This morning he was dressed in his blue Bridge shirt, armed with his business cards and even had his desk name plate with him. He is a star! We met with several successful and expectant entrepreneurs, interviewed, filmed, laughed, and more than anything looked at each other with amazement about the lives that are being changed before our eyes. Biashara is working! Successful entrepeneurs were proud to show off their vegetables, dry goods, storefronts, inventory , and more than anything tell us how Bridge has been a part of their changing lives.
We exited Mitumba but not without praying and consoling a mother who just lost her 21 year old daughter to an accident, engaged a dozen or so shop owners, gave out Certificates of Completion and listened to singing school children. Greg’s artful eyes and photo equipment were busy recording Mitumba into photo history. Don, our cameraman and reporter..among other notable things, was practicing to work for NBC as a correspondent.
Our usual MO these days is to make as many appointments as possible , race to meet our commitments and not make any of them on time. Today was no exception. Our safari van driver ( aka, Fast Eddie)new our strategy and sped off in the direction of our next Biashara visit miles away. His skill at negotiating Nairobi traffic has been nothing less than extraordinary. Several times we thought we would have to use St. Mary’s Hospital. Jeannie’s prayer mantra in the back of the bus has kept us on the road.
A visit with Flora along the way, the delightful articulate young girl Bridge interviewed in the Mathare slum almost four years ago, was refreshing and renewing. If you recall, she was going to be the President of the World Bank. She is a senior in one of the best high school in Kenya. She wants to be a dentist and an accountant. Hmm, not a bad mix considering the amount of money she could earn working on teeth! We will be looking for ways to help her with a college or university within the next year.
We managed to see more successful Biashara entrepreneurs and celebrate their successes. MCO was a big stop where dozens of Certificates were issued and participants congratulated. One particular entrepreneur had Jeannie and Connie doing high fives as a Kenyan lady explained how she is making money renting out generators, welding equipment, selling supplies, etc to male contractors and laborers. This sort of arrangement is not an ordinary happening since women are usually not found in “man’s business”.
Our day was not winding down as we continued our quest for exhaustion. We met with the MCO Board in downtown Nairobi for a couple of hours and communicated our way to self satisfaction and mental exhaustion. We should know in a couple of months of any significant changes in their way of conducting business. Their Board is made up of some very intelligent individuals who represent important positions in Kenyan Government and business interests. We are encouraged and have expectations for change that will address our concerns.
We left at 8:00 PM for yet another meeting back at our hacienda. The staff at St. Marys are wonderful to say the least! They prepared a meal for us knowing that it was way after closing the dining hall.
Don met with Father Bahadi from the Hospital to coordinate the tour of the facilities with over one hundred people when we celebrate the teacher celebration during our Sunday luncheon.
Here is to another day in Kenya. Your correspondent tonight, Gary Weigel. I’m going to bed and maybe I’ll here the lions roaring in the distance as last night. Kwa heri.