I've had may people comment that when I finally updated my blog I neglected to provide an update on William's visa status. I was sincerely hoping that sometime at the beginning of this week I would place a post entitled "We have an ID card!!!!". But alas, we still do not have an ID card. We (meaning mostly my poor William) have been trying to obtain an ID card since October of last year. It has been one thing after another. He even made a special trip to Nairobi (his first one in five years) to try to get an expedited card.
Last week the office in Eldoret called him to tell him that the card had arrived. He just needed to come and pick it up. When he arrived at the office they showed him that sure enough, his name was on the list of cards that were delivered. However there was no ID card physically present in the office. They profusely apologized and told him they had no idea what had happened to it.
I can't quite put my finger on my emotion. Definitely frustration!! In some ways I feel like I'm losing hope with this entire process. You see, he can't proceed with the next step in the visa process until he has a passport. And he cannot apply for a passport until he has the ID. At the rate things are going we will be lucky if we can make a trip to the states together a year after we are married!!!
It's been an interesting process looking at the intercultural perspective of all this frustration. I am a born and raised American. And here in America we are raised to believe that you can have anything or accomplish anything if you work hard enough for it. It has been a cold hard reality to learn that the rest of the world does not always work that way. William has put hours and hours of agony into his multiple attempts to get the ID card. And yet, we have nothing to show for it.
Your continued prayers would be most appreciated. I'm on the edge of giving up hope that this is ever going to happen. Before I know it we will be in Africa together saying our vows. In the meantime please continue to pray for wisdom direction and peace. I still don't know for sure where we will be living or exactly what we will be doing. Yet through it all I know that I know that I know that God is in control! I know that he will never fail and that his plan is perfect. Thanks for all of your continued support, prayers and encouragement!!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Hawaii
Shortly after graduation I had the opportunity to take my first trip to Hawaii. Back in Dec I realized that I had enough frequent flyer miles to make a domestic trip. I called my best friend Annette (who was living in Arkansas at the time) and told her I wanted to come visit for spring break.
She told me that her and her husband had just been notified that their next tour of duty would be in Hawaii. (Her husband Sergej is a major in the airforce.) They would be moving in May and I should just wait and come after graduation.
Thus I was able to make the amazing trip to O'ahu. I was in desperate need of the rest and relaxation. And I couldn't have picked a better place or better company for it!! A highlight was snorkeling with the turtles at Turtle Beach on the north shore of the island. But the best part was just having time to spend together. That and not having anywhere I had to be or anything I had to do.
Annette and I were friends as children. We lost track of each other through Jr. and Sr. High. Our paths crossed again in college. Needless to say, our relationship has grown and grown since then. She has been such a source of encouragement and wisdom for me. I am truly thankful for the opportunity we had to spend together before I move away to Africa. (Not that Hawaii isn't far enough from CA as it is!)
Michelle Kerns, Family Nurse Practitioner
After two years of VERY hard work I FINALLY graduated!!!! I'm now officially a master's prepared nurse practitioner. What is even more amazing is that I am working as an FNP.
I had no intentions of getting a job as an NP before moving to Kenya. However God opened an amazing door and job literally fell into my lap. I'm working two days a week at the Union Rescue Mission (URM) on skid row in downtown Los Angeles. So yes, my clients are homeless. It is a great environment for learning.
I did several rotations at the clinic as a student. One of the full time NP's was leaving just as I was graduating. The part time NP took the full-time position and I was asked to take her part time position. I explained that I was the worst possible choice for the job. Not only am I a new graduate (interpretation: I have NO idea what I am doing!) but I also will be moving out of the country in Nov. I was told that actually I was a perfect fit because they needed someone now and I would not need to be oriented.
In addition to my job at the URM I continue to work two days a week as an RN in the ER at the VA hospital in Loma Linda. The two jobs, and driving all over southern CA, are keeping me pretty busy.
Wedding preparations are underway. The plan is to have a big wedding in the village of Kipkaren. The wedding date is December 14, 2007!! All are invited!!! If you are interested in attending let me know and we can start working on travel arrangements.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Christmas Day
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).
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).
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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