Moving In

The process of moving in has begun! After quite the journey to the house we have been able to move Mama Mwungi in. Though we are still a few weeks away from completion, this move allows Mama Mwungi to cut out a 20 minute walk to and from the house each day. I look forward to joining her in a couple weeks at our new home!

As you may imagine the car was packed full of supplies and items for the new house. Upon reaching the "driveway" we had two options. Either carry all the items including a propane tank and 5 gallon buckets of paint to the house (1/2 mile) or attempt to traverse the muddy trail of a driveway.  We were able to make it about 3/4 of the way before the car was completely stuck in the mud. Thus, we had no other option but to unload the items and hoof it the rest of the way. Thank goodness our construction workers were there to help carry everything!

Our driveway

Carrying mattresses

Carrying propane tank and 5 gallon buckets of paint

Living in a rural area, there aren't many neighbors around. However, if your car gets stuck, breaks down or you just need some help; people mysteriously appear out of the fields. With the help of 12 local guys and nearly two hours of their persistent efforts they were able to get the car back to the main road. Once there they all started cheering as if they had just won a serious competition, despite being covered head to toe in mud!

Deciding if the car can make it through the mud

Group effort- 2 hours of mud slinging to get the car back to the main road

After quite the journey and with a lot of help we finally had Mama Mwungi settled in. Though some of the bedrooms are ready, the house is still without running water, toilets, and furniture. This fact did not discourage us from having a small little move-in party, which included the contractor and his four assistants whom have been living on the property in a small shanty during the construction. This was the first dinner in the new house. We all had a blast and the carpenters were really surprised that their bosses, Bochi and I, would invite them to join us.  I thought it was a fun way to show gratitude for all the great work they are doing.

Beef and ugali dinner

With construction still ongoing the night felt more like a campout than a move-in party, but fun nonetheless. It's exciting to know that in a couple of weeks I will be calling this place my home!