Thanksgiving on the Coast…

Nothing says Thanksgiving like laying by the Indian Ocean sipping an ice-cold beverage…well, maybe a lot of things say Thanksgiving better than that but that is how we spent our’s this year. We went to the coast at Watamu, Kenya with our friends the Nippers and stayed at a resort called Turtle Bay. Most people might not be aware of it but the Kenyan coast is tropical and beautiful. For the most part we just spent our time relaxing (lounging and palying in the pool and reading/napping by the ocean) and eating.  But we did find some time for a little adventure as well.  One day we took a boat out and went snorkeling at the coral reef in the Watamu National Marine Park, which has an amazing variety of fish and marine life.  We also went a good ways out (1 1/2 hours round trip) to try to find dolphins, but due to the rough water that far out we only found queasy stomachs.  We also spent some time kayaking out to different rocks off the shore where we saw loads of crabs and other interesting creatures.  Of course no trip to the coast would be complete without several sightings of OOEMIS around the beach area (Old Overweight European Men In Speedos), but we will spare you the image…just know that the Kenyan Coast is hopping with OOEMIS (well, maybe not hopping….most OOEMIS are  incoherent and sprawled out on lounge chairs roasting  in UV Rays).   Anyway, we had a wonderful, relaxing holiday and now we only have 3 weeks until we go home for Christmas!

   

The rock in the background is one we kayaked to and it is infested with crabs…

On our way to the Watamu National Park to snorkel…

Jess snorkeling…

Group shot (Daniel, Keturah, Jess and Jamie)…

For Jess, this is heaven…

One night at dinner…

Trip to Nakuru….

This past weekend we traveled to Nakuru to visit Children Outreach Ministries to the Destitute/Pistis Academy, the very first place we visited when we came to Kenya for the first time in 2002. The orphanage/school/church was started and is run by Brother and Sister Wakesa, an incredible couple that sacrifice constantly to meet the needs of street kids in Nakuru. What started as a small orphanage (of 30 kids when we visited in 2002) now houses over 100 children, and is a private day school to hundreds more. They have been facing some major difficulties though. The post election violence in 2007 was at it’s worst in Western parts of the country and the town of Nakuru was badly affected. Even two years later you can still see the negative impact this tragic event had on places like Pistis. They had been sustaining the school and orphanage with the fees received from paying day-school students. However, many of the wealthier families fled during the violence causing the school to lose a high percentage of paying students. The numbers have never returned, but the number of orphaned children has increased. Therefore, they are facing serious financial struggles to maintain the school, pay teachers, and to continue to provide for the orphaned children at a high level. Please be in prayer for this ministry and for us as we search for ways to create sustainable income for the project. They are doing a great work and we want to partner with them to ensure that the work continues. Our first step will be donating some money to help pay teachers that haven’t been paid since September. Long term we are searching for sustainability projects. If you are interested in assisting this ministry financially, let us know. We had a great time visiting with them and of course eating wonderful food prepared by Sister Gladys (Mokimo, githeri, chapattis, dengu, and stew…ummm.). On Sunday Jessica had the opportunity to sing a beautiful Swahili song in the morning service, and Jamie was asked to preach (this just keeps happening!!). It was a great service and another great weekend in Kenya.

With the Wakesas (older pic taken in 2007).

Children preparing for lunch…

Jessica with school building in background…

Jessica singing “Ahadi Zake”

Speakng…

Another Visit to Hosanna…

Hosanna Children’s Home is quickly becoming one of our favorite places here, as you can probably tell from all of the recent posts about our visits.  We really believe in the work that is going on there and consider it a blessing to be able to support and partner with them.  We previously posted about a tragedy where Isaac, one of the managers of Hosanna, was mugged as he was leaving the bank and a large amount of orphanage money was stolen.  We felt strongly that we should try to help replace some of the money that was lost.  Today we had the joy of delivering a nice contribution to them.  It was not nearly the amount that was lost, but it was a good start.  We were also able to deliver a few supplies as special  gifts to the orphanage (a gas cooker to compliment their wood burning stove in the kitchen, and a few soccer balls and frisbees for the kids).  Thank you so much to all of you that contribute to our ministry account!  It is because of your generosity that  we are able to bless this ministry.  If you are interested in supporting this ministry further, please check out the “Ways to Help” tab at the top.  Specified contributions will go towards helping Hosanna Children’s Home in any of the following ways:  Buying food and supplies, paying school fees for the children, building and improving facilities, investing in sustainability projects, etc.  Asante Sana!! 

On another note, we were very excited to see that since our last visit they have been able to clear land for a large shamba (garden/farm) and plant several different types of vegetables and herbs to supplement the feeding program for the kids.  Within a few months they should be completely self-sufficient in growing their own vegetables! 

Trying out the new cooker…

Some of the kids with some of the frisbees and soccer balls…

Sister Beatrice and the crops….

The Joys of Racecourse Road…

Most of you know that each month we deliver food supplies to Ruai School to support the feeding program. To purchase the food we go to an area of town called Racecourse Road, because there are many shops where you can buy staples at wholesale costs. The area is one of the main hubs for matatu and bus traffic in Nairobi, so it is extremely busy and packed with people and vehicles. Racecourse Road does have a notorious reputation of being unsafe and dangerous, but from our experience, it isn’t necessarily a place that should be feared or avoided. We have met some incredibly kind and helpful people in this area. However, it is the type of place where you might want to guard your pockets and not a place you want to be after dark. It also isn’t a place where you want to have car trouble…which is exactly what has happened 3 of the last 5 times we have gone…well to be more precise, the times I (Jamie) have gone without Jess. We usually go together but for different reasons Jessica didn’t accompany me on these particular trips to pick up the goods. What she missed out on these 3 occasions was a fender bender that took hours to resolve, a misunderstanding with a parking attendant that resulted in an angry mob of over 60 angry people threatening the poor attendant and demanding justice for the mzungu (crazy story that would take too long to write, but I am just lucky the mob was on my side, though as soon as the officer let me go and the crowd began to cheer…yes cheer…one guy told me to “go quickly because these people will now turn on you”), and a break down in the middle of the street that led to a few guys climbing inside (not making it up) my van to “fix the problem” and made me an easy target for hustlers. Luckily, I was able to handle myself in these situations without any serious issues and I gained some great experience in these adventures, but the most important lesson learned is that Jessica should always come along.

Not actually Racecourse, but in the area so that you get a picture of the craziness (http://www.impetusinmundum.de/documentation/Album.uhtml)

Borrowed picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/csm2mkrtw)

Camping in Naivasha…

Last weekend we decided to get away for a night, just the two of us, so after leaving Hosanna Children’s Home we headed north to the Rift Valley for a night of camping on Lake Naivasha.  Now according to the map we used there is a nice road going from Githunguri through a couple of towns and connecting us with the road we normally take into the valley.  We figured it would be much faster then backtracking.  Well, this nice road (on the map!!) fell apart just outside of Githunguri and turned instead into a large muddy path with random patches of asphalt rising out of the ground (the remains of what was once that nice road).  So we spent the next 3 1/2 hours moving at the blazing speed of 20 KPH and dodging potholes (Trip should have been 1-2 hours max).  But it turned out to be a nice (though at times frustratingly slow and bumpy) drive that allowed us to see a few places we hadn’t seen before, and eventually we arrived at Fisherman’s Camp on Lake Naivasha.  Lake Naivasha is the 3^rd largest lake in Kenya (if you include Victoria) and it is home to many exotic birds and wildlife.  The camp was nice but did have some drawbacks.  Strong points: beautiful lake scenery, close to water, feeding ground for hippos (more on this in a minute), well established campgrounds, and  low entry fee.  Weak points: overcrowded, not very private or secluded, and you have to camp near people who think experiencing the outdoors includes mandatory music played loud enough for everyone else to enjoy as well!  But some of those strong points made it worth it.  For example, at around 2:30 a.m. we heard a loud munching sound outside.  We got out of our tent to find a massive hippo enjoying some tasty grass about 20 feet from our tent.  It was a pretty amazing experience (No pictures though, the flash wouldn’t pick it up!!).  The next morning we went over to Crescent Island, but because of low lake levels isn’t really an island right now.  There are hundreds of herd animals on the “island” and you can pay a small fee to hike among them.  We have seen hundreds of animals since being in Kenya, but there is something surreal about hiking through herds of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, gazelles, and being within 25 ft. of a herd of 20-30 hippos taking their morning swim.  Another great weekend in Kenya!

Campsite…

Jamie cooking pancakes over the Jiko…

Herd of Hippos…

Hippos…

Jess and a herd of Giraffes…

Nice shot of Giraffes…

2 twigas with Mt. Longonot in the distance…

Jamie hiking with guide, Mumo…

A Day at Hosanna…

Sunday we traveled back to Githunguri to visit Hosanna Children’s Home again. It was great to see Sister Beatrice, her family, and all of the children. We were able to worship with them at their church, sing a few songs, and Jamie was asked to speak. We were also able to see some additions they had made to the facilities. In the post about our last visit (click here) we mentioned that we were going to assist them in purchasing some additional beds for the kids. As of now there are enough beds for the children, so the money we donated was able to go towards an additional need. Meals for the children were being prepared in an outdoor kitchen, however they received a visit from a health officer who insisted that they have an indoor facility, and he only gave them 2 weeks to comply. With the contribution we made they were able to build an indoor facility for cooking with an additional room for food preparation and storage. This is a blessing because it meets the health officer’s standards and is more sanitary, but also because it allows the cooks to work under a roof as opposed to outside.  So thanks for your support!

Unfortunately, they also shared with us some unfortunate news. Beatrice’s son, Isaac, who is a children’s officer and helps at the orphanage, was leaving the bank last week with a large amount of money that had been donated to the orphanage. Shortly after leaving he was approached by a group of men posing as police officers who pushed him into a car. They abducted him for over two hours and finally robbed him of all of the money, and then left him in a coffee field far outside of town. Luckily, God protected him and he was not injured but a large amount of money was stolen that belongs to the children of Hosanna. The money that was stolen was going to be used to pay school fees for the students, food, supplies, and facility additions. We are planning on helping them replace the money that was lost and we believe that God will provide even more! If you are interested in supporting this work please let us know, and please keep Hosanna in your prayers. Also, please pray for the safety of Isaac, Beatrice, and their family as they all work tirelessly to provide for these children, and that they will receive the peace needed to get completely past this ordeal.

The new kitchen…

Storage and preparation room off of the kitchen…

A group of the kids and the mpishi (cook) posing…

Previous kitchen area…

Sister Beatrice and her family…

The Old Man is Snoring…

So it is finally starting to rain in Kenya, at least where we live.  The last few weeks we have several nice showers, and the last 3 days rain has fallen in some capacity.  Yesterday it was so nice to have to put on our rain jackets and to have mud on our feet as we walked to work.  We had to turn on our windshield wipers for the first time in months.  During the first big rain, I just stood out in it….it was so refreshing.  It is just the beginning and we need much more all over the country, but we really have faith that it is coming.  Thanks for praying and please keep praying for rain and  for all of the people that have been affected by this drought.  Even after rains come, many Kenyans will still face the devastation and loss of crops and livestock caused by the drought.

Woo-hoo, mud puddles!!

My camera didn’t pick it up (or maybe it was the photographer) but it is pouring right here!

Current Weather Map at time of posting….

Camping in Masai Mara…

Last weekend I (Jamie) went camping in Masai Mara with a group of guys.  Masai Mara is one of the top safari destinations in East Africa.  We camped at Sand River, which is in the southern part of the park on the Tanzanian border. It is one of the few places where you can set up your own camp within the park.  This of course provides opportunity for close contact with animals, but we only had monkeys, gazelle, and Masai cattle come close to camp.  We were fortunate to see a herd of elephants from camp that my friend Scott and I hiked over to get a closer view of (which probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do but exciting all the same), and we heard Lions in the distance throughout the night, but they never came close.  It was a beautiful spot to camp that was just beside the river and underneath the shade of two large trees.  I spent the weekend relaxing around the fire, eating good food, going on a few game drives, getting to know some great guys, and enjoying God’s amazing creation.  I must say, it was a pretty good weekend.

One of the first things we saw when we entered the Mara…

Mara Sunset…

Campsite…

View of camp from the other side of the river…

Came up on this lioness sunbathing just off the road…

A pride of 11 lions that we caught napping…you can only see a few in this shot.

How many guys does it take to dig out a Land Cruiser?

The herd of elephants that Scott and I followed…

Herd of Elephants…

Nice looking Twiga…

Please Pray for Rain….

We have mentioned it a few times in past postings, but want to dedicate an entire post to the grim situation that is Kenya’s current drought. Kenya desperately needs rain. Some reports say that there has not been a successful rain season in 4 cycles. Many of us cannot fathom the depths of the damage a severe drought can do in a country like Kenya. In a country where so many people’s livelihoods are dependent on farming and raising livestock, this continual lack of rain is devastating. Over 4 million people now face starvation due to food shortages, and many more are suffering daily due to loss of income, and the lack of drinking and cooking water. Livestock and cattle are dying all over the country, which only adds to the food shortage and the loss of income for farmers and pastoralists. Many people are fleeing the rural areas where they are no longer able to farm and are moving into the slum areas around towns. This poses new problems because an increasing slum population will almost certainly lead to more violence, crime, prostitution, and child labor, as people are desperate to get money and food. The drought is at a level now where it is even affecting the wealthier part of the population. The city of Nairobi is now having to ration water, only providing water on certain days of the week. This leads people to have to buy additional water and greatly modify how they use water. Even on our campus we have been affected. We have two boreholes on campus, and one is completely dry and we don’t know how long the other one will provide water. The school is looking into purchasing more water, and we will receive city water two days a week, but with a campus that has 500 students, over 100 employs, and the homes of over 50 people, a lot of water is needed for day to day operation. For now we are making some adjustments to our lifestyles. We are trying to limit showers to 5 minutes and take them less often (when possible), save water from showers and the sink by using water catches, limit toilet flushes, use saved water to flush the toilet, water plants, and wash the car, wear clothes multiple times (if possible) and limit clothes washing to one day a week. If we run out of water, worst case scenario, we will not be able to operate the school. As for now it is just an inconvenience, but we all recognize that our inconveniences are nothing in the greater scheme of things. Many people are losing their lives, livelihood, and homes, so please pray for rain.

 On a slightly ironic and sad note heavy El-Nino rains are predicted to come within the next months, however many predict that these will cause great flooding in many areas. So many families in areas of Western Kenya are being asked to leave their homes and relocate in preparation for the flooding and mudslides that are nearly inevitable when rain does fall. Please pray for these people as well.

Here are links for further info: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/photogalleries/kenya-animals-drought-pictures/  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/17/kenya-drought-cattle-deaths

 

A worker tries to lift a weak cow from among the carcasses of drought-stricken cows in a paddock. Photo: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya

Going to the chapel….

Living in a foregin country has provided us with many awesome opportunities and blessings, but living abroad does require certain sacrifices.  The most obvious is the distance from family and friends, and not being present to see our niece and nephew grow up.  But this weekend we are having to make another huge sacrifice.  Two of our best friends in the world, Jason Crowgey and Tiffany Ward, are both getting married (but not to each other!).  Jason is marrying Renee Sanders, an incredibly cool girl he met in Grad School, and TIffany is tying the knot with Chris Trainor, a great guy that she has known most of her life.  Jason and Tiffany were both in our wedding, and we would give anything to be there for them on their big days.  Unfortunately we are going to be thousands of miles away!  If only they had planned their lives around us and waited for us to be home!!!!  But what are you going to do. 

We love them greatly, would give anything to be able to be there with them, and wish them the best as they start this new chapter of their lives.

We love you Jason and Tiff!  God Bless!

We decided to go with all wedding pictures….Jason and Jamie before Taylor’s wedding.

Jess and Tiff before Christen’s Wedding…

Jess and her bestest girls…I think this was Christen’s wedding, maybe.

The guys before our wedding…..kidding.