We traveled to Kenya two months ago and when we returned, my computer was not working well and then we had another trip to the DR Congo,many other youth activities and visitors to entertain. Consequently, Kenya never got a blog so here goes about a great visit to Kenya!
One of the fun things about this visit for me was being able to visit my old high school buddy: Julie Pingree Broadbent, who is the wife of the mission president (Steve Broadbent) in Kenya. We tried to plan the trip so that our schedules would be compatible and it worked out nicely. Julie and I had a chance to visit, shop and do some sight-seeing while our husbands worked hard. We had a lot of fun and even included our husbands at dinner! It is fun to visit with these good people in this far-away land and after so many, many years of raising families. We discovered that we are really just the same except for many more wrinkles and inches but lots more wisdom! We always thought we were pretty smart. Now we KNOW we are!!!
President and Sister Broadbent. They greet everyone with a smile and radiate happiness. In his former life, Steve was an Orthodontist. He always asks "Have you brushed today?"
Men were busy making the clay for the beads.
Many of these women have worked there for 30+ years. The factory began to help women who were single parents or struggling in some way, to find work. The feeling there is very warm and friendly and the women sang to us as they worked.
This creative woman was making a bead wall. It was beautiful!
The beads that the women make are all hand painted and fired. They are exceptionally lovely and well-designed.
We had a hard time deciding what to buy! Too many choices - not enough time!!! Kazuri beads are ordered and shipped to sell all over the world. I should have bought one in every color. They are really very beautiful beads.
A trip to Kenya would not be complete without a visit to Karin Blixen's home and also the place where "Out of Africa" was filmed.
One of the fun things about this visit for me was being able to visit my old high school buddy: Julie Pingree Broadbent, who is the wife of the mission president (Steve Broadbent) in Kenya. We tried to plan the trip so that our schedules would be compatible and it worked out nicely. Julie and I had a chance to visit, shop and do some sight-seeing while our husbands worked hard. We had a lot of fun and even included our husbands at dinner! It is fun to visit with these good people in this far-away land and after so many, many years of raising families. We discovered that we are really just the same except for many more wrinkles and inches but lots more wisdom! We always thought we were pretty smart. Now we KNOW we are!!!
President and Sister Broadbent. They greet everyone with a smile and radiate happiness. In his former life, Steve was an Orthodontist. He always asks "Have you brushed today?"
Julie and I visited the Kazuri Bead Factory.
This creative woman was making a bead wall. It was beautiful!
The beads that the women make are all hand painted and fired. They are exceptionally lovely and well-designed.
We had a hard time deciding what to buy! Too many choices - not enough time!!! Kazuri beads are ordered and shipped to sell all over the world. I should have bought one in every color. They are really very beautiful beads.
A trip to Kenya would not be complete without a visit to Karin Blixen's home and also the place where "Out of Africa" was filmed.
It was perfect - inside and out. The only thing missing was Robert Redford! :)
We met Josephine at the mission office where she showed us some of her personal bead creations. Josephine had been a nun in the Catholic church for 7 years when she joined the church. The week after she was baptized, she was called to be the Relief Society President. She is a very sweet, talented lady.
Some of Josephine's beautiful jewelry.
Many people sell goods along the streets. In
this particularly area, they sell a lot of metal products.
You'll find just about anything you never imagined you might want to buy..... ???
Stephen is a member of the church and a former missionary. He is learning and teaching some good skills to some of his co-workers who are also craftsmen. He is called "Governor" by his colleagues. Stephen is trying to teach self-sufficiency and business skills to other artisans by helping them learn to keep an inventory of goods so when customers (like us) come by to purchase, they already have things to sell. He is a ray of sunshine!
These are some of Stephen's own hand carved nativities in his shop.
If anyone ever wonders about who carves the thousands of little animals and people that sell in the craft markets, well, here they are in Kenya. Stephen's group numbers about 60+ in all. Tree logs are delivered and dumped at their site where these craftsmen buy the wood then carve out their masterpieces.
Some of Josephine's beautiful jewelry.
Many people sell goods along the streets. In
this particularly area, they sell a lot of metal products.
These are some of Stephen's own hand carved nativities in his shop.
If anyone ever wonders about who carves the thousands of little animals and people that sell in the craft markets, well, here they are in Kenya. Stephen's group numbers about 60+ in all. Tree logs are delivered and dumped at their site where these craftsmen buy the wood then carve out their masterpieces.
LOVE their wrinkled skin!!!
We loved seeing the Masai crafts and saw a few REAL Masia on the streets. They carry staffs, are very tall and wear the traditional plaid clothing.
