A Farewell to Army Leaders

It was a Kenya kind of day. I took a Wednesday off from school to learn the dance; I wanted to participate in the Grand Farewell for the Kenya West Commissioners and I certainly wasn't opting to sing or play a horn. After dashing for a newspaper, I was showered and dressed by 9am, ready to dance. By 10am we had lost electricity and no one had shown up to practice. There were lots of best guesses as to how to play the CD with no power. By noon I had to run to Posta to get my package but returned by 12:45 when over 100 of us were getting lined up. The space we were in was too cramped so we moved to the parking lot, renewing speculation as to the best way to play the CD in the parking lot. By 2pm we had gone through the dance, very akin to a line dance, one time and broke for lunch. Between 3 and 4pm we got in some more practicing and I felt I could pull it off.

Sunday was the day for the Grand Farewell. I walked to the stadium in a white blouse and navy skirt, my best shot at fitting in. As I approached the venue, I saw hundreds, then thousands of people standing in lines under their Salvation Army Divisional flags. All were dressed in their white uniforms - there is nothing quite so African as thousands of black people in white uniforms, as long as you're sure it isn't a military coup! Quite confident I was not part of the march, I ambled into Bukuhru Stadium and found a seat under a canopy. The divisions marched in review past the Commissioners; the Territorial Band played during the hour of review, and I was surely impressed. The Army's presence here is powerful and Kenya West is a force in this neighborhood. The departing leaders are from the US, having been assigned to form the new territory in 2008. The Army's presence in Kenya is growing so quickly that the Army has 2 territories in Kenya, a nation about the size of Texas. What an incredible tribute to two white leaders in sub-Saharan Africa.

As you might have imagined, I danced divinely, and I am so glad I was a part of such a Big Deal. There will be a comparable welcome for the new Kenyan leaders in November, but at that time I will only be here for 2 more weeks, so my dancing days are numbered.