Home for the Holidays

We made it home on Friday after four unsuccessful days on standby. It's great to be home! We've got a busy schedule this month, but who doesn't?! I ran a 5K race in Jefferson yesterday, and after the race we went out for Mexican food with my parents. We're headed to church this morning, out to lunch with friends, then back home to pack for a visit to Sherwood's family. We'll drive to DC to pick up Sherwood's kids, then the four of us will fly to FL to spend four days at Disney; we'll fly back to DC on Friday and continue our drive north to NJ to visit the rest of his family. We might make it up to NY to visit one of his sisters, and we thought if we make it all the way to NY, we might as well keep going to RI to visit my extended family. But we might be too tired for all that driving. We'll see how we feel. Regardless, it's nice to be home for Christmas!

Stranded in South Africa

Sherwood and I have been stuck in South Africa since Monday. We're flying on buddy passes with Delta, and it seems (even when they have empty seats available) that cargo is more important than passengers. We, along with 18 other people, tried to fly out on Tuesday night, and despite the fact there were seats available, Delta choose to leave all of us stranded to put more cargo on the plane. I was talking to one passenger at the airport last night who paid full price for his ticket and almost didn't make it on the plane. Since the flight was overbooked, and his travel agent hadn't assigned him a seat, if everyone who purchased a ticket had shown up, he would have ended up waiting to fly out for another 24 hours. He told me his dad's company used Delta to ship a suitcase, and they paid $20,000. No wonder they won't let passengers on the plane, suitcases are much more lucrative!

We've been spending our days reading, playing solitaire, and watching movies, and we take our guest house's shuttle to the airport every night in hopes of getting on the plane. They're telling us it doesn't look likely for us to get out of here until Monday. Yesterday, they told us Sunday looked okay. We're not sure what they've got going on, but I haven't been impressed with Delta--although I must say, the individual movie screens in the back of every seat are a nice touch. I might be willing to sell out to the cash machine in the future if they continue to provide individual entertainment, on demand, during the 16 hour flight between Johannesburg and Atlanta. On second thought, maybe not.

Tutoring the Little Ones

I have been tutoring the children in English. Kiswahili and English are Kenya's official languages, but in rural areas like Oyuma, they are often neglected in schools where teachers are more comfortable speaking in their mother tongue. Here's a picture of me tutoring our children in preschool through second grade. Because they don't return to school after lunch, I get to tutor them every afternoon. The small children are a big change from the high schoolers I'm used to teaching, but they're so much fun! They're like sponges; they soak everything up, and they love to learn.

Fish, Anyone?

We think these little guys are minnows, but we're not completely sure. Around here, they're called omena, and we get them twice a week. They're a little fishy tasting, but if they're fried in oil with tomatoes and onions, they're not too bad. Sherwood and I pretty much eat the same cuisine that the kids eat. The food is healthy and grown right around here, which is pretty cool, but there's not a lot of variety. We're looking forward to lots of invites to dinner when we get back home!

Tearing up the Roads

This is the mode of transportation we were using before we purchased a 1987 Pajero from a missionary couple who is returning to the states. Sherwood is a good driver, but it's still scary to ride through packed streets and muddy, rutted roads on the back of a motorcycle! You never know when a cow might meander into the street in front of you or a bicycle rider might swerve into your path. We do a lot of praying when we're on the motorcycle!

Managers of The Hope Centre!

Sherwood and I were offered the position as managers of The Hope Centre, an orphanage in Oyuma, located in rural, western Kenya. We accepted the position and will start work at the beginning of October. Living Hope Ministries International was established in 2002 and after years of preparation received its first children in February of 2008. We currently have 49 children living at the home, 31 girls and 18 boys. They range in age from 5-16. We also have 16 staff members. We are thrilled at this opportunity and humbled by the responsibility of managing this institution.

Kenya in August

Monday, August 17
Visited LivingWay Children’s home in Naivasha and were greeted by 30 ecstatic, dusty children who ran to our approaching van with shrieks of joy. Orphanage has no electricity or running water. Drought so bad their milk cow died from lack of water. Children welcomed us with several songs, and dorm mom had prepared an exceptional lunch for us over an open fire. Kenyan hospitality is humbling.

Wednesday, August 19
Spoke to two hundred pastors and church leaders at a Four Square church conference. Most pastors had traveled over six hours on cramped public transportation to be at the conference and hadn’t yet eaten by the time the conference began at 9:30pm. Meeting scheduled to begin at 6pm. Pastors’ spirits were high, nonetheless.

Thursday, August 20
Caught a minivan, or matatu, designed for 14 but holding up to 26 people, to The Hope Center orphanage in Oyuma. Direct trip turned into indirect. Kept stopping to take on more passengers. Smelly, dusty, tiring ride.

Saturday, August 22
Went to villager’s house to pray over land where he’ll build his new home. Were introduced to his father’s three widows and met his two wives. Having trouble reconciling multiple wives with the 21st century. Interviewed for position of manager at The Hope Center. Were asked to return for a second interview.

Tuesday, August 25
Drove to Maasai Mara. Went on game drive. Saw zebras, giraffes, several types of antelope, cheetahs, cape buffalo, wildebeests, lions, hippos, and crocodiles. Slept in canvas tent with beds. Bathrooms across the camp had hot running water heated by a fire lit under the metal water barrel.

Wednesday, August 26
Went to Munyao’s house (a Kenyan friend from college). Nairobi traffic jam terrible. Our bus drove on the wrong side of the rode for several miles to avoid traffic jam. Oncoming traffic had to move onto sidewalks to get out of the way of bus. Bizarre.

Saturday, August 29
Met the team of medical doctors and assistants this morning who we’ll be working with this week. Rode out to Brittney’s House of Grace in Marindi--an orphanage run in conjunction with a medical clinic.

Monday, August 31
Worked with medical team in clinic. Sherwood assisted oral surgeon. I sterilized instruments. Long day. Doctors saw 500 hundred patients.

Tuesday, September 1
Worked in clinic. Saw woman whose thumb was severed when bandits broke into her house. She’d been walking around with her thumb cut off for two weeks before coming to clinic. District hospital didn’t do a good job of treating her. Hand very swollen--smell was awful.

A New Chapter in Our Lives

Sherwood and I are leaving for Kenya tomorrow! This is an opportunity we have been anticipating for a long time, and we are excited to begin our journey. I have felt a call on my life to work with orphans in Kenya since I was 15. The calling on my life to serve in East Africa was confirmed to me during a study abroad at Kenya's Daystar University and while working at an orphanage, after meeting children forgotten by the world. Sherwood is also excited about working in Kenya and hopes to use his medical training to benefit the community where we stay.

Last year, I enrolled in a Master’s Program to earn a degree as a professional writer. As the culmination of my studies, I will conduct research for my thesis in Kenya. We plan to live on-site at an orphanage in Naivasha, Kenya. In addition to my research, Sherwood and I will be helping at the orphanage in anyway we can be used.

The purpose of our trip is two-fold. Besides conducting research for my thesis project, we will be looking for opportunities to return to serve full-time. Our plans are to fly to Kenya tomorrow, August 15, stay through the beginning of December, and come back to the states so I can complete my Master’s program and graduate in December. We will return to Kenya as soon as possible to begin the life we feel God has called us to.

We will post regular updates, technology permitting, so check back regularly. We wish you all blessings and peace.