Meeting Inspiring People



A bull was donated to the Village to ensure that each family received meat this Christmas.  Each portion is for one family of 10-12 people.

 Nyumbani Village was fortunate enough to host a two week Permaculture Course this month. This was the ultimate scenario to test my newly acquired hospitality skills. My responsibility was to prepare accommodations for 15 students attending the course and solving any problems and concerns during their stay. This responsibility was in addition to the six volunteers I was hosting. Permaculture is a sustainable approach to agriculture that seeks to maximize the use of indigenous plants and landscapes to enrich the land for future generations while also providing for present needs (organic farming is a piece of the approach).

Warren Brush (Permaculture Teacher) and Myself.  He is quite an inspiring man!



On the left is Nicholas (Village Manager), center is Warren Brush, on the right is Joseph (Village Sustainability Manager)

 I must admit that I was somewhat dreading the arrival of the permaculture students knowing how much work they would cause me. Little did I know how enriching our time together would become. The course was made up of two American professors and various students: 1 American, 2 Liberians, 4 Kenyans, 1 Ugandan, 1 German, 1 Kenyan from Indian decent, and 2 of the Village staff members. I was invited to attend any class I liked and ended up learning quite a bit and developed a desire to gain more agricultural knowledge. Through this process, I realized that each one of these individuals had powerful life stories and were accomplishing inspiring things throughout the world. The two Liberians had survived the 15 year long civil war and were now working to improve their country, one of the Kenyans grew up in the Kibera slum in Nairobi and is contributing to starting a garden in the middle of the slum to provide learning opportunities for the struggling youth, another Kenyan is working with the Masai people to aid with female victims of genital mutilation, the German is living in India and volunteering for a well known philanthropist in India named Amma (AKA “The Hugging Saint), another Kenyan is a board member of a foundation that conserves wildlife, etc. The point is that I thought I was going to have to babysit the students but instead was lucky enough to meet some amazing and inspiring people. It goes to show you that you never know who you will meet and where life will take you if you are open to meeting new people and brave enough to embrace new experiences.

Permaculture teachers and students

On a sad note, one of the grandmothers of the Village recently passed away from medical complications. The grandchildren were devastated and have had to experience the pain of losing yet another loved one. The children will stay in the Village but will live with another Village grandmother. I was invited to the funeral and was honored to witness a Kenyan funeral. In ways, it was very similar to our funerals in USA except that the funeral took place at her home outside the Village and she was buried in land directly behind her home. I was given the responsibility of making sure that our Village driver bought a goat to ensure that there was meat to serve prior to the funeral. I was the only white person at the funeral and it was evident (considering my height and skin color). I felt bad for all our staff members as I was being treated like an honored guest. Of the several hundred people in attendance, I was offered the only chair as everyone else either sat on long stools or stood. Additionally, I was immediately offered some food with meat while the other staff did not even get to each because of food shortages. The four hour ceremony was a unique experience that I am grateful to have attended.

The funeral with the deceased grandmother's homes in the back left.

Some women carrying the casket.

Burying the grandmother behind her home.

On December 23rd we had our Christmas Party at a nice place in the town of Kitui. The 75 employees of the Village were in attendance. Each department head was called up to the front of the room to talk about the department and introduce the employees. I, being the Volunteer Coordinator, am the head of the Guest House and presented the volunteers and cooks. I then gave a brief speech about my job and experience in the Village. After all the speeches, bonuses were handed out and then food was served. After receiving their bonuses, the staff were ready to celebrate so we went to a local pub for some adult beverages. It turned out to be a fun evening of conversation, joking, and dancing. Africa is behind by decades in many aspects of life and music is no different. The newer South African music that was being played sounded like vintage 80s music, which, as many of you know, I thoroughly enjoy. This music inspired me to reveal my sweet dance moves.

All the staff of Nyumbani Village at the Christmas Party.

Staff and I after the Christmas Party.

I am showing the Kenyans how to dance.  They are laughing with me, not at me.

By the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS.  A generous individual provided a donation that allowed for each child to receive a pair of new shoes this Christmas.  Another donor provided another small gift for each child and a bull was donated to the Village to ensure that each home had beef this year (1 of 5 times that the families receive meet each year).  This is all the children received for Christmas (much different than the multiple gifts we receive each year).  Currently all the volunteers and visitors have left for the holidays, and I am now living in the Guest House by myself with 7 other empty rooms. Do not worry because I am leaving tomorrow on a 10 hour bus drive to the coast of Kenya for two weeks of enjoying the beach and amazing seafood. I can’t wait to show off my beach-body that I have be sculpting for the last ten years while drinking one too many beers, eating one to many fried meals, and participating in little to no exercise.

Lastly, the weather in the Village is getting hot during the day.  We are definitely now in summer.  Every day it gets into the 90's (although it is tolerable considering there is little to no humidity), but the evenings and morning are splendid.  Once the sun starts to go down around 6pm, the temperature drops to the low 70's and stays that way all night.  I don't miss the climate in the midwest!
Until Next Time…

Kenyan Thanksgiving



The Spanish magician group from the Foundation of Abra Cadabra


Thanksgiving Day was very hectic in the Village. A group of Spanish magicians from the Spanish Foundation Abra Cadabra visited for the day. I must admit that my excitement level for their visit was fairly low considering my interest in contributing to preparing Thanksgiving Dinner. To my surprise, the visit by the magicians was one of the more powerful experiences of my trip. These people used their gift of magic and playfulness to put smiles on all 728 children’s faces. Few people have the ability to connect with children. These people have that gift and brought abundant joy and energy to the Village. In the morning they offered a 1.5 hour show for all the children and staff. After lunch, I put on my Volunteer Coordination Hat and guided them on a tour of the Village. Although these visitors have a unique ability to approach life with joy and humor, it was quite interesting to witness the serious side of these visitors as I explained the reality of life for these children. I made it a point to explain how much happiness and joy they brought to these children who experience limited forms of entertainment in the Village. The group was on a tight schedule and explained that they needed to leave by 3:30 pm to return to Nairobi for a show the following day. At 3:30pm, as the tour of the farms concluded, I expressed the importance of visiting a Village home to witness how the families live. As I suspected, these social individuals were touched by the personal interaction with these families in their homes. Our time together was a wonderful experience for both me and them. A special thanks to Marian Alvarez, from the COGRI Spanish Board, for organizing and accompanying the magicians on their visit.

Magic show in the Social Hall

After bidding farewell to the visitors, I checked on the progress of our Kenyan Thanksgiving Dinner. The previous weekend I had been in Nairobi and did not assist in purchasing or organizing the dinner. That day, I did not contribute to the preparation of the meal except for taste-testing a few items as they came out of the coal oven. So basically, my contribution to the feast consisted of drinking the beer and eating a hefty portion of the delicious food.

The volunteers that organized and cooked the meal were Rafael and Anne (two Spanish volunteers), Natessa and Aliza (two American volunteers), and Chris (another American volunteer). The dinner items prepared included: 2 chickens, pineapple sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing, caramelized onions, guacamole and chips (of course the Spaniards prepared the guacamole), pumpkin pie, and Tusker beer. Before digging in, we took a few moments to explain to the Spaniards the true purpose of Thanksgiving which was followed by offerings of thanks for many of our blessings. Although the chickens were not quite the same as turkey and gravy, it was a respectable substitute. As the sun descended and the room darkened, we lit some candles and enjoyed a unique atmosphere and conversation as we sipped on our warm, yet tasty, beers. Overall, the food was excellent and the company and conversation was even better. At times during the day I definitely wished I could be at home sharing this holiday with my family and friends. That being said, I have to admit that our Kenyan Thanksgiving was uniquely special in its own way.


The volunteers preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner



Our Thanksgiving Feast

I am enjoying a warm Tusker beer before dinner

Our Village Priest, Fr. Nicodemus, asked for my assistance the other day in taking pictures of all the children in the Village. A generous Kenyan made a donation to ensure that all the children receive a present this Christmas and Father wanted to give the donor a picture of the children. Additionally, I am working with a former volunteer to buy shoes for every child for Christmas. Without these generous donations, the children would not receive any present this Christmas.

All the children at the Village entrance

The younger children near the Village entrance



This is a solar cooker that is being presented in the village for all the families to use.  It makes no sense for the village to have to search for wood every day for cooking, not to mention deplete the wood supply in the village, if the solar cookers can be used.  The village has an abundance of sunlight that should be used.  Above, the solar cooker is cooking two eggs and purifying water in the pan for safe drinking.  The families should be able to cook a meal with three hours of sunlight.

 Until Next Time…

Remembering Fr. Angelo D'Agostino, S.J.



A good-looking young man next to Uncle Angelo's grave at the Jesuit community



Chris and I went to the immigration office in Nairobi last Monday to get our visas renewed for another three months in Kenya. At the front desk I paid my 2000 shillings ($25) and handed them my passport to be stamped with a new visa. I then proceeded to have my fingerprints taken before coming back with a receipt to pick up my passport and leave. As I approached the desk, I was hoping for a quick exchange in anticipation of a nice lunch in Nairobi. What was I thinking? Things seem to never be so easy in Kenya. After a few minutes of looking for my passport behind the desk, the worker informed me that my passport was given to another American who happens to be an older African American woman (what an easy mistake to make). Needless to say, I left the immigration office that day without my passport. I eventually got it back after a week of dealing with the US embassy and the Kenyan Immigration Office. ONLY IN AFRICA!

Teenage Boys of the Village doing yardwork.  Africans prefer machetes to lawnmowers.

Chris went back to the Village that day, but I decided to stay at Nyumbani Home in Karen for some R&R. Karen is the lush suburb of Nairobi in which Karen Blixen lived. The trip was much needed and proved to be very relaxing. In just 6 days in Karen, I may have succeeded in gaining back the 15-20lbs I have lost over the last 3 months. I went to the local Italian restaurant twice. I was in heaven as I devoured an assortment of Italian foods which included prosciutto, salami, pizza, pasta, and fresh Italian bread. I also familiarized myself with the city as I spent two enjoyable days walking all around the city center.

As you know, my Great Uncle Angelo D’Agostino created the organization Children of God Relief Institute-COGRI. The first project was Nyumbani Home in Karen which was opened in 1992 (a home for orphaned HIV children), followed by the outreach program in the slums of Nairobi called Lea Toto, and most recently Nyumbani Village. Uncle Angelo’s right hand woman who helped implement his grand ideas was Sr. Mary Owens. As many of you have learned, D’Agostinos tend to be stubborn, loud, opinionated and obnoxious. It takes an extraordinary person to compliment and humble a D’Agostino. Sr. Mary is nothing less than extraordinary. Sister took over COGRI in 2006 just prior to Fr. Dag’s death. She has been the acting Executive Director for over 4 years and has succeeded in continuing the vision of Fr. D’Agostino. The headquarters of COGRI is in Karen at Nyumbani Home, and I was privileged to spend time with her and other devoted staff members that have been around since the early 1990s.

One evening Sr. Mary took me to the Jesuit community in Karen to see where Fr. Dag, who was a Jesuit, is buried and spent years of his life. In the early 1990’s he managed the Jesuit community before starting COGRI. Throughout my 8 years of Jesuit education I learned two main things: how to enjoy a nice adult beverage and how to enjoy nice food. This Jesuit community seemed to have the same priorities. I asked Sr. Mary, “Do the Jesuits eat well here”? She turned and replied with no hesitation, “Oh yes”. As sister took me around the complex, I experienced its beauty as we paused to watch the sunset over the Ngong Hills.
                                                                                                                                                                                  

Sr. Mary Owns (on the right) and her three Loreto sisters

                           Our tour of the Jesuit complex was followed by dinner at Sr. Mary’s home. On our drive to her home, I asked her many questions about my great uncle in hopes of learning more about the personality and character of Fr. Dag. She told story after story until we arrived at her home. She lives with three of her congregation sisters (Loreto Sisters). We indulged in a delicious meal over lighthearted conversation. While the sisters took modest portions, I took two gluttonous servings of beef stew and tasty mashed maze (similar to mashed potatoes). I could not help but take advantage of the buffet. The main course was accompanied by wine and followed by fresh fruit, cake, and ice cream. It was quite a treat after eating maze and beans over the last three months. I learned during dinner that each one of these women is highly influential in the community/country. One sister is the head of accounting in the area for her congregation, another is a dean of a school, another leads retreats at the Jesuit complex, and Sr. Mary is the ED of COGRI. As I was leaving, the sisters told me to visit again. There is no doubt that I will take them up on that offer. It was a memorable evening that provided a glimpse of my great uncle’s life. Each one of these experiences is bringing me closer to understanding who Fr. Dag was. I also was thankful to spend time with Sr. Mary and get to know her better.

Mass at Nyumbani Home.  Fr. Jim, Sr. Mary and Nyumbani Home children.

I stayed around on Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of Fr. Dag’s death. I spoke a few words before Mass began. Mass was followed by salami, ham and provolone cheese. My behavior and excitement as we approached the antipasti tray made it apparent that I was the only Italian of the group.
My trip to Karen was wonderful, but I am happy to be back in the Village.

The children dancing at the ceremony on Saturday with a picture of Fr. Dag in the backround.

Until Next Time…

Amboseli National Park



Elephant eating in the marsh while staying cool

Jeremy, Chris and I went on a safari at Amboseli National Park. The safari company picked us up on Friday morning and dropped us off Sunday afternoon at the Village. The most famous park in Kenya is surely Masai Mara but Amboseli is also highly regarded. The beautiful view of Mt. Kilimanjaro, about 45km away, is what makes the place so unique. The ice from the mountain melts and creates areas of marsh that are ideal for water buffalo and hippos. Other areas of the part are flat savanna plains which attracts many other type of animals. Amboseli has every type of animal you can think of besides the rhino. We saw hippos, water buffalos, many exotic birds, wildebeests, zebras, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, lions, chimpanzees, gazelles, etc. It is actually the off season meaning that many animals have migrated from the area. The park had less quantity of animals but also less tourist (which was very nice). 

Some species of exotic bird.  There are over 1,300 species of bird is Kenya, the most in the world.

Like any tourist attraction in Kenya, every employee was Kenyan and every safari-goer was white, Indian or middle-eastern. Most safari groups, including ours, drive around the park in a van that has a large sunroof mechanism that allows the tourist to stand and get a better look at the animals. Exiting the vehicle on park grounds is a serious offense that carries large fines. Any group can rent a car and pay for the entrance fee to the park but paying a safari company is recommended. The tour companies install radios in their vehicles and communicate to each other in a special language when rare animals are spotted. A tourist that enters the park without a safari guide will surely miss a few rare animals.



Chimp and her baby

 Upon entering the park on late Friday morning, we took a drive before heading to our lodge. We saw many animals but ashamedly my mind was more focused on the food buffet waiting for me at the lodge. The accommodations were wonderful and the huge tent we stayed in was nicer than many homes. We set our bags in the room and headed directly for the bar before moving on to the buffet. Lunch and dinner included soup, bread, 8 types of salads, greens, chicken or steak, potatoes, and desserts (which do not exist in the Village). Breakfast included freshly squeezed orange juice, mango juice and pineapple juice, along with many delicious items. The combination of cold beer, delicious varieties and quantities of food and indoor plumbing made this place a temporary paradise for us. To top it off, we had a breathtaking view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The view was great but no doubt exponentially enhanced by the sight of the largest peak in Africa.

Our Lodge



Me in front of our tent



Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background

We went on an afternoon drive on Friday, a morning and afternoon drive on Saturday, and a morning drive on Sunday before heading back to the Village. I found the afternoon drives more rewarding because of the view of the sunset, cooler temperature and the greater number of animals (the animals come out from under the shaded bushes and trees as the sun starts to descend and the temperature drops). At times, we were no more than 10 ft. away from elephants, zebras and lions. Lions are the biggest attraction and quite rare to see.

On Saturday afternoon, our safari guide heard something on the radio and barked at the driver with urgency in his voice. He turned to us and explained that Lions have been spotted mating. We arrived to a huddle of vehicles observing a Lion and Lioness mating no more than 20 ft away. We stayed around for 40 minutes and witnessed their animalistic mating practices not once but twice. I know that it sounds odd that we were so interested in this event, but it was quite a sight to see the Lions interact in their natural habitat (there was also 100 other people in 20 cars gathered around). Interestingly enough, lions can mate up to 100 times in a day (during mating season) lasting only 1-2 minutes each time.

I learned much during the safari

This is the point at which our safari guide explained that the lioness was satisfied.  Sorry, inapproriate.

The park is on Masai land and a percentage of the proceeds go to the many tribes living inside the park. The Masai people are very traditional. They are known for their extravagant decoration of beads they wear, homes made of cow dung, limited hygiene, limited education, cattle herding with limited farming, the men being feared warriors and men having multiple wives. The women live a rough life in western standards. They do most of the work inside and outside the home and are often not afforded the opportunity of education. Their husband is selected for them and they must share the husband with several other wives. As we were passing near one of the tribes, our driver stopped to say hello to a young Masai man no older than 16 or 17. The drive later explained that he knew the man for many years, and the man had explained how excited he was to marry his second wife this year. Recently in the Kenyan newspaper there was a story about an old Masai man that died and had over 100 wives.

Wildebeests



Masai women selling items at the entrance of Amboseli

The weekend presented me an opportunity to gain back some of the weight that I have lost during my Kenyan Quest. Although all three of us stuffed ourselves as full as possible each meal, I do not think I gained much of the weight back (or have since lost the weight back). My great Uncle, Fr. Angelo D’Agostino, always stressed the importance of going on a safari in Kenya. Now I know why. A special thanks to Uncle Mike, Aunt Sharon and the boys for all their guidance and support with my safari!

Other Info

I recently received a package from my parents that included six bottles of the best barbeque sauce in the world, Gates Original BBQ Sauce. When mixing it in with beans and other meals in the guest house, it provides a wonderful reminder of baked beans from Smokestack and a beef-on-bun from Gates. I miss KC BBQ.

A little taste of KC

Jeremy, one of the Americans who volunteered for two months, left us last week. We both found ourselves in similar places in life and truly enhanced each other’s experience. Maybe I should be more jealous than sad considering he left us to go on a week long tour of Amsterdam. When you go without certain amenities for a period of time, the things that we westerners take for granted can be a treat. For instance, Jeremy was as excited to sit on the plane, watch a movie and order a cold Heineken as he was to arrive in Amsterdam (I would have felt the same way).

Until Next Time....

Community Outreach

A child outside the Village that was born with a physical disability.  He treks more than one mile each day to fetch water.

Home Visit
I recently attended two home visits with the homecare psychologist, Lillian. A home visit consists of picking up a family of children from their school in the outside community, driving them to their home so the social worker can see the conditions they are living in and then documenting information about the visit. The purpose of the visit is to identify if the children and the grandparent, if one is alive, have reached a level of destitution warranting an invitation to move into the village.



Children of my first Home Visit.  They are sitting on their 5' x 4' bed that they share.



The house of the first Home Visit.



Miambani Hills

 The first case involved four siblings whose father died of AIDS in 2008 and the mother in 2009. The oldest was 13 years and they had been living on their own for over a year (they have no one willing to take care of them). Only one of the children had a school uniform and the younger children were suffering from malnourishment (Lillian took a quick look at the children’s heads and immediately knew they were malnourished, although it was not so easy for me to recognize). They were living in a home that was 10’ by 15’ and all four sleeping on a bed 5’long by 4’wide. I have no idea how they got food at night. As we were driving them back to school, I noticed that they had picked up a plastic water bottle from the back seat floor and were scheming how to take it for use at home. They will surely be admitted into the village sometime soon.



The grave of the parents of the first Home Visit with the homes in back.

 The other case was not as dire as the first. The parents had died in ’98 and 05’ from AIDS and the grandfather in 09’ from natural causes. Three children were left with their grandmother who possessed little to no skills to survive. They may also be candidates for the village, including the grandmother. Their home area of Miambani resides in a valley of hills that resemble small mountains. It possessed a pretty beautiful landscape.
We took a picture of the burial places of the parents at both home visits. Because people in the area can not afford grave stones, they bury loved ones near the home and let the grass grow undisturbed.

Rescue Visit
A week after the home visits, I went on a Rescue Visit. A Rescue Visit occurs when the Village is informed about a situation inflicting irreversible physical and emotional damage to the children. Homecare staff must visit the home to confirm that the situation is as dire as described by the informing organization. If the situation is as dire as described, Nyumbani will relocate the children to the Village that day.  This particular organization, managed by a congregation of nuns, sent two Sisters to the Village to explain the situation. The next day Lillian and I went to assess the home environment and determine whether the circumstances warranted an immediate relocation into the Village.


The home of the children of the Rescue Visit.

 First, we met with the nuns that referred the case and the principal of the children’s school. They accompanied us to the children’s home where we were greeted by the area chief and neighbors. As Lillian conducted the visit by asking questions to the chief and neighbor and also answering their questions, I took pictures of the home, burial site and children. Because the language spoken during the visit was Kikamba, I did not gather much information about the case. All Lillian told me as we were leaving is that the situation was very bad and the children must be taken to the Village immediately. The family consisted of children ages 13 years, 11 years, 9 years, 3 years, and 10 months. The children aged 13 years, 11 years, and 10 months old are females and the 9 and 3 year old are males.


Four of the Five children inside their home.  They slept on the dirt floor.



Dokas after chugging several ounces of milk.

I took a banana from Benson, the three year old, and fed him small pieces after he devoured half of the banana in one bite.  He was literally "starving" of hunger. 

Four of the Five children, the principal of their school, neighbors, and the chief of the area (in the back right).

The Sisters invited us to lunch at their home before departing for our 1.5 hour journey to the Village. The children devoured the food that was given and the 10 month old chugged several ounces of milk. Lillian explained the situation to me as we waited for lunch to be cooked. An older woman, ashamed of being infertile, adopted two young women to live in her home and have children for her. The two young women had relations with different men and ultimately birthed these five children (probably all having different fathers). Within the last year, the older woman died of natural causes and the two young women died of AIDS. It is uncertain if the children have HIV but will be tested soon. The last death occurred a few months ago, leaving the children to survive on their own. A man claiming to be the father of one of the younger children was living in the home. He was a drug dealer that had sold all the children’s land and was suspected of “inappropriate” behavior (putting it lightly) toward the eldest daughter. That child had been moved to a safe home away from the man. Consequently, the 11 and 9 year old were sharing the responsibility of taking care of the two younger children. The 11 year old would stay home from school one day to take care of the youngsters, while the 9 year old would go to school. They would rotate going to school every day. The 3 year old was born with Cerebral Palsy (my diagnosis according to my work at United Cerebral Palsy of St. Louis) and requires special assistance to thrive. Furthermore, they had no means of food and the neighbors had difficulty supplying food because the man living in their house would eat it and sell it. The neighbors were forced to visit periodically and serve meals directly to the children. These neighbors had little food to feed themselves, let alone the children.


Dokas' malnourished body.

 As we entered the car, I realized that the 10 month old named “Dokas” was so malnourished that she was the size of a 2 or 3 month old. My two hands covered her entire 12lb frame. I, as many of you know, can be an emotionally guarded person. Not this day! I found myself filled will sorrow and frustration as emotional vulnerability overpowered my emotional armor. I could not take my eyes off of the two youngsters, especially Dokas. I held her in my arms (which were engulfing her body) the entire drive home. The stench coming off of Dokas and the 3 year old’s body and cloths was foul beyond words. While displaying facial expressions of shock and awe as the tiny child lay in my arms, Lillian became concerned of my emotional state. I immediately assured her that I was stable, although very moved by what I was seeing and experiencing.
Upon arriving at the Village, we move the children’s possessions, packed in two Wal-Mart size plastic bags, into their new home. They were welcomed into a home of 7 children governed by a grandmother (now there are 12 children in the home). I accompanied the children to the home and spent the rest of the night with them, mostly holding Dokas. Because I have continued to check on the children each day, especially Dokas, Lillian has begun to jokingly refer to Dokas as my first born child.

Dokas and I after reaching the Village.

How are the children doing now? Dokas and the three year old are gaining weight as their bodies are accepting a healthy amount of food each day. The three older children are now smiling and making friend, whereas before they were guarded and scared. For the first time I truly appreciate the value of Nyumbani Village. I am seeing the effect that the Village is having on these children. Without the services provided by the Village, the two younger children would surely have died in the matter of months. The children are now afforded the opportunity to have dreams and aspire to have a better life. Having personally seen the desperation and pain endured by these orphans before relocation and the emotional progress and change in personality after living in the Village for a few weeks, I genuinely appreciate the power and importance of this place. I have now experienced the emotions that drove Fr. Dag to spend so many sleepless nights planning and fundraising to build this Village.

Guest House Cat


The Guest House Kittens

A cat that hangs around the Guest House has been designated our house cat. The other evening I put a visitor in one of the guest house rooms. He came and knocked on my door with a perplexed look. He explained that kittens were curled up on the bed. Me, being the animal-lover that I am, called the village veterinarian because I had no idea what to do. The vet. put the kittens in a box and placed them inside the guest home. People that frequent the guest house have realized that our cat is overly friendly, considering this is the second time she has given birth in six months.



Other Information
The grandmothers have given me the Akamba name “Matiso” meaning “bright”. I am unsure if they are saying that my personality brings light to a room or that I am intelligent. Either way I consider it a compliment. Add Matiso to the list of names people call me: Dag, John Mike, John, Mike, John Mark, Dagger, smart-ass, etc.

I decided to make Karubu (a Kenyan beer that is popular in this area because of how cheap it is to make) for a party we had in the guest house. I bought the ingredients, sugar and pure honey, and mixed them in a five gallon bucket with water. A fermenting component found on a tree is then added to produce the alcohol. I made the concoction three day ahead of time and put it out in the sun to ferment each day. The day of the party I left the village early in the morning for a home visit. As the vehicle was driving me and others back to the village, something in the engine exploded. By the time I arrived in the village, the Karubu was gone (except for a liter that they put aside for me). I really wanted to take a picture for you all to see. I will make sure to get a picture next time.


The remnants of the Village fire.

 We had a fire in the Village this week. A child from outside the Village was playing with a match and lit a small section of the Village on fire. The circumstances could have proved disastrous. It is now very dry in the Village, it was the windiest day since I have been here and the water pump for the Village was broken. Luckily, the section of land was undeveloped and the fire did not skip over the road and enter the main section of the Village. Admittedly, I did absolutely nothing to contribute to the situation. Everyone was speaking Kikamba and there was little water to fight the fire. I felt like I was in California or something.

Until Next Time……

Religious Pressure

Nyumbani Village Children Walking to Class

I was assigned the role of village Volunteer Coordinator this week. My responsibilities include welcoming volunteers to the village, finding the proper job for each volunteer based on their skills and interests, preparing lodging arrangements for volunteers and visitors and providing a tour of the village to volunteers and visitors. Different people are always visiting to learn from the successful programs of the village or to simply confirm the successes of the village in person that they have heard so much about. Leaders of organizations often visit in hopes of obtaining knowledge and skills they can use in their organization. Visitors are never disappointed and always leave inspired and encouraged about the progress they can make in their own organization after learning from the village. Tour size can range from 1-50 people. Visitors can vary from young college graduates traveling throughout Africa to powerful Kenyan politicians and businesspeople. Most of the knowledge I am putting to use as a tour guide comes from my experience observing the witty and entertaining tour guides during my somewhat extensive list of brewery visits. I am quickly getting the hang of this tour guide and volunteer coordinator thing and am feeling encouraged that if my nonprofit career flops I can go into the Hospitality or Tourist Industry.

The wife and child of a guest house cook

In addition to volunteer coordination, I am acting as a consultant for the Homecare Department until the new Homecare Manager arrives (currently there is no Homecare Manager). I am creating a Strategic Plan to guide the department toward improvements. Its exciting to use the knowledge I obtained from my education in Nonprofit Management.

A recent college graduate from UK (Ed) that is traveling through Africa stayed in the village for a week. We enjoyed his company but this Friday had to bid him farewell, along with the two Jesuit novices and another volunteer named Angie. For 24 hours, the three American volunteers ruled the guest house. Then on Saturday evening, we welcomed two aspiring nuns that are novices. The sisters are young, energetic and passionate about their calling in life and their visit to the village. They are in their fourth year of training that began for both of them directly after finishing high school at age 19. As I was showing them around the village, they excitedly asked me if I was going to follow in my great uncle’s footsteps. I knew exactly what they were asking, “Are you going to become a Jesuit Priest like your great uncle?” I politely explained that I would be interested in becoming a missionary and doing work similar to Fr. Dag, but that I would like to marry some day. This response did not discourage them as they proceeded to discuss the importance for a person to listen to his/her calling in life. I made a compromise with them by telling them that I would consider the priesthood if priests are ever allowed to marry (I’m crossing my fingers). I felt like I was a young teenage boy again sitting at my grandparent’s kitchen table listening to my Italian Catholic grandmother explained the importance of considering a vocation in the church as my grandfather yelled at her to leave me alone. The sisters’ passion, stubbornness and persistence about the topic offer a warm reminder of those precious memories with Mayme and Tony D’Agostino.

Ed, the Brit volunteer

A Catholic Brother visiting from the surrounding community sparked up a conversation with me after finding out that I was a D’Agostino. Apparently he is fundraising to build a church just outside the village where people in the village and the surrounding area can attend Mass. Currently, Catholics from the surrounding community attend Mass every Sunday at the Nyumbani Village Social Hall. The Brother tried to explain to me the importance of celebrating Mass in an official church instead of the Social Hall. He proceeded to also express his displeasure with the plastic Chalice used at the Social Hall Mass. He said that God deserves a radiant church and Chalice. He estimated the cost of a radiant new Chalice between $300 and $400. I had three thoughts.

Thought #1: What do you want me to do about it, I’m Broke!


Thought #2: God deserves better? No these children that have no clothes, shoes or parents deserve better. The man, although good intentioned, has a warped perspective as far as I am concerned. The community has been blessed with a beautiful Social Hall to celebrate Mass. Furthermore, I could care less about buying a radiant and expensive Chalice to “Please God” when so many basic needs are not being met in the community. Faith is not demonstrated by luxurious churches or Chalices (Sorry for the rant).


Thought #3: The Brother has obviously not seen the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. If he had, he would have known when picking the cup of Christ to “Choose Wisely”. Poorly choosing the radiant cup will instantly decay and crumble a person into ashes. Choosing the dirty “Humble Cup” (in the village’s case a Plastic Chalice) will lead to everlasting life (and then Sean Connery drinks the cup and his gunshot wound is immediately healed). If you do not understand this movie reference, you now have entertaining Friday night plans. Please blissfully lie down on your couch and watch this Spielberg classic on your 50” HD flat screen while enjoying tasty popcorn and forget all about the guy that gave you the idea in the first place.



School Visit 

Four of the Five Nyumbani Village boys attending St. Lukes School

One month ago I met a young 18 year old boy from the village named Mambo. After spending some time talking, he informed me that the he is in his senior year in high school preparing for the Kenya national university exam. He requested that I visit him at his boarding school located 30 minutes from the village. Students that score above a certain level are automatically accepted into private universities throughout the country, although these schools are often too expensive to attend. Students that score at an even higher level are automatically accepted into the Public Kenya Universities (more prestigious) and given a half scholarship by the government. Kenyan children dream of attending the Public Universities.

Mambo and Me

After receiving a call from Mambo every weekend for a month asking when I was coming to visit him at school, I made time on a Sunday. He and four other boys from the village attend St. Lukes all boys school, although he is the oldest. Mambo made sure that I greeted each one of the Nyumbani boys before he sat me down for a chat. He started the conversation by saying, “I wanted you to visit so you could see my school and so I could tell you more about myself”. He proceeded to recite the summary of his life and how he got where he is today. He told me that in third grade his mother died and he lived alone with his little brother (he never knew his father). In between his studies at school, he would help neighbors with their cattle ranching to make some money. He performed very well in the classroom and scored in the top percentage in the district on the national eighth grade exam. Throughout grade school his teachers paid for him and his brothers tuition fees. Upon finishing eighth grade he realized that he could not afford high school education and he began to lose hope. With no realistic options, he explained to me that he began to stop dreaming about his future and had begun to accept his future as a cattle rancher. With one last desperate attempt, with the help of his grade school teachers, he made an appointment with the Government Representative of Education in the District. Mambo is very articulate and explained his situation to the district representative. After seeing his scores, the representative pulled some strings and got him into St. Luke’s Boys School, although Mambo must pay back the four years of tuition in the future. During his sophomore year, Nyumbani accepted him and his brother into the village. When he is not at boarding school, he now has a safe place to stay (along with his little brother who is also now in high school).

Nyumbani social workers informed me that his story is true, that he is a respectful young man and that he is a lock to qualify for university next year. He finished his life summary by saying, “So I brought you here…..” Immediately red flags and warning signs flashed in my head. My first thought was that he was going to ask for money to attend university. He continued with “to sit you down and ask you for advice about what career to choose and any advice about life that can make me a successful person.” We talked for two hours about university, careers, values, responsibilities and much more. Words can not describe how moved I was by this young man. After all that he had been through, how could he be so determined, focused, mature and humble? There is no doubt that he yearns for male role models in his life, considering that he has never really had any and has always had to be the role model for his brother. I expressed, as best I can, my advice and wisdom that he should consider. I also promised to take all five of the boys to the village shop to enjoy a soda and snack and visit with them when they come home for break. I look forward to their arrival.

A 14 passenger Matatu

Until Next Time...