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Glimpses from our 2010 Project Voyage to Kenya — Visits to the Tana River Region
Office of Foerderkreis Kenia Freudenstadt e.V., Germany. Updated version. Original English version first published September 05, 2010. Page 2/6.
In the Tana River region, our main objectives were to visit the Catholic Missionary Station in Wema, and our projects in Kulesa.
Saturday, 02/06/2010: Voyage to the Indian Ocean Coast
On Saturday we left the highlands for the several hundred mile long journey to Malindi, a city located at the Indian Ocean coast. Reverend Peter, in the meantime having become a friend of ours who had accompanied us during the previous days, safely navigated his car through the capital's daily traffic jam and whisked us to Nairobi Airport where we took an inland flight to the coast. When we left in the early morning hours, there was still rain in the highlands. Disembarking from the plane in Malindi, we were struck by the intense tropical Indian Ocean heat that was accompanied by high humidity — a climate we originally found hard to adjust to.
In Malindi we were welcomed by Joan, a lady who had visited Germany two years ago for vocational training purposes in a travel office. It was there where she first made acquaintance with some of our society members, among them the society's project coordinator and our board member. Stephen who helped organize our stay for the next weeks accompanied her.
Sunday, 02/07/2010: Malindi
After the hardships of the preceding days we took a break in order to get accustomed to the tropical climate of the coastal region. After having visited the service in the parish church where Joan and her mother lived, they invited us to have lunch in their house.
Monday, 02/08/2010: Tana River
Monday was a very busy day. A driver called Cosmas took us to the Tana River in his Toyota Land Cruiser car. After having passed a police checkpoint, an armored police guard boarded our taxi in order to protect us against possible hold-ups.
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Breakfast in the Catholic Missionary Station, Wema.
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We arrived at the Catholic Missionary Station in Wema where, during our second breakfast this day, we discussed our visit's agenda with our host, a Catholic father, and a local protestant pastor who is cooperating with our society.
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In Kulesa, Tana River region, the residents of the village organized a musical welcome committee.
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The residents of Kulesa, a typical African Pokomo village near Wema, welcomed us with an amazing mixture of instrumental music, and folklore songs.
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Joyful greeting in Kulesa.
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We were proudly presented the village's church, schooling facilities and their new dispensary.
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In Kulesa, we were surprised by an extensive musical program.
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A substantial number of the village's residents convened during our visit.
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This image shows our society members being seated during the welcome ceremony.
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The person seated on the left is a retired pastor who is cooperating with our society in the Kulesa area.
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Another example of the exquisite musical welcoming ceremony in Kulesa, which included both dancing and singing.
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Part of the village's youth was also present during our visit.
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These three young mothers with their young babies received a small present from our society.
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We were invited to lunch by the family of Hermann S., an eight year old boy who had had to undergo a substantial medical operation financed in 2009 by the contributions of our society's members and our donors. After lunch, Hermann proudly showed us the results of his operation. The pastor attending him told us, however, that Hermann will need further medical check-ups and possibly yet another operation.
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Visit to Hermann S., the former Siamese twin whose medical operation was financed by our society in 2009.
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Intending to meet the Catholic Sisters of the Sacred Heart in the coastal villages of Mpeketoni and Baharini where they are operating a dispensary and schooling facilities, we were short of time and left Kulesa in the early afternoon hours. The road to the coast being characterized by numerous potholes and the lack of any tarmac, our journey was a most fatiguing and difficult one.
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