Each passing day is bringing more Kenyan excitement than the one before. Today marks the two week point of being here in country. For the time that we have been here, a small family of mice has resided in the kitchen of the community house. I personally was not so burdened over their presence, apart from the food that they voraciously stole. Nonetheless, when the team arrived the mouse situation was not met with pleasure.

A portion of the team is not afraid of mice, but rather of girls who are. The screams became excessive and the throwing things grew to just as much; therefore, something had to be done. I purchased two smaller traps from a local hardware store that was nice enough to have traps, baited them up with peanut butter and awaited in anticipation for their demise.

Half of a day passed with not so much as a sighting and then turned to night. I was certain the seedy beasts would be active at night but awoke to find none in the awaiting jaws of death. However, around brunch today came the news, “Two Mice Slain in the Kitchen.” The moment we had waited for finally arrived and I went in to survey the damage. The one thing about mouse traps found in Kenya is that they are 100% metal in construction, with a row of serrated teeth where the wire trap meets the edge. Knowing this, I was expecting carnage of mouse-like proportions.

Upon further review, the mice were not damaged beyond recognition, however, they were dead. The one did suffer a gruesome death which I was glad no one was forced to witness. A quick maneuver threw them into the vines behind the house and I was certain our woes were over. As the story turns out, where there are two mice in Africa, two hundred are sure to follow. It appears that not all have been acquired but only time is necessary to bring the others to their doom.