It’s a bit delayed, we had some trouble with the electricity and stormy weather, and lots else going on , but here is Part 2 of Gilbert’s email correspondence while I was in the US. Ultimately, my return was delayed over a month due to the unrest that was happening in Kenya at the time. Here’s a weekly account of the goings on at the property with Gilbert and Mildred and the rest of the crew.
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2/2/08 - Gilbert to me
Hi David _ Greetings to Monte , Your Family and friends. We are all o k despite the violence still happening here in our country whereby two members of paliament have been shot dead in the last 38 hours while a number of people have been killed and others left homeless. WORK DETAILS: Monday weeding eight acre perimeter with Bonface , Benson and Julius. Tuesday ; Replacing the barrier on the five acre piece with Benson and Julius. Bought water on Tuesday and Friday and 1000 for my phone charge. Total : Guys 1250, Joyce 200 ,Lunch 220 , Water 4000 Phone 1000 and on 31/01/08 took 5000 as my salary. Totalling to 11,670. The grass on the dam is doing well only that the extreme ends of the dam the grass is not coming up well .The grass on the dam does not need water now but maybe later and for now am feeding the trees with water . Bye Sir and God bless. Love David. Get greetings from Joyce , Mildred and all the Guys hoping that you are in good spirits.Bye.
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2/4/08 - me to Gilbert
Hi Gilbert,
Im very glad to hear from you and to know that you and all our friends are well in Kenya. I am hopeful that the situation will improve and tht life can go back to normal soon. I am still hoping to return in Mid February, but I may be delayed slightly. I’m not certain yet. Thanks fr your weekly accounting of the expenses. Please let me know how much you have left of the money I gave you.
Please send my best greetings to Mildred and all of our friends there. I miss all of you and pray for your safety.
God Bless,
David
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2/9/08 - Gilbert to me
Hello David,
Thank you for your email and hope you are doing fine . Greetings from Mildred,Our workers and Joyce who are all doind fine . I am happy to let you know that our neighbour [ a bout 350 metres] had his borehole worked on and was able to get water though they went that deep [ about 160 meters deep] . Julius camre across a cobra snake on monday as we were working and after witnessing i could conclude that that was the mother of all snakes we have been seeing on the property it was so huge . About election related violance the situation seems to be getting better hence madiation talks still going on.WORK DETAIL; Monday worked with Julius and Bonface getting sand and plastering the house: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday no work .Friday Julius and Bonface helped in planting more grass after we had little rain on Thursday .Bought water on Monday and Thursday but fortunately or unfortunately it rained on Thursday an e had some water collected in the dam [ a bout 6000 litres of water] so i wont buy water for the time being . The weeds are already out and hope we should do away with them before they are much. I am asking if we can cut the grass on the five acre piece though not that long just to keep a way the enemies[cobras]as from next week.Expenditure:Guys 2000 ,Joyce200, water 4000, Lunch 220 . Total expenditure this week is 6420 . Of all the money you left me with i have spent 66,390Ks and left with 33,610Ks . The sand bags are near the spill-way cant withstand hot climate hence tearing always.ByeSir and say Hi to Family and friends especially Monte.Yours father to be Gilbert .God bless.
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2/12/08 - me to Gilbert
Hello my dear Gilbert,
I am glad that you and Mildred all of our friends are safe and well. Are Mbini and Anna still living at Joyce’s? Thank you also for the updateon the finances. I see that you still have somme funds left to see you through until I return, which I hope will be in the next few weeks. Things seem t be settling down, and I pray they will continue to do so.
Very interesting news about the neighbor’s borehole. Maybe it means something good for ours in the future.
Were you able to kill the big cobra? We need to try and get it soon.
Please send my regards to Mildred and all our friends in Lukenya, and tell them I will be back soon.
Love, and God bless,
David
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2/17/08 - Gilbert to me
Hi there -Greetings to all . We are fine this side of the continent.
Mbini and Anne are o .k and still at Joyce’s place .We were not able to kill the Cobra but managed to kill two little ones while cutting the grass. WORK DETAILS : Monday to Saturday cutting grass with Noah , Bonface ,Julius and Chris . Benson went home last week.Expenditure Guys 6000 . Joyce 600 . Lunch660 , Cooking fat 305 and 3500 as my advance .Total 11,065 . I had an era in my accounting last week i paid the guys 1000 not 2000 . 1000 was in the house .My account had 34Ks and some hundreds and not 33Ks and some hundreds ..Bye Sir and say Hi to Monte , Tell him i am sad because The Gunners were gunned 4-0 by MAN U .
Note:
-All the talk about snakes may seem a little creepy, but while there are snakes around, the danger is probably no greater than rattlesnakes while hiking in Big Sur. I have never known anyone to be bitten in this area.
- The Gunners are Arsenal, from the British Premier League soccer. Man U is Manchester United. Everyone here has a team allegiance. Monte is a Chelsea fan.
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2/23/08 - Gilbert to me
Hi david,
It is our due hope that you are fine . Joyce , Mildred , Our Workers and I are fine though missing your company .Talks relating to election related violance is still going on and hope a lasting solution will be found soon though the oposition side seems to be the problem .WORK DETAILS . Monday to Thursday Cutting and collecting the grass with Bonface, Julius , Noah and Chris and Friday Julius and Bonface delivering water from the church to the property . Expenditure : Guys 4,500 , Joyce 500 and Lunch 550.Total Ksh 5550. Bye Sir and God bless you.
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2/23/08
Hi Gilbert,
Thank you for the update on the accounting. I appreciate your attention to detail there. I’m sorry to hear that the mother of all cobras escaped, but I have no doubt that we will get her sooner or later.I’m glad to hear that Mbini and Anna are still at Joyce’s. Tell them I am looking forward to seeing them in March when I return.
I am going to make a reservation in the next few days to return, and I will give you the details as soon as I have them. Is there any water in the dam yet?
Please deliver my greetings to Mildred and all the guys and especially Joyce.
God bless you, Gilbert. I miss you and look forward to seeing you soon. You are in my prayers.
David
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That’s it for now. Last one coming in two days. Honest.
Yours for cobra-free living,
David
Posted on April 24th, 2008 by david
Filed under: David's Journal
David –
So brilliant — this email exchange between you and Gilbert. Always can seem a conundrum about whose “voice” gets expressed in a venture like the orphanage. And this is beautiful. The exchange. Its rhythm. Getting to listen in over the fence to the affection between the two of you — and the care and wisdom.
Much love,
Chris
Hello,
This is Shannon Marshall (formally Shannon Hall)–a former student of yours from the class of 1995. I’m now a high school English teacher in the Los Angeles area. Often as I lesson plan, my memories of your thoughtful, energetic classes spring to mind. You always challenged your students to venture bravely into the world of creative writing and were encouraging of their efforts. Now, as a teacher, and as a writer, I still remember the importance you placed on striving to write with strength and creativity. So, I wanted to thank you.
I didn’t imagine that I would be sending this note to you in Africa–but I am excited to read about the work you are now undertaking.
Thank you for your efforts in the past on the behalf of your students, and your efforts in the present for the children who desperately need your help. Your work is appreciated.–Shannon
Thanks, CL,
Gilbert’s matter of fact way calmly sets most of our day-to-day complaints and concerns in their right place.
“My iPod sync went haywire and ripped through the A’s…I can’t find American Hi-Fi, Anthony and the Johnsons, Arcade Fire and Asylum Street Spankers.”
It’s ok, it’s ok.
Thanks, Gilbert.
David
Hi Shannon,
Really nice to hear from you. And you now a high school English teacher. Well, well. you don’t suppose it’s that karma thing…do you? I’d be interested in what you are writing. And just the fact you carve out time to is startling and praiseworthy and all the proof that youth needs to claim its superiority over all comers. I imagine you are a fine teacher, rigor and compassion in equal measures.
If I ever need a press agent or a letter to mollify an angry judge, I’m coming calling, ok?
Keep ‘em writing in their journals,
David