It’s been a little while since we’ve last written…but it has been busy here, and it’s also been quite frustrating when the blog site isn’t working properly!! But here’s a little update:
Last Friday I got the chance to go to the New Life Home orphanage!! That was really exciting for me, as I have been very anxious to start with some of these things, and get a feel for what’s out there. It’s a beautiful place, very cheerful, very friendly, and it’s not too far from where we live! Although it would be quite a long walk, it’s still very doable! It’s a Christian-run orphanage, and it’s staffed by Kenyans. They can hold 52 babies, ages newborn to about age 3. And you should see these babies and kids…cute, cute, cute!!! I asked about volunteering, and they are always looking for volunteers, and said I could come in whenever it worked for me…so exciting! We were only there for a short time, but I hope to return soon, and start to volunteer on a regular basis. I have also been hearing about a few other orphanages, and am not quite sure how to go about this process of finding the right fit, so I would appreciate prayer in this.
Trevor finished his first week of work, and it has still been going well. He has been getting very positive feedback from James, as well as the guys in the shop, so it’s very encouraging to hear, and to know that he’s on the right track! He’s been starting to drive a little (we both have Kenyan drivers licenses now…scary!!), and says that it feels very strange, driving on the opposite side of the road, sitting in the opposite side of the vehicle, shifting with the opposite hand…and on top of all that…the driving in general is much more aggressive than we’re used to!
On Saturday, the plans we had made to go to Kibera didn’t work out, so that was a little disappointing, but we definitely are going to try again. Saturday evening we went to Inbounder’s Fellowship. It’s something that Andy and Lesa Brown host, and they invite the newcomers (ish) over every other Saturday evening for dessert and a time of prayer and fellowship. It was really nice…instead of doing dessert, they had two Kenyan ladies, Trufayna and Selina, come and prepare a Kenyan feast! We ate stew, rice, ugali (made out of corn meal, sort of the consistency of mashed potatoes, and you use your hands to mold it, and use it to pick up other food), sukuma wiki (greens), and cabbage, followed by chai. It was great to meet other people who are relatively new to Kenya, and just be able to share prayer requests and concerns with each other. We took a matatu to Inbounders Fellowship…and survived! We hadn’t taken one since the pickpocket incident, but it went surprisingly well…besides the fact that the back seat that they squished four of us on was only meant for three, and the seat itself wasn’t bolted on so we were shaking back and forth, and to top it all off…the back door was broken, and you could look down right onto the road!! What a crazy life this is…
On Sunday we attended the AIC (Africa Inland Church) Ngong, which is within walking distance from our house. We really enjoyed it…it’s quite a small Church, and felt very welcoming. As the visitors, we were asked to stand, and share who we are and what we are doing in Kenya! The music consisted of a choir, and kids playing violins! Things didn’t run smoothly all the time, but it was nice that way. After the service, we were invited to the banda, which was a little wooden tent where they served chai to the visitors. We stayed for quite a while and visited, and felt very welcomed and appreciated! We got to Church at 10 am, and by the time we left it was almost 1:30 pm!!
So…that’s a bit of an update on our last couple of days…things have been going well, and we are feeling more and more comfortable here, and can see that we are learning and adjusting, so that’s a good feeling! Please pray that God will continue to guide and direct everything we do here, and that we will obey His leading in our lives. We have also gotten a few offers to go up-country to Northern Kenya, and also to Southern Sudan, and also need wisdom to know how to go about this, and which offers we should pursue. Thank you so much for all your prayers…Until next time…
~A
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Our House
Ok, now I know you've already seen this picture...but somehow it
got deleted...so here it is again :) Our house (or at least half of it is!)!
The back porch of our house.
Fingerprints and Fresh Tortillas
We’ve had a lot of technical difficulties with our blogspot these days, a post from the other day is gone, and this is my third attempt to rewrite this one…so guaranteed it will be shorter just because I’m so tired of writing the same thing over and over again!!
Yesterday we had to go downtown to get our work permits finalized. In the process, we had to get fingerprinted, sign a lot of paperwork, and wait a long time! We were so glad that we didn’t have to do it on our own, but had Dominic there (he works for AIM IS, and is in charge of Human Resources) to tell us where to sign, when to wait, where to go, and he also did all the paperwork for us, and knows the whole process! It was a pretty interesting morning though!
Trevor’s work has been going really well at the TAM shop. It’s been pretty busy, and he’s been slowly getting the hang of things, meeting lots of new people, and starting to get to know the customers. Pray for him as he’s trying to get a feel for how to balance the customers expectations, wanting to maintain relationships with them, wanting to build and strengthen the friendships with the other mechanics in the shop, and see the big picture of where the shop is going, and what it’s potential could be, and where God wants this ministry to go. It’s a huge challenge!! He’s also still working on that land rover from the other day…pray for him!! J It’s pretty neat too, every day they break for chai at 10 am and at 3 pm, and they also meet together with everyone at the hangar for devotions and prayer time. He also met up with one of the airplane mechanics there who is possibly going to Kibera this Saturday, and if he goes, has invited us to tag along, and get a feel for possible ministry there! We’re both very excited about this, and so we’ll see what happens!
I’ve been trying to get life figured out here on the home front! Filtering water so that it’s safe for us to use, cleaning veggies and fruit properly by first washing them in filtered water, then soaking them in bleach water for 20 minutes, then rinsing them in filtered water, learning how to use the gas stove (and then making do when there is no gas!), finding out the hard way that milk will only stay good for 2 days, and bread will mold quickly, learning to not leave food out to attract the ants, realizing that boiling/cooking times are not the same as at home because of the high altitude here, figuring out the laundry process….and most of all…learning that everything seems to take longer here, and to just go with it!! Daily living responsibilities just take more time.
We also received a gift yesterday…fresh, homemade tortillas!! Now the reason this was such an excitement is because we love to eat tacos, fajitas, wraps…things like that, and then I found out that you can’t buy tortillas here!! No kidding!! So…Dawn’s house helper makes them, and yesterday Dawn came by with six tortillas…just for us!! We were so excited, and so thankful! I do have a recipe to make them myself, but we’re going to really enjoy these because I’m sure these will be the best ones we’ll have all year! (poor Trevor has to put up with all this new food experimenting!!)
Please continue to pray for us:
-that we would continue to adjust quickly…it’s been more difficult than we thought it would be, and would really value your prayers in this
-for safety…a lot of things seem to happen here, but we also know that God is in control, and He will take care of us.
-for courage…we really need this, and especially for me as I go out on my own, take matatus, and not to let the fear take over my life.
-for direction…for the future, for Trevor in his work, and for me as I seek to find my ministry placement.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement! We could not do this without you, and really can feel you standing behind us.
~A
Yesterday we had to go downtown to get our work permits finalized. In the process, we had to get fingerprinted, sign a lot of paperwork, and wait a long time! We were so glad that we didn’t have to do it on our own, but had Dominic there (he works for AIM IS, and is in charge of Human Resources) to tell us where to sign, when to wait, where to go, and he also did all the paperwork for us, and knows the whole process! It was a pretty interesting morning though!
Trevor’s work has been going really well at the TAM shop. It’s been pretty busy, and he’s been slowly getting the hang of things, meeting lots of new people, and starting to get to know the customers. Pray for him as he’s trying to get a feel for how to balance the customers expectations, wanting to maintain relationships with them, wanting to build and strengthen the friendships with the other mechanics in the shop, and see the big picture of where the shop is going, and what it’s potential could be, and where God wants this ministry to go. It’s a huge challenge!! He’s also still working on that land rover from the other day…pray for him!! J It’s pretty neat too, every day they break for chai at 10 am and at 3 pm, and they also meet together with everyone at the hangar for devotions and prayer time. He also met up with one of the airplane mechanics there who is possibly going to Kibera this Saturday, and if he goes, has invited us to tag along, and get a feel for possible ministry there! We’re both very excited about this, and so we’ll see what happens!
I’ve been trying to get life figured out here on the home front! Filtering water so that it’s safe for us to use, cleaning veggies and fruit properly by first washing them in filtered water, then soaking them in bleach water for 20 minutes, then rinsing them in filtered water, learning how to use the gas stove (and then making do when there is no gas!), finding out the hard way that milk will only stay good for 2 days, and bread will mold quickly, learning to not leave food out to attract the ants, realizing that boiling/cooking times are not the same as at home because of the high altitude here, figuring out the laundry process….and most of all…learning that everything seems to take longer here, and to just go with it!! Daily living responsibilities just take more time.
We also received a gift yesterday…fresh, homemade tortillas!! Now the reason this was such an excitement is because we love to eat tacos, fajitas, wraps…things like that, and then I found out that you can’t buy tortillas here!! No kidding!! So…Dawn’s house helper makes them, and yesterday Dawn came by with six tortillas…just for us!! We were so excited, and so thankful! I do have a recipe to make them myself, but we’re going to really enjoy these because I’m sure these will be the best ones we’ll have all year! (poor Trevor has to put up with all this new food experimenting!!)
Please continue to pray for us:
-that we would continue to adjust quickly…it’s been more difficult than we thought it would be, and would really value your prayers in this
-for safety…a lot of things seem to happen here, but we also know that God is in control, and He will take care of us.
-for courage…we really need this, and especially for me as I go out on my own, take matatus, and not to let the fear take over my life.
-for direction…for the future, for Trevor in his work, and for me as I seek to find my ministry placement.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement! We could not do this without you, and really can feel you standing behind us.
~A
Monday, September 22, 2008
Pictures!
Making supper...spaghetti, meatsauce and cheese toast :)
Eating supper in our dining rooom.
Filtering the water so that it's safe for us to use.
Our fridge is full of pictures...just like at home!
Hanging our freshly washed laundry out to dry.
Our watch dog Ruger...we love him!!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
NaiROBBERY...
Yes, the nickname that has been used for Nairobi has become something that we have experienced first-hand...those sly pickpocketers!!! What a day. We were on a matatu this afternoon, and Trevor and I had to sit in the back of the matatu, separated by a Kenyan man. We were getting off in just a few minutes, and he asked Trevor to switch him seats, presumably because he was not getting off so soon, and Trevor would need to get out before him (or so we thought). Then, he was fumbling with the seatbelt, and asked Trevor to put it on...?? Weird, because nobody wears seatbelts in the matatus, and so Trevor didn't put it on. He kept his bag firmly between himself and Trevor, and was acting strange, but we were getting ready to get off, and were distracted by that. So, we got off the matatu, and this guy got off as well. We were getting ready to walk to our destination, and all of a sudden Trevor realized that all his money was gone! It was 3500 Kenyan shillings, which equals approximately $50. Yeah, it was a little frustrating!! And, all the signs were there, but somehow, if it hasn't happened to you yet, you just don't think of it. We are just so thankful that Trevor had decided to leave his wallet at our house (for the first time!!), and that the thief didn't get any credit cards, or anything like that. And if you put it into perspective, it's just money, and we didn't get hurt in the process. But...still put a bit of a damper on our day, and will make us much more cautious in the future!!
We spent some time at the Masai Market this afternoon, which was really neat! They set up outside at the YaYa Center every Sunday, and it's just rows and rows of stuff you can buy, such as wood carvings, blankets, clothing, jewelery, traditional masai items, masks....and almost anything else "African" that you can think of! Every vendor has his/her own space (it's all laid out on the ground), and they all try and get you to come to their section to buy their stuff. It's pretty cool, and pretty crazy at the same time!! We didn't buy anything today, we just came to look and see what they had, and will go back there another week to barter for what we want. For those of you who are planning on coming to visit, we're definitely taking you there!! You'll love it!
We had planned on going to the AIC Ngong Church this morning, but had a slight misunderstanding with some other people, and completely missed it!! We were waiting, with Chris and Sandy, for another couple to take us, and let us know what time it started, but they didn't realize we were waiting for them, and went to Church without us! So, we just had Church at home, and hope to go to that Church possibly next Sunday. There are so many Churches here, and we plan on trying quite a few of them to find one that we really like.
So, that was our day, in a nutshell!! I am going to be relieved once all this "newness" is over, and we can start feeling like we know what we're doing! But it's okay...we're making it, and know that God is not going to leave us, and that He has already brought us through a lot. God is good...all the time....!!
We spent some time at the Masai Market this afternoon, which was really neat! They set up outside at the YaYa Center every Sunday, and it's just rows and rows of stuff you can buy, such as wood carvings, blankets, clothing, jewelery, traditional masai items, masks....and almost anything else "African" that you can think of! Every vendor has his/her own space (it's all laid out on the ground), and they all try and get you to come to their section to buy their stuff. It's pretty cool, and pretty crazy at the same time!! We didn't buy anything today, we just came to look and see what they had, and will go back there another week to barter for what we want. For those of you who are planning on coming to visit, we're definitely taking you there!! You'll love it!
We had planned on going to the AIC Ngong Church this morning, but had a slight misunderstanding with some other people, and completely missed it!! We were waiting, with Chris and Sandy, for another couple to take us, and let us know what time it started, but they didn't realize we were waiting for them, and went to Church without us! So, we just had Church at home, and hope to go to that Church possibly next Sunday. There are so many Churches here, and we plan on trying quite a few of them to find one that we really like.
So, that was our day, in a nutshell!! I am going to be relieved once all this "newness" is over, and we can start feeling like we know what we're doing! But it's okay...we're making it, and know that God is not going to leave us, and that He has already brought us through a lot. God is good...all the time....!!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Settled In
It's official...we are finally unpacked (well, almost), and getting settled in to our new home here in Nairobi! We moved in yesterday afternoon...and it's been a little overwhelming to be on our own here!! But it's good at the same time. Our place here is big, and meant for a family with kids....but the place that was lined up for us flooded, and is now undergoing some repairs! This place was open and available, so they put us here! It's really nice...we have an upstairs and an attic, and there's all sorts of little nooks and crannies that we've been exploring! We're not sure how long we'll be in here...depending on when the family who actually lives here comes back from the US, so we may move in a month, or maybe not until January. Yesterday we attempted to go grocery shopping, but we were with a couple who was in a bit of a hurry, plus had all their kids with them, so we only got a few things...but it's much more complicated right now...everything has to be converted from Kenyan Shillings to Canadian dollars (in my head), and all the brands are different, so it's really hard to know what to buy!! But we managed, then went to our neighbours, Ryan and Dawn Williams' place for supper. That was really what we needed last night...to visit with people, be able to ask lots of questions, and feel a little more at ease living here! Dawn gave us a couple jars of tomato sauce (you have to make it yourself here!), and laundry detergent, as we hadn't got any yet. So it was just so nice to get welcomed like that, and start getting to know more people. They have four kids, and we're starting to get to know them as well, which isn't hard as they are very outgoing, and knock on our door all the time!! :) When we got back from supper...we found lots and lots of tiny ants all over in our pantry...and INSIDE the unopened bread bag!! So we learned our lesson...ziplock bags are our new best friend!!! (as well as Konk, that is!!).
Today was Trevor's first day at work at the TAM shop...and he had a really, really good day!! James Holt picked him up (he lives really close) at 7 am to avoid the traffic on Ngong Road. The guys, Steven and Benedicto, are really fun to work with, and really easygoing. He really enjoyed getting back into the shop, especially since he hasn't worked in a shop for over a month now. Right now, they're working on reassembling a land rover engine. Earlier this week, Ben and Steven took apart this engine, and today the new parts came in to put it back together. They are doing a simple in-frame engine rebuild...it's a pretty in-depth job, and Trevor is glad that he gets to help out with it! And, because he's the new foreman, he even gets his own office, and his own work phone! He also went out for lunch with a couple of the guys, Benedicto, and Jose, a missionary from Honduras who is working at the hangar as well. So, the day went very well, and he's really looking forward to doing more, and building those relationships with the people he meets every day! It's really exciting! :)
I spent the day unpacking at home, and getting settled in here. A couple of our neighbours came by to introduce themselves, so it's been nice to feel welcomed! I went for a walk with Dawn and her kids, to the nearest duka, which is a little roadside stand where they sell bread, vegetables, pop, candy, eggs, and a few other things. It'll be really fun to go there, and get to know the people who run the stands! She also took me to the Nakumatt (grocery store), and gave me a lot of information as to what kinds of brands are good, what prices are way to high, what kinds of things to stock up on...and so much other information!! That was so incredibly helpful...I am so thankful for her!! There's also a store called "Zucchini" which is all fruits and vegetables... so we're really excited to buy fresh pineapple, mango, bananas, etc!!
Trevor also had a conversation with a guy at work today about possible options for me to get involved in kid's ministry in Kibera slum...someone that this guy knows is working at a school and feeding program there, so I'm very interested in knowing more about that, and if I could possibly work there with them! I'm really excited, and just praying that God will show me the right people to talk to, and the right connections to make to get the info I need! But it's exciting!!
Anyway, I think that's all for now!! Until next time...
~A
Today was Trevor's first day at work at the TAM shop...and he had a really, really good day!! James Holt picked him up (he lives really close) at 7 am to avoid the traffic on Ngong Road. The guys, Steven and Benedicto, are really fun to work with, and really easygoing. He really enjoyed getting back into the shop, especially since he hasn't worked in a shop for over a month now. Right now, they're working on reassembling a land rover engine. Earlier this week, Ben and Steven took apart this engine, and today the new parts came in to put it back together. They are doing a simple in-frame engine rebuild...it's a pretty in-depth job, and Trevor is glad that he gets to help out with it! And, because he's the new foreman, he even gets his own office, and his own work phone! He also went out for lunch with a couple of the guys, Benedicto, and Jose, a missionary from Honduras who is working at the hangar as well. So, the day went very well, and he's really looking forward to doing more, and building those relationships with the people he meets every day! It's really exciting! :)
I spent the day unpacking at home, and getting settled in here. A couple of our neighbours came by to introduce themselves, so it's been nice to feel welcomed! I went for a walk with Dawn and her kids, to the nearest duka, which is a little roadside stand where they sell bread, vegetables, pop, candy, eggs, and a few other things. It'll be really fun to go there, and get to know the people who run the stands! She also took me to the Nakumatt (grocery store), and gave me a lot of information as to what kinds of brands are good, what prices are way to high, what kinds of things to stock up on...and so much other information!! That was so incredibly helpful...I am so thankful for her!! There's also a store called "Zucchini" which is all fruits and vegetables... so we're really excited to buy fresh pineapple, mango, bananas, etc!!
Trevor also had a conversation with a guy at work today about possible options for me to get involved in kid's ministry in Kibera slum...someone that this guy knows is working at a school and feeding program there, so I'm very interested in knowing more about that, and if I could possibly work there with them! I'm really excited, and just praying that God will show me the right people to talk to, and the right connections to make to get the info I need! But it's exciting!!
Anyway, I think that's all for now!! Until next time...
~A
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Ninataka Kusafari
...which means "I want to travel" in Kiswahili! We actually put together some of our own sentences in Kiswahili today, and actually got them right!! So here's one..."Unahitaji kunywa kahawa" which means "You need to drink coffee", which was for Ndalegwa, our teacher, when he was out of coffee and getting tired! And another one "Ninapenda kula kuku choma na kunywa soda ya fanta" which means "I love to eat bbq-ed chicken and drink fanta pop"!! So we've gotten the hang of some of it...but don't ask us to converse much beyond basic verbs, food items, questions, etc!!
We've already seen the hand of God in a really cool way...yesterday, Ndalegwa wanted to take us downtown to the Masai Market for language practice, but because we were planning on going in the afternoon with James, we decided to just stay at the Mayfield and keep doing book work there. We found out later, that during that same time that we were going to go with Ndalegwa, there was a big ruckus of some sort, the police were involved, people were chased away, and the result being that the Masai aren't allowed to have their market there on Tuesdays anymore because of what happened!! We were so thankful that we decided not to go, and totally see this as God protecting us from what could have been a really dangerous situation! God is so good, and we know that He's in control.
Today was also a really good day for Trevor, as we got to go the the Wilson Airport Hangar. This is where the TAM shop is located, and where Trevor will be working for the next year! It was really neat, because we got to meet two of his co-workers, Steven and Benedicto, who are both Kenyan. We also got to see the shop, and then also see the rest of the AIM IS offices and AIM Air facilites. We also met with Allan Masters, who is the director of all of AIM International Services, and were really impressed and challenged by his passion for the ministry, love for the Lord, and commitment to serve the Lord in a practical way. He was also just really down to earth, and very welcoming. James Holt (Trevor's boss/supervisor) also met with us, and we were really encouraged by his excitement that Trevor is finally here, and also challenged by his vision of where he sees the shop going, and the heart he has for the ministry. Trevor was just really excited after meeting with both Allan and James, knowing that the skills he has and the heart he has for serving the Lord are very welcomed and needed! There were so many people at IS today, as soon as they heard Trevor's name, said "oh we've heard about you...SO glad you're here!!" It's so nice to hear that! We do know that it'll be a challenge, though, after hearing about some of the struggles the shop has had in the past, and the really high expectations they have of Trevor, but we also feel confident that God has brought us here for this, and that He will work out those challenges if we trust in Him! Oh, and Trevor is not co-foreman, as we originally thought...he's actually THE foreman!! Yeah...the surprises keep coming :)
So, while we are very excited about being here, we are also still very apprehensive, and sometimes I still feel scared spitless...at the thought of taking a matatu by myself, having to be so careful all the time, moving into our place BY OURSELVES and having to leave the warm security of the Mayfield, even things like going grocery shopping and cooking...everything is a challenge here!! Nothing is simple, not drinking good water, not cooking what you think is just a simple supper, not making a phone call home...nothing!! And these are just the basic living skills...it's not even the ministry side of it yet!! It's pretty overwhelming to me right now...but the wonderful thing is that our coaches/mentors, who are Ryan and Dawn Williams, live in our compound, actually right beside us! So they are going to be having us over for supper tomorrow, and taking us to Church on Sunday, and meeting with us once a week for a while to see how we're doing, that sorta thing. Praise the Lord for that!!!! So, please continue to pray that God will give us courage and strength to face these challenges, and to rely on Him for our every need. Oh, and we may have to learn to drive in this insane city.....I have a stomache ache just thinking about it. You should see my face right now! BUT, like we've been reminding ourselves over and over...we came to Africa because God wants us here, and to be stretched and challenged...so this is us already being stretched and challenged!!!
Anyway, it's time for me to go...it's almost supper time, and we need to do another lesson, as well as start packing up our things here to move to our new home tomorrow...which will take awhile, because our room has already become really messy!! I guess some things haven't changed...!!
Much love... :)
~A
We've already seen the hand of God in a really cool way...yesterday, Ndalegwa wanted to take us downtown to the Masai Market for language practice, but because we were planning on going in the afternoon with James, we decided to just stay at the Mayfield and keep doing book work there. We found out later, that during that same time that we were going to go with Ndalegwa, there was a big ruckus of some sort, the police were involved, people were chased away, and the result being that the Masai aren't allowed to have their market there on Tuesdays anymore because of what happened!! We were so thankful that we decided not to go, and totally see this as God protecting us from what could have been a really dangerous situation! God is so good, and we know that He's in control.
Today was also a really good day for Trevor, as we got to go the the Wilson Airport Hangar. This is where the TAM shop is located, and where Trevor will be working for the next year! It was really neat, because we got to meet two of his co-workers, Steven and Benedicto, who are both Kenyan. We also got to see the shop, and then also see the rest of the AIM IS offices and AIM Air facilites. We also met with Allan Masters, who is the director of all of AIM International Services, and were really impressed and challenged by his passion for the ministry, love for the Lord, and commitment to serve the Lord in a practical way. He was also just really down to earth, and very welcoming. James Holt (Trevor's boss/supervisor) also met with us, and we were really encouraged by his excitement that Trevor is finally here, and also challenged by his vision of where he sees the shop going, and the heart he has for the ministry. Trevor was just really excited after meeting with both Allan and James, knowing that the skills he has and the heart he has for serving the Lord are very welcomed and needed! There were so many people at IS today, as soon as they heard Trevor's name, said "oh we've heard about you...SO glad you're here!!" It's so nice to hear that! We do know that it'll be a challenge, though, after hearing about some of the struggles the shop has had in the past, and the really high expectations they have of Trevor, but we also feel confident that God has brought us here for this, and that He will work out those challenges if we trust in Him! Oh, and Trevor is not co-foreman, as we originally thought...he's actually THE foreman!! Yeah...the surprises keep coming :)
So, while we are very excited about being here, we are also still very apprehensive, and sometimes I still feel scared spitless...at the thought of taking a matatu by myself, having to be so careful all the time, moving into our place BY OURSELVES and having to leave the warm security of the Mayfield, even things like going grocery shopping and cooking...everything is a challenge here!! Nothing is simple, not drinking good water, not cooking what you think is just a simple supper, not making a phone call home...nothing!! And these are just the basic living skills...it's not even the ministry side of it yet!! It's pretty overwhelming to me right now...but the wonderful thing is that our coaches/mentors, who are Ryan and Dawn Williams, live in our compound, actually right beside us! So they are going to be having us over for supper tomorrow, and taking us to Church on Sunday, and meeting with us once a week for a while to see how we're doing, that sorta thing. Praise the Lord for that!!!! So, please continue to pray that God will give us courage and strength to face these challenges, and to rely on Him for our every need. Oh, and we may have to learn to drive in this insane city.....I have a stomache ache just thinking about it. You should see my face right now! BUT, like we've been reminding ourselves over and over...we came to Africa because God wants us here, and to be stretched and challenged...so this is us already being stretched and challenged!!!
Anyway, it's time for me to go...it's almost supper time, and we need to do another lesson, as well as start packing up our things here to move to our new home tomorrow...which will take awhile, because our room has already become really messy!! I guess some things haven't changed...!!
Much love... :)
~A
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Nairobi, Nairobi!!
What a day! We are so tired after all the walking we did today!! We took a bus downtown with James, and then walked around for a long time so we could see where everything was, and kind of get a handle of how to get around, and which streets are important to remember, and which ones to avoid! We took the bus instead of matatu, first of all so we could try it, and second of all because the matatus are not allowed in the middle of the city. The bus is definitely more comfortable, but it takes much longer because they want to have a full bus, so they wait and stop constantly until they are full!! So as we were walking around, it felt a little like a caravan of white people, and was a little awkward!! But that was okay, because I really want to be able to feel independent and get around as easily as possible, and it was great having James take us and show us the places we'll need to know. We then took a matatu back to the Mayfield, rested for a few minutes, then decided to walk to the Yaya Center. Yaya Center is a mall that's about a 20-30 minute walk from the Mayfield, so we ventured out without James! Wow, so brave :) We hadn't been there before, but were given directions...so off we went! I kind of overestimated my energy and stamina, and felt like I was going to faint before we even got to Yaya...yeah not so smart!! But I survived! We took a different route back to Mayfield, so it's been really good to feel like I'm getting the hang of things a little! As we were walking, all I could think was "God, please give me a miracle insta-tan so I can blend in a little!!" It feels so strange being watched so much...a little disconcerting sometimes, but we're just gonna have to get used to it! I don't think that's going to change any time soon!! Even a bunch of prisoners in black and white stripe jail clothes riding in a big army green police van waved at us!! Yeah...
But it's been a great day. We had another intense language lesson this morning..."Jina langu ni Andrea" means "my name is Andrea"! So there, now you know! We did learn more than that, but I won't let you in on everything!
Thank you all for your prayers and support, and emails and comments! We really appreciate it a lot!!
~A
But it's been a great day. We had another intense language lesson this morning..."Jina langu ni Andrea" means "my name is Andrea"! So there, now you know! We did learn more than that, but I won't let you in on everything!
Thank you all for your prayers and support, and emails and comments! We really appreciate it a lot!!
~A
Monday, September 15, 2008
A few pictures for you!
The Mayfield Guest House, where we have been staying this past week.
These are taken at the giraffe center.
This is Kibera Slum, taken from our vehicle while driving past it the other day. We didn't take our camera today...it somehow just didn't quite feel right. Although we do want to capture some of it for you sometime...
A Different World...
Wow...today was a day full of new experiences. Some good, some funny, and some just really horrible. We started our day at 7:30 am with breakfast in the dining room. I don't know if I've really described the Mayfield for you before...it's almost like a bed & breakfast run by Kenyans, and they do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, reception, everything. And all the staff are men! There are lots of different people who stay here from lots of different missions...some are new like us, some are just passing through Nairobi for a day or two, some are on holiday. Anyway, after breakfast our short-term team got together with Lesa to have a Bible Study and share our testimonies.
We then got a security briefing by Sharon Brown, a missionary who has lived in Africa for many years. That was kind of scary, just hearing how incredibly careful we have to be, and all the things that can and do happen, but it was also really good to be more prepared and get educated on how to live safely and smartly. At 11:00 am we had our first Kiswahili lesson with a Kenyan man named Ndalegwa. That was a lot of fun!! He's a really funny guy, and also really helped us to start learning basic Swahili! So if I say to you "Hamjambo!" then you respond with "hatujambo!", which is basically me just saying hello to a group, and the group saying hello back! If I just want to address one person, I would say "Hujambo" and you would respond with "Sijambo"! So...that's just a taste of what we learned...we'll get the hang of it sooner or later!! We have two more lessons this week, one of which Ndalegwa want to take us to the Masai Market to practice! Scary, but I think we'll make it!
After lunch, James Muyela took us out for Matatu (mini bus taxi) lessons! I've been really nervous for this, but it was actually kind of fun! I still don't quite get the hang of it, but we have another lesson tomorrow. Basically you have to know which number on the buses goes where, and you also have to know where it is you want to go, something that I still haven't mastered as I don't know my way around at all! One of the matatus we got on had insanely loud music, a TV showing Mr. Bean...we all just looked at each other and had to laugh! All the matatus are really, really full of people, and the drivers all drive, well, like they do here in Nairobi!! I'm still scared to have to take these when we don't have a teacher as capable as James, but I guess that's all part of the process and experience!!
We picked up Wycliffe, a young man who used to live in the Kibera Slum, and he and James took us to Kibera. That was where the horrible part came in. I can't even begin to describe for you what we saw. It is the biggest slum in Kenya, and James was saying now it is the biggest in all of Africa, with over 1 million people living there. It's a city built on garbage, literally. When you look down over the slum, there are tin shacks and garbage as far as the eye can see. We walked down into it, and walked through the streets...the smell is so overpowering, a mix of garbage, pigs, chickens, sewer, sweat...this is where people live!! This is where kids grow up! You have to really watch your step, there is literally garbage, mud, and anything else you can imagine everywhere. I just had this lump in my throat the entire time we were there...my mind didn't want to comprehend the awfulness of it. And I kept thinking back to a few months ago, when the violence was so bad after the elections, and remembering all the stories I heard about on the news...so much of it happened right there. We walked past a couple of little shacks that were burnt right down to the ground, and that happened on Saturday. But...there was encouragement in all of this. We went to the Kibera Church of God, where James attends and helps out. It's a compound in the middle of the slum, and they have a Church, a school, a small orphanage, a clinic, and they also handle 300 sponser children through Compassion International! What an amazing place!! God is working in a huge way!!! We met a young man, Boniface, who is a sponser child, and he is really thriving and doing well! We hope to keep in touch with him. We also met with the Pastors who are in charge, and it was really neat to talk with them, and hear about what God is doing there. They also talked about the election violence, and how it affected them firsthand, and how awful things were at that time. But they are hopeful, and they are confident that God is good...all the time. We were so blessed to see them, as well as all the school kids. Walking through the slums is interesting, though. We, as mzungus (white people), are in the center of attention, to the point where you know that every eye is on you! And the kids, it's so funny, the kids are all taught to say "how are you" when they see a white person, except to them it's spelled, literally "hawayu", and so as we walked by kids as little as two or three years old, we heard "hawayu", and then so much laughter!!! Or you hear a bunch of Kiswahili, and then "mzungu!" and they'll all look and laugh! There was a lady with a little boy at her feet, and when she saw us, I heard her say to her son "hawayu" and point to us, and she did this consistantly until he turned around and saw us, and then repeated the phrase!! When I smiled and waved, I think her smile was bigger than his was!
So...it's been a really overwhelming day, and I think that will probably continue into the rest of the week, but it was good at the same time. I've really enjoyed getting out into Nairobi, and seeing the people, and seeing what's really happening.
Please continue to pray for direction for us, and specifically direction for me as I pray about what it is I'm going to be involved in. Working in the Kibera Slum is definitely something I'm interested in, but I'll have to wait and talk to Murray, and see if that is an option right now. So...I think that's it for today. Please feel free to comment, or email us! We'd love to hear from you!!!!
~A
We then got a security briefing by Sharon Brown, a missionary who has lived in Africa for many years. That was kind of scary, just hearing how incredibly careful we have to be, and all the things that can and do happen, but it was also really good to be more prepared and get educated on how to live safely and smartly. At 11:00 am we had our first Kiswahili lesson with a Kenyan man named Ndalegwa. That was a lot of fun!! He's a really funny guy, and also really helped us to start learning basic Swahili! So if I say to you "Hamjambo!" then you respond with "hatujambo!", which is basically me just saying hello to a group, and the group saying hello back! If I just want to address one person, I would say "Hujambo" and you would respond with "Sijambo"! So...that's just a taste of what we learned...we'll get the hang of it sooner or later!! We have two more lessons this week, one of which Ndalegwa want to take us to the Masai Market to practice! Scary, but I think we'll make it!
After lunch, James Muyela took us out for Matatu (mini bus taxi) lessons! I've been really nervous for this, but it was actually kind of fun! I still don't quite get the hang of it, but we have another lesson tomorrow. Basically you have to know which number on the buses goes where, and you also have to know where it is you want to go, something that I still haven't mastered as I don't know my way around at all! One of the matatus we got on had insanely loud music, a TV showing Mr. Bean...we all just looked at each other and had to laugh! All the matatus are really, really full of people, and the drivers all drive, well, like they do here in Nairobi!! I'm still scared to have to take these when we don't have a teacher as capable as James, but I guess that's all part of the process and experience!!
We picked up Wycliffe, a young man who used to live in the Kibera Slum, and he and James took us to Kibera. That was where the horrible part came in. I can't even begin to describe for you what we saw. It is the biggest slum in Kenya, and James was saying now it is the biggest in all of Africa, with over 1 million people living there. It's a city built on garbage, literally. When you look down over the slum, there are tin shacks and garbage as far as the eye can see. We walked down into it, and walked through the streets...the smell is so overpowering, a mix of garbage, pigs, chickens, sewer, sweat...this is where people live!! This is where kids grow up! You have to really watch your step, there is literally garbage, mud, and anything else you can imagine everywhere. I just had this lump in my throat the entire time we were there...my mind didn't want to comprehend the awfulness of it. And I kept thinking back to a few months ago, when the violence was so bad after the elections, and remembering all the stories I heard about on the news...so much of it happened right there. We walked past a couple of little shacks that were burnt right down to the ground, and that happened on Saturday. But...there was encouragement in all of this. We went to the Kibera Church of God, where James attends and helps out. It's a compound in the middle of the slum, and they have a Church, a school, a small orphanage, a clinic, and they also handle 300 sponser children through Compassion International! What an amazing place!! God is working in a huge way!!! We met a young man, Boniface, who is a sponser child, and he is really thriving and doing well! We hope to keep in touch with him. We also met with the Pastors who are in charge, and it was really neat to talk with them, and hear about what God is doing there. They also talked about the election violence, and how it affected them firsthand, and how awful things were at that time. But they are hopeful, and they are confident that God is good...all the time. We were so blessed to see them, as well as all the school kids. Walking through the slums is interesting, though. We, as mzungus (white people), are in the center of attention, to the point where you know that every eye is on you! And the kids, it's so funny, the kids are all taught to say "how are you" when they see a white person, except to them it's spelled, literally "hawayu", and so as we walked by kids as little as two or three years old, we heard "hawayu", and then so much laughter!!! Or you hear a bunch of Kiswahili, and then "mzungu!" and they'll all look and laugh! There was a lady with a little boy at her feet, and when she saw us, I heard her say to her son "hawayu" and point to us, and she did this consistantly until he turned around and saw us, and then repeated the phrase!! When I smiled and waved, I think her smile was bigger than his was!
So...it's been a really overwhelming day, and I think that will probably continue into the rest of the week, but it was good at the same time. I've really enjoyed getting out into Nairobi, and seeing the people, and seeing what's really happening.
Please continue to pray for direction for us, and specifically direction for me as I pray about what it is I'm going to be involved in. Working in the Kibera Slum is definitely something I'm interested in, but I'll have to wait and talk to Murray, and see if that is an option right now. So...I think that's it for today. Please feel free to comment, or email us! We'd love to hear from you!!!!
~A
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Church! (and other things)
Today we went to a huge Church, Nairobi Chapel. There were about 1400 people in the main service, and about 200-300 kids and youth in their own services! The actual Church building was a bunch of white tents set up, looking like circus tents. One huge tent for the main building, then a children's tent, a youth tent, a visitor's tent (where we were invited to after for chai or juice and cookies), and a nursery tent. The service was really good, an amazing speaker, very energetic music with lots of instruments, a testimony, a dance presentation, and of course, much longer than our North American services typically are! We really enjoyed it, but are going to be trying other Churches for the next while to see which one we feel we should attend on a regular basis. This one didn't have a very distinct African feel, and was very big. They do, however, have small groups we could get involved in if we chose to attend this one. Andy and Lesa Brown took us, and Tim Lang (another short-termer who is in orientation with us) to Church today. We also picked up a Sudanese youth for Church, so it was neat being able to talk to him a little. On our way out for lunch, we stopped at the place where we're going to be living starting next week. It's really nice! A gated compound, beautiful trees and shrubs, and a grey brick duplex. There's about 3 or 4 of these in a row. We'll even have a dog! He's a rottweiler, and his name is Ruger!! (we're only going to be living in that location for a month or two, until the missionaries who usually live there are back from their home assignment, then we'll be moving to a different place). So that was exciting to see, and be able to picture it a little more! We then went out for lunch at a place called "For You", which is actually a Chinese restaurant! A Chinese restaurant in Kenya...!! But really, really good food! It's all outside, and we sat at patio tables on the grass.
Now we're back at the Mayfield for the evening. We have some more homework to do for orientation, which will be starting tomorrow. We've been getting to know our fellow short-termers quite well these past few days, and will be continuing to get to know them throughout this next week. There's Tim Lang, a young guy from Washington DC, who is here for 9 months, and is going to be involved with the On Field Media, filming and video editing, traveling all over. Chris and Sandy Rackley are from Minnesota. Sandy is a psychiatrist/counsellor who is going to be working with AIM Care, at Tumaini Counselling Center. Chris isn't totally sure yet what he's going to be doing, and they'll be here for 6 weeks. Dr. Fiona Logan is from England, and she's also going to be working at Tumaini Counselling Center, and she's here for 1 year. So we have a bunch of things lined up for next week, and it's going to be a very busy, intense week of learning and being stretched. I'm really scared to have to take public transportation, and those lessons are going to be tomorrow and Tuesday with James Muyela..so please pray for us!! It's really awesome that we are getting lessons, and if we learn it we'll be able to be much more independent...it's just scary at the same time!! On one of those days we're also going with James and Wycliffe (two Kenyan men) to the Kibera Slum, and we'll be able to meet and have chai with a family who lives there...i think it's going to be a difficult day in a lot of ways. We're really nervous, and yet looking forward to it at the same time. Sometime this next week I'm also going to be meeting with Murray Schmidt, who is the short-term coordinator for Kenya Eastern Region, who will handle my placement. So please pray for that as well, as I'm really hoping for a placement that fits me and my gifts, and that I can be where God wants me to be.
Please also pray that we would find our "place" here, and that we will be able to get to know the people, and not become too "cliquie" with just other missionaries, but that we would venture out, and get to know the nationals. That's the hard part with living in the city, and we really want to be a part of the real Kenyan culture as much as we can. We are also already talking about how things would look if we were to be in Africa full time, and so it's given us a lot of food for thought and discussion. I wish we could properly discuss it with some of you...maybe once we get our cell phones! So, please pray, pray, pray...!! Have a great day :)
~A
Now we're back at the Mayfield for the evening. We have some more homework to do for orientation, which will be starting tomorrow. We've been getting to know our fellow short-termers quite well these past few days, and will be continuing to get to know them throughout this next week. There's Tim Lang, a young guy from Washington DC, who is here for 9 months, and is going to be involved with the On Field Media, filming and video editing, traveling all over. Chris and Sandy Rackley are from Minnesota. Sandy is a psychiatrist/counsellor who is going to be working with AIM Care, at Tumaini Counselling Center. Chris isn't totally sure yet what he's going to be doing, and they'll be here for 6 weeks. Dr. Fiona Logan is from England, and she's also going to be working at Tumaini Counselling Center, and she's here for 1 year. So we have a bunch of things lined up for next week, and it's going to be a very busy, intense week of learning and being stretched. I'm really scared to have to take public transportation, and those lessons are going to be tomorrow and Tuesday with James Muyela..so please pray for us!! It's really awesome that we are getting lessons, and if we learn it we'll be able to be much more independent...it's just scary at the same time!! On one of those days we're also going with James and Wycliffe (two Kenyan men) to the Kibera Slum, and we'll be able to meet and have chai with a family who lives there...i think it's going to be a difficult day in a lot of ways. We're really nervous, and yet looking forward to it at the same time. Sometime this next week I'm also going to be meeting with Murray Schmidt, who is the short-term coordinator for Kenya Eastern Region, who will handle my placement. So please pray for that as well, as I'm really hoping for a placement that fits me and my gifts, and that I can be where God wants me to be.
Please also pray that we would find our "place" here, and that we will be able to get to know the people, and not become too "cliquie" with just other missionaries, but that we would venture out, and get to know the nationals. That's the hard part with living in the city, and we really want to be a part of the real Kenyan culture as much as we can. We are also already talking about how things would look if we were to be in Africa full time, and so it's given us a lot of food for thought and discussion. I wish we could properly discuss it with some of you...maybe once we get our cell phones! So, please pray, pray, pray...!! Have a great day :)
~A
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Picture-Taking Tourists
That's what we were today! Our cameras were ready at a moments notice...but we don't mind being tourists for awhile, at least until we feel more at home and comfortable in our surroundings! We heard today that the word for white man - "mzungu" - literally means "person who wanders around"! Very fitting, as sometimes we feel so out of place and don't know what we're d0ing yet!! We got to go to the giraffe center today...so cool! It's in Nairobi, in the Karen area, which has been described as the Beverly Hills of Nairobi because of all the rich Kenyans living in that area. There are tons of giraffes living there, and we were able to pet and feed them!! Have you hugged a giraffe today?!?! It was so much fun! We so thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! They also had warthogs..."when i was a young warthog" (just imagine me singing that!), and tortoises. We've also been driven around the city a lot, and are trying to get our directions straight! And man...the potholes! It's pretty crazy!! We also drove by Kibera slum today...you have to see something like that to truly appreciate the horror. About a million people live in these awful conditions, and that's just in this one slum. I'm really praying and hoping that I'll get a chance to work with kids there, and have heard about a few different people who are doing just that.
Before we left Canada, we were told that we would probably get invites to come see different places, and help out in different ministries all over Africa...and it already started!! We weren't expecting to get offers our first day here!! An offer to go to Zambia, an offer to help out with summer camp ministries, hearing about slum ministries, being told to just get our name in with AIM Air, and we'd be able to fly anywhere...and it goes on and on and we've only been here a few days!! It's pretty exciting...even though we won't be doing all of these things, just knowing that the possibilities are endless is so cool!
We also go to go see the Wilson Airport area yesterday when we went out for lunch for Kenyan food (and yes, my gag reflex is still in good working order, how frustrating!). Trevor is really excited about starting work there, and getting to know what his job and expectations are. So many people are so excited when the hear that he is an automotive mechanic.."oh good, we REALLY need those", or "hey, i have this problem with my land rover"!!! It's pretty interesting!!
We've had really good "tour guides" too!! Lesa Brown, who has been coordinating our orientation, has been driving us around, and showing us how to get from place to place. There's 3 main roads we have to know- Ngong Road, Langata Road, and Mbagathi Way, which all connect and have a lot of the main places just on the way, like the Uchumi store and Nakumatt store, the Wilson airport, the Mayfield Guest House, and a lot of AIM staff housing.
But, supper is almost ready, and I don't want to be late for that! I've also been trying to post pictures, and it's not working very well. The internet is too slow and keeps timing out before the pics are loaded! But i hope to find a techie who can help us with this!! Until then, just imagine what i've tried to describe to you!!
~A
Before we left Canada, we were told that we would probably get invites to come see different places, and help out in different ministries all over Africa...and it already started!! We weren't expecting to get offers our first day here!! An offer to go to Zambia, an offer to help out with summer camp ministries, hearing about slum ministries, being told to just get our name in with AIM Air, and we'd be able to fly anywhere...and it goes on and on and we've only been here a few days!! It's pretty exciting...even though we won't be doing all of these things, just knowing that the possibilities are endless is so cool!
We also go to go see the Wilson Airport area yesterday when we went out for lunch for Kenyan food (and yes, my gag reflex is still in good working order, how frustrating!). Trevor is really excited about starting work there, and getting to know what his job and expectations are. So many people are so excited when the hear that he is an automotive mechanic.."oh good, we REALLY need those", or "hey, i have this problem with my land rover"!!! It's pretty interesting!!
We've had really good "tour guides" too!! Lesa Brown, who has been coordinating our orientation, has been driving us around, and showing us how to get from place to place. There's 3 main roads we have to know- Ngong Road, Langata Road, and Mbagathi Way, which all connect and have a lot of the main places just on the way, like the Uchumi store and Nakumatt store, the Wilson airport, the Mayfield Guest House, and a lot of AIM staff housing.
But, supper is almost ready, and I don't want to be late for that! I've also been trying to post pictures, and it's not working very well. The internet is too slow and keeps timing out before the pics are loaded! But i hope to find a techie who can help us with this!! Until then, just imagine what i've tried to describe to you!!
~A
Friday, September 12, 2008
Safe and Sound!
Hello from Nairobi!! We made it here last night, about 9:00 pm Kenya time (which is 9 hours ahead of all you in Alberta!). Our flights all worked out so well, no delays, no problems, luggage all arrived with us, and we also had no problems with our visas or getting through Kenya Customs. Praise the Lord for that!! The Inbound team met us at the Jomo Kenyatta Airport, and then James Holt (Trevor's new boss) took us to the Mayfield Guest House here in Nairobi. We got here and basically just crashed...wow we were so tired and still are!! The rooms here are really nice, the showers are warm, the food is excellent, and the people are really warm and welcoming! They gave us a welcome basket when we got here too, which was really special! We are so excited to be here...it was really difficult leaving family and friends behind, but now that we're here we feel really excited again, and have total peace that this is where we need to be. Oh, and also, we were really disappointed that we weren't able to say goodbye to Josiah and Anj after they got back from honeymooning in Cuba, but then just before we flew out of Toronto there was a page for us, and Josiah was on the phone. They were at the British Airways desk at the airport, but we had already gone through security, and we waiting to board, so there was no way we were able to quickly run and meet them, but it was still so good to at least be in the same building and say goodbye over the phone!! God totally gave us that gift before we left!!!
So now we're just waiting to start our orientation, which will be really laid back today as we are all really tired! Thanks for your prayers, and we'll continue to keep you updated!
~Trevor & Andrea
So now we're just waiting to start our orientation, which will be really laid back today as we are all really tired! Thanks for your prayers, and we'll continue to keep you updated!
~Trevor & Andrea
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
the time has come!
This past week was a very overwhelming week...packing like mad, getting the last minute things together, saying our goodbyes...but we're now in Edmonton, and ready or not, Nairobi, here we come!!! We fly out Wednesday at 12:15 pm, so tomorrow will be a day of last minute details and final packing and goodbyes. My parents brought us here, so we'll be spending the day with them, which will be really nice. I've come to realize, though, how much I hate saying goodbye, but I know that God will be with us, and we'll be okay!
Our first week in Kenya will be a lot of resting and getting over jet lag, some sightseeing, and a lot of orientation and learning. We'll be taking Kiswahili lessions, public transportation lessons, workshops on culture, and a lot of other things that I can't remember right now! I'm really looking forward to that, but know that it'll be a lot to take in. After the first week, we'll be moving into our house, so that'll be nice to get settled in and officially begin our new life in Kenya.
God is so good, and there have been so many things that He has just completely worked out these last few weeks...like fixing our rent issues, selling the Chevy, getting everything done on time...it's just been affirmed to us over and over that this is where He wants us, and if we are in the center of His will then that's all we need to know!! So, please keep praying, and the next time I write we will be in Nairobi!!
~A
Our first week in Kenya will be a lot of resting and getting over jet lag, some sightseeing, and a lot of orientation and learning. We'll be taking Kiswahili lessions, public transportation lessons, workshops on culture, and a lot of other things that I can't remember right now! I'm really looking forward to that, but know that it'll be a lot to take in. After the first week, we'll be moving into our house, so that'll be nice to get settled in and officially begin our new life in Kenya.
God is so good, and there have been so many things that He has just completely worked out these last few weeks...like fixing our rent issues, selling the Chevy, getting everything done on time...it's just been affirmed to us over and over that this is where He wants us, and if we are in the center of His will then that's all we need to know!! So, please keep praying, and the next time I write we will be in Nairobi!!
~A
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