Tuesday: June 9, 2009: Artists

This morning we headed out to Geofrey Odanga's home. Geofrey is the artist Gail met last year in Kakamega. He paints, does pencil drawings, and creates incredible banana leaf pictures. Geofrey and Rose live in a small house in the middle of a maize field, a few miles from town. They have their own garden (sorghum, maize, and string beans) in the space between their house and the field. A narrow path leads to their door.

Geofrey showed us his current projects. For the banana leaf pictures, he begins with a 1/8 in plywood board (or whatever he has at hand). On this, he sketches the scene in pencil. He includes shading. Then he and Rose work patiently to cut small parts of banana leaves, finding sections that are just the right color, to fit the contours of the lines. This creates a beautiful mosaic. He creates African village scenes and also does wildlife.

Geofrey told us that Herb and Virginia Veith were the first white people he met. They were eating at the Golf Hotel, and Geofrey was there trying to sell some of his banana leaf art. This is how Geofrey learned of Mission to the Fatherless. Now he attends the church of MTTF.

Rose made tea and mendazis. Geofrey also called a photographer to record the visit. He arrived on a motorcycle, took a few snapshots with a 35mm automatic camera. Rose's mother, and several neighbors and their children came to be part of the pictures.

Geofrey gave Kayla an oil paiting of an African mother and daughter. Evey gave Rose some lotions and tea towels. It was a very nice visit.

After lunch, David got out pipe cleaners and the children (and adults) had a great time designing hats and other accessories or creatures. Wendy had an activity that included a science lesson about butterflies.

Chico construction has resumed. There are two workers here chiseling away the cement around the bases of the units. I am not sure why it was not just built that way? Seems like a lot of unnecessary work. They are trying to introduce ventilation from below. They plan to return tomorrow to pour more cement, and then four days of drying.

David, and Evey, and I walked in to the Internet with the sky looking like rain. We carried an umbrella and raincoat. It did rain while we were there, but ended by the time we were done. We still need more rain. The crops are not doing well and it is likely that this season will not reverse the famine that was brought on by the post-election violence.

After supper, the children had a brief worship service. Lisa and Sarah rounded everyone up after for a group photo. There were lots of silly faces. The girls had bought cupcakes for everyone and handed them out when the photos were taken. Now some of the children are doing homework and others are heading off to bed.