Bad Things Happen

I have been in Kenya 3 months so that means it was time to renew my visa.  I left for Nairobi this past Monday with Dr. Tum, a volunteer who was returning to Thailand and Fr. Emilio. On Tuesday, Tum and I went to the Masai Market at Westlands, the bank, and then we had dinner at Fr. Emilio’s friends house.  I discovered that the house had a gate, a security system, a guard, and something called the “gateway to heaven” which is a steal door at the end of the staircase that is locked each night to protect against armed thieves.  I thought, wow – how scary.  Little did I know that it was a foreshadowing of the next day’s events. 

The following morning I renewed my visa at the immigration office which involved some paperwork, waiting in a few lines, 2200 Ksh, getting finger printed with black ink (that was a first – just like a prisoner – the irony).  I was happy it went relatively stress free. After lunch, I went to the ATM to remove money for Kayla’s Jigger Eradication Project.  Normally, I would not have agreed to take money out of someone else’s account but getting to a bank from Karungu is difficult and everyone in this area deals in cash. Kayla also wanted to avoid using public transportation while carrying a large sum of money.  So after going to the ATM, we walked to the car, and drove to pick up some linen and mosquito nets for the hospital.  Then, as we were on the way to the next place, stopped in traffic, a man came up to my window (I was in the backseat on the passenger side) which was unfortunately down and tried to take my camera from my hand.  I pulled the camera away and closed the window (I had just locked my door about 1 minute before – thank God).  While I was dealing with this man on the left, another man came around to the other side of the car, opened the door, and stole my purse!!!  My passport, money (I had also gotten out money to pay school fees for a friend), Kayla’s project money (1/8 of her budget, basically – a lot), credit & debit cards, and my cell phone were all gone within a matter of seconds.  What a terrible, scary, horrible feeling.   Then we went to the police station to report it and I didn’t report the whole amount of cash that was stolen.  Corruption in Kenya is widespread (if you know what I mean).  It is very sad, especially for the good and honest people living here – who do you turn to?

I turned to my parents who I have to thank for helping cancel my credit/bank cards and being there for me once again!  I am so sorry for making my friends and family worry.  I am okay now.  Since it happened I have played the scenario over and over in my head and have thought about the million “what ifs.”  But I have to be grateful to God that I was not injured.  This is just one of the many lessons that Africa has taught me – things don’t matter and to be grateful for every minute you have on this earth.

So that night, we took Tum to the airport but before he left he told me that in Thai culture that if something bad happens something good will come of it and then gave me $194 for Kayla’s Jigger Project.  If you also want to continue the goodness and donate to the Jigger’s Eradication Project, you can do so by writing a check to St. Mark’s Mission (in the memo, write:  “Kayla in Kenya”). You can mail the check to

St. Marks Catholic Church

c/o Hilda Beck

3736 S. Lee’s Summit Rd.

Independence, MO 64055

The following day, I went to the US Embassy and applied for a new passport and then made the trip back to Karungu.  Even though, such an ugly thing happened, there have been many beautiful things these last two days: the sunset over the lake, the children’s welcome back drawings & smiling faces, a card from my mom that said, “Don’t get discouraged – persevere – you can do anything!”  When I turned on my new phone which is actually Lauren’s old phone, the display reads “don’t give up, you are loved.”  That was definitely meant to be!