En-Gedi Mission Trip Update #3
The En-Gedi kids received physical therapy this morning (Thursday, February 9), so Margaret Njuguna drove us through Kitengela to a shopping center. Along the way, we saw many fresh fruit and vegetable stands and other stands selling different foods and wares, like clothing, furniture, plants, etc. People walked along the roadsides, some carrying goods like bananas and potato chips on their heads to sell.
The traffic here is something to behold. There are so many cars, trucks, motorcycles, tuk-tuks (pronounced tuke-tukes; three-wheeled, motorized mini trucks people can hire if they need a ride; think Uber or taxi cab ), a few donkeys pulling carts, and sometimes small herds of cows, goats, or sheep being led along to find grazing spots. Car or truck horns honked occasionally, but we saw no angry gestures or road rage.
The four American ladies exchanged some US cash for Kenyan Shillings so we could buy a few snacks and souvenirs. The rate of exchange today was one US Dollar to 158 shillings. Margaret told us that's quite good, so we were pleased.
Kitengela has six large factories, one of which makes Calvin Klein clothing and textiles for European countries; another processes and cans beef for military use; and another makes shoe polish. The six factories employ over 40,000 workers, some of whom must ride a bus to work from outside the city.
There is a large bus station near the factories, and traffic is very busy. People walk in every direction, trying to cross the busy road. Motorcycles and tuk-tuks pass traffic in between vehicles and on the shoulders of the road.
Upon arriving back at En-Gedi, Margaret tended to some visitors while we ate a lunch of mashed potatoes, rice, beans, ground beef, cooked cabbage, and fresh fruit.
We have been fed very well!
Fruits and vegetables are rarely purchased for En-Gedi - everything they need is grown on their beautiful campus (as mentioned in update #2).
None of us slept well the previous night (Wednesday, February 7), so an afternoon rest was in order. Again, we enjoyed seeing the children and their smiling faces! We helped feed the evening meal and told the kids we'd revisit them tomorrow.
A walk on the roads near En-Gedi preceded our evening meal. We chatted until our eyes could no longer stay open. We praise God for bringing us to Kenya to share His love with those we encounter!
Written by Diane Westenberg
