17. Tense Times: East Africa a New Life Adventure


We were not always that fortunate however. During one of Barbara’s visits to Nairobi, our van had it’s window knocked out. A rock the size of a soccer ball laid on the passenger's seat. Barbara and the children had gone to Nairobi for a dental appointment, and riots started after she was in the Dentist office. Thousands of people were roaming the streets and the Vice President was assassinated that day. The dentist’s office was on the second floor and the children remember looking out the window at the street full of people. Dr. Beven had his askari (guards) take charge. Barbara and the children spent the night at Dr. Beven's house, and they had the windows replaced in the van.  I really never knew why Dr. Beven was in Kenya, but we had a good enough friendship that we traded vehicles with him so he had a camper van on a vacation trip with his son.  He had also been a professor at the University of Idaho at one time, so we had the U of I in common. His helping Barbara and the kids out during that scary situation was greatly appreciated and needed. 


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