo of Rick's pant's leg for a marker. ;)

This is looking downhill at the same site.

It rained again last night, although not as hard, and the railroad tunnel was blocked again.  We just don't know what this means for that road, that has been tenuous at best.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I pass the part just before the tunnel.  Now, it is a whole new ballgame.  I thought, at first, that the road would be closed and finally the government would do repairs.  Then, as soon as the mud was cleared, matatus started coming through.  Thankfully, there is a safe way in and out of Kijabe, via Mai Mahui in the valley.  The road takes a considerably longer time to get to Nairobi, but it is pretty easy to get to Naivasha for basics.  I talked to the nurses in the ICU this morning, and they cannot even get home, because the bridges to their homes are out.  But, they were smiling and in good spirits.  Oh, and no water in the ICU, but they had filled a rain barrel with water before the big storm, so they dip a pitcher into that when they need water.

When I look at the resiliency of the people of Kenya, it amazes me - and it definitely makes it hard to whine about the leak in my roof, the longer drive to Nairobi, and the water shortage.  There are many folks shoveling mud out of their homes who never had running water, and three children were washed right out of their home on Friday night.  Please pray for that family who lost so much.  Also, please pray for the rebuilding efforts that will be needed here - debris removal, new water pipes, bridges, and road repair.  Just because these things are needed, does not mean that they will happen.  Walking around on Saturday, the feeling I had was reminiscent of the feeling that I had after Hurricane Hugo came through South Carolina in 1989.  It ended up being a difficult, wonderful thing for Charleston, because of the revitalization effort.  In such a resource poor setting, there are not the same kind of opportunities.  But, folks are looking out for one another, and we hope it will be a chance for building deeper relationships, and perhaps some new infrastructure.  It may also be a chance for Kenyans to see the need to more proactively care for their forest, which holds the dirt in place. 

One of the Kenyan administrators said to me on Friday (before the storm),  it is good when we are presented with problems, because it makes us have to look for new solutions.  Please pray for the rainy season to lessen, people to be comforted in their losses, and for us to seek God's wisdom for new solutions to the situations around us.

Love,
Sarah

Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the
      heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.