Buddy, The Baboon Bandit

Hello, Everyone!

Sorry, I've not blogged as often as I had hoped to. We either have been on the go from sunrise to sunset or have not had access to a computer. On Tuesday, we did buy a 3gm remote but did not have time to use it. We arrived in Mombasa around 10 am on Wednesday, dropped our luggage at our hotel, and then set out on errands and meetings, arriving back at the hotel at 6pm . . . a very long and HOT, HUMID day!

We had lunch with Meleckson, Mwangi, and Joseph, the Planning Director for Tana Delta River District, where the property is located. The surveying of the land should be completed this week. While on the property, Meleckson asked if we could apply for more land, say 10 acres. Joseph said no. But during our lunch meeting with him and asking about us drilling a borehole, he said he had an idea. Joseph stated that we are doing good things in the area and need more than 4 acres and said we should apply for 10 acres!!! Also, the lawyer in Nairobi said Basket of Hope can be registered in Kenya as Basket of Hope Kenya Branch and BOH can own the land. Another answer to prayer!!! PTL!!!

We were in Nakuru Thursday, February 11th, through Saturday, February 13th. While in Nakuru, we stopped at New Life Home, where we saw Jerry (named after Pastor Jerry), Stephan, and Wilson – these boys are now 7 years old and in school. We were also able to spend 2 evenings with Solo's dad and mom and his sister Josephine and her son Scott. Greetings to Solo, Sarah, Judah, Belle, Luka, and Micah . . . we are bringing LOTS of hugs home to you!!! We met Solo' brother, Peter, for lunch at Java House Tuesday at Java House (in Nairobi) and will see Sam and Veronica at New Life Home “Open Day “ this Saturday (20)..

Now, the Story of Buddy, the Baboon Bandit . . .

We spent about 8 hours in Nakuru Game Park on Friday (12th), seeing lots of cape buffalo, zebra, a few flamingo, and a few twiga (giraffe). A panoramic view of Lake Nakuru can be seen from Baboon Cliff. While minding our own business – enjoying the scenery – a baboon tried to enter another safari van through the pop-up top. The baboon fled the van into a nearby tree/bush, where he posed for pictures!

Our team loaded into our van, our driver was getting ready to get into the van, and we decided it was snack time. BAD idea! Sharon, sitting in the very back row of the van, opened a bag of BBQ chips and passed them to Diane who was passing them to Ken when entered said baboon! He spanned the 2 middle seats, front hands on the seat Ken and I were sitting in, took the bag of opened chips from Diane and was looking and darting around the van for more. Deciding the baboon needed the unopened bag of chips I was holding more than I did, I decided to throw them out of the pop-up top, thinking he would follow the chips out of the van.

But no, we had a baboon who plays outfield and can catch anything flying by! By then, I had opened the side door and was out of the van!!! The baboon climbs out of the pop-up top on the side and proceeded directly to the back where he leaned way in and grabbed a white plastic bag containing one small bag of chips, a small box of cookies, a bottle of water, and 4 Cadbury chocolate bars (one plain and 3 with nuts)! How rude to take our chocolate after I sacrificed my chips! :-)

A couple of the team members were sleepy, but their adrenalin kicked into high gear after the baboon visit. It was very obvious that this was not the first time this baboon bandit held up a safari van!!! A new one, and hopefully a last one in this lifetime, for each of us.

Louis & Diane returned home to the States on the 16th. It's hard to believe we will return home in less than a week!

The forgotten people in the Tana River and Lamu Districts captured our hearts from our first visit in 2005. This area of Kenya continues to be the vision of Basket of Hope . . . to teach . . . to edify . . . to encourage . . . and to bring hope!

Love to all,
Ken and Arlene and Sharon

P.S. Below are pictures of the conferences in Tana River & Mpeckatoni