Chapter 21

            It was dark as the van finally pulled to a stop just outside the gate of the Okinyi compound.  A few beeps on the horn brought a twelve year old boy wearing a T-shirt, shorts and sandals to open the gate.  As the van pulled in toward the larger house which stood directly facing the gate which was some 100 feet or so beyond it, children of various ages came streaming out from the two houses which stood on either side.

             “Welcome home father,” they cried out as they beat on the sides of the van as it slowly rolled to a halt.  Charles turned from the driver’s seat and spoke something to his wives in Luo.  The American trio could make out that it was some type of directive, since both Rachel and Elizabeth quickly climbed out of the van and began to speak in Luo.  The children then immediately lined up in rows facing each other.  The largest stood closest to the front of the van and the smallest on either side was near the front door of the big house.

             Rachel and Elizabeth took their places behind each line indicating which were their children by the common father, Charles Okinyi.  As Charles passed each child, he or she would bow as they shook the visitors’ hands, while crossing the left hand over to the right forearm.  Charles later explained that this was a sign of respect.

             Charles’ larger home faced the east and the rising sun.  Rachel’s house was then to his right on the south side facing north and Elizabeth’s house was on the left, facing Rachel’s house to the south.  The group moved past the porch and into the medium sized living room.  Just beyond that was a dining room.  Off to the left was a kitchen area.  And alongside the kitchen area were two bedrooms, one slightly larger than the other.

             “May I use the restroom?”  Juanita asked.

             “Surely, Mrs. Meadows,” Elizabeth replied.  “Just follow me.”

             “Hey,” Juanita objected, “Let’s have none of this Mrs. stuff.”  As she followed Elizabeth out the side door of the kitchen.  Although passage through the kitchen was quick she noticed that it seemed quite quaint, even ancient.  She’d soon found out how ancient but another shock greeted her first.  They marched several yards through a back yard before coming to the outhouse.  Juanita stood in shock and amazement for a moment.  “An outhouse” she thought.  “You mean you don’t even have running water and a decent toilet?” she blurted out.

             “I . . . I . . . I’m sorry ma’am,” Elizabeth began as she tried to hide her shock and embarrassment provoked by her visitor’s rudeness.  “Perhaps we can find a running water toilet at a petrol station, but the nearest village is two hours away.”

             “Uh . . no . .” Juanita reluctantly stated as she wrinkled her nose at the stench that greeted her at the wooden door.

            As Juanita returned toward the kitchen a few minutes later her suspicions of Charles only having a wood burning stove to cook on were confirmed. 

             “Are you alright, ma’am?”  Rachel asked.

             “Yes, I’m fine” Juanita responded as she was escorted back to the living room where Aaron and George were seated.

            “May I get you a Fanta to drink?” Rachel asked.

             “Fanta?  What’s a Fanta?”  Juanita questioned.

             “Sorry, ma’am -- I mean a soda pop.”

             “Yes, that would be fine.  Could you put lots of ice in glass?” Juanita requested.

             “Sorry, ma’am,” Rachel said sheepishly, “no ice.”

             Juanita turned to look at Charles (who was seated with the men) with a quizzical look on her face as if to ask without words why there was no ice after such a long hot drive.

             “We don’t have a refrigerator because we don’t have electricity in this part of the country,” Charles explained.

             Juanita could hardly believe her ears.  She had envisioned this great Africa trip which would be a combination of an African Safari and a vacation with a little preaching thrown in, but what she was getting was like a time machine trip back to the eighteenth or early nineteenth century, as they were approaching the twenty first century!

             Juanita’s eyes began to tear as she uttered a muffled “OK.”  Rachel and Elizabeth noticed Juanita’s discomfort, but neither said anything.

             An hour later dinner had been prepared.  Rachel escorted Juanita into the kitchen where there was a wash pan with warm water for her to wash her hands.  Juanita returned to the living room just in time to see Elizabeth -- who had a towel over her left arm and a small wash basin in her left hand -- pouring hot water out of a kettle held in her right hand onto the hands of each of the men.  Once again Juanita was hurt as she experienced another culture shock.

             Dinner consisted of chicken, rice, greens, and a special bread that was sort of like a soft taco shell and tea.  Juanita sat and ate quietly while the men sat and talked jovially.

             “Where are the ladies?” Juanita finally asked, being very curious as to why they hadn’t joined them for dinner.

             “They’re eating in the kitchen,” Charles explained.

             “Oh!  They aren’t good enough?” Juanita blew up “to eat with the great lord Okinyi?” she yelled sarcastically as she threw her cloth napkin on the table and ran out of the dining room through the living room and out the front door. 

             Bam!  The screen door slammed behind her as she made her exit.  George started to rise to go after her but Charles indicated he shouldn’t, while he spoke something in Luo in a voice loud enough for his wives (who were still in the kitchen) to hear him.

             Both wives quickly moved through the front door to speak to Juanita.  Juanita’s outburst only displayed a small amount of the emotion she was feeling.  The next one would be far worse.