SITE VISIT TO DADAAB REFUGEE CAMPS

We are focusing this section of our blog on our August 22, 23, 24, 2011 site visit to the Dadaab Refugee camps.  Our purpose was to gain a better understanding of how we can implement the emergency relief package the LDS Church has approved for aid to the Somalia refugees.  The camps are home to approximately 420,000 Somalias coming over the border to Kenya because of the civil unrest and famine caused by severe drought.  The Church wanted us to first find out what type of aid was needed, then locate a partner that can participate with the United Nations (who manage the camps).  We held meetings with several aid agencies and selected International Medical Corps (IMC) as the NGO to partner with and that is who arranged our visit. 

Most of the blog will consist of the pictures we took as we traveled throughout the various camps, plus a map to help you understand how the old/new camps are laid out.  Many of the pictures will show a temporary medical clinic because our partner, MTC, will provide the medical/nutrition services to a brand new camp called Kambioos, which will be funded by LDS Humanitarian donations.

Instead of luggage -check it out - full of goats!

After six hours on paved road we arrived at Garissa, the last "normal" town before we headed off into the desert.  It was a stark difference than  anything we've seen in Kenya.  Anyone travelling to the refugee camps have to be at Garissa by 2:00 pm - that's the time an armed United Nations convoy leaves for Dadaab - otherwise you are not allowed to go because it is lawless and dangerous, nothing but sand (not even a defined road) for the next 100 miles.  The convoy, led by the armed "commandoes" go at least 60 mph and if you don't keep up they leave you.  It was like the Baja 500 - only two other UN vehicles and then us at the end of the convoy - three does not make a convoy???? Our driver had only been to Dadaab once and we could tell he was very nervous to drive.

Our security escort - a pickup full of armed commandos

   It was not safe and we definately felt at risk but we were on our way.  We saw at least 50+ dead cows along the way, some giraffes and antelopes, how they survived is amazing.  You could see other supply trucks along the route but everyone just made their own road through the desert - it was crazy! I think that was our first three hour ride in a dust cloud.  My sinuses will never be the same.  
Oh and thank goodness for seat belts cause if you didn't have one on .... your head would be bouncing on the ceiling.  I really can't understand the need to travel at a high rate of speed in new trucks unless you just want to see how they will hold up.  Before we left Garissa (the oiled road) I looked under the hood of our 3-week old land rover and noticed the nut off of the battery bracket that secured the battery..... so I found some string and a piece of  wire to tie it down, believe me that saved us a major break down in the middle of the desert.  The battery would have tipped over and shorted our everything.  Little blessings just keep falling out of the sky.  Well by now the tone of the blog has changed and you guessed it Elder Tuttle is at the key board.  As I have said in the past be patient and I'll have Janet correct the spelling and punctuation.  ( Hope Ruth Barker doesn't read this).  Like Forrest Gump said " My MAMA told me I wasn't  a very smart man".  But those that know me know I at least have fun doing what I do. This last week has been an adventure to say the least.  I love getting out in the bush.  Its my favorite part of the mission.  Although I think I am getting a little better in the office. Right JT?

Yes, those are camels!

As we were going mock 60 mph through the desert we would come across herds of camels.  That is possibly the only creation that could survive in the desert except for a snake and scorpion but it was exciting to see them wandering in the desert. The thought crossed my mind about bow hunting for camels.... then I came to my senses.   For those of you who don't  know  its bow hunting season in Utah and my boys are in full camo without me, but I'll get over it.

2-1/2 hours of this - going 60 miles per hour

This is one of the better stretches of road so I was able to hold still enough to take a picture.  Most of the time there was 6 to 8 inches of fine powder dust on the road, so when the driver would change positions in the road the truck would slide like changing lanes in 6 inches of slush in the winter.   I told the driver ( Robert)  that he is now trained to drive in Utah in the winter.  He didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

OLD ELDER TUTTLE CLIMBS MT KENYA

OK "Tuttle" boys listen up, competition is still alive an well even while I am in Kenya.   Yes old Elder Tuttle climbed Mt. Kenya.  I know I know but it's not the highest mountain in Kenya but at least I did it? I figure I am at least one up on you guys now.  I know it won't be for long cause your minds are working to see how you can top that. 
Well let me tell the story.  This

picture is the back side of Mt. Kenya for a little preview of what is to come - not the route we took.  The hike and climb was as beautiful and challenging as the picture looks.  This was a 6-day adventure, I was picked up at our flat by Kyolo (Cholo) the guide and the two other hikers from France, a mother (Leann) and son ( Taubo).  They spoke a little English and I spoke exactly NO French. WE WE Monsueor .   "See what I mean"  The ride to the park was eventful to say the least.  Four and one-half hrs. to get to a town where we tried to exchange vehicles from a van to a range rover.  Well not so, the range rover didn't show up...so, up the dirt road we went in the van. In case your wondering this road is the road from H---.  The van was struggling to say the least.  We only had 32 kilometers to go.  About 23 klicks up the road the range rover met us so the two vehicles both did 15 point turns to about face.  Now 9 Kenyan porters and 2 French hikers and one Farmington boy jumped into the 1945 vintage rangerover, held together with, I was going to say held together with duct tape and tie wire but they don't have either one here so I don't know what it was held together with.  So up the road we go trying to hold on, by this time it is 9:30 PM ( in the jungle).  The driver was pushing the rover pretty hard and I can tell its too old to treat that way so my fingers are crossed and I guess I did say a little prayer.  By now we are about a hour from our first base camp. (10:00) PM.  Now have you ever seen a bull elephant in the middle of the road  in the jungle with his ears flared coming full steam for a head on? And have you ever heard 9 Kenyans yaking in Swahili, two Frenchmen yelling French and one Farmington white

boy talking to the man above?  It was not a pretty sight.  Well at least someone heard my voice because the Monster stopped short and held his ground, as we backed up he would advance - all of this happening at night. This was the case for 50 minutes after which Big Daddy decided to hightail it to the bushes.  The big boy in the picture is a little smaller than the one we had the stand off with, and that's not a fish story! 

     To continue, we bounced up the road toward camp only to hear the sound I didn't want to hear.  Do you know what the sound of the drive line spinning the gear teeth of the rear differential sounds like?  I do, ( not good)  Sooo we got out to watch the Kenya team extract the crackerjack box size toolbox from under the seat and say "No Problem", Yes you heard it right No Problem.  I explained to the two French people to get there packs and bags cause we are going to walk the rest of the way to camp at 11:00 o'clock in the middle of the jungle. The Kenya team placed rocks under the wheels and away we went to the base camp arriving about 11:45 pm.  We had hot soup and a roll then went to bed only to freeze to death because we were soaked with sweat. 

The next day was a nice sunny day as we packed for our first 7 to 8 hour hike to another camp.  The hike passed through jungle then to sparce trees to beautiful tall grass and boulder fields. We also crossed many fresh water springs that looked like they had fish in.  We were pretty tired when we arrived at the next camp.

The porters were no bigger than a cub scout but don't let that full you, they could carry way more than I could and track twice as fast as I could.  Maybe it was the worn out running shoes and the church pants they wore that made them faster.  No it must be the small bowl of ugali they ate every day. Never the less they were awesome!

Well this camp was at about 14,000 feet and this is where you don't sleep at night, something to do with the altitude, you rest but don't get into a deep sleep. I guess your brain doesn't want to go night night if it doesn't have enough oxygen. And the other reason you don't sleep is you're freezing to death.  This is the macho guy stuff I love.   I keep waiting to grow hair on my chest...   maybe on the next climb.  The springs we crossed were clear and clean, everyone filled up there water bottles and washed face and hands ( thank goodness).   

The flora and fauna was very different  but very beautiful, I kept picking some kind of sage, rubbing it in my fingers and smelling it. I think it is addicting.  I did it for three days.  It sure had a good smell.  I will bring some home on the next hike and sell it, for cooking of course.  Notice the big nobby plants, they sure were an addition to the landscape.  They looked like green lollypops at a distance. 

One thing I liked was the fresh mountain air.  Nothing like that to clear a man's head after six months of smog in Nairobi.  I didn't have to hack or blow my nose once while in the clean air. 





The picture below is a mountain troll I found. I never could see the whites of her eyes  because of the long hair .... but she said some nice things in troll talk!!!!!

 

Have you ever seen shag carpet on a stick? Well that is what I found growing in this mountain in Africa.  Yes lime green shag carpet, and just as soft too.  I wished I knew the name of the plants but I don't.  So I would appreciate any help in the Horticulture Dept. ( Donna Minch) Help.  
There was always plenty to look at and take pictures of on these nine hour hikes. 

The guide and porters worked hard to fix our meals and serve it hot which was nice because it was so cold when the wind was blowing.

We always had a red table cloth for dinning.  With hot water for tea or hot chocolate.  Sometimes the birds got the biscuit before we did. 

The Shipton Peak is in the background. To be conquered the next morning.  (No Problem)!

 

 Up at 2:00 am  and on the trail to Shipton by 3:00 am to make it before sunrise.  This is a (I want to use the word extremely) hard and challenging hike/ climb.  At the 16,000 foot level, my lungs were expanding but no air was going in.  This wasen't very comforting because we still had more than a 1,000 feet to go. We passed a few people on the trail that didn't make it.  I wanted to stop and help but I was worried a little about myself.  The key to forward movement is to put the right foot in front of the left foot and so on, this leads you to the summit.(eventually).

SEE I told you so!  Me at the top.

( Piece of Cake) but a frozen piece of cake!!!  I was totally not geared up for the challenge, but I made due with what I had, Sunday School shoes and all.








Kenya flag... me above the clouds and the sunrise!  Great Morning.  Glad I had the opportunity to do this great adventure. The only thing that could of made it better is my four boys standing on the top with me. 

Not a problem just a little bouldering to get to the top.

Back side of Mt. Kenya.  Took three hours to get down to this point where it was a little easier to breath and a lot warmer.


The mountain is alot more majestic from this side than the acsent side.  You can see places where old glaciers have scraped the sides of the mountain and left it smooth.  Wonder who lived here at that time.

It is amazing the beauty you find above 15,000 feet it was all over, you just had to open your eyes.  Alot of my 150 pictures were of the beauty and creation we are all blessed with.  I did feel privledge to see this part of the world. 

This is a lodge on the decending side we just had some breakfest there and move on down the mountain cause we had another 6 hrs. to go and we had been up since 2 am .

Hiking down hill makes a whole new set of muscles wake up and wonder what in the  .... is going on.  I was digging in my pack for the Ibuprofin 800's. 

 Hiking in a wonderland isn't very hard to do.  We went from one end of the spectrum to the other...scenery doesn't get much better than this.

 Now let me tell you about this little bad boy.  Lets call him Ruffis.  This little teenager decided to enter my cabin while I was recovering on my bunk in never never land.  I heard some commotion next to me and Ruffis is on the table throwing my noodle soup in the air with one of my bread rolls in his mouth and one hand in the butter container. I will repent later for the outbust... some of my construction language slipped out.  Ruffis now has a #10EE boot print some where

on his teenage body.  Well the night was finally a good one  and I slept because we're down to 10,000 feet again.  Now just one more get up and another 4 1/2 hr. hike down hill and will be to the park entrance.  I feel this was a good challange for me at my age and abilities.  I would do it again only if  my boys were able to be here to kid and have fun.  That makes it all worth it!  Well that's my story of the Mt Kenya hike. Hope you liked it?  Old Elder Tuttle.

Part II - LDS Charities' Projects in Kenya



Kisumu Branch - We just got out of church

 The pictures below are from the NRT Training.  The neo-natal resusitation couple from SLC came over for the training on May 14-25.  We assisted them in training 127 mid-wives, nurses in a 2-day course in two separate locations.  There were also seven pediatric physicians from Nairobi that helped with the basic training - at the end of the training we distributed the resusitation equipment to each participant who agreed to go back and then they become the trainers to other staff.  One in 10 babies have breathing difficulties when born, this training and equipment will help save many babies.
This is the Kisumu LDS Branch, the sr. couple also lives on the bottom floor, the chapel is on top - open air in the trees with a view of the city.  Kind of different to hear the city noise during sacrament!!!!

 Before we left, Dick is stuffing envelopes with Kenya shillings to pay 120 participants this stipend for travel, lodging and meals.  (Its like playing monopoly - only I didn't pass Park Place.  We were packing alot of cash - kind of scary!

 This is the specialist, Steve and Deb Whipple who have been to Kenya for 4-5 years doing the training of the physicians just days before the training. 

We were the ones who did all the arrangement of hotels, meals, conferences, training materials, importing the equiptment, travel. etc.

Check out the little dark baby manequins the participants work on as they practice their "Help Babies Breath" skills.  This 2-day class was held in a small, cramped hotel rooftop with no restrooms - but in the rural areas there was not much to pick from.  It was a difficult course and we couldn't stop until everyone passed.  Our days were long, we worked very hard, but the class worked even harder to learn the skills.  It was so worth it!!!





Check us out on the roof, we had computers, printers
to manage the training course

 The entire course (registration, facility, pre-post tests), had to be documented for the files and the church.  It was pretty intensive and first class.  We will be doing another course in the fall so we were glad to get the training and understand how it all works.  Steve and Deb are very capable and I think we all made a good team!  It will be fun to work with them in the fall and in 2012.

 This is the second class in Homa Bay, at a District Hospital on Lake Victoria.  The classroom was much better and the course went smoother.   Just to keep things challenging, the hotel we stayed at lost their power in the night and the class was to start prompt at 7:30 am - try getting ready in the dark!!!!! Nothing is easy in Kenya! 




The caterer making capaties - look closely!
She and her husband are Members

 There is no way for me to describe how the caterers pulled off meals for 65 people for two days - it was all made outdoors, by hand, in the dirt with no available water, electricity,  refridgeration or stoves, they would just fill buckets of water and carry them to the area on the grass and prepare all the food.  They cooked with charcoals and big pots - we were amazed.  It was all traditional african food!





We were sure surprised to see how nice the caterers set everything up.  So much hard work for the caterers, but there were no hotels or services so we had to contract the meals out.

 Dick was loving doing all the medical stuff - like he was back being a paramedic!   Next time he will be certified to actually train the trainers - he can't wait!   He got along with the physicians really well and they asked him to pass out the graduation certificates to the participants.  This is a project that we both believe in and enjoyed doing, anything but being in the office!!!!

 Like I said.... this is a rural area.  Check out the road ahead of us.  This is more the norm once you are in the bush.  Realize we are 8-9 hours from Nairobi on the Kenya/Uganda border, once in awhile we do have asphalt but most of the time its dirt roads.  Everything takes longer here and is harder to accomplish!!! But whose complaining - not me.

Well finally we had a little R&R.  This is over looking a game preserve at Lake Nakuru.    The Whipples were more than fun to be with as well as very hard workers.  The second week they were here we made site visits to set up two more locations for trainings in 2012.  It was a very busy two weeks but a nice change of pace.  Now back to Nairobi and the office and to get Whipple's on the plane to SLC.

May, 2011 - Our Humanitarian Projects Finally Start

 We hope you all enjoy this version of our blog - most of it will dedicated to finally starting our projects.  The first couple of months in Kenya were spent getting comfortable with missionary life, then it was a month of office work, and now, in May, we have had many visitors, water short term specialist (17-day stay to resolve a large water project that had contractor problems, then our bosses from Johannesburg visited, and the  NRT (neo-natal resusitation couple) came for 14 days, we assisted them in the Help Babies Breath Training.  The following pictures will help you see what we've been up to. 

You'll note that when I left my hair was somewhat longer, then with Dick's persuasion I went for a cut from the locals, what a disaster....then in an effort to fix that mistake I tried to cut it again myself - didn't do too bad but thought I'd try the local hairstylist again - now I have the shortest haircut ever!!!!!  HELP - Where's Romela!!!!!  Oh well, no worries - we have more important things to do.

The Richardson's are our bosses from Jo-burg they are originally from Louisana.  They visited us for five days giving us training and looking at our proposed projects.  We enjoyed spending time with them. 



The Richardson's From Johannesburg



Jericho High - All boys school   



 We were invited to a presentation from the community, parents and headmaster of this 780 all boys school.  The boys  live here full time while in school. The only have water 2 days of the week.  They want LDS Charities to drill a borehole, some showers and latrines.  What's different about this project is that its right here in the suburbs of Nairobi.  It will be a small project but good because its close and we can montior the work as needed.

The school went all out to present the proposal - it was a 4+ hour tour and presentation.  The needs are so great and we need to stay objective in choosing the right projects that meet the most needs.  We felt this school will be good to partner with because the community, parents and school have accomplished so much with so little. We liked this school because they want to help themselves, and they are not afraid to work for it. The head school master truly has a vision.  

These pictures with us sitting around with the dignataries are too much. They make us look like we are important and know something and we don't. Very formal presentation!  

 May 4th...we headed 8 hours west of Nariobi to the Butere area - quite rural.  We are doing site visits to the schools where we'll start a big water and sanitation project.  These are typical latrines out in the bush at the schools.  I know there is a better way, and we will find it.  Maybe we will be known for way cool latrines.  Can you tell Elder Tuttle took over the blog for now. Like I told you before I have other talents. 

This is a spring in the Butere area.  90 percent of the women fetch the water. I guess they are stronger than the men or else the men are just too busy.(WORKING?...not!)  I carried they-re 5 gal water cans to the top of the hill to show them that men really can carry water.  They thanked me several times.  This is the area we are going to capture 66 of these springs which means, dig out the head of the spring, lay pipe cover with gravel and cement.  This makes a good safe spring.

This is an example of a rain water catchment off the roof into the tank, which is a good system - the area receives alot of rain.  The only thing is they don't know about PVC cement for the fittings and most seem to come undone. 

The person to the left is Rita, Janet's new best friend.  She is the superintendent over 39 schools.  She and Janet hit it off like two pees in a pod.  They have big plans to put all the men to work.  When Rita talks everyone listens.  She is one cool lady who broke out of the typical water-fetching mold.  We will be spending a lot of time with her.

 How good is your aim?  We didn't try this one.  Besides as you can see...No Door.  We can't wait to build them new latrines, we might even surprise them with a "special sit-down style" toilet along with the traditional "squat-type".  Oh Joy!

This is Rita's first grandbaby, You would think this baby was dressed for the north pole. Not so, this is normal attire for in the house.  3-layers, plus the hat.  Can you say suffocate?  That's how I felt just looking at the cute little thing. 

OK - now this was cool!!! Eating with your fingers at Rita's house.  Ugali (Kenya's main staple), rice, meat with some juce on it and some mashed up green stuff and no seasoning. Here's how it works, take a chunk of ugali and mix it up with rest with your fingers.  Then lick your fingers. What a great time we had! 

 Rita put on her African attire and we danced, then listened to her loud Christian music videos.  She is one cool lady. She will be our friend for life.

Here's our good buddy Justis Suchi,  He works for an NGO (Reach the Children).  We will be partnering with him on the 46 springs, 15 latrines, 2 boreholes and 12 rain capture on the school roofs. Suchi is one honest, transparent, happy, friendly, educated, spiritual guy, and he is also our friend.  He is the only Kenyan that talks loud so I can at least hear one African out of 39 million.

We'll publish this post for today and will continue tomorrow with part two.  Good evening to all - we love you all and thank you for your prayers and support.  Take care of each other and stay healthy, safe and happy.

Love, E/S Tuttle, Mom/Dad, G&G, Dick/Janet