PHRAGMANTHERA CAPITA seems to be the PARASITE invading our trees, although it seems to be mostly in West Africa. The Cameroons, for example, have been struggling for some time with it as it has attacked their fruit trees. Regretfully so far not much success for them! But I was interested to see they have tried inoculating their trees! I had wondered if that was possible and it seems it is. However, even that did not work. Apparently they could not find a chemical that worked. Apart from uprooting the tree and burning them there seems little that CAN be done, and even then, I suppose the new trees will still get infected. Bird droppings as they roost on branches seem to be the means of infection. Perhaps they should kill all the birds!!!! I have been very disappointed to see our own infection increasing and spreading. IF anyone reading this might have better, more up to date, knowledge of what we might be able to do please write in and share with us. I have included a more focused photo of what we have here.
The SUN continues to blaze down upon us all for the second month, without rain. The river Sosiani is now reduced to a mere trickle of blue-grayish liquid - no doubt mainly the intrusion of industrial waste, and perhaps even a little sewage. In the '70s it was just like this. Then it could remain dry through December until March/April. In those days there were only 40,000 of us living here, now we are more than a million. We COULD be in for a hard time if we remain without a shower or two before the RAINY season begins. The CROWS enjoy this kind of weather. Our crows are BIG black and white birds. They spend a lot of time 'courting' each other, and especially like our Mahogany Tree where they come to carry on, with raucous and discordant croaks. The grass beneath the spreading branches of this Tree are turning brown with the rest of the lawns. When the wind blows just a little, clouds of dust swirl around - I pity our builders in the heat, the dust, and the thirst. BUT the Building IS now going up. I was there just this morning taking a few photos of the progress once more. Another week to the Ring-beam, I would think, and some days for that to dry out - and then the rafters will soon be up, and the roofing. THEN they can get on with flooring, plastering, and electrics - all this I think will take us to the end of February. THEN painting and finishing. We shall see as we go on.
FOUR OR SO DAYS ago children finally returned to School TWO weeks late due to Government Teachers Strike. WE, of course were not on strike, and our School opened on 6th January. The Government Teachers were as usual Striking about Pay, which is an endless concern. BUT it is the Children who suffer, and in the end perhaps the Strikers themselves - who for the most part are themselves parents - will suffer the most, since their action affects the performance and future homes of their sons and daughters, who will then perhaps look back with anger. Earlier this week a School in the Nairobi area, having finally opened, their students discovered that the School Field had been bought and fenced by people unknown against their use.
The School insists the property (field) belongs to the School, and that it has been 'GRABBED'. A 'Peaceful Demonstration' was organised, with children and parents parading with placards protesting the taking of the School Field. Police were ready for them, with tear-gas and ferocious dogs to deter them. Violence broke out, and photos taken. A lot was made of what is said to be Police violence against children. BUT not much was said of Parents hurling insult and missiles at the Police, and encouraging the children to do the same. Well, still - perhaps- the Police should have retrained themselves from hitting back. On the other hand I think it very wrong to involve children in civil action against their elders - it is quite as bad as enlisting children into the ranks of militant force. BEFORE children have a chance to BE children they are being forced to become ADULTS - adults without REASON, and without KNOWLEDGE. And these attitudes are not related to Kenya alone, but tend to be seen worldwide. WHERE is humanity going? I do believe Mankind is losing his way!DARYL is away this week-end in Nairobi trying to resolve my status with the Kenyan Immigration Department. After almost fifty years married to a Kenyan, I am still needing to obtain regular reinstatement as an ALIEN here. He tells me on the phone, that this now not be necessary any more - he is trying to Register me as a DEPENDENT of His!! Well. well.! I find this almost a joke - after all BOTH of us are already dependents of GOD. Daryl returns Sunday evening, so we shall no doubt hear more then.
Daryl's son, Jesse, has now just begun his final yar in High School here in Testimony School. He is taller than me now at 16. Wants to be an Engineer of some kind.
I was looking around this week in Eldoret for a dictaphone or a small tape recorder. I am told they are no longer in demand and therefor not obtainable. I found this suddenly were hard to accept. In my teenage Tape Recorders had been all the range together with various 'high-fi gramophones .......Then there were pocket sized tape and disc players that be plugged into your ears (and brain) wherever you went - getting smaller all the time. Same thing with phones too. So much I grew up with is now quite GONE, even forgotten in the near past. We must now all learn to live with totally NEW technology.......Once again what is this leading us to ? I find this a little 'scary' since Mankind hardly has any say in any of this - we all in the main being led and conditioned by a minority OUT of the image of God and INTO an image invented by just a handful of men. BUT, as a computer user I am glad to have learned keyboard on an old fashioned and very basic typewriter. And I certainly enjoy improved SOUND recording of music.
God Bless you all. And Thank you always for your friendship and fellowship.
John, Esther and Daryl Green
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