Sunday rest

Hi all,
Today has been a day of rest. I felt like I needed - maybe not deserved, but needed all the same.
I went to mass here in Kangemi. This is an experience never to be missed. The choir are even better than the group at the wedding. Standing there listening felt surreal. Not that I could understand a word of it.
It is like the entire community goes to church and it must have been 800 people at the third mass of the day.
The kids were off-loading their Mazugoo's and favourite english phrases. It seems that every little one can say 'How are you?' (pronounced hoae-r-u?)
Where they learn this from is a mystery - but i have learnt to respond with 'fine' as it is the only other english word that they understand. They get a real kick out of it, that and me waving to them. I cannot comprehend a life where one of the highlights is some white guy on uni break paying you attention.

One of the speakers had the T-shirt "Fight Aids now - Keep your promise"
From a beginners perspective the Aids fight is an enormous battle. It seems that the disease is more a symptom, than the problem itself. Why do people get HIV? This answer is so multifactorial I dare not try and summarise it here. You really have to stop the surrounding events not the disease itself (wow those public health lectures really did pay off!).
What can we do about it? Love them, and care for them - That is a good start, at least you cannot go wrong with it.
I have been reading a bit on HIV, but more about this topic later......
I met a Kenyan named Johosophat today, a school teacher by profession. He like so many others that I have met here have given their lives up for others. He works at a school in a slum on the other side of the city. They take in street kids (some 700) in the school, and give them a free primary education. Some of the lucky ones are sponsored to go on to study at highschool. A brave man - he tells me of the guns, knives and tuff personalities these kids develop just to survive on the streets (sounds like Canobolas).

Hearing from all those people who have written - thankyou, it does mean a lot and makes my day.

Peter our driver showing off
a new addition to his wardrobe.

Godbless, Ian


PS - You may be surprised to hear that Australia made the news here today. The bush fires raging in victoria and the snowies -no good, I will keep them in my prayers.