08.27.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 1:23 pm by Hannah
Actually here the big name newspapers are The Standard and The Nairobi Star. The Nairobi Star just came out last month and for their first edition they had girls in shorts selling the papers on the streets.
The entire city was scandalized. : )
Ah, culture.
So, our time here, it cometh to an end.
August is our last full month in Nairobi. We will be canceling our internet service at the end of the month so our correspondence will be a bit sparse for a short while in September.
Before then there are a few business items you need to know.
We touch down in the Grand Old U.S. of A on September 19th. We’ll take a week to recover from jet lag and then march on to Washington State.
We’ll be in Washington September 26th to October 16th.
In both Washington and Minnesota we will be doing a Kenyan Open House to say thanks for what you’ve done for us.
We really want to give to you a taste (literally – Mint-Choc’s a comin’ your way.) of our time here and share the blessing of your ministry in Kenya.
As the time gets a little closer (and details a little clearer) we’ll get back to you on dates, times, and places.
For all of you dear ones stretched across the States in between. How we wish we could come see each of you personally. Know that you too are in our hearts and thoughts and we will do our best to catch up with you via phone/mail/email.
For those of you who have been supporting us financially. Here’s the scoop: As I said before, we return Sept.18th.
Because of our re-entry costs/needs Bethany will be accepting funds for us through November 30th. You are under no obligation to continue until this time but for those of you wishing to do so the set-up is still the same until Nov. 30th.
Any funds received after this time will be absorbed into Bethany International.
Roadsigns to be continued…
There is still so much to share. I will be, for a time, continuing Roadsigns/Kenya…maybe after that I’ll move on to Roadsigns/Minnesota.
Now there is a cultural place if ever there was one.
Stories that have remained untold (for the peace of mind of a few certain loved ones….Dad : -) will be the theme of our post-return newsletters.
All that to say…um, talk to you again soon. : )
I will try to send out the regular (fun) Roadsigns once more before we leave. And then you should hear from us shortly after our September return.
THANKYOU ONE AND ALL!!!! Not only for taking the time to read this but for your continued love, friendship, and support.
We have learned that the mission field can be a very lonely place…thanks for being friends at home that came to Kenya with us.
We can’t wait to share the experience!
Jared’s new role model…he’s a climber.
Hey Mom…check out my new friends!
Speaking of new friends…
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08.16.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 12:24 pm by Hannah
…an African, in a black suit, walking after dark in the middle of an unlit road (highway, street, thouroughfare, ect.).
No I am not kidding.
Going out in your car after dark here is an exercise in shear terror.
Since the majority of Kenyans do not drive they have little to no understanding of the limitations of vehicles and their operators.
Thus there is no hesitation to walk in, around, across, through the middle of a high speed road.
After dark, in a black suit. AAaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!
You’re driving along and suddenly you see a flash of white five feet in front of you and realize it’s the teeth of an African hollering at you for almost plowing him over…
I come bearing good news of neon clothing and reflectors.
Kenyan dress is very formal so until they come out with neon suit and tie combos I don’t think there will be much of a change.
Just the other day our garbage man brought to the door our monthly allotment of trash bag…dressed in suit and tie.
Our compound plumber arrives at work in suit and tie and simply puts coveralls over while he is working…and loses the coveralls once again to make the trek home.
If our white skin does not do a sufficient job of setting us out as Americans our casual dress certainly does. : )
Rahab usually inspects us before we leave for church…she also washes our shoes weekly.
I don’t think I’ve ever had my shoes washed before.
Lots of other firsts this week:
Jared is walking!! Like a typical second born he beat his sister’s ten month record and took off toddling two days before his ten month mark.
Keziah’s response alters between utter joy (now he can play with her) to utter dismay (now he can play with her toys).
And Seth, my handsome prince, has added age to his repertoire and now boasts the impressive achievement of 29 wise years.
I can remember when my Dad was in his thirties and now my husband is almost there…weird.
We had steak and whoopie pies to celebrate the momentous occasion. If you know what whoopee pies are I don’t have to say any more than “amazing”.
If you have no idea what a whoopie pie is all I can say is, next time you are in Pennsylvania, stop at the nearest farm and ask for one.
~Roadsign of the Week~
Sign posted on a building (possibly a church) just outside of Nairobi, “Maximum Miracle Center”. As opposed to the minimum and medium miracle centers down the street…ok just kidding on the last two.
Prosperity gospel is rampant here and it has been more than a little frustrating watching the horribly poor of Kenya be taken in by these false teachers.
All the more reason I suppose to preach the Gospel of the Savior.
~Food Find~
Grilled Goat Head. I was not there to witness this ghastly sight but while Seth was at lunch with a fellow missionary today they sat just across from the grill where a man was grilling a goat head…teeth, skin and all.
I presume it was to eat.
Seth said every so often the guy would take a huge knife and scrape some of the hairs off. No, Seth did not eat any.
Happy Sand Eater.
Little princess.
The pool at Tiwi…to the left you can see the swim up bar.
My Pool Boys.
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08.02.07
Posted in RoadSigns at 1:00 pm by Hannah
The welcome sign as we pulled into the resort drive was very welcome indeed.
After six months of culture shock, two months of 12 hour work days, a very, very long time with no “real” Mexican food, and an eight hour bus ride we arrived at our vacation spot.
We were greeted with cool wash clothes and glasses of fresh cold passion fruit juice…a very promising start.
Tiwi Beach Resort is located in Mombasa on the Indian Ocean – the coastal region of Kenya.
For those of you planning an African vacation in the near future I would HIGHLY recommend this place. After you come visit us that is.
We were able to get an amazing rate and booked six days of bumming on the beach with our kidlets.
Tiwi is an international resort with Europeans being the major vacationers. It was actually very odd to be back in a caucasian majority setting.
Seth was able to get out and snorkel, Kez and I visited the salon, we went shell hunting, used hot water on tap at all hours of the day, soaked up the beautiful sunshine, were blatant American tourists, swam in the pool, and laid on the beach.
Keziah was a regular ocean crab jumping waves like a pro but Jared took more of the sand flea route; very un-impressed with the noise and the waves. He did his best to become human glue whenever we ventured to the waters edge.
And the swimming pool…it was really more like three pools attached by a “river” with tile slides that went from one pool to the next. The main pool even has a swim up bar…I had to go order a non-alcoholic Pina-Colada just because it was so cool to be able to swim up and order.
Keziah in her little floaty swim suit was in heaven and woke up every morning asking to “go swimmin’ Momma?”
The food was European style which I must admit was different. Baked beans for breakfast just kind of threw me. Incredibly beautiful presentation though…I have never seen a more beautiful buffet line. They did have a Mexican night but all I can say is “ dude! Those Europeans have got to get down south a bit more.”
We met a young single American missionary girl who is stationed just four hours from Nairobi and were able to share some enjoyable dinners with her talking “American English” and being understood. : )
Anyway, all that to say we had a wonderful, relaxing, quiet, beautiful, enjoyable vacation on the beach and I can’t say thankyou enough to all of you who made it possible.
It makes all the difference in the world to be able to come back rested and restored.
For all of you that are taking your breaks at this summer season I pray that your vacation is everything for you that ours was for us.
~Roadsign of the week~
Sign seen painted on the gate of a mosque near our home “Welcome, pay first.” I don’t know if you have to pay to get in, or what the sign is in fact referring to but it certainly gave me some pause and caused a bit of reflection.
How wonderful it is to belong to the God that says “Come on in, I’ve already paid for you”.
~Food Find~
Grilled Fillet of Barracuda. Need I say more? For all of you sea food lovers out there, this truly is one of God’s master pieces. Delicious. They grilled it right in front of you on the buffet line over a jiko (small charcoal fire pot…the way of cooking for the majority of Kenyans). No sauce needed here, a taste sensation all on its own.
Beach Bums
Momma and Jared…the human super glue.
Room Service!
These guys were everywhere and even tried to heist a banana off me.
Keziah was just sure that this was the boat from “Finding Nemo” and had to tell everyone that came by that “Nemo tutsed da butt”.
Kez and Daddy…swimming in a tropical paradise.
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