Marvin & Miriam
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Safely Back
We arrived yesterday from Amsterdam where we spent the last 5 days. We had a wonderful time there even if the weather was a shock!
The last two days in Kenya were a wonderful ending to a wonder filled month! We visited a primary and secondary school sponsored by the Kenyan Children's Fund. It is providing hope as well as education to some 700 students. This is an organization that is supported in part by Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church. It is an amazing school whose leader, Jane Njuguna, has a love for these children that permeates the organization. Check out their web site at http://www.kenyachildrensfund.org
So the bottom line is that we were and are blessed to have had the opportunity to learn and serve. I learned again that faith, hope and love are central to all of our lives and that healing requires all these components, but the most important is Love. We saw that Love manifested in the lives of those who have dedicated their lives to that calling.
Thanks again for your prayers and support.
Marvin
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Last day at Tenwek
This is our last night at Tenwek. It has been a hard day. We lost 2 babies in the nursery. The moms are here all by themselves, their husbands either taking care of the other children or working usually an hour or two away. The chaplains do a great job, but it is very lonely. It is also hard on the nurses and doctors who give so much of themselves to nurture these tiny ones.
It is difficult to say goodbye to people with whom you have spent so much time. It is a close community. Right now Marv is playing cards with the medical students who are here for a month or two. Simple pleasures in life take on new meaning.
Today we had lunch with the Meidemas who are here for 3 months....she was Christie Sweetman and he(Ed) grew up in GR. The Rupkes were also here....she is Mary Smedes Rupke and he (Stu) is the son of Lenore and Ed Rupke who were shirt tail relation(through Aunt True) of ours in Ann Arbor. It is amazing the number of Calvin alums who have passed through here this month. Must say that am proud that so many of them are serving internationally. Who says that you can't play Dutch bingo no matter where you are! No comments please.
We will go to Nairobi tomorrow morning and spend the next day and a half visiting the orphanage that John's church from Mt. Pleasant is going to work at in June. We will also do some shopping. Marv is really looking forward to it!:) We leave for Amsterdam early Friday morning and will spend about 4 days there touring the "motherland". I am sure that we will have culture shock. I will be fun to see family when we get to RDU next week!
I have kept this blog as a journal of some of my memories. I don't know if anyone has read it as there have not been many comments. If you have, thanks for sharing this experience with us.
God bless you all and we will see you soon.
xoxoxo
micki and marv
nana and poppy
It is difficult to say goodbye to people with whom you have spent so much time. It is a close community. Right now Marv is playing cards with the medical students who are here for a month or two. Simple pleasures in life take on new meaning.
Today we had lunch with the Meidemas who are here for 3 months....she was Christie Sweetman and he(Ed) grew up in GR. The Rupkes were also here....she is Mary Smedes Rupke and he (Stu) is the son of Lenore and Ed Rupke who were shirt tail relation(through Aunt True) of ours in Ann Arbor. It is amazing the number of Calvin alums who have passed through here this month. Must say that am proud that so many of them are serving internationally. Who says that you can't play Dutch bingo no matter where you are! No comments please.
We will go to Nairobi tomorrow morning and spend the next day and a half visiting the orphanage that John's church from Mt. Pleasant is going to work at in June. We will also do some shopping. Marv is really looking forward to it!:) We leave for Amsterdam early Friday morning and will spend about 4 days there touring the "motherland". I am sure that we will have culture shock. I will be fun to see family when we get to RDU next week!
I have kept this blog as a journal of some of my memories. I don't know if anyone has read it as there have not been many comments. If you have, thanks for sharing this experience with us.
God bless you all and we will see you soon.
xoxoxo
micki and marv
nana and poppy
Monday, February 9, 2009
Women and Water
It seems that most of my time here in Kenya has been spent with women in the nursery and learning the importance of water in a third world country. It doesn't take long to realize how very very blessed we Western women are and how difficult the lives of third world women are. Women here spend alot of their time getting water for the family. This often involves walking long distances with heavy jugs often on their heads. Then the water must be boiled or at least it should be. Many homes, including the guest house and the missionary homes, have large rain barrels. Having one is a sign of prosperity. This is where I get our drinking water before I boil it each day.
In many areas of Kenya there has been drought, the Rift valley, where we are, has gotten plenty of rain of late and everything is very green. Washing, most often by hand, is another reason to get water or to bring your wash to the river. You use rocks to scrub and then hang the clothes either over the rocks or cart it home and hang it on the fences. Water which we take so for granted is such a necessity and such a blessing in this and all third world countries.
On Saturday, I took a long hike to a beautiful lookout and then had lunch at a Kenyan home. The family provided such hospitality. Most kitchens, even in "middle class" homes are separate detached rooms. The food is cooked over an open fire in that room. Again, cooking is a major time committment as you can't run to Mac Donald's if you don't feel like cooking tonight! Rice and beans are the prevalent diet as they are in most third world countries. The women also do most of the planting and farming .....need I say more. Their days are long and hard. Unfortunately, and I am not trying to be sexist, the men in this culture do not help much. Hopefully this is changing some.
It is very hard to start saying good bye to patients and staff. We have made some wonderful friendships. The problems here are so overwhelming and yet there is so much hope. Their is also alot of trust that God will provide. We often say that, but these Christians really practice it. Today a widow with six children who works as household help came to say good bye and told me that she doesn't know where she will get the money to send her daughter to secondary school. The girl has qualified but the mother must pay the fees before the school will take her. Secondary education here is private and the parents must pay. She needs 17,000 shillings which is about 250 dollars to send this girl to school for the year. I was crying while she was telling me, but she said that she has faith that God will answer her prayers and find a way for her.
I believe that He will too! This is the sort of need you face everyday and it is so hard not to say "Yes" to everyone. I can see where missionaries can burn out because it is very tiring to know where and who to help.
I don't know if I will blog tomorrow, our last day here. We will spend a few days in Nairobi, and in the Netherlands before coming home. This time has been such a blessing in my life. I can never repay the Kenyans Christians that have taught me so much about how to live. I hope and pray that I can remember them and what I have learned when I get back home. I would hope that many of you might have a similar experience someday.
I do miss you all and am eager to see you
love and hugs,
nana and poppy
micki and marv
In many areas of Kenya there has been drought, the Rift valley, where we are, has gotten plenty of rain of late and everything is very green. Washing, most often by hand, is another reason to get water or to bring your wash to the river. You use rocks to scrub and then hang the clothes either over the rocks or cart it home and hang it on the fences. Water which we take so for granted is such a necessity and such a blessing in this and all third world countries.
On Saturday, I took a long hike to a beautiful lookout and then had lunch at a Kenyan home. The family provided such hospitality. Most kitchens, even in "middle class" homes are separate detached rooms. The food is cooked over an open fire in that room. Again, cooking is a major time committment as you can't run to Mac Donald's if you don't feel like cooking tonight! Rice and beans are the prevalent diet as they are in most third world countries. The women also do most of the planting and farming .....need I say more. Their days are long and hard. Unfortunately, and I am not trying to be sexist, the men in this culture do not help much. Hopefully this is changing some.
It is very hard to start saying good bye to patients and staff. We have made some wonderful friendships. The problems here are so overwhelming and yet there is so much hope. Their is also alot of trust that God will provide. We often say that, but these Christians really practice it. Today a widow with six children who works as household help came to say good bye and told me that she doesn't know where she will get the money to send her daughter to secondary school. The girl has qualified but the mother must pay the fees before the school will take her. Secondary education here is private and the parents must pay. She needs 17,000 shillings which is about 250 dollars to send this girl to school for the year. I was crying while she was telling me, but she said that she has faith that God will answer her prayers and find a way for her.
I believe that He will too! This is the sort of need you face everyday and it is so hard not to say "Yes" to everyone. I can see where missionaries can burn out because it is very tiring to know where and who to help.
I don't know if I will blog tomorrow, our last day here. We will spend a few days in Nairobi, and in the Netherlands before coming home. This time has been such a blessing in my life. I can never repay the Kenyans Christians that have taught me so much about how to live. I hope and pray that I can remember them and what I have learned when I get back home. I would hope that many of you might have a similar experience someday.
I do miss you all and am eager to see you
love and hugs,
nana and poppy
micki and marv
A Common Faith
Thanks to my wonderful daughter, we were sent this affirmation of faith that was used at White Memorial Presbyterian Church on 2/8/2009. The affirmation of Faith was written by Vincent J. Donovan, Christianity Revisited, Orbis Books, 1978, p. 200. He was a missionary to the Masi tribe in Kenya.
Affirmation of Faith: We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. God created people and wanted them to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in the darkness, and now we know God in the light. God promised in the book called the Bible, the word of God, that all nations and tribes of the world would be saved. We believe that God made good this promise by sending Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and people, showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed--hands and feet-- to a cross and died. He lay buried, but the hyenas did not find his body, and on the third day, he rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord! We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love, and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive! He lives! This we believe. Amen!
Affirmation of Faith: We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. God created people and wanted them to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in the darkness, and now we know God in the light. God promised in the book called the Bible, the word of God, that all nations and tribes of the world would be saved. We believe that God made good this promise by sending Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and people, showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed--hands and feet-- to a cross and died. He lay buried, but the hyenas did not find his body, and on the third day, he rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord! We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love, and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive! He lives! This we believe. Amen!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Jars of Clay
Clay jars are an important visual metaphor for the Hages. It was at John's ordination that Lewis Galloway visually introduced this idea.
Yesterday, I was informed the "Jars of Clay" also represent an American Christian Rock group that is here in Kenya for a concert. They are in partnership with other Kenyan musicians with the purpose of promoting HIV testing for a million of Kenya's youth.
That same day, I heard a mock thesis defense by one of the Family Medicine residents on the promotion of HIV testing in rural Kenya. His bottom line is that physicians need to promote HIV testing.
So the point of this story the the "jars of clay" is that there are other unique responses to the HIV crisis and that improved and expanded testing is one of the important strategies of prevention.
Marvin
Yesterday, I was informed the "Jars of Clay" also represent an American Christian Rock group that is here in Kenya for a concert. They are in partnership with other Kenyan musicians with the purpose of promoting HIV testing for a million of Kenya's youth.
That same day, I heard a mock thesis defense by one of the Family Medicine residents on the promotion of HIV testing in rural Kenya. His bottom line is that physicians need to promote HIV testing.
So the point of this story the the "jars of clay" is that there are other unique responses to the HIV crisis and that improved and expanded testing is one of the important strategies of prevention.
Marvin
Saturday, February 7, 2009
My last few days.....
Sorry not to have written for awhile! The computer has been so slow that I haven't been able to get on the blogsite. Roadrunner will be so fast it will be scarey!
It is Saturday and I have just retuned from an awesome unbelievable walk. It was 3 miles up to the top of the highest hill around here called Montego. It was very hard but whileworth for the view at the top! This area has such rich soil and with the rain of late everything is so green. All the little farms dotting the hillsides are newly planted and thriving. On the way back we stopped at the home of a lady who works in the library here at Tenwek. It was such fun to meet her husband and family and to be in a Kenyan home. They were so hospitable and what we thought would be a short visit ended up being lunch and a three hour visit. My 3 mile walk began at 10 and ended at 4PM. It was well worth it and they are delightful people. They have 9 children and have taken in an orphan so now have ten. They really value education ....they have one son in medical school in Tanzania, one daughter awaiting scores to be able to enter medical school and others in high school here in Kenya. They are so hard working and hopeful; a real joy to be with.
Yesterday I went with a group to an orphanage where we read the story of Jesus' washing the disciples feet and then did that for the orphans before giving them a new pair of tennis shoes that had been donated by a group from Charlotte. It was a powerful experience. You can imagine how thrilled the kids were and how proud!
I have still been working in the nursery . My twins have gone home and I wonder how they are doing! The census in the nursery is down, but the number of really sick babies is up. We have had two babies die in the last couple of days and Marv has had 3 maternal deaths. Life here is very difficult. We are so blessed.
The days go so fast as I have been so busy doing all sorts of odd jobs. I typed a dictated letter for the medical superintendent the other day, helped shred old documents from which they make bricks that can be used for burning, cooked 7 pizzas for the medical students that are here (with the help of Sarah, the sweet lady who is household help here) among other things. They stretch you here which is not a bad thing for an old lady.
More later as someone else wants to use the computer.
Lots of hugs,
mom and dad
micki and marv
It is Saturday and I have just retuned from an awesome unbelievable walk. It was 3 miles up to the top of the highest hill around here called Montego. It was very hard but whileworth for the view at the top! This area has such rich soil and with the rain of late everything is so green. All the little farms dotting the hillsides are newly planted and thriving. On the way back we stopped at the home of a lady who works in the library here at Tenwek. It was such fun to meet her husband and family and to be in a Kenyan home. They were so hospitable and what we thought would be a short visit ended up being lunch and a three hour visit. My 3 mile walk began at 10 and ended at 4PM. It was well worth it and they are delightful people. They have 9 children and have taken in an orphan so now have ten. They really value education ....they have one son in medical school in Tanzania, one daughter awaiting scores to be able to enter medical school and others in high school here in Kenya. They are so hard working and hopeful; a real joy to be with.
Yesterday I went with a group to an orphanage where we read the story of Jesus' washing the disciples feet and then did that for the orphans before giving them a new pair of tennis shoes that had been donated by a group from Charlotte. It was a powerful experience. You can imagine how thrilled the kids were and how proud!
I have still been working in the nursery . My twins have gone home and I wonder how they are doing! The census in the nursery is down, but the number of really sick babies is up. We have had two babies die in the last couple of days and Marv has had 3 maternal deaths. Life here is very difficult. We are so blessed.
The days go so fast as I have been so busy doing all sorts of odd jobs. I typed a dictated letter for the medical superintendent the other day, helped shred old documents from which they make bricks that can be used for burning, cooked 7 pizzas for the medical students that are here (with the help of Sarah, the sweet lady who is household help here) among other things. They stretch you here which is not a bad thing for an old lady.
More later as someone else wants to use the computer.
Lots of hugs,
mom and dad
micki and marv
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
One week left
It is hard to believe that our time at Tenwek is almost done! So the questions begin as to the value and meaning of the experience. There are never easy answers to these questions!
What has been wonderful for me has been the presence of my wife! OK, you already figured that out by her activities as reported on the blog.
What is most concerning has been the prevalence of AIDS and its impact on mothers and children. The good news is that there is treatment that is available.
There is one mother who has had a great impact on both Micki and me. She has been extremely ill with complications of infections that have threatened her life. Her baby has been delivered prematurely and is at risk but progressing in the nursery. I think the only reason that this patient has survived is the care provided by her devoted mother who remains by her bedside. She is a wonderful example of unconditional love!
The big question for us as providers and churches is how will we respond? Can we address the reality of the suffering and death associated with sexually transmitted diseases? Are there other responses that will bring healing?
Pray that the community of healing, churches and healthcare, will find a new dimension to the care that will mirror the unconditional love that we all have received.
Marvin
What has been wonderful for me has been the presence of my wife! OK, you already figured that out by her activities as reported on the blog.
What is most concerning has been the prevalence of AIDS and its impact on mothers and children. The good news is that there is treatment that is available.
There is one mother who has had a great impact on both Micki and me. She has been extremely ill with complications of infections that have threatened her life. Her baby has been delivered prematurely and is at risk but progressing in the nursery. I think the only reason that this patient has survived is the care provided by her devoted mother who remains by her bedside. She is a wonderful example of unconditional love!
The big question for us as providers and churches is how will we respond? Can we address the reality of the suffering and death associated with sexually transmitted diseases? Are there other responses that will bring healing?
Pray that the community of healing, churches and healthcare, will find a new dimension to the care that will mirror the unconditional love that we all have received.
Marvin
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Meanderings from Miriam
Where do I start? The last few days have been packed full.
As Marv wrote we started out on Friday from Tenwek and went to the Masai Mara and stayed at the Fairmont Safari Club. Let me just say that they have the nicest tents I have ever stayed in....that is the way I like to camp! four poster beds with great linens, oriental rugs, and hot water bottles to warm your bed before you crawl in! Of course that doesn't compare with the trumpeting of the fifty hippos who swim below your front porch on the Mara River. We went with 3 of the medical students who are here from Miami and U of Louisville which also made it fun. The contrast to life at a 5 star with the rest of Africa is daunting.
However, tourist dollars are a significant part of the Kenyan economy. The sad part is that whether it is the world wide recession or the fear of violence here, tourists are way down. There were only about 25 of us there in the hotel or about 12 tents filled out of 50. Our guide Henry, was wonderful and went out of his way to accomodate us. I really can't begin to describe our experience. First of all the roads going,coming and on the Mara make Michigan potholes look like superhighways. Add a bit of rain and some slippery mud and you have a four wheel heaven. Hopefully a video of our jeep stuck in the mud will be posted on facebook soon. It is a good laugh, now that it is over!
The animals are gorgeous and zoos will never be the same after the vistas of the Mara. It truly is a wonder of the world and makes you very aware of the greatness of God's creation. We saw, elephant families, lions, tigers, zebras, giraffees, impala, dick-dicks,cape buffalo, rhinos, etc Just bumping along in the jeep looking for animals was fun. the rides were at sunrise and sun set which added to the beauty.
We came back on Sunday afternoon just in time to participate in the Bible quiz going on at tenwek with Kenyan and missionary children. A Kenyan child has already memorized 85 verses from the Bible. They are asked questions as a team and if they know the answer they push their buzzer! Kind of like an american quiz show from the 50's! The questions are taken from the Bible verbatim and are really hard I think.... fun to watch .
Yesterday I went with the community education people to a dispensary (one of many tenwek staffs) that was about 12 miles from here on unbelievable back roads. The driver prays before and after the the trip and thanks God for safety. I would say that at least 100 moms and babies showed up for immunizations and family planning. They weigh the babies from the cloths (kagaa) that mothers use to carry babies on their backs. They attach the kagaa to a fish hook hanging from the tree and weigh them from a primitive scale in kilos. There was an elderly lady, probably younger then me, who is on the community health committee helping weigh, teaching about Jesus and exhorting the benefits of family planning as the woman gathered to socialize under the tree. The entrepenuers were also there selling used clothing from the states. (many AIG shirts for adults!) Another woman set up a restaurant under the tree and sold cooked beans. I passed on buying them. Interestly, the older woman told me how Sue Steury, whose husband was the first doctor here, taught her about Jesus and now she teaches this generation. Again, the seeds planted are not returning void, the Lord is at work here. In fact Christianity is a great comfort to many of the people I meet in a very concrete way. The government is so corrupt that they only find peace and comfort in their faith. A good lesson for me and probably for many of us. I felt pretty useless as far as doing anything, but did take lots of pictures of kids which they absolutely love seeing. I think I scared a few kids who I know had never seen a white woman before. I did lots of hand holding and back patting and admiring babies.....a language which can be translated anywhere. Moms are proud around the world.
That is a very very brief summary of some wonderful experiences. Hope I haven't gone on too long. Miss you all and send lots of love,
nana and poppy,
micki and marv
As Marv wrote we started out on Friday from Tenwek and went to the Masai Mara and stayed at the Fairmont Safari Club. Let me just say that they have the nicest tents I have ever stayed in....that is the way I like to camp! four poster beds with great linens, oriental rugs, and hot water bottles to warm your bed before you crawl in! Of course that doesn't compare with the trumpeting of the fifty hippos who swim below your front porch on the Mara River. We went with 3 of the medical students who are here from Miami and U of Louisville which also made it fun. The contrast to life at a 5 star with the rest of Africa is daunting.
However, tourist dollars are a significant part of the Kenyan economy. The sad part is that whether it is the world wide recession or the fear of violence here, tourists are way down. There were only about 25 of us there in the hotel or about 12 tents filled out of 50. Our guide Henry, was wonderful and went out of his way to accomodate us. I really can't begin to describe our experience. First of all the roads going,coming and on the Mara make Michigan potholes look like superhighways. Add a bit of rain and some slippery mud and you have a four wheel heaven. Hopefully a video of our jeep stuck in the mud will be posted on facebook soon. It is a good laugh, now that it is over!
The animals are gorgeous and zoos will never be the same after the vistas of the Mara. It truly is a wonder of the world and makes you very aware of the greatness of God's creation. We saw, elephant families, lions, tigers, zebras, giraffees, impala, dick-dicks,cape buffalo, rhinos, etc Just bumping along in the jeep looking for animals was fun. the rides were at sunrise and sun set which added to the beauty.
We came back on Sunday afternoon just in time to participate in the Bible quiz going on at tenwek with Kenyan and missionary children. A Kenyan child has already memorized 85 verses from the Bible. They are asked questions as a team and if they know the answer they push their buzzer! Kind of like an american quiz show from the 50's! The questions are taken from the Bible verbatim and are really hard I think.... fun to watch .
Yesterday I went with the community education people to a dispensary (one of many tenwek staffs) that was about 12 miles from here on unbelievable back roads. The driver prays before and after the the trip and thanks God for safety. I would say that at least 100 moms and babies showed up for immunizations and family planning. They weigh the babies from the cloths (kagaa) that mothers use to carry babies on their backs. They attach the kagaa to a fish hook hanging from the tree and weigh them from a primitive scale in kilos. There was an elderly lady, probably younger then me, who is on the community health committee helping weigh, teaching about Jesus and exhorting the benefits of family planning as the woman gathered to socialize under the tree. The entrepenuers were also there selling used clothing from the states. (many AIG shirts for adults!) Another woman set up a restaurant under the tree and sold cooked beans. I passed on buying them. Interestly, the older woman told me how Sue Steury, whose husband was the first doctor here, taught her about Jesus and now she teaches this generation. Again, the seeds planted are not returning void, the Lord is at work here. In fact Christianity is a great comfort to many of the people I meet in a very concrete way. The government is so corrupt that they only find peace and comfort in their faith. A good lesson for me and probably for many of us. I felt pretty useless as far as doing anything, but did take lots of pictures of kids which they absolutely love seeing. I think I scared a few kids who I know had never seen a white woman before. I did lots of hand holding and back patting and admiring babies.....a language which can be translated anywhere. Moms are proud around the world.
That is a very very brief summary of some wonderful experiences. Hope I haven't gone on too long. Miss you all and send lots of love,
nana and poppy,
micki and marv
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
God's Creation
It has been an awesome weekend! We spent the last three days at Masai Mara that is a 2 1/2 hour trip from Tenwek.
What is amazing is the vastness of this place (700 sq miles) and the intensity of life. It is a place where life and death are intimately connected! I will try and post some pictures, but cameras fail to capture the breadth of the vistas.
In this place the Masai people herd goats and cattle and live a very basic existence with their animals and "extended" families. They are colorful and are willing to sell their art - beads and carvings. What is amazing is that they live in a hostile environment with only a single spear!
What makes it possible to see these things are some amazing Toyota four wheel drive landrovers. When it rains the roads turn to swamps and "black holes". We had a wonderful driver who was able to "see" the animals, keep us safe and get us back to the lodge and our tents. These tents sit the edge of a steep enbankment on the Mara River that is filled with hippos! The steep embankment is part of the security system! During the night you are lulled to sleep by the hippo's pool party.
I am sure Micki will describe more of the adventures.
Marvin
What is amazing is the vastness of this place (700 sq miles) and the intensity of life. It is a place where life and death are intimately connected! I will try and post some pictures, but cameras fail to capture the breadth of the vistas.
In this place the Masai people herd goats and cattle and live a very basic existence with their animals and "extended" families. They are colorful and are willing to sell their art - beads and carvings. What is amazing is that they live in a hostile environment with only a single spear!
What makes it possible to see these things are some amazing Toyota four wheel drive landrovers. When it rains the roads turn to swamps and "black holes". We had a wonderful driver who was able to "see" the animals, keep us safe and get us back to the lodge and our tents. These tents sit the edge of a steep enbankment on the Mara River that is filled with hippos! The steep embankment is part of the security system! During the night you are lulled to sleep by the hippo's pool party.
I am sure Micki will describe more of the adventures.
Marvin
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