In seventh heaven!
A massive train of children and grown-ups are marching from the school under the tree to the new school building about 500m away. It is the 15th May. A great day. The Hannah-Emuriakin preschool is ready for inauguration. Almost exactly two years ago I was standing on the arid dessert-like field together with people from the Turkana village Emuriakin, ”the forgotten village”. They showed me the place where they said they could build a school for the children but they didn’t have the money. Brokenhearted I had to tell them the truth - I don’t have money for a school. Then I challenged them – Let’s lift our hands to heaven and take the dream to God. He knows the needs of these children. We prayed a short prayer from the depth of our hearts. And believe it or not ... now the dream has come true!
Suddenly - about 30 m from the school, I feel hands around my waist lifting me from the ground. Outch! What is happening?! More and more hands and suddenly in seconds I am in seventh heaven carried away by dancing and singing Turkana women. I try to hold on to one of the woman’s many rows of oily necklaces. I am swaying alarmingly and Eupan blows her whistle right into my left ear. A brief thought runs through my brain: I will get tinnitus … and bruises …! But then I get carried away into a miasma of rhythms , scents of earth, clay and oil mixed with the acrimonious odor of cowhide and sweat, cow tails whooshing through the air and the women’s ecstatic singing and dancing. I relax and begin to enjoy the moment. Never – in my wildest fantasy – have I imagined experiencing anything like this. When Francis a little later explains to me that this gesture, to be carried, is only granted the bride when she is carried to her waiting husband, I understand what an act of honor I have been favored. “Now you are in their hearts”, Francis says with his great smile. I am overwhelmed! However, no pictures were taken of this, to me very precious moment, except the ones by Francis, who doesn’t have a digital cameraJ When I finally was gently lowered to the ground, my hands and arms were greasy from the okra colored oil but were quickly wiped by one of the woman’s new kanga.
Not just about money!
The project Hannah-Emuriakin is about funds – yes – but most and foremost about the collaboration between two cultures and societies, who have been sharing the same dream - a dream about a school. As the work proceeded the relationship grew and more and more people have been connected to the project. The Swedish people who have been here to visit and work have all got a tremendous experience, I am sure, and returned home with a new love for Africa and especially for the Turkanas. And in addition, they now have got a big room in many Turkana’s hearts. I also need to mention that besides the Hannah School in Sweden many others have been supporting the project, among others a school in Wales.
Atipei, Atipei! (Hurry up, hurry up! - In Turkana)
The final week before the inauguration was really hectic, to say the least. How would we manage to get everything ready in time? Graciously God sent us some angels from Sweden, one from Nairobi, a German angel from Loki and a MAF-angel. Two high school kids from the Hannah School, Mirabell and Jonas together with Jonas’ dad Joakim and grandfather Runar spent time and money to come here to help us. Our Turkana friends were especially moved to see the three generations. - It is awesome that a son, a father and a grandfather have come here to help us, they said full of admiration and respect. Nancy Kamau, the angel from Nairobi, came to help us making food for more than 300 people. The Turkana women are not used to cook for so many people. Sadly enough, they don’t have very much food. With Nancy up front everything went like a charm and the super big pots were all filled with rice, meat stew and sukumawiki (vegetable stew). Marcus is the German angel who is in Loki for some time doing an internship at a German mission called Diguna. He offered to help and has been a real blessing. The MAF-angel’s name is Derek Moores and he is one of the many pilots who are overnighting now and then in Loki. Derek did not tarry to swing into action and helped out during several of his free mornings and afternoons.
Honorable guests!
In addition, my boss Margareta Lindéh, headmaster at Hannah School and her husband Jan came two days before the inauguration. Wonderful! They didn’t hesitate to lend their hands in order to help finish everything in time. Unfortunately, our Swedish Ambassador Ann Dismorr had fallen ill but was replaced by Björn Häggmark (Minister Deputy Head of Mission) who landed in the Friday afternoon accompanied by his wife Karin. What a great honor to have them here!
A fabulous feast!
IThe inauguration day was FABULOUS! The children as cute as ever, some dressed in new uniforms, a gift from a friend, and some in their less torn clothes (there were not enough uniform for all the children). Mirabell and Jonas helped blowing balloons in the colours of the Swedish and Kenyan flags. They had quite a task handing them out together with Swedish and Kenyan flags made by some students at the Hanna School in Sweden. The children were extremely excited and the only way to keep them in check was firm taps from Eupan’s whip. After the fantastic march from the tree to the school, which ended with my experience described above, the programme – an explosion in color, rhythm and dance – began.
Some of our guests arriving to the feast.
We were entertained by the Turkana women dressed in new colorful “kangas” and traditional outfit, dancing in their typical way by quick and stiff bending and bowing and swinging of cow tails in the air. One had to look out in order not to get knocked down by their whining cow tails. Some women smear their head, face, shoulders and beads with a mixture of ochre, clay and oil.
High school kids from Loki Mix performed several traditional dances and we were impressed by the tightness and intensity in which they were carried out. Professionally - indeed.
The Kenyan and Swedish ribbons were cut by Björn Häggmark, the Swedish Embassy’s representative, and the local chief Barnabas. I was amused when I noticed that we had forgotten to unlock the padlock on the door.
We were all charmed by the school children’s recitation of a new poem written exceptionally for this event using movements and with a rhythm that is African children’s alone. And when they sang ”Jesus loves me this I know” tears started to run down my cheeks. I taught them this song just a few weeks ago, but it has stuck and they love it.
The MERF –choir was delightful in new outfit which had been sponsored by Pelle and Karin Ankarberg and they sang in parts, well tuned and nice.
Speeches were held by undersigned, headmaster Margareta, head teacher Boaz Erus (who is the headmaster at Loki Girls, the school under which our school is registered) and Simprose, representative of the school committee and the Turkana women. Simprose was present when we lifted our hands to the sky and prayed together.
We were very happy when even a gang of Turkana men came stamping and singing to show their joy and thankfulness.
Yes, the whole inauguration was a splendid joyful feast to the glory of God. Everybody ought to know that this is a miracle. Nothing other than a supernatural hand could guide people in such a way and bring them together from different worlds in order for such a dream to dream come true.
And then, after two days, to see the children seated by their new desks and benches in the new school happily smiling together with Lucy, Esther, Eupan and Christine made our joy complete.
I want to end this contribution as I ended my speech. I turned to the children and said: Your goats, sheep, cattle, donkeys and camels can be taken by your enemy, your belongings by thieves – but the knowledge and skills that you will acquire in this school – no one can take from you!
Thanks to all who in different ways have contributed for the dream about the school to come true!
Warm regards,
Birgitta
Try to find Birgitta and KeA!
Tired but happy!
Francis, the school project's driving force, with his little daughter MERF.
Is this the end? No, we believe this is just the beginning. The school needs water, the latrines need to be finished and the kitchen equipped. The teachers need coaching and the school committee need to find solutions how to run the school, teachers' salaries, night guards and so on. There is also a need for a primary school. Gifts are still much appreciated.