Consolata Shrine Nairobi

     Today I went to visit the nearby Catholic shrine called Consolata (www.consolatashrine.org) The first thing that is strikingly different is that there is a gate at the entrance with guards. The guards searched the trunk and the glove compartment before allowing me and my driver into the church compound area.

I was used to this when we drove into a mall. At the mall they even wave a mirror under the car searching for bombs. When you enter the mall or store, you are waved over with a metal detector. At most larger stores, there are soldiers in camouflage with large rifles.
     However, once inside the church it looked like most others.

The Mass had many of the same traditional hymns I sang as a child. After Mass, I noticed they have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel just like St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lancaster.

I saw a sign that said "Polite Rules" urging people not to fall asleep and lay down on the benches. Shortly after Mass, the choir started singing and groomsmen appeared in tuxedos as well as the groom's parents.Outside they had a banner listing the corporal works of mercy such as feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the prisoners,and clothe the naked.The sign urged  people to post pictures or information about when they performed one of them

. It was a memorable visit and I made my traditional three new wishes at a new church. I plan to go back tomorrow to experience a Mass in Kiswahili,

Dow Family Christian Academy

      The Dow Family Home educates the children on site at their  own Christian Academy. Logistically it is too difficult to send the children to a local school. In addition, it is costly to buy uniforms and books. In addition, in the public schools they use corporal punishment called "caning". Therefore, the children have teachers and classrooms right at the home.
      I visited Duncan's class with his teacher, Mr. Vincent.

I was impressed with the high level of school work. In addition to English, Math, Science, and Christian Education, the children also learned their native language, Kiswali.

      I also visited Francis' class. It is held in a more open air classroom.

Thursday afternoon was coloring day and I was shown some of their work.

The youngest children learn in a hut and go over shapes and colors, etc.

      A woman named Maureen is busy all day sewing uniforms on a treadle machine as well as doing repairs.

Peter, the son of Mary Rose and Greg Dow, has started a physical education program where he tests the children on how many push ups, sit ups, and jumping jacks they can do. He also started his own soccer team in the area.

     While the children may not have the same level of resources  as in the United States, the teachers try very hard to give them an excellent education.

Walk Time- Dow Family Home

       Naomi, Courtney, and I took four children on a walk around the outside of the home.One was our sponsored child, Francis.

There is a school next store and the children rushed to the barbed wire fence to say hello. Everyone who came down the dirt road filled with rocks stopped to say hello and shake our hands.
      The area is much greener than you would suppose for Kenya. There are tea plantations all around and they sell to major tea companies.

     The children stopped to pick some branches and seed pods and then pretended to be fishing with them. Little Francis imagined he saw a shark. It was wonderful to see how the children can play make believe with objects from nature.

     

Meal time- Dow Family Home

   The children here are polite and appreciative of the food they are given. I am surprised they do not complain even though they are served the same meal of porridge for breakfast and a mid-morning snack

and again are served a different meal for both lunch and dinner.The food is cooked on a wood stove.

They eat with their fingers and sit outside on the grass.

One young child  asked for seconds,but the cook was hesitant to do so as he said everyone would see and then come and ask as well. However, because I was there he made a one-time exception and game him more food.

   The children all pitch in with chores. They wash the dishes outside.

They also sweep the floors with a small hand broom. They wash clothes outside by hand and hang them to dry.

This can be a challenge in the rainy season.

Doha- Museum of Islamic Art

   No visit to Doha would be complete without visiting the Museum of Islamic Art. www.mia.org/qa
The architecture is fantastic and the artifacts are beautiful.It was nice to see so many families with children. It reminded me of the times I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
    I was surprised they had a special exhibit about Muhammed Ali ,as he had a fight in Qatar,

Doha-Souq

We went to the local souq. At first, because it was the holy day of Friday, many shops were closed until the afternoon. We went back again and saw a large variety of shops.

The animal area had many animals such as chicks, birds, and turtles, all crammed into tiny cages.

We enjoyed the herb shops, where the smells were powerful  and wonderful.

We saw the many materials and Bridget bought some for a new abaya.

I liked watching the workmen making models of ships.

Doha-Corniche

Bridget and I walked from our hotel to the corniche. It was unexpectedly a VERY windy and chilly day. However, with double layers on, we enjoyed a brisk walk in the sun along the corniche. At one point we saw a large model of a gazelle.