Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A little bit about everything

Everyday last week we read with 4 children at the Primary School: Eluid, Sarah, Salome, and Emanuel. I really enjoyed getting to know these kids and their stories. Most of them walk 2 hours just to get to school! And all of them know 3 languages! They speak and read the Bible in Kikuyu, but all of their schooling is in Kiswahili and English. I told them that even though they are struggling readers, due to their languages they are smarter than most people! It was a pleasure to encourage them. We even prayed together and Eluid prayed in Kikuyu which was so beautiful to hear aloud!

We went back to CURE on Monday. Emma and I have both really enjoyed this ministry. We bought balloons in Nairobi for them last Saturday and they all seemed to enjoy them!! 'Balooni, Balooni!' There was a particular child about 4 years old who was walking around on her knees (quite gracefully I might add) and needed to have an operation to remove her legs below the knee and replace them with prosthetics. The father was not understanding, I'm sure he'd never heard 'artificial' before. So Phoebe, who is the paid staff for the waiting room, had me illustrate what was needed to be done. Of course, the father was not ready to hear about the drastic measures needed to be taken. Phoebe and I prayed about his decision. His name is Stephen, if you would care to lift him up as well. He is beginning to know the Lord, but has not committed his life to Him yet, so please pray about that as well.

Emma and I also have extended our child care to another family who had their second last Tuesday. Daniel and Natalie Faris gave birth to an 8 lbs 8 oz boy named William (Liam) Paul Faris. We took turns sleeping next to their toddler during the nights they slept at the hospital. We also gave Daniel some relief in the afternoons as the nights were a bit unrestful. I'm sure that's an understatement.



Yesterday we went to a Masai Village. Samuel, a guard at RVA, offered to take us. On the way we saw a few baboons and some giraffe! Even though the giraffe were very far away, the fact that I saw some and wasn't even in a game park is amazing! Also we were driving through a few different villages and Samuel was greeting some of the other Masai. Next thing I know one of the Masai opens the door and asks me 'Can you squeeze?' I'm like... ok..... so I sit in the middle and let him in. Turns out he's seen me before, cuz he is another guard at RVA! I would have never recognized him in all his Masai apparel! We spent some time in the village but mostly Samuel and a guide named Daniel led us up to Mount Suswa to hike around in bat caves! So fun! We then ate lunch with Samuel and met some members of his family. It is very complicated, as his father has had 3 wives so Samuel doesn't know how many siblings he has. Also his brother who is in his 40's just took a wife who is about 17. She seemed joyful and was fitting in to the new community quite well. Emma was granted the opportunity to 'book' herself in for a marriage to Samuel's friend. I've been able to deter these sorts of requests quite well so far!

We are still in Kijabe. Our time here is continually getting longer. We are very anxious to go North and the Andersen family is even more so. For most of the kids, Kalacha is home and they miss it greatly. For us, we long to see the remote part of Kenya, to stop living out of suitcases, and to be in the place of our actual ministry. But our flexibility is exactly what Africa is testing us on and though I thought I was good in that area, I too have been stretched! Pray we go soon, and that our travels are safe.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

All in a day


Yesterday... I spent an hour an a half on skype with my favorite person, then three hours playing with kids in need of some joy before getting orthopedic correction (At CURE). This mostly involved legos, a balloon, bubble wrap (the universal toy, pictured at right) and some coloring time. This resulted in displaying my skills in the form of a crayon barbie doll drawing. Later, the lunch Rachel prepared was amazing as usual-spaghetti with sauce including chunks of zucchini. I'm eating well here! Follow that with 2 hours of spelling and math (we struggled then, but conquered today!) Then an hour and half at the primary school reading 3rd grade level English books with 6th grade Kiswahili speakers. On the way back we drop by the maket and get some great (English) muffins and a pineapple, eyeing and buying curios (crafts) as well! We return to our humble abode and have our evening 'tea' getting pleasantly interrupted by my chance to soothe an only slightly irritable newborn. I bump into Mama Chiku- owner of the self-named local renown restuarant- and learn her real name: Joyce. I also learned the meaning of Mama Chiku (mother of Chiku). This whole week she is catering about 120 Aids Relief workers at Kijabe Guest House (where we are staying). I retire to bed for reflection and prayer. Now that's a good day! Today was good too, we returned to the primary school and have continued our work with the 6th graders. And as I speak we are currently aiding another missionary family with childcare as the give birth to another. God has definitely placed us here to be used in many ways! All to His glory!

Saturday, September 11, 2010

New Legs!


About a week ago we went to see the C.U.R.E International and the prosthetics lab associated with it. C.U.R.E. focuses on helping kids with orthopedic conditions. But the prosthetics lab helps people of all ages. We got a tour of the whole facility and an explanation of the process. It was so neat!

At the end of the tour there we witnessed a Somalian man get a brand new prosthetic. He had come in with a makeshift prosthetic of his own that was completely pathetic but quite resourceful all at the same time. He was very happy to have a new one that actually looked like the real deal. Because he was Somalian and didn't speak Kiswahili, the conversation occured mostly in English through an interpreter that he had brought along with him. I feel honored to have been able to listen in on the conversation. Especially as the Kenyan doctor began witnessing to him so naturally. The doctor told him that it is not by his hands alone that he was able to make this leg but that God is the one giving him the ability, and that God made the original, he is just making a meager copycat of it. Jokes also flew around about what this new leg would mean for his many wives. The Somalian said he will have more now and that he wanted to give the doctor another wife. The doctor said he has only one wife and that he doesn't need any more. But he continued to say that if he prays God will reveal to him that it is His will for a man to have only one wife. From what I understand, this is very rare for even a Kenyan Christian to understand, much less a Somalian Muslim.

On Monday morning we will be returning to CURE to visit with kids in the waiting room. In the afternoon we will be going to the local primary school. You can be praying for our interactions to be a blessing to them. I'm very thankful to have a few opportunities like this in our time waiting to go to Kalacha. You can also be praying that the paperwork for baby Ezra (passport, etc) comes through so that we can go to Kalacha.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Labor Day

I have so much to write about, but in order to not overwhelm you I'll just focus on the biggest news!

The Andersen's had their baby yesterday -- on labor day! How ironic! Ezra was born at about 6:30 yesterday and weighed in at about 9lb 4 oz. I have never been this close to a woman in labor before! Other than possibly when my dear little brother was born, but that doesn't count! Rachel is such a steady, easy going mom. I hardly knew she was having big contractions other than for the fact that she finally decided to go to the hospital. Emma and I were completely in charge of the older 5 kids for all of yesterday and most of the morning today. The kids were all very excited to see their younger brother this morning! Even the youngest, Silas, was actually beginning to understand the concept of being a 'big brother'. And then he saw him! Yay!

About half a day before Ezra arrived, two missionaries who were also midwives came to town to help out. The doctor Rachel thought she was going to have wasn't available when the time came, but these 2 midwives were readily available! They handled the minor complications Ezra had (umbilical cord was wrapped twice) with great ease. How perfect did God time that! Those 2 ladies left about a day later too! CRAZY!

Now that Ezra is here it will be 2 weeks before going to Kalacha. I can't wait to meet the people and interact with the culture I keep hearing so much about!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Kibera


Last week Friday we went to Kibera Slum. Kibera is the largest slum in the world. It's population is said to be about 1 million people, but nobody really knows. We went there with Mika who has started his own project there with AIM. I didn't always understand what was being said about his project but it is definitely focusing on children's education. There is also some sport leagues that have been started that go along with motivating the educational side. The kids are really excited about it!


Most of the time I was intrigued by a boy named Meshach. He is absolutely adorable as you can tell! He started following us far before we entered the secondary school tower (our first stop) and continued with us all the way through the slum. We walked the long way out which followed the train tracks through the 'city'. There were many sightings along the way including several kids playing with a soccer ball stuffed with shopping bags and tied together with twine. I actually had a chance to kick it once! The kids will play with anything. Meshach and I kicked around a bottle cap for quite a while.
As we were walking along the railroad tracks, I asked one of our 'guides' about how the kids seem to go wherever they want. He said they know all the paths better than anyone. This slum of a million people and they know it like the neighborhood park! But of course, these kids don't always get back home. I can't imagine what atrocities are around the corner for any one of those kids I just met.
At the end Meshach and Nicholas nearly tried to climb on the matatu (bus) with us. We had to physically hold them back. A ways down the road, as Emma and I were speechlessly processing our experience, the next thing I know is there is a boy beneath my window on the bus. It was Meshach! He had followed the bus down the road and was yelling to us to find out if we'd be back. My hear was broken in that moment for sure. All we could do was shrug our shoulders in reply. However, Emma and i will have some time in December, and we do plan to return. i definitely hope to see my friend Meshach again. I think I will, one way or another... he told me he loves Jesus!