Staff Appreciation!

A few weeks ago we had a staff appreciation event (thanks Erin!) to let the staff know how much we are grateful for their hard work and dedication--they've been working really hard lately, lots of overtime. One thing about AH that I really like is that we don't overpay our staff. They are paid over minimum wage but there is not a financial incentive to work with us--We know that if they are choosing to work with AH it is because they have a heart for ministry and the communities we are serving, because the work is hard and the hours are long. We have a great staff.  One of our days together was a day trip to the Maasai Mara. Even though most of our staff have grown up just hours from this tourist attraction and watch van after van full of foreigners pass through Narok town on their way to the Mara, the majority of them haven't entered the wildlife park's gates. Jackson said, "It's like we've seen the gates of the Mara and gotten close but you have opened the gates and let us see what's inside!" Alice said, "I've studied about most of these animals in school but I haven't ever seen them in real life." It was fun to experience seeing so many wild animals with my Kenyan friends, many of whom were experiencing it for the first time. What a blessing!

Julius in the front seat (works with our Orphans and Vulnerable Children program).

Can you see the elephants out the window?

Here I am with the lions in the background--and a close-up of the lions!

With my back seat buddies

Another part of this staff appreciation event was a talent show. (It always takes events like that to remind me that I don't have many exciting talents =) !) Erin and I wowed the crowd with our rendition of the American classic, "Heart & Soul."

Others showed us their Maasai jumping skills, scrabble playing abilities, acting, dancing, singing and much more! We had lots of fun.

Obama?

When people ask me where I'm from I say USA, then they ask what state and I say IL and then I see Illinois registering in their mind through my accent, and then they say "Oh! Illinois, Obama!" Right. I'm from Obama's state. Today as I was standing in line to finalize my work permit (which now I'm almost officially a Kenyan worker/missionary!) a man saw my American passport and said, "will you vote for Obama?!" I replied, "Sijui," I don't know. 

Everyone here loves Obama--he is half Kenyan, you know. The newspapers adore him. It seems like McCain doesn't have a chance when you read it from the Kenyan perspective. I made it to the American Embassy and filled out my voter absentee form so that I can exercise my privilege to have a say in who my country's leader is.  So, my question for you all in America is--what is the feel in America? What is your take on a woman vice president? Everyone here is sooo excited about the possibility of having a black American President. What does America think about that? Tell me what you know about the candidates and give me some details of why you think you'll vote for who you'll vote for. I look forward to hearing from you!

The bush

Here are a few pictures from Naroosura, where I stayed a few weeks ago. I didn't take a camera to Maji Moto/Nchaishi, where I just returned from yesterday, but maybe you can get an idea of what the bush is like from these shots. Keep scrolling down to read more about Maji Moto and Nchaishi. 

Thanks so much for your encouraging emails! When I got back from the bush and checked my email this morning I felt sooo blessed to hear from so many of you! Thanks for loving me and encouraging me through that!

Some Maasai boys at the water source in Naroosura.

Decked out in my Maasai outfit. I was the center of attention at the market in town! A mzungu (white person) dressed like a Maasai.

Wow! I'm back from Nchaishi and Maji Moto. I was out for a week--two nights in each place, but it honestly felt like longer. I stayed with two amazing Christian families who showed me great hospitality (both giving up their beds/bedrooms so that I could sleep there, I'm learning from them about loving people through sacrificial hospitality). This might have been my hardest week in Kenya so far, though. I think I'm feeling some culture shock in general, plus I was living with people whose culture is a lot different than what I grew up with. I was able to visit primary schools in both villages and go to Swahili class plus visit a few other classes (I was really good in English class. Swahili...well, I was keeping up with the 1st graders!) I stayed in a house with dirt floors and mud walls, bathed in hot springs, had chai (tea) and chapati (bread/quesadilla type things) in a Maasai manyatta, made new friends, and got more Maasai beads for gifts (in fact, I now have a Maasai bracelet on my wrist that is permanently there. Margaret, my host mama in Nchaishi, had the soap out and the bracelet slipped on before I knew what was happening!). 

This is in Naroosura, making chapati.

My Swahili is improving slowly. I still have sooo far to go, but in both villages I communicated mainly in Swahili! People still laugh when I mess up and I often can't think of how to say what I want to say, but I'm trying. People keep telling me that's the best way to learn.

Near Naroosura, called "the interior" because it was in the middle of the mountains. I stayed with a family here (the house on the right) for a night and then visited my first manyatta.

Lately I've thought, "Do I really live in Kenya?" Then, I realize, yes, yes, I do. For example, when I was on the bus today I saw 6 giraffe on the side of the road. In both Nchaishi and Maji Moto the elephants come to the water source to drink every night. In Nchaishi the lions and elephants have actually depleted the water source!  We stayed inside at night =) Did you know that Maasai are more afraid of elephants than lions? I told them I was afraid of lions, but they said they can more easily kill lions but elephants can just stomp you. Elephants look so friendly. Looks can be deceiving!

Some of my new little friends

Weekend of Weddings

Lots happened this weekend--7 new missionaries (a family of 5 and 2 singles) arrived in Kenya and I attended my first Kenyan wedding.

Cole, Jamie, Kay Lynn, Stephanie, Erin, Tom and Kelsey are pictured here in the little house where we stayed during the wedding weekend.

The wedding was a rather "western" Christian Maasai wedding held in a church with a mix of Kenyan/Maasai culture, too.

 

I experienced lots of firsts (one was being the wedding photographer!! but I managed to make it into this group shot with other AH staff). 

I also was on the "decorating committee" for the wedding so we got to help blow up balloons and put up other decorations--I asked at least 4 Kenyans before I used the chalk to write on the church walls! 

While I was in Suswa, Kenya at Richard & Eva's wedding, my family and friends were in IL celebrating  Shelby (my cousin) & Jake's wedding. My little niece Dayzha was a flower girl! I'm loving serving the Lord here--but there are times when it's hard to be away. Shelby & Jake--Congratulations! I love you and miss you!