Still at MAA (#2)

I mentioned a couple posts ago that I would be leaving Kenya on April 5. Well, I didn't! I was supposed to leave, but the principal asked me to stay and my boss consented, so I'm still at Maxwell Adventist Academy! (I called it MAA#2 because MILO Adventist Academy will always be #1 in my heart)

I've been teaching Math 1 (for the freshmen) every day and Algebra 1 some days. I also fill in for teachers who are sick or at conferences, etc. Tomorrow I have 4 classes before noon. In the afternoons (except Fridays) I supervise study hall for those who are failing classes. I tutor in the evenings between 8 and 10pm. In between all that, I grade papers, write tests, study lesson plans, tutor students, or recruit for Walla Walla University. And surprisingly, I still have down time! I have enough time that I've read a good number of books since I've arrived. I've lost count. Maybe 5 1/2 or 6? I plan to finish the one I'm on and at least one more before leaving early Tuesday morning. I love having access to books here!

Last weekend I went to Hell's Gate National Park. It was FANTASTIC! Desi, the assistant girls' dean, an SM from North Carolina, and Elvin, another staff member, took me rock climbing. The three of us camped on a ridge in the national park. We were among buffalo, zebra, baboons (vultures on legs), gazelle, rock hyrax (see picture), and...hyenas!! The days were warm and the nights were cold. We arrived Thursday evening and relaxed around a fire. On Friday we woke up at our leisure (which was just before 9am, I think). We each had time for personal and private devotions in the beautiful outdoors. I felt so refreshed after sitting on a ledge praying, reading my Bible, and singing. I felt free to sing knowing that no one could hear me! After breakfast we headed out to Fischer's Tower, a 100-ft (or so) "tower" of rock. Elvin set up the routes. Since this was only my second time climbing, Elvin made sure the first route was rather easy. I made it up the 40-ft or so climb and repelled down, proud. After Desi had climbed also, we moved to the other side of the tower and started setting up a harder route. I snacked on my lunch and helped out where I could. Since rain loomed in the sky, I let Desi go first. She is an experienced rock climber. She made it up with a little trouble, then came down. I belayed her. :) Then Elvin climbed up and stayed at the top to take pictures of me. I'll have to post them later. After much struggle (a blog entry in its own right which I will write later), I made it to the top of the 75 or 100 ft. climb. I was so proud and SO shaky! I repelled down and we quickly gathered up our ropes and dashed to the car before the rain fell on us.

On Sabbath morning we packed up camp as the baboons circled round, daring to come as close as possible, hoping to steal food. Vultures on legs, I say. Desi and I rode on top of the car down to our rock climbing site (FUN FUN!). We retrieved her sunglasses, which had been left the day before, and then I climbed into the driver's seat because Elvin wanted a chance to ride on top of the car (Africa is so freeing!). As we drove, I passed zebra and warthogs right alongside the road. Awesome!

We drove to the gorge (a LOT smaller than the Columbia Gorge, much to my surprise) and hiked up and down it for 3 hours. We even met a group from Portland, Oregon! The hike was really fun and refreshing. Since the park is full of geothermals, the water in the creek and falling from the sides of the gorge was warm...even too hot to touch in some places!

After our hike in the gorge we ate a quick lunch and then drove to the volcano. It looked just like a hill at first, but Desi and I insisted on hiking to the top. In the rain. It was SO worth it. Inside the volcano was a deep gorge with steam coming out. Beautiful. Magnificent. Powerful. Desi and I raced around the rim, admiring it and taking pictures, until the rain turned to sleet. That's a unique situation...sleet on top of a volcano in Africa. We hurried down the hill/mountain. About halfway down, as the rain/sleet soaked us through, we hear a LOUD thunderclap right overhead. In an instant Desi and I realized we were the tallest things around. I shrieked and bolted down the steep hill, hoping I wouldn't fall on the uneven ground and twist my ankle. We made it to the bottom, drenched but safe, and headed home.

Students are beckoning me to tutor, visit, and answer questions about Walla Walla.

Thank you again for all your prayers and support!

Much love and gratitude,

Katie