Planning

Today was a lot of logistical planning for the next couple weeks: figuring out drivers, sound systems, etc.  Not the most fun part of my trip, but something that needed to be done so that the rest can run smoothly.  After morning meetings, I was able to walk around the school and see some changes that have been made.  I am always surprised at the amount of progress that they are able to make in just one year.  They have demolished part of the building and are in the process of building 70 new classrooms.  It will be a great building when it is completed.  They have also moved and been able to expand their adult program (they teach the women of the community to sew so that they can have an income).  Later in the day, I was able to walk around the slum area with two of the school’s social workers.  All the slum children wanted to hold my hand…they don’t have many visitors and I stick out quite a bit =).  As usual there were chants of “mzungu” (white person) and “how are you” (the only English phrase many of the slum children know) as I walked by.  The slums were worse than I remembered.  It has rained for the past three days, so the trash on the street has mixed with the mud to make one big swamp.  There is no sewer system so the water on the streets does not drain anywhere.  Everything sits and stews in the hot Kenyan sun.  There is no way for me to describe the smell that garbage, urine, and rainwater make while boiling in the sun.  It’s funny how things like this make you appreciate the little thinks in life like a sewer system.

Relaxing Day

Not a very eventful day today.  We spent the majority of the day at the hotel.  I was able to finish up some last minute things to begin teaching in the next couple of days.  It was nice to be able to relax and catch up on a little sleep…I finally feel like I have adjusted to the time change.  I am excited and anxious to get working tomorrow and to see some of the people I haven’t seen in the last year.  And of course, I can't wait to see all the children tomorrow!

Safari Day 3

Today we got up for an early morning safari.  We were just late to see a lion hunting, but were able to see 4 adult lions and about 6 lion cubs going to eat their morning kill.

After the safari we headed back to Nairobi, stopping at a few shops on the way.  We spent a majority of the day in the bumper to bumper Nairobi traffic, and are all glad to be back in the city where there is a lot less traveling.

Safari Day 2

Another great day viewing God’s creation.  The variety of animals He created continues to astound me.  Each so unique and so beautiful in it’s own way. 

We also visited a Masi tribe.  The boys had a jumping competition (the high jumping is supposed to impress the girls so that they can "win many girlfriends"...boy do they know what I look for in a man!!!

They did a few dances for us then showed us around their camp.  They did a fire starting demonstration in which it took them less than a minute to start the fire.  All the boys at the camp were interested in my iphone.  They wanted to see how it could be both a camera and a phone…really funny coming from a culture that doesn’t have toilets.

Back at our lodge a man offered my parents 9 cows for me (this is the traditional dowry given to parents).  It was quite the self-esteem booster to know that I am only worth 9 dirty animals  =)

Right foot: Tanzania

Left foot:  Kenya

Safari Day 1

Today we drove 5 hours south of Nairobi to the Masi Mara Reserve.  We will be spending two nights here, doing safaris during the day.  The trip here was awfully bumpy…many, many potholes.  So many, in fact, that our driver many times would drive next to the road instead of on it.  Despite a little carsickness, we all made it here fine and were able to enjoy our first evening safari.  For me, this was a great way to start off the trip.  Seeing all these wonderfully unique animals just reminds me how powerful, how humorous, and how wonderful our God is.  It’s amazing to me the creativity God put into making each animal, each one so different from the next.  You can truly see the beauty of His creation, landscapes and animals uninterrupted by “civilized” culture.  This is creation the way it was meant to be seen.

This guy made me miss my little lion at home...

Safe and sound

Well, I am officially here!  It was a long couple flights, and I am exhausted, but I am here and ready to start!  Met some interesting people on the flights over.  Our second flight had two other missions teams: a group of 50 highschoolers coming to build a hospital, and a group of doctors coming to train doctors here in Kenya.  It was very interesting to hear everyone’s plan for the next couple weeks.  There is going to be some great things happening over here in the next few weeks! 

Packed and ready to go!

Well it's 5am and I am officially ready to go.  Widget is all packed and ready for his little vacation too...

(he knows that that is his food, travel bag, and blanket).

Please be in prayer for safe flights and that I am able to get over this sinus infection.  Not quite the way I wanted to start out the trip, but satan always finds a way to get me down before a trip.  Nevertheless, I know it will be ok and I am looking forward to seeing all the children and can't wait to share all the news and photos from overseas!