11.15.07

Snakin’ Right Along…

Posted in RoadSigns at 12:15 pm by Hannah

“All snakes in Kenya are poisonous.” 7-year-old Cailin announced as she hefted aside Keziah who was just about to step on the small (poisonous) black snake making its way across the carport.

Nancy grabbed a long pole and while making a quick snake slaw casually suggested that maybe Kez should have shoes on.

Note: never kill a snake with your foot shoeless or otherwise, always kill them with a VERY long pole or stick…or machete.
Ahhh, Kenyan wildlife. Wild indeed and the perspective of Kenyans was a study in culture all of its own.

Kenyan’s will run in terror from the smallest yappy dog but take little notice of the rat (15-20 lb. carrier of typhoid, yellow fever, black plague, rabies and various other nasty diseases/germs) that walks through their kitchen.

And oh the terror of the dreaded CHAMELEON!!!!
From a very young age all Kenyan Mommas teach their little ones that a chameleon will spit poison in your eye and cause life-long blindness…thus their abject terror of these friendly creatures.

There are a few exceptions however.

Seth once asked a Masai man if he was afraid of chameleons. With a smug look of disdain he informed Seth “I am a Masai. We kill lions with our bare hands, I am not afraid of anything.”
This was not an exaggeration…the Masai really do kill lions with their bare hands…these people are very good friend material and woe to the man who makes them his enemy. : )

As for my own run-in with the wilds of Kenya…well as I watched the death of snake and held my little girl I thanked the Lord for His grace for the moment and the not so subtle reminder of just where we were – in His ever so capable hands.

A place I continue claim gratefully for as we wade through the joys (?!) and trials of transition and all that our next steps have brought.
Please keep us in your prayers as we walk through the unexpected (good yet stretching) surprises that our homecoming has brought.

We are now (much to our own surprise) in process of purchasing the house that Seth’s Mom lives in while remodeling the basement into an apartment for ourselves.
God has provided beyond our imagination and made what seemed ridiculously impossible a happening reality.

Pray for us as we move in obedience into this next place of ministry that we will continue to trust in and marvel at the Lord’s provision.

~Roadsign of the Week~
Sign seen on the side of a tanker truck in Nairobi “Exhauster Services”. !!!!?????!!!!
This sounds like something that would be really useful for Mothers of children like my own Wild Things.

Someone to come wear your children out for you…hmmm, now there’s a business to take stock in.

I have no idea as to the duties of said service truck but (taking their name at face value) feel as though I, myself, have been a regular client…way to much travel, remodeling, transition, and re-entry stress and I am utterly exhausted. : )

~Food Find~
Chai.
Chai actually means tea in some language so to say chai tea is a redundant statement…just to let you know.

ANYWAY…Chai is the Kenyan beverage of choice and is much preferred over just about anything. Any meeting, home, or visit that you are a part of will get you a steaming hot (as in almost boiling in your cup) mug of chai.

Kenyan’s make it by boiling water and milk, then adding the tea leaves and then adding sugar as desired.

10am and 4pm are the official tea times and any time in between will do as well. Seth got so used to having tea all the time that since we’ve been back he’s been going through caffeine withdrawal.

Goodbye Nairobi…


Our new home.

Keziah and friend…

Kenyan Carwash.

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