Beware the Benevolent Mosquito

They don't exist. That mosquito that was just flying near your arm but jumped away when you swatted at it? It didn't leave. In fact, it is probably on your ankle right now, having a nightcap.

Mosquitoes are rather out of control here. As I've mentioned before, our house isn't particularly 'buggy', but in the mornings and evenings, especially around this nice, warm computer and my CO2 output, there is always a steady feed, only one at a time (perhaps they have a labor agreement? Contract?) and they are sneaky smart. Most of them don't buzz, they can jump in almost any direction, and the good ones instinctively know defensive maneuvers that could help any military training system.

Mosquito nets are of use once you study the mozzies. Our first week here, we would carefully check the inside of each net for the tiny torpedos, killing them after ungraceful acrobatics as we lurched and smashed our hands wildly against anything hard. However, a few nights of waking covered with bites led us to inspect under the beds as well (a fitting dark place for dark creatures of the night) and then I realized that they were actually riding into the bed/net ON our clothing and in our hair as well. I want to call them a bad word right now but won't.

The racquet of death is new to our pro-blood conservation movement; it looks like a cheap plastic tennis racquet, but in the double-layer plastic 'net' is a thin wire mesh that produces an electric current when activated. POP! POP POP POP! The smell of frying blood was never so satisfying. (for those of you who don't know me well, I have never to my knowledge actually smelled frying blood before this experience.) It makes me feel like I'm doing something to deal with the problem of bug bites on myself and my children.

I think there is a fine line to be walked between DEET-ing or DDT-ing entire households and neighborhoods, even countrysides, and poisoning children and animals, and being conscious of what is around you. Education also goes a long way in helping us determine how to best address the pro-blood conservation issues for our family. Malaria, while a concern, is only carried by one of over 3,000 types of mosquito. And that mosquito has to be within range to bite someone who has malaria and you in a short amount of time in order for you to get it. There are very reliable blood tests available over the counter here that tell you within minutes if you have malaria, and treatment is available here. In fact, Len and I have had the pleasure of stabbing each other's fingers with needles to take the test. Negative on both counts, thankfully.

Still, mozzies carry all kinds of other nasty parasites and disease; they are NOT our friends. And the one I just swatted away from my face (although I am getting quite good at smashing them one-handed in the air) is getting ready to burn in racquet hell. As soon as I find it....

Butter Pecan Balls

Forget that these have neither butter nor pecans in them. They leave you with the feeling that you've just had the finest buttered pecans known to man. Although I don't know anyone who has eaten buttered pecans. They just have that rich taste and aftertaste that tummies everywhere long for - a digestive warm fuzzy if there ever was one. I had to test several of these before naming exactly what the joy in my belly was.

For the gluten-free, casein-free crowd, the recipe below is fine. For those of you not constrained by dietary issues, you may substitute butter and regular Rice Krispies, which will cut down on cost, and I suspect the gluten in the cereal might also help hold them together.

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 C gfcf margarine or pure ghee

1/2 lb dates, finely cut (for the gf crowd, Ener-g has a packaged, pre-chopped version that is nice)

1 1/2 C crisp rice cereal; I used Koala Krisp, a gfcf item I brought to Africa)

1/2 C nuts, finely chopped (think powder for maximum holding power and kid-friendliness); I used cashews

1 t. vanilla

2 C finely shredded coconut (called coconut powder here), unsulphured

Combine eggs, margarine and dates in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Bring to boil and boil for two minutes.

Remove from heat and add cereal, nuts and vanilla. Stir until well mixed.

Allow to cool and shape into little balls about 1" in diameter (depending on ingredients, this might take a bit of squishing) and roll in coconut.

These are high in protein and are a great no-sugar-added lunchbox staple or candy. Enjoy!

Who DOESN'T Want Tropical Heat and Humidity?

Really, that's the question...here are several excellent reasons for embracing it. I should add that we are going into the 'cool' season now, where highs are only in the 80s or so. Still, plenty of wet heat for me!

Heat and humidity are my friends because:

• Steaming tortillas is a thing of the past. Take one out of the freezer, set it on the counter, and within five minutes, you're ready to go. Those of you who know my addiction to bean burritos, celebrate with me!
• Age lines have turned back 10 years. Who needs a peel or lift? Let your cells be plumped from the inside and outside by good old H2O. Everyone here looks 10 years younger than they should.
• Forgot to bring lotion? No worries! The same moisture that erases age lines is drenching your entire body. Sweat, lotion, what's the difference, really? It's all shiny on your skin.
• Shortly after the sun rises, it is too hot even for mosquitoes to come out and play. Enjoy bite-free days here in sub-Saharan Africa!
• Get rid of that silly tanning studio membership. Slather on the 70 SPF and watch yourself toast in the heat of the day. Why pay for something you can get for free?
• Home schooling? For a fun biology project, simply leave any food item on the counter for more than 6 hours, and observe the life of fungus. Bonus: on really hot days, you can even watch food decompose in the refrigerator - while it's running!

I could list many more benefits to tropical heat, and certainly have many more to learn. Updates as necessary. :)

Mother's Day Meditation

A prayer born this Mother's Day, 2010:

Holy Spirit, cultivate in my heart infinite desire for holiness;
search my heart, straighten me to you.

Spirit of Christ, teach me.
ABBA, Father, discipline and comfort.

Let my lips speak only truth,
sharpen my discernment in your fire.
Let me hunger and thirst for your Word forever.

Rain your Spirit on my soul:
Fire that refines,
Wind giving life and breath,
Oil of anointing, preparing and maintaining, sustaining, restoring.
Dove of peace, of fulfilled promises,
bring courage and boldness and joy
like wine poured in celebration.

Seal my heart
that I may live with you always.

The Leakey Collection

This is a little out of order, but the most exciting thing shaking my brain tonight so I want to share it with you.

On my trip to Nairobi this week, one day was spent driving almost 5 hours into the bush country, around the Rift Vally in Kenya, over a one-lane road on a lake, and up a mountain to what to me was paradise.

Katy and Philip Leakey live on top of a mountain in well-appointed tents, their amenities powered by the sun. Gracious and wise, they practice what they preach: conservaton. Water is carried daily from a stream and purified. Their environment shapes their routines.

What they are doing in this setting, however, is even more beautiful than the wildflowers dotting the slope outside the dining tent or the dozens of wildly varying butterfly species inhabiting the range.

Using recycled materials from the local area, such as dry grass even too tough for animals to eat and fallen wood, they develop beautiful jewelry, serving pieces and other elegant items and train workers from the local Maasai tribe (this is a tribe National Geographic loves for their bright clothing and extravagant beaded neck collars and enormously stretched and decorated earlobes) to produce the items from start to finish.

Just to make sure you got that: they take trash and make treasure out of it, giving credit to local tribesmen and women and providing for them a way to pay for medical, education and living expenses.

The various projects employ hundreds of Maasai men and women, and are sustainable to the point that the Maasai could carry the projects on alone if they had to. But the Leakeys are brilliant creators of fine items and also of systems that make each part of business work, and have gained a sincere mutual appreciation from the local tribes. They are passionate about helping the environment and helping the Maasai thrive after devastating drought several years ago that wiped out much of the Maasai economic cycle when great numbers of cattle died or had to be moved hundreds of miles away. All of their products are environmentally friendly and fairly traded.

Anyway, don't take my word for it, look at their website and buy some of their beautiful items at http://www.leakeycollection.com/. Their Zulubead necklace strands are also available at http://www.karamagifts.com/ along with many other fair-trade items from Eastern Africa.

Real Life Sets In

But if you're looking for a sad story, this isn't it. :) Len's boss here graciously gave us the month of April to get settled, attend to the business of getting a driver's license, bank account, and other legal matters, and just get oriented. It was a great gift, and the timing has been perfect as Len has been easing into projects, and also because it takes many weeks and multiple visits to the bank to open an account here, and there is also the bonus random closings of businesses that we have yet to figure out.

The good news is that we were able to maximize our time being productive and also spending time as a family. Those of you who know me well know that I was pretty anxious about the latter since Len and I didn't really spend a lot of time together in the states. As it turns out, we really do enjoy living together!

Preschool was not on our radar as there wasn't one near us when I looked into it several months ago, but one has just opened very close to our home and Ruby and Henry are there two mornings a week, enjoying it very much. There is a tortoise and several other animals outside that they interact with, as well as working on colors, letters, etc. and most importantly, playing with new friends!! We are very thankful for this surprise blessing.

House family (employees who work within our walls) are also falling into place very nicely, with Barnabas being our key hire, who cleans, does laundry, organizes everything, and keeps the plants from dying. He has been infinitely valuable to us as he is proficient in English and fluent in Swahili, and has kept me from crying many times when I needed to interact with someone who only spoke Swahili. Language lessons are also informally administered; he will write down a list of Swahili words and their English equivalents, and after there are five or six on the list, he'll say something like, "That's plenty for today." Sadly, those few words are often too much for me to master in one day.

We have also hired a woman, Zena, to work two days a week washing and prepping produce (everything must be washed and many things must be peeled here before consuming) and helping with the kids as there is a never-ending parade of workers in and out to connect internet, check broken things, etc.

Having things fixed is tricky because you never really know when someone is coming. Yesterday, the electrician was supposed to visit at 10 AM to look at a few items, but never showed up. However, he did arrive today (on a holiday) but we weren't able to have him check everything as we had to leave and Barnabas has the holiday off. Kind of random and similar to the businesses closing at random. Also in this vein, we had been referred to a good butchery but it has not been open any times we stopped by. I am told to go to the butchery first thing in the morning to get the meat fresh, before it has hung in the hot window all day. Probably will take that advice.

We try to buy locally, which includes eggs from some squatters living near us in an unfinished house. We get 30 fresh (as in, less than 24 hours old) eggs for 6,000 shillings, which is just under $5.00. Not bad. The yolks are firm and yellow, and we wash them before putting them in the fridge. There are several dukas within walking distance that sell various fruits and vegetables, and they might have something one day but not the next. Menu planning is a little tricky because of this but we're learning to adapt recipes and be flexible. Len is currently out meeting with a man to look at a generator for our house, and he is also searching for ground beef as we cannot find any today. There is a supermarket about 20-90 minutes away depending on traffic, which may be the only place that has it today. But since we don't have time to get there and back, sloppy joes might have to wait until another day.

Intentionally living with one vehicle, we are learning to plan better than before and again to be flexible. Since Len works just a couple of miles away from our house (and right across the road from the ocean!) it has been pretty easy to manage.

More about recent road and air trips soon...trying to catch up a lot of life in one post here. :)