Camp: Nairobi, Kenya

Dear Godbrothers and Godsisters!
Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada. All Glories to Guru Maharaja.

It's been 1 week since I've been travelling with Guru Maharaja around East Africa. During this time we have visited Nairobi, Kampala, Kisumu and Mombasa.

During our 1-day visit to Kampala (Uganda Republic), we stayed at one devotee businessmen's house, whose name is Mukesh. He has a factory where he makes alluminium pots for cooking. His company's name is "Shumukh ltd.", and on every pot he puts a sticker "Krishna's Brand Shumukh". Guru Maharaj was very pleased, and said it was one way to preach the glories of Krishna, by spreading his holy name.

>From Kampala we drove all the way to Kisumu, it's about 6 hours drive. We had to change cars at Busia border (border between Uganda and Kenya Republics), and Pundarik Prabhu drove us from Busia border to Kisumu. While driving from Uganda border, we have crossed the Equator, the place where Northern and Southern hemispheres meet.

The Kisumu temple is a really wonderful and beautiful place. Ramdas Prabhu, who was heading the construction and design of this temple worked really hard and did a wonderful job. This temple, although not so big in size, looks like a palace. With small gardens, fountain and a waterfall.. beautiful Sri Sri Radha-Madan-Mohan Deities are the presiding Deities of Kisumu temple.

In Kisumu Guru Maharaj gave a small initiation to two people, went to visit few houses, the school where African children study under supervision of Krishna-mayi Mataji and Phalguna Prabhu, who previously used to teach in Mayapur Gurukula and is a very expert ashram teacher. We also visited 1-acre devotee farm which is right on the bank of world's 2nd biggest lake Victoria and was bought by Pundarik Prabhu. The farm building is still under construction and should be ready in a few months, to provide facilities for devotees to stay.

On 9th evening we took a flight from Kisumu to Nairobi. Because of cloudy weather, it was a bumpy flight. Guru Maharaj said that it was one of the bumpiest flights he ever took. "But it made me remember Krishna and chant more, so that was very good." - Guru Maharaj mentioned with a smile to the devotees at the airport, as soon as we arrived.

On May 10th, there was a wonderful Ratha-yatra festival at Nairobi. Everybody was affraid that it will rain, because it is rainy season in Africa at the moment, and it has been raining heavily almost non-stop for past one week. But as amazing as it might sound, the weather was perfect, and in the morning there were almost no clouds in the sky. It is pleasing to heart to see Lord Jagannath's special arrangements. After Ratha-yatra has started, it was a bit hot because of the sun, and by Jagannath's mercy, many clouds have covered the sky and the weather was just right. It didn't rain all the way through Ratha-yatra, but it was not for everyone.. Only for those who have attended this transcendental festival of chariots. The rest of Nairobi city was covered with heavy rain, and guests who came to the temple in the evening were saying that it was just a miracle.

The Mayor of Nairobi came along with x-mayor, to open the Ratha-yatra ceremony, at about 1:30pm. They both gave a very favorable speech for about 20 minutes, praising ISKCON and it's welfare work. Especially the Mayor, he praised Guru Maharaj. He mentioned that 2 years ago, when he was still a deputy mayor and attended Ratha-yatra, Guru Maharaj has predicted that because of Lord Jagannath's mercy and blessings, he will become the Mayor of the city very soon. And it actually happened. It has really touched him, and he was very grateful to Guru Maharaj and to Lord Jagannath for this mercy.

Mahavishnu Maharaj has also come for the Ratha-yatra, and all the devotees enjoyed his nectarian kirtanas, which were accompanied by his famous accordion.

On May 11th, after giving Sunday lecture, and visiting a few homes Guru Maharaj took a flight to Mombasa at 5:00pm. It was a 45 minutes local flight, and Guru Maharaj has managed to give yet another Sunday lecture at Mombasa temple, at about 7:00pm. Guru Maharaj was in Mombasa only for one day, and on 12th evening he went back to Nairobi.

Tomorrow night, at 7:00pm, Guru Maharaj is flying to Dubai by Emirates, and will be there for two days. I am staying behind, and most probably will reach Bombay on 18th early morning. Guru Maharaj is coming to Bombay from Dubai on 18th morning as well, and he will immediately leave for Jagannath Puri by 10:30am flight to attend some meeting with spiritual leaders there. He is leaving behind most of his Deities, as he cannot take them to Dubai, it's a heavy duty muslim country, and I will be taking care of them during his stay in Dubai.

Right now Guru Maharaj is giving the evening Bhagavad-gita class in Nairobi temple.

I will send pictures of our trip to East Africa soon.

I hope this meets you well.

Your servant,
Sri Balaram das