Our Last Days in Lodwar and a Birthday Surprise
- Anna-Livia
- 29. Apr.
- 3 Min. Lesezeit
The past two days felt slower as we stayed in Lodwar.
After the heavy rains, we were especially grateful that we hadn’t continued our journey to Nariokotome. Father Denis showed us a short video of the rivers, now wide and fast flowing. Even if we had made it to the mission, we would not have made it back in time. It takes a few days for the water to recede. In the end, things unfolded as they should.
The children were also not feeling their best, so the slower rhythm suited us all. Polyxena rested and slept a lot yesterday. Today it was Assunta’s turn to take things more gently. One would rest, the other would feel better, and so we stayed close and kept the days simple.
We used the time for a bit of homeschooling and to explore Lodwar at our own pace. We drove through the streets, stopped at a small market where we found the beaded bracelets so many people wear here, and later visited a local supermarket.
Julius, of course, was fascinated.
Holding up a bottle of tomato sauce, he said,
“This is the size we buy in Europe.”
Then he pointed to a much larger one and added,
“And this is the size they sell here!”
He wasn’t wrong. Everything seems to come in XXL.
In the evenings, we walked up to the Christ the Redeemer statue, a place that had become one of our favourites. There is always a gentle breeze up there, and from the top you can look out across Lodwar, the land stretching wide and open, especially beautiful in the soft evening light.
To mark the end of our time in Lodwar and the Turkana region, we were invited to dinner at Father Denis’ and Emmanuel’s home. Over the evening, Father Denis shared videos and stories from the mission in Nariokotome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84IFx65mQoU
Over the past forty years, they have built water catchments and small dams to grow food and provide water for animals. They run mobile clinics and dispensaries, and have established schools where children receive both education and regular meals. Seeing how much has been created here over time makes the scale of it hard to grasp.
Just when we thought the evening was over, one more surprise waited for us.
A birthday cake.
It was for Julius.
They had organised it in secret, knowing his birthday was the next day. It was colourful and carefully decorated, with candles that kept relighting themselves, much to everyone’s amusement.
Julius was completely amazed. I don’t think he had ever had a birthday cake quite like it before. Then again, that is what happens when you celebrate your birthday in Kenya.
It was the perfect ending to our time in Lodwar.
This morning, we celebrated again, this time quietly in the courtyard of the Bethany Guest House. Julius, still full of excitement, said, “Today, a new year begins for me.”
He spent the rest of the morning building his one present, Lego. Piece by piece, creating and rebuilding, completely absorbed in his own world.
Today, we travelled back to Nairobi, where we will stay for one night before continuing on to Kisumu, a place that had been mentioned to us many times along the way.
From there, our journey will take us further west, close to the Ugandan border, to Amagoro, where we will visit a children’s home.
Another place.e
Another story.
Another chapter waiting to begin.
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