02.28.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 1:18 pm by Seth
Thank you for praying and responding to our e-mails were very grateful
to know that we are connected with our friends and family. Keziah is
doing better after some thought and another day we realized she has
most likely sustained a sprin to her knee. She slipped on the floor
the other night and landed funny. There has been no fever or redness
so the Doctor is thinking it is only a sprain. Today as the day
progresed she began to move about more not walking but crawling a
little and scooching. Please continue to pray for us as she heals up
and we will keep you all posted as we know more
In Him
seth
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02.27.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 11:20 am by Hannah
Please keep us in your prayers.
Keziah seems to have developed an infection in her knee. We visited
the Docter today and there are a few explanations for her symptoms
(warm swollen knee, fever, pain - won’t put weight on her knee) but
the most likely is infection.
The Doctor told us to observe her for 24 hours and if it doesn’t
improve to come back in for blood test and prescriptions. He said its
not an emergency situation (she’ll be ok for the night) but to come in
if it doesn’t subside over the next few hours.
We are doing ok. Keziah is fine so long as her knee is not moved,
which has slowed her down quite a bit but she’s enjoying the extra
attention. : ) Especially the ice cream.
Pray that we are all able to get some sleep tonight - last night was very long.
Pray that she begins to heal on her own or that the diagnosis and
treatment tomorrow go smoothly.
Pray that Seth and I (me especially) are able to be peaceful for Keziah.
We are so thankful that we caught whatever this is early and that we
had the connections to a good pediatrician, for the Germos (our
supervisors) who have made this a much less stressful experience, and
for all of you who keep us in your prayers.
We’ll update you as soon as we know more.
Love and thanks,
Seth & Hannah, Keziah and Jared
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02.23.07
Posted in At this moment... at 5:29 am by Hannah
Yes, for those of you who have been inquiring, I did cut my hair. About three weeks before we left for Nairobi I donated approximately 18 inches to Locks of Love; an organization that makes wigs for kids with cancer. I do miss my long hair at times but am loving the ease, the lack of weight and heat, and the small amount of water (: ) needed for washing that my short hair has been.
I’ve never had short hair in my life and was somewhat surprised to find that minus all the weight I have curly hair! I guess now we know where Keziah got it. I’ve shocked quite a few people and (I think) offended a few but Seth loves my new look and I am definitly enjoying the advantages of it. I can actually let Keziah play with it now and not have to spend an hour untangling it afterwards. : )
So, wonder no longer. I am a changed woman. In the hair department anyway…and in my appreciation of water but that’s a different topic.
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Posted in Seth's Two Cents at 5:18 am by Hannah
2-15-07
Today has been one of those way too frustrating days. Today we had hopes to have security doors installed. So we were grounded to our house waiting for the workmen to come. Rahab came and worked through the morning while we waited for them to arrive.
It was a crazy thing to sit in anticipation of a call or the arrival of a work crew to put in the doors. Tomorrow I am supposed to be in the office and so I was hopeful for everything to be in place so Hannah would feel safe and I would have no worries of her at home with the kids.
So here I am this evening writing this saying that I wasted a day and I know this is a western feeling but it still is a real feeling that has to be worked through. In the end the workmen came, dropped off the doors and the tools, and left. I tried to get them to stay and do at least 1 door but no dice. Hannah and I have had a few movies to watch and this will be a great distraction from the day. In Africa nothing happens fast except crime. Note to self.
12-16-07
The day of mass craziness as it was heralded quickly changed into the day of patient(?) waiting. Little to anyone’s knowledge there was a 12 hour scheduled power outage. No power for the workmen to use their power tools to get the doors installed. Oh, the relentlessness of life.
I was supposed to watch the workmen finish the doors by 3 so we could go pick-up the furniture that was supposed to be finished a week ago. The furniture will not be done till “tomorrow”. So here I am at the end of the day with security doors finally (because of a generator that arrived at 4) but with a whole boat load of tools in my spare room. Hannah had quite a day as we are getting low on groceries and I was stationed watching 3 workmen talk and so couldn’t leave.
We had a long evening without water or power. Hannah and I are beat, down cast, and to top it all our friend said “well this day has been depressing?. Making us feel like complete failures. God is good, but I’m done with this day.
12-17-07
Well the tools got picked-up at the crack of dawn so I was up to arrange 4 strange men in my house but I was glad to see the small equipment gone and the doors basically completed minus paint.
It is also very nice that up to know there has been no bill (yet) which I am dreading but, good news about that! I’ll pay the bill now but deduct it out of the rent later because the land-lord was pleased with the gates and decided she wants us to leave them here for her. I wasn’t going to take them when we left (don’t quite fit the carry on regulations) so it was a fair trade in my mind.
Groceries were the focus of the day and Hannah’s world brightened as we walked through the store picking out the needed items from the store. The afternoon was spent together as a family between naps and some down time for Hannah and I, we were glad to have a break from this week. It is Saturday and we’re very glad that the next week although not completely figured out should bring a refreshing wave of rest for us. Dan is supposed to get back on Wednesday so until then it is all about going and figuring out the necessary issues at FTT and recovering before the chaos begins.
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Posted in At this moment... at 5:02 am by Hannah
How many uses can you get out of a pail of water? Here’s what I found:
1. Use bucket of water to wet and rinse your hair.
2. Take that same bucket of water to soap your clothes saving out a small portion to wash your child or let her wash the walls/clothes/toys/entertain herself.
3. When finished washing clothes, use the water to mop the floor.
4. Last, but definitly not least, use that same bucket of water to flush the toilet.
And that, my dear friends, is a good look at “normal” water usage for many people on this earth. Having been born and raised in Washington State, water shortages are a new (not so wonderful) experience for me and I am learning fast how to make the most of little water.
So, tonight as you brush your teeth, thank the Lord for all the safe, clean, running water you have used today. Its not something to take for granted. : )
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02.22.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 11:45 am by Hannah
WE HAVE WATER! Today at about 4:00pm the meter was fitted and our apartment was no longer a water free zone.
For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about here’s the skinny: We have been in our flat for about 3 weeks. In all that time we have been borrowing water by the barrel full from our very gracious neighbors.
Apparently the officials at the city council noted our very non-Kenyan names on the application for a water meter and decided to stall the process (possibly trying for a bribe). And so we have been waiting…this morning they gave up the wait and we were the joyous recipients of a water meter and our big beautiful apartment now has water. : )
We are thoroughly enjoying being on our own in our new home. It is so beautiful; sunny, big, and warm…we have a guest room too should any of you come to visit. : ) We feel a bit lost in all the space but I think we’ll get used to it.
Rahab (the angel who does our laundry by hand) comes three times a week to help around the house and keep us from making any huge cultural blunders. House-help here is extremely cheap and culturally expected. The Kenyans are perplexed as to why we don’t have full-time (live-in) house help while I often have a hard time figuring out what to have Rahab do in the time that she is here. She has promised to teach me some good Kenyan cookin’ though which I am looking forward to.
I think she gets a good laugh out of us Muzungus (white people) and is often mystified at our strange ways. She was astonished to hear that Americans try to cook with little fat in order to stay thin…Big is beautiful in Kenya and she just couldn’t understand why Americans would want to be skinny. We’ve had fun comparing cultural differences with her.
~ Roadsign of the Week ~
“Power is nothing without control”.
It’s a tire sign that is posted everywhere in Nairobi…which I have found rather ironic the last three weeks considering our water situation but it’s a good thought anyway.
~ Food Highlight ~
Cadbury Drinking Chocolate. What more can be said? We got some this week at the store…its not very sweet but rich and chocolatey all the same. Seth said all the Kenyans he’s had it with add sugar and milk to it.
And I must close before you all give up and stop reading. : ) Thank you to all of you who have been writing to us via email/skype. Its been such an encouragement to us an has kept us going more than once. Seth and I both hover over the computer and feel all warm and fuzzy (and occasionally teary) as we read the news from home. So, thanks.
Lots of love, keep praying, Water conservationists in the making,
Seth & Hannah, Keziah and Jared
Our dining room.
We saved money on chairs and made the table Kez height.
Our lovely kitchen.
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02.15.07
Posted in Pray for us! at 5:08 am by Hannah
Please pray that we get water soon. No don’t worry we are not wasting away in a parched dessert. What I mean is that the water meter has not arrived in our beautiful new flat. Thus we are “jerry canning it” (ie. borrowing water by the jerry can full from our gracious neighbors).
All the paperwork has been done, money paid, ect. And this is where the corrupt government/bereaucracy fits in the picture. Unless you have a lot of weight in the government (money, family, friend of the water meter people) you can end up waiting up to a month for them to simply come out to your flat and hand over the meter.
We’ve had many people tell us to just wait till night, fit in a piece of pipe, fill the tanks, and then take out the pipe. “They’ll never know, hey I can do it for you!”… Which is very tempting at 9:00 at night when a hot, full, bubbly bath sounds wondrous….forget bath just to flush the toilet every time its used would seem like such richness. But we want to live honestly and example Christ in every area. So we’re waiting… : ) God has given us grace to handle this situation but please pray that water comes soon! We don’t want to outwear our welcome at the neighbors and it just would make life a lot easier to have ready water.
Its amazing how much of life requires water…and its amazing how for granted you take it until its not there anymore. I think I am becoming a master water conserver. I wonder how that would look on my resume’. Or on my tombstone: Here lies Hannah Jankovsky; she sure could conserve water. : )
Ok, that was a little morbid but you’ve got to laugh at somethings or you’ll just end up getting very depressed. : )
Thankyou for all your prayers. You’ll never know how much it means to us that we are being held up in prayer; even in the (seemingly) trivial things. And what a Great God we serve to know that He cares about the little things in life.
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Posted in Seth's Two Cents at 4:32 am by Hannah
Today was a major purchase day. We spent the morning taking us money and turning it into Kenyan Shillings. We went to AIM (Africa Inland Mission) where Dan and Nancy have a bank account kind of, it is more like a fund but anyway. We had to get 250,000 shillings for a car. It is like 3600 US dollars. I was glad to find a quality car the prices for cars is outrageous here and we were blessed to find one at such a good price. So after the money exchange happened we went after car insurance it was fairly cheap. When we arrived the office building where to insurance office was out of electricity which is pretty normal here. I purchased insurance and then began the process of making our way to the spot chosen to meet and finish the deal. After I finishing the deal I drove on my own for the first time from a local shopping center to home. Later in the afternoon after much congratulations from my wife and Nancy ( they were pleased with the car) I sped away to being an afternoon of driving by myself. First I met with an agent and we went to look at houses. One was very acceptable but the price is above our budget, and the other was not safe so I let them both pass in hopes for the right flat to find us soon. I then proceeded to travel to the “fundi? or mechanic’s to have some safety belts installed in the Beatle. At the mechanics I have a good long conversation with a seek who owns the shop. We spoke in depth about life and truth. He seems to be seeking truth and is not afraid of looking outside his own religion. I know if he honestly continues that the Lord will reveal Himself to him and I hope I am around for that day. After waiting for Dan and Nancy to pick me up for 3 hours we braved the traffic and got home. Hannah had been home alone with all the kids minus Ellie the 3 year old. She was glad to see us and I as glad to see her also. There seems to be hardly the time to spend with my family and I hope tomorrow will be a lighter scheduled day.
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02.14.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 10:10 am by Hannah
As I type this Keziah is sitting at the table watching Veggie Tales and chowing down on a passion fruit. For those of you who have never had the privilege of tasting this fruit it is a bit sour, crunchy, slippery…you’d have to taste it. It’s a bit of a sensory overload for me. Anyway, all that to say the pucker on Keziah’s face is quite priceless. She won’t eat the mangos or the plums (both quite sweet) but apparently she’s happy with the slightly sour passion-fruit.
She is also a connoisseur of Ethiopian food. We went out to an authentic Ethiopian place for her birthday and after filling her tummy she danced around the restaurant. She also enjoyed the music. : ) I also enjoyed the food (greatly) but Seth and Jared both agreed that it couldn’t out-do chicken nuggets. : )
Please pray for us as God brings us to your minds. We are thoroughly enjoying life here…but at the same time all the beauty surrounding us is punctuated by crime, poverty, and bizarre accidents that remind you how frail life is.
We know that God has called us here in this time and thus can fully trust His protection. But it is odd to have a friend speak of being mugged the night before as no big deal. A death announced at church (a young newly married woman) is met by no shocked gasps and whispers but rather simple resignation.
Car accidents are a regular occurrence, which might have something to do with the way people drive here…you’d never know what the traffic laws were let alone that there are any by watching people drive.
It is not that life is treated with less respect it is just that it seems so much more fragile here.
God has given us much grace even in the few incidents that we have faced and enabled us to live confidently. However, if God should bring us to your minds, please take a moment to pray for us…the importance of prayer is so much more obvious here. Or maybe it is just the new circumstances we needed to shake us out of our complacent security. Surroundings here definitely cause you to look for something stronger, bigger, more powerful than yourself.
Our hope is to share that security, The Security, with those around us. Pray that we will be a witness even in our every day lives.
Road-sign of the week: “Polite Notice: No Parking.” Have I ever mentioned how much more formal Kenyan society is…even in their traffic signs. : ) This one just made me laugh.
Reliant on Christ:
Seth & Hannah, Keziah and Jared
P.S. For those of you who have been checking our website I apologize for the lack of pictures…I am having a snag in the uploading process but am working on getting it figured out. Feel free to check out all the journals though as well as “Seth’s Two Cents” to get Seth’s side of the picture.
Our smokin’ deal of a car.
Keziah’s 2nd birthday!
Helping with the laundry.
Keziah with our friend and house help Rahab.
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02.12.07
Posted in At this moment... at 2:07 am by Hannah
The second day was one of high adventure and sleep depravation. Dan and I had spoken about the possibility of me going with him to a teaching engagement at PAC (Pan African Christian College) together we went. It is funny how God does not allow we to walk away from my mechanic abilities, just the time when I expect to let other do these things God reminds me via breakdown of my seemingly invaluable gift of understanding cars and what makes them tick, squeak, pop, and other such adjectives. Sure enough the borrowed car of Surrender a seek mechanic friend of Dan’s died on the side of the road near a beautiful roadside nursery which I should add are everywhere and a welcomed sight by myself. We found ourselves close to our destination without much hope of help as I could see it. Finally the all to known phrase sounded across my ears “So, uhhh should you look under the hood??. I after looking under the hood became more appreciative of western vehicles and the maintenance even the poorest of shops. I become aware that I was sure the problem was electrical and after some thought I had figured out the issue and we were suddenly a team since the only way to operate the vehicle was to hold the ignition key at the perfect spot not with the starter engaged but not letting it rest in the on position.
Upon arrival late for chapel Dan had just made it in time to speak to the student body about missions and the church. I really enjoyed the lecture and found myself engrossed in the scripture used in acts about the callousness of the Jew’s and their refusal of God’s desire for the nations. After the lecture I enjoyed my first Kenyan meal which was wonderful and simple.
After a tour that included a trip to the mechanic for repair, FTT to pick up the mail and receive a tour and a slow drive home though not so bad traffic. I was overjoyed to see Hannah in one piece as the children have not been sleeping all so well and a safe and known environment.
A significant portion of the day was the early morning with Keziah. I found myself lost in the Word of God and in tears over the desire God had placed in my heart to be prepared for everyday spiritually. I had much needed this revival of heart and am very glad the LORD spoke to me about this today.
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