On the Christmas afternoon I spent some time with William's cousins Chemning (17) and Sarah (15). The two girls are pretty special. On the night that I arrived they hiked to the training center just so they could greet me. Sarah almost knocked me over with an enthusiastic hug. They had been begging me to come for lunch one day. So William and I decided that Christmas was the day.
We ate rice pilau (rice with seasonings and some meat), oranges and chai for lunch. I love to hear the hopes and dreams of these young ladies. Sarah (on the right) loves math and thinks she may want to be an engineer. Chemning enjoys the study of ecology. Both hope to further their education after finishing high school. Both are living in a mud hut and working hard to help run the family shamba (farm).
Monday, January 01, 2007
More Blessed to Give
This Christmas was a special one for me. The week before Christmas William's family made a decision that they wanted to bless 4 families in the community with a Christmas treat. Throughout the week the family went through closets to find clothes to donate. We shopped on the 22nd and purchased food for the families.
On the morning of the 23rd we loaded up the Pajero and hit the road. As we traveled from family to family I was struck by how easily it could have been me... None of us are blessed with the opportunity to choose where we will be born and what circumstances we will grow up in.
One family we visited was headed by a grandmother. David Tarus explained to us that this lady had once been prosperous. In fact she and her husband were the first in the community to own a car in 1970. Now she lives in a house of mud and actually sleeps on a bed which she crafted from mud. She went from riches to rags. At any moment any of us could loose all that we have. It was something to think about.
This smiling cutie in the picture is daughter to Mama Sifuna. She is truly a precious child. She and the rest of her family welcomed us into their home. They are currently raising chickens to help support themselves. Walking into the compound we were all careful to not step on any chicks as this is the future of this family's livelihood.
A letter had been written to each family wishing them a very merry Christmas and inviting them to our Christmas service. When we arrived at each house we would read the letter, sing a song, and pray a prayer of blessing for the family. We would then move on to the next home.
The following day one of the families walked over a mile to David's home to deliver a Christmas chicken to our family. What an overwhelming moment! Our generosity did not cost us half of what it cost this family. There are some things in the world that are just so hard to understand...
On the morning of the 23rd we loaded up the Pajero and hit the road. As we traveled from family to family I was struck by how easily it could have been me... None of us are blessed with the opportunity to choose where we will be born and what circumstances we will grow up in.
One family we visited was headed by a grandmother. David Tarus explained to us that this lady had once been prosperous. In fact she and her husband were the first in the community to own a car in 1970. Now she lives in a house of mud and actually sleeps on a bed which she crafted from mud. She went from riches to rags. At any moment any of us could loose all that we have. It was something to think about.
This smiling cutie in the picture is daughter to Mama Sifuna. She is truly a precious child. She and the rest of her family welcomed us into their home. They are currently raising chickens to help support themselves. Walking into the compound we were all careful to not step on any chicks as this is the future of this family's livelihood.
A letter had been written to each family wishing them a very merry Christmas and inviting them to our Christmas service. When we arrived at each house we would read the letter, sing a song, and pray a prayer of blessing for the family. We would then move on to the next home.
The following day one of the families walked over a mile to David's home to deliver a Christmas chicken to our family. What an overwhelming moment! Our generosity did not cost us half of what it cost this family. There are some things in the world that are just so hard to understand...
Name That Snake!
So I had a bit of an adventure in my first week in Kenya. I have made seven trips to Africa and this is the first time that I have ever encountered a deadly snake. This fella was hiding behind the toilet in my bathroom.
Thank the Lord someone else found him and told me he was there. We called in a staff member from the Children's Home who happens to be an excellent snake slayer. He then came and beat the snake to death for me.
Now just what kind of snake is this? I was originally told it was a black mamba but then most all of my Kenyan friends disagreed. When William and I found a poster of deadly African snakes we thought this one matched the picture of the tree cobra. Any snake experts out there who can confirm or deny that?
Thank the Lord someone else found him and told me he was there. We called in a staff member from the Children's Home who happens to be an excellent snake slayer. He then came and beat the snake to death for me.
Now just what kind of snake is this? I was originally told it was a black mamba but then most all of my Kenyan friends disagreed. When William and I found a poster of deadly African snakes we thought this one matched the picture of the tree cobra. Any snake experts out there who can confirm or deny that?
Flight to Eldoret
I'm frequently asked about the traveling process when I journey to Kenya. I usually fly out of LAX on to Europe. From there I connect down to Nairobi. In Nairobi I board an 18 passenger plane for my final flight to Eldoret. Once in Eldoret Kipkaren is a 1hr drive away. This is the plane I took up to Eldoret this time.
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