To the Mountain

This morning we are off to Kirinyaga, Wachira’s homeland on the slopes of Mt. Kenya. We’ll be staying in an old hunting lodge built in 1904 (?) for King George; there’s no electricity but I’m hoping for hot water. We’ll visit Wachira’s family on their farm, and get a little R&R.

We had a good weekend, staying overnight with John and Emi Gichinga, our oldest friends in Kenya. We attended their wedding shortly after we arrived in Nairobi in 1978. Here’s a picture of them along with the Okonjis—Tim Okonji (my namesake), Risper and Michael, John and Emi. They’re standing in front of the Okonjis’ house. John recently retired after 24 years as pastor of Nairobi Baptist Church. He’s working with World Relief now and is very involved with church leaders across Kenya trying to bring reconciliation between the tribes. We had a long and very lively conversation regarding the question I raised, “Are you hopeful?” Emi is a therapist. We have known them for 30 years and there’s an ease between us that is very fun. They are eccentric—aren’t we all—and regularly do verbal battle with each other. We are the kind of old friends who actually think they are funny. I don’t know if they think we are funny, but we definitely enjoy each other’s company.

Last Thursday Popie went with Risper on a diplomatic mission to visit son Jan’s about-to-be mother-in-law. The purpose of the visit was to discuss plans for this coming Saturday’s family meeting. There are many, many details to go over—the cultural protocol is quite strict on what gifts should be made, where people should go, what events take place in what order. Since this marriage involves Luos and Kambas, there is a lot of information to pass on. The three women spent a very pleasant four hours getting these details down. Yesterday Popie helped Risper pass them on to her family members who had come for tea. This photo shows them discussing it—two of Risper’s brothers with wives plus one of Risper’s sisters. Risper’s father is polygamous so there are some large numbers of siblings, nieces and nephews involved. I doubt we will sort all this out but we will try.

The Saturday meeting actually combines two traditional events—the negotiation of bride price, and the “Mother’s Day” which involved the man’s family coming to the woman’s family home and putting on a party for her mom. Popie is practicing her dancing, as the first order of events involves the women of the man’s home singing outside the gates, seeking entrance, while the women of the woman’s home sing back refusing their request until they relent and let everyone inside. I will try to get some pictures.