Vic & Charlotte's Web Log

Saying Goodbye to St. Edwin's Orphanage

2010-07-19T16:18:00.006+03:00

The purpose of Saturday's visit

to St. Edwin's orphanage was

two-fold. Of course I needed

to tell them good-bye but I

also wanted to play some

games with the children.

The first part of the visit

was spent with Edwin and

Ruth eating and drinking

Chai. This kind of

hospitality is normal in

African homes.

Then I was able to introduce Match Game and Uno to the children.

What fun! Vivian, a beautiful sixth grader whom you see below

was our interpreter. Her English is amazing and she did a great job

explaining the rules of the games.

You can tell by the look

on her face that she took

her responsibility very

seriously.

I like to think that

the sad expressions

on these faces were

because I was leaving.

Little do they know

how much of my

heart I left there with

them.

No departure is

complete without

a song from the

children.

After that I asked

them to sit on the

grass with me for

a picture. I'm in

the middle back

and Edwin is

behind me.

You will remember the post about the tank that my son's church was able to buy for the orphanage. Unfortunately, when the landlord saw the tank, he increased the rent. Thus, there is a need to purchase land and get away from the monthly rent. Hopefully that will become a reality in the future. You may also remember that several friends in the states gave money for them to buy a cow. Hopefully, that will be possible in the next few weeks. Edwin has to talk with the landlord and they may have to "house" the cow some place else.

There are many many orphanages in Kenya. St. Edwin's and the 28 children there have captured my heart and attention. Saying good-bye was not nearly as easy or as much fun as playing the games. I know that others here at RVA will continue the frequent visits to this warm loving orphanage.

End Well

2010-07-12T15:00:00.004+03:00

Our days in Kenya are quickly coming to a close. We are in a whirlwind of activities helping everyone here to "end well." People use that expression in their prayers and we've even had a seminar to help us do just that.

Our good-byes started with a touching afternoon chai break during which the one hundred African nationals who work here at RVA were honored. Those having reached milestones of twenty-five or thirty years were given a sofa and chair, a new stove, and a tank (large storage tank for water). These were the gifts that they had chosen. Unfortunately, this was sprung upon us so I didn't have my camera.

On the Fourth of July the morning service was a baptismal service held outdoors in the amphitheater setting behind the gym. Our neighbor, Jim Holt, did two of the baptisms and here you see him baptizing one of his students. Each student could chose whom he or she wanted to do it. Some of our younger students played Zacchaeus and spent the two hours in a near-by tree. The student's testimonies of their faith in Christ were very touching and encouraging.

That afternoon all Americans were invited to a Fourth of July picnic at the basketball court right behind our house. You can tell by the clothing that the weather was not what we are used to on the Fourth of July. Yes, those are gloves that one lady is wearing!

On Monday after school, a reception was held in honor of those leaving. The superintendent said nice things about everyone (some are leaving for good and some will be returning after a year furlough). We, along with others leaving, received a card that people had written paragraphs in and signed. Thirty people wrote in our card - a precious keepsake.

Yesterday we attended our first African wedding. The bride was the daughter of the man we have hired to drive us away from campus all year. This is Elisha, our driver, and his wife, Esther, coming into the church together. We were at the church for three hours! We did not have time to stay for the reception but it was a wonderful African culture experience.

Our grades our in, we have two and a half more days of classes. Packing, returning items we've rented or borrowed for the year, and saying good-bye will be our main activities until we get on the plane July 20. We trust we will end well but a section of our hearts will remain in Kenya. We thank God for a life-changing year.

Nukuru Revisited

2010-06-16T18:12:00.015+03:00

Mid-term weekend, June 3 – 5, we returned to Nukuru to visit our friends, Isaac and Margaret Mwangi. Isaac drove us to his church yard to visit the feeding program again. Fifty poor children are fed there each Saturday and they get beans and maize flour on Tuesdays.

The children left their activity of playing in piles of freshly cut grass to try and get into the picture. They seemed to recognize us from our previous visit.

Soon they were served what we thought was hot chocolate. Turns out it was porridge made from millet, thus the color. This is nourishing and filling.

The children enjoyed lounging in the grass with friends to consume their warm treat. The boy on the right with the hat on was new today. Yes, he was there without shoes. Isaac found out that he is so poor that he is not attending school. (The fees are minimal but still more than some can pay.) Isaac is going to look into providing funds for his schooling.

Lunch was already being cooked – yummy looking veggies and rice to which chicken would soon be added (probably the only meat these fifty children get all week). The exciting thing is that in August a missions group from the Savannah area, under Mission on the Move, is coming to Nukuru. They will build a kitchen on the spot where you saw the first children posing for the picture. They will have a propane gas stove and these wonderful ladies won’t have to cook in this back-breaking manner any more!!

From there we went to Lake Nukuru National Park. The pink line that you see in the distance is thousands of flamingos. They are joined at the water’s edge by water buffalo. Issac, Timothy, and Edwin showed us a wonderful time in the park driving all the way around the lake.

Other animals encountered were zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, rhinoceros, and giraffes.

Sunday found us back at their church. It was a service of great music – adult choir, youth choir, and children’s choir! Two hours later, we went near by to lunch at the home of Jonathan and Lilly, Margaret’s cousin.
He is a professor at a local college. They have a wonderful home and farm where they raise chickens and grow all kinds of vegetables. They sell the eggs and produce to the local shops. We thoroughly enjoyed the kind warm African hospitality!

Monday morning after the boys were off to school, Isaac and Margaret wanted to show us some of the Great Rift Valley that we hadn’t seen.

Here they are in front of Thomson’s Falls.

Vic and I had to pose with two of the local attractions – the Maasi Africans and the African chameleons. The Africans could not believe that we would let these things crawl on our arms. It was fun watching their reactions.

One of the things that has amused me here is the donkeys (guess it’s my farm upbringing). Whether they are grazing along the edge of a major highway or pulling a cart loaded five feet high with most anything, I just get a kick out of them. Here’s a picture I caught from the church yard.

Another wonderful weekend provided by the Mwangi’s. We are so blessed to have gotten to know this family so well and look forward to continued friendship via email and Mission on the Move.

Hell's Gate National Park

2010-05-23T07:39:00.010+03:00

Last Saturday
the Holts
and we visited
Hell's Gate
National Park.
It was a gloomy
day but we were
soon enjoying
spectacular
looming stone
cliffs and
formations.

Our first stop was at Fischer's Tower, a volcanic plug.

At the second stop, Jim left us and climbed to the top
of the hill below.

I climbed a little way up and found amazing
formations like this:

As we drove through
the park zebras,
hartebeests, and
wart-hogs showed
us what a fantastic
place they have to live.

"Why is such a beautiful place called 'Hell's Gate'?" you
ask. It is because of the natural geysers which are
throughout the park. Kenya gets 1/3 of its electricity
from them.

We asked our driver to take us to a nice place for lunch.
He stopped at Elsamere, the former home of Joy Adamson, author of
Born Free. We dined on delicious food and sat in the front yard
looking out over Lake Naivasha.

We concluded that the day was more like a part of heaven than a part of hell!

Outreach at St. Edwin's Orphanage

2010-05-22T06:38:00.007+03:00

Two weeks ago
it was Outreach
Saturday at RVA.
Students loaded
into vans, trucks,
cars, and buses
and went all over
the area to
minister. Some
of the jobs were
planting trees,
picking up trash,
helping widows in
their homes, and
visiting orphanages.

We went with the group that visited St.
Edwin's Orphanage. Here you see one of
our students, Meekly, with some of the
children at the home.

Our students were soon playing with the children.
They had fun using a huge parachute and hula
hoops that we took with us.

While they played some of us spent time plastic
wrapping new mattresses that had been paid for
by a church in America. Everyone was happy to
pose in front of the mattresses leaning against the fence.

It didn't take long for the mattresses to get delivered to
where they belonged - in the children's bedrooms!

They gathered around their beds and really were much happier than this picture shows.

Meet Evelyna, the gal in yellow. She
is the top student in her class of 80.
Below Nancy is encouraging her to
continue doing well in her studies.

You no doubt recall from earlier posts that the orphanage was praying for a water tank, a cow,
a plot of land, and a vehicle. Thanks to some of you who gave generously while I was home,
we were able to give Edwin enough shillings that day to buy a cow. He was so grateful but he
decided he should tell the children at a later time. One gift a day was enough! Hopefully we'll
be able to get pictures of the cow before we leave.

Jesus' words: "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me."

St. Edwin's Orphanage Has a Water Tank!

2010-05-02T06:28:00.003+03:00

Post before last

you heard about

the money being

given for the

water tank at

St. Edwin's

orphanage. Here

it is! (The kids

got dressed up in

their new sweatshirts

for our visit. They

were a gift from a

teacher here who is

from Texas; it's no accident that they are Aggie colors!)

Thanks to abundant

rain of late and the

tank, they no longer

have to buy water!

What a blessing and

thanks to the

church that sent

money for this

project.

A chance this time to see their kitchen shows

the "stove" and "counters where" they prepare

the meals for these precious 24 children!

Six Reasons for Trip to Savannah

2010-05-02T06:00:00.002+03:00

Edith Anne was

the main pull

to Savannah for

Charlotte during

April.

She was five

weeks old when

I arrived and

changed a lot

during that

month.

Her brothers,

John, who

turned two

while I was

there and

Teddy, four

years old,

think she's

a nice toy.

I'm teaching

her how to

survive with

two older brothers!

Her big cousin,

Bobby, 11, loves

to hold her too.

Bobby just

became a

boy scout

having successfully

completed Webelos.

Mary, who turns 13 this month, and Caroline, 16, and driving love to

spend time with Edie too.

We all look forward to being together again in July.

Return to St. Edwin's Orphanage

2010-03-21T06:31:00.006+03:00

You may remember about St. Edwin's orphanage
from a couple of earlier posts. Here are two
pictures to spark your memory:

Last Sunday I had the privilege of returning
there for a visit. On the previous visit Edwin had
shared with me that they could use a water
tank. I told Alice and Eric about it and
she took the need to her women's missions
group. The money needed was soon deposited in
our checking account. Last Sunday I was able to
deliver that money.

At first Edwin and his wife, Ruth, both started
talking at once. They were so excited. They
both wanted to tell us that the children had been
praying for that night and morning. So we asked
to be there when they told the children.

We gathered in the little "dining room" and Edwin
asked one of the girls to pray. Then he asked them
what they had been praying for. They said, "A water
tank, a cow, a plot of land (they rent now), and
a vehicle." When he held up the envelope and told
them that it contained enough to buy the tank,
they all stood with their arms in the air and let
out sounds of joy. It was a Kodak moment and I'd
forgotten my camera!

One of the children then prayed thanking God
for His faithfulness. It was a thrill to be a part
of such a moment of pure gratitude!

You asked for it!

2010-03-03T18:20:00.002+03:00

A few months ago a joyful friend of ours asked us what things were the most difficult about being here at RVA. She implied that we're always so cheerful in our correspondence (that's debatable) and she wants to know the whole story.

So to quote her, "that you might pray better," we'll attempt to share some items:

1. It won't surprise you to know that the hardest is being away from our family. They have been great at writing and sending pictures regularly but it's just not the same as being there. We knew this would be hard before we came.

2. Getting along without a car comes next. If we lived in walking distance from good shopping this would not be so bad but the dukas and veggie ladies are limited in what they have to offer. When we first came, people offered to take us into Nairobi but that didn't last long. We can hire a driver but it's expensive. We try to go with another couple and then it costs about $40. If we go alone, it costs $80. We try to do this just once a month.

3. Our jobs are challenging. Both of us have had some behavior issues in our classroom. Missionaries' children aren't different than other children.

4. Technology (or the lack thereof) here is difficult. When we realize where we are we are thankful to have what is available. The electricity goes off frequently. The school has a generator so it comes back on quickly but if on the computer, one may lose what he or she is working on. Fortunately, our computer here at home has a battery but the one in Vic's office doesn't.

5. Being near so much poverty and being able to help so little is hard. We live in a little oasis here on the campus of RVA. Just five minutes away are many without enough food and other provisions. God has allowed us to be involved in three ministries (see other posts) and we are thankful for that.

6. Red tape is international! When we arrived in August our paperwork was started for residency status since supposedly we could only get two visas, one for three months and one for two. Vic's paper work went through without a hitch, but they lost Charlotte's. So I have been here illegally since February 14. Just today the man on campus who sees about these things asked for my passport (I hate being without it) and is going to try to get something done about this in Nairobi tomorrow. My chief concern is that I'm leaving for the USA in a little over three weeks and I really don't want a hassle at the airport going or returning.

These things frustrate us but on the good side they make us rely on our sovereign God.

Weekend for the Birds

2010-02-22T03:51:00.047+03:00

Last weekend was mid-term break so we decided to head northwest and cross the equator. Our goal was Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria. The former is known for good bird watching but we soon felt like we were the ones being watched when this Superb Starling came to within ten inches of our dinner table.

En route our driver, Benson, pointed out this Yellow-billed Stork and we immediately knew it was going to be a good weekend.

Lake Baringo is a fresh water lake and home to many birds and fish. Benson soon had us out on the lake and couldn't wait to show us the fish eagle swooping for fish.

We bought the necessary fish from these two fisherman who spend their day sitting in these small home-made "canoes" fishing to feed both birds and man.

The eagle waited from a high tree until he heard the whistle of the boat driver and saw the fish flying through the air. He quickly came near our boat and snatched the fish and took it back to his perch to devour.

Soon they were sailing us around several of the seven
islands in the middle of the lake. We were so thrilled
to see this Water Thick-knee, a nocturnal bird
that we never would have spotted ourselves.

You can hardly see it, but high on
this island are sheep running along
the horizon.

We were then honored with the sight of this
Pied Kingfisher pair.

This little guy
is a Malachite
Kingfisher.

As we came back toward shore, a crocodile slithered into the water and an Egyptian goose with her babies scampered away.

Lake Baringo is very important to the people of the area. To many people nearby, it is their only source of water. Here you see women gathering and carrying water back to their homes or using the lake to wash their clothes.

Once back to shore, Benson, our driver, and our bird guide,
Elijah, took us to find more nocturnal birds. You
may have trouble seeing the Heuglin's Courser. We did
and never would have found it without Elijah. The
Africans we've encountered on these trips seem to
have unbelievable eyesight. They would spot things
with the naked eye and identify them when we could
hardly do so with our binoculars!

Below is a spotted Eagle-Owl.

While we were watching birds, we were being watched. These little fellows stayed nearby and were so happy to see their picture on the digital camera.

They took us by "the cliffs" where we saw Fan-tailed Ravens and a mammal, a Hyrax, but were not close enough to get good pictures.

Off to Lake Bogoria, an alkaline lake.
An ostrich came near the road and these Grant's gazelles
were not to be outdone by the birds.

As we entered Lake Bogoria, we felt
like we were entering Yellowstone National
Park in the US but the sight of thousands
of Flamingos made us realize otherwise.

Soon we were at the
boiling pots and
realized we weren't
the only people
there to watch
birds!

Gibson and
Elijah set
to work
boiling us
eggs and
potatoes
for an
afternoon
snack.

Our appetites satisfied, we drove farther down into the park where there were thousands and thousands of Flamingos. Gibson asked us if we wanted to go closer. We thought we said, "no," but soon we were where we didn't want to be.

We were
stuck in
the local
clay soil!

Several
Africans
stopped by
to help
including
this lady
dressed in
her Sunday
best!

Things went from bad to worse. As the sun was quickly setting, we wondered if we were going to be spending the night with the Flamingos.

But eventually another vehicle arrived. With two jacks, many stones under the tires, people pushing from the rear and the vehicle pulling from the front, we were free!

Let me add that this area is very proud of its honey production. They cut a log in half, carve it out, and put it back together. It is hung in a tree and the bees do the rest. They were happy to point out the "modern" way of doing it with the yellow boxes hung in the tree. Honey was for sale all along the roadways in the area.

We could not fly away home the next day but these Go-away birds could have. With thirty-six new
birds for Vic's life list, we are grateful to have had this weekend that was or was not for the
birds, depending on your perspective!

Follow up to Christmas Happening #3

2010-01-05T02:23:00.003+03:00

Meet Josephine. (I didn't know her name when you met her on an earlier blog.) The Holts and we were able to buy her some shoes and a blanket which Ephantas kindly delivered to her. The shoes fit (PTL) so next time we are in Nairobi we will get her some Crocks or tennis shoes. Yes, those are tears you see.

January 1, 2010

2010-01-02T13:19:00.011+03:00

January 1, 2010 was the
first annual Kijabe New
Year's Day Parade.

Vic and Gale Holt are sitting on the steps we claimed to watch
the parade. We were soon surrounded by children much
more interested in our cameras and binoculars than in us!

We watched a band, marching school children and various vehicles.
Our new friends only left our sides when candy was being thrown.

The participants marched up to the RVA campus and around the athletic field.

Young and old, on foot
or on mom's back came
to watch.

This gem in pink is Hope. She is being adopted
by a local American family after being dropped
off at the local hospital as an infant.

Our hope for all of these children is that
they find the hope that Jesus gives.

Birding in Nairobi

2010-01-02T08:36:00.005+03:00

Vic had been reading
a novel, Guide to
the Birds of East
Africa, which told
about a weekly bird
walk which had been held in Nairobi for over thirty years. We checked the web for details
and arrived at the National Museum to see
what would happen.

We were not disappointed. Soon a charming British lady who
would be our leader polled the group to see where we would
spend the next 3 1/2 hours. We piled into four cars and headed
west just out of the city to the Loresho Estate.

The diverse
group to which we
and three from
South Africa were
visitors found much
in common as
birds of many
species let their
presence
be known.

First we walked
along a wooded
driveway and
then headed
around a marshy
pond where again
we were
rewarded.

Hadada
Ibis

Speckled
Mousebird

Superb
Starling

Mid-morning when a second cup of coffee sounded
wonderful, the aroma of such met our nostrils.
How surprised we were to round the bend and
see a large plantation of the same.

But we had
to wait until
we got back
into town
to taste Kenyan
coffee and
to get a final
count for the
day - 20 new
birds for
Vic's life
list!

St. Edwin's Orphanage

2009-12-28T07:32:00.006+03:00

In early December I was able to
accompany several other ladies
from RVA on a visit to St. Edwin's
orphanage. It is a Christian home
for girls in the town of Kimendi
about five miles from Kijabe.
Edwin (who was at work) and his
wife, Ruth, whom you see here,
keep about 22 girls at this home.

After we were served chai and
pastries, the girls entertained us.

Behind the green
doorways are their
bedrooms. The
structure behind
the garden is the
kitchen/dining
room and craft area.

After singing several songs for us, they took us to the craft area to show us what they have learned to do. They've been taught to make necklaces!

They start with shiny paper (this is what our computer paper is wrapped in), cut it into long triangular shapes and start to roll it from the wide end.

They end up looking like this.

Mama Ruth strings them into necklaces. She is so happy to have had the children taught this skill by a shop owner here in Kijabe. As they sell the necklaces, it teaches them that it pays to learn a skill even at their young age.

As we drove away, I think we felt as sad to
depart as the children look. It was such
a rewarding visit to see these precious
children being loved and challenged. I
can't wait to go back.

Three Christmas Happenings

2009-12-25T20:28:00.023+03:00

Christmas day
started at
7:00 with us
joining our
neighbors, the
Stenstroms and
the Dubbers,
to take Chai
and cinnamon
rolls to the
guards at
our three gates.

Later Titus and Cassidy stopped by to get the gifts we'd gotten for them.

At 2:00 we joined them again to enjoy a fantastic Christmas feast. There were sixteen of us in all. Dinner was followed with games and we finally left around 7:30.

HAPPENING #2

Jim Holt, our neighbor,
wanted to do something
special for Christmas for
the African workers who
work in our neighborhood.
So he planned a goat
roast. Sami, a Maasai who
works as a guard at one of
the RVA gates, arrived
about 9:00 with the goat.
It was soon slaughtered,
skinned, and was hanging
in the backyard. They cut
it up and roasted it.

In the meantime Gladys and her
niece, Mary, were busy in our
kitchen making chapatis, sukuma
wiki, and goat stew.

About 1:00 dinner was served with twenty-five
of us eating. About eight were Americans
and the rest were Africans. Everyone seemed
to enjoy the meal and went away full - Ben,
our worker, said, "It's not good when one leaves a
meal hungry."

This is Gladys and her
son and daughter-in-
law who came to
Kijabe to enjoy the
goat feast.

Sami and another
worker went and
got their
daughters to
join us for the
roast.

HAPPENING # 3

All first term the children's Sunday School offerings were saved to buy food to deliver to needy families the day before Christmas. Before the students went home, they helped pack the bags. Dec. 24th, bags of food were delivered. Ten African workers here at RVA selected six families from their neighborhoods who would benefit most from some extra food. Below one of 10 cars is being packed. Ephantas directed us to his home area about three miles up the hill.

Here is the first home we visited. The elderly
home owner was sick and not at home but we
were graciously received by her son and
daughter-in-law. At each home, Ephantas
explained the family situation and we
sang two Christmas songs and had prayer.
Children peered in the door to see
what was happening.

Every inch of land
is carefully used.
Notice the beautiful
gardens on the
hillside. This area
receives more rain
than Kijabe does,
so the gardens are
doing well here.

Because water is a huge issue,
rain water is saved in barrels like
these you see here. Nearly every
home has animals (a cow,
chickens, and sheep) so saving
water for them is a must!

Christmas decorations in this home couldn't hide the sad history of the lady on the right. Her mom, on the
left, shared how her daughter had brain damage from a sever tooth infection that went to her brain.

These sweet children were being cared for
by their grandma. She seemed to be
responsible for several of her grandchildren
and was very thankful to receive the bag
of food.

At several of the homes we had to wait for the ladies to come in from the garden. At one home they were harvesting spinach to take to the duka (shop) to sell.

Ephantas, our leader, Ben, Emma, and Jenny from our group surround this very elderly lady. She lives alone in a very small house. She had built a little fire on the floor to keep warm. You may not be able to tell, but she was barefoot! No doubt she owns no shoes.

Children continued
to appear from
everywhere. They
loved to see them-
selves on the
digital camera.

I couldn't resist asking to hold
this baby at one home. I was
happy that she wasn't afraid of
wazungu (while people).

Our final goodbye was to this happy group (this little guy was afraid of me!) Processing all we saw will take awhile. My immediate reaction is that happiness is not in the things and comforts we have!

Holiday

2009-12-20T06:07:00.025+03:00

Our students have a long "holiday" during December to visit their parents. So we decided to join four other families and take a holiday to the coast of Kenya.

Those having cars drove the eight hour trip but Holts and we took the train, a fifteen hour trip from Nairobi to Mombasa.

We stayed about thirty kilometers south of Mombasa at Diani Beach. The Indian Ocean there is spectacular.

Our accommodations were lovely - a square stone structure with a very high thatched roof. We ate most of our meals there with local fisherman arriving daily with fresh fish.

We went there to rest. The heat and humidity kept us from doing much else. Our friends and neighbors, Jim and Gale Holt, are demonstrating how we spent much of our time!

The highlights of the trip for us were birding outings to Shimba Hills Nature Reserve, Haller Park in Bamburi, and Nguuni Sanctuary. We hired a local driver and were very fortunate to find an excellent bird guide in each spot. On those three trips alone, Vic added forty birds to his life list. Here are a few he saw and was able to photograph:

Golden
Palm
Weaver

Grey-
Headed
Kingfisher

White-
browed
Coucal

We saw other wildlife including the following:

An Oryx
in Nguuni
Sanctuary

Sykes monkeys and huge tortoises in Haller Park which is built on top of an old stone quarry.

The giraffes are fenced in
and Charlotte chose
to feed them.

Africa is a country of extreme contrasts.
Here are some pictures taken while waiting
for the Mombasa ferry. The sign says, "A
laptop is a must."

Transporting
merchandise
to their
duka (shop).

Men use carts, women use their heads!

Need a new pair
of shoes today?

Most of the train trip was at night but both mornings coming and going children watched and even ran along the side of the train as we passed by their homes. Here are some pictures taken from the train (again, notice the contrasts!)

A typical country home

A showroom of beautiful trucks (on the way
into Mombasa.)

A poor section going into Mombasa and
lovely apartment buildings on the
way into Nairobi.

Let us leave you with pictures
of the beauty of the Kenyan
coastal area.

Flame
tree

View
of Indian
Ocean
from
Shimba
Hills

Orange-
headed
lizard

Baobab
tree
with
Vic,
Jim,
and
Gale

Our Christmas
Greetings
to you

A Thanksgiving to Remember

2009-12-01T05:39:00.004+03:00

Thanksgiving morning our neighbor was telling me that Gladys, our house helper, was asking her all about Thanksgiving. She wanted to know why America has a day of thanksgiving and Kenya doesn't. So Gail told her the history of the Indians and Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving.

While Gail was telling me this, it dawned on me that Gladys was working for Laurie today. Laurie is the single lady that was coming for dinner. So I called Laurie and asked her to invite Gladys to eat with us. There was hesitation when she asked her but then she replied in the affirmative. It was wonderful. She was fairly quiet but I think she enjoyed it and ate well.

The following day she left us this note:

Thanks so much for inviting me for a thanksgiving lunch at your house yesterday. I felt very much loved and appreciated. It was my first time to have lunch which consisted of more than 6 different kinds of food. Everything was yum!! God bless you so much.

The family of four that you see around the table are Alex, Melissa, Abby, and Andrew Hartemink. They are the family that has a link on this blog. He is on sabbatical from Duke University and teaches Biology here. Melissa teaches music and Laurie is the kindergarten teacher at my school.

This Thanksgiving was no better than the many we've had with family and friends, but it is one that we will not forget.

Witnessing God at Work in Kenya

2009-11-21T09:20:00.013+03:00

Last weekend we went to Nakuru to spend the weekend with this charming family. Isaac and Margret Mwangi went to America about ten years ago for him to finish his undergraduate degree and attend seminary in Atlanta. After graduation they came back to their own area to minister. Here you see them in their front yard with their two sons, Edwin and Timothy.

The AIC (African Inland Church which grew out of the African Inland Mission) appointed Isaac to the Egerton area near Egerton University.

They are being partially supported by Mission on the Move which the Shearouses from Georgia direct.

In the past two years since they returned, the church below has been built. It is nearly complete and they are now planning to install pews like the two Isaac is standing beside.

This is the pulpit area
which Isaac fills
so well. His sermon
in a mixture of Swahali
and English seemed
to be appreciated by
the nearly 100
people in attendance.

Every Saturday a feeding program is held at the church for about 50 children. These are not children who attend the church but very poor children whom they have found in the area through a screening which they have done. Here you see the children playing and singing in front of the make-shift kitchen where their lunch is being prepared.

They also gather in the church building before lunch for a Bible story and singing. At this point they didn't look very happy. We found that easy to understand when we were told that most of them may not have had anything to eat for a couple of days.

The meal consisted of ugali (like very firm grits), sukuma wiki (greens) and a small portion of meat. We were shocked at the quantity they gave each child but we saw none being
thrown away. We did see some sharing with others.

Below they finally gave us some smiles after they had eaten part of their meal.

Isaac is a creative ambitious young pastor. I think we took to him so quickly because in age he's right between our two children, Eric and Esther. He was bothered that some of his congregation had to walk five kilometers to church so he has started another church in Beeston. We visited the home where they first started meeting. It's below along with a picture of the mother and two of her children. The home had no electricity and a dirt floor but it was spotless. We were welcomed warmly and asked to have prayer with the family. What a privilege! Now the church is meeting in the building with the sign. They are negotiating to buy a plot of land nearby. We are so convinced of the value of having African nationals planting new churches in Africa. God is certainly using Isaac.

Part of the time Isaac was studying in America, Margret's mother joined them from Kenya to help care for Timothy and Edwin. They did that so Isaac and Margret could both work (Isaac two jobs at times) and send money back to Kenya to build a house to live in when they returned. You see the results below. We stayed with them in this lovely house. Another privilege!

Edwin and Timothy
entertained us with
singing.

Isaac took us to view the Menengai Crater near Nakuru. We didn't get as close to the edge as the goats did! Behind us in the distance is the equator.

We've led you to believe that we are here teaching at RVA.
It's true but Vic decided to become an entrepreneur.
Here's his establishment on the left.

Campus - Terraced and Safe

2009-11-01T05:37:00.018+03:00

Before we came to RVA (Rift Valley Academy), we
kept asking for a map of the campus. We never got
it. Now we understand - how do you make a map
of a campus on an escarpment? One goal of this
blog is to give you a feeling for how skillfully this
campus has been carved into the hillside. It is
more than a "School in the Clouds," a book by
Phil Dow. It's a terraced wonderland.

Can
you
find
RVA
in
the
garden
near
the
entrance?

The second goal of this blog is to show how well the
campus is protected. After the bombings at the US
Embassy in Nairobi ten years ago, the US govern-
ment helped pay for the security fence around the
campus. With so many Americans here they were
concerned about safety. Also, the campus can now
be used as an evacuation site for Americans
living in Nairobi.

This is one of three gates in the security fence.

Above and below you can see the guard trail which
lines the fence at the perimeter.

After entering this gate you'll see the beautiful lower field with its view and stone "bleachers." No one minds a hard seat with such a magnificent view out over the field.

Next you'll come to the main part of the campus where you'll see various school buildings:

The chapel from the lower side

The cafeteria on the left and administration on the right

Another view of the administration building

The cornerstone of the administration building laid by President Roosevelt in 1909

Two views of the steps and classroom buildings in the middle of campus; in the
first picture, Vic's classrooms are at the farther end of the building on the left

One wants to turn southwest frequently where you will find views like these:

Over

the
outdoor

basketball

court

Over
the
upper
soccer
field

Fans
are
crazy
here
too!

Over one of the tennis courts

Most of the buildings on campus are made of rock blocks. They are delivered to campus in rough form and hand chipped into rectangular blocks. Here's a new house being built and the chipper sitting nearby. (Think OSHA would approve of the scaffolding?)

Below is my boarding students' dorm

I'll leave you with some miscellaneous views around campus:

Steps going UP to our house

View from campus looking down into Kijabe

Geranium plant

Jacaranda tree

Bougainvillea hedge

Welcome

to

RVA!

One Body

2009-10-21T18:18:00.056+03:00

October 21st, Kenyatta Day, is a national holiday in Kenya.
Kenyatta was the first president of Kenya. To show respect
for that day, RVA does not hold classes. Instead, Multicultural
Day is celebrated. What a privilege it was to be part of that day!

The day began at 9:00 when everyone met at the chapel for the
multicultural ceremony. Most came dressed in apparel
representative of his or her country.

Enjoy the shots to get a feel for the ambiance.

Korean Beauties

American Through and Through

Kenyan Pride

Many of the students came dressed for two or three countries. Though they may be American or Canadian, they are here in Kenya studying and their parents may be working in another African country.

Born to be Swiss

The ceremony consisted of songs sung in many
different languages: French students in French
and Spanish students in Spanish. Titchie (elementary) students sang in English and Swahili and Korean students sang in Korean.

French Students Singing "Louez-le"

Titchie Students Singing "Love in Any Language"

"Titchies" Singing in Swahili

Koreans
Singing
in
Korean

We were given the constant reminder that we are many parts but one in
the body of Christ. The culmination was the presentation of twenty-five flags (representing part of the countries represented here at RVA) with the beginning of each national anthem played as they entered. Here are a few:

The National Anthem sounded so good!

After the ceremony the sports competition began. It was not country against country but the whole student body and staff were divided into four teams. To emphasize the theme of the day the teams were called: Black Eyes, Green Thumbs, Red Necks, and Blue Noses. Because it rained (no one complained) the games were held inside. Here are a few of them:

Under the Bar

Huge Twister Game

To ho dun ji gi Korean game

The day culminated with an American football game between the seniors and the staff. That was followed by fireworks on the field right in front of our house!
What a great day it was to join others as one.

Romans 12:4 & 5: "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body . . "

Maasi Mara Tribe

2009-10-14T22:54:00.008+03:00

While we were at Maasi Mara our guide took us to visit a Maasi village. The Maasi tribe has rights to all of the land in the area of the national park and beyond. Mara means land. Maasi means language and people.

Each village is basically the family of the chief. He may have seven wives. Each wife has a different house (wise man!). The house has two bedrooms with wall-to-wall beds made out of interwoven twigs (the springs) covered with animal skins. They were amazingly soft feeling. The house also has a room for the calves to be brought into at night to protect them from lions, etc. A small area for storage and a place to build a fire make up the rest of the house. They are built of twigs plastered with cow dung inside and out. They last about 10 years and then another village is built with new houses.

You can see from the pictures that the village is completely surrounded by a fence made of twigs. These twigs may not look strong but they are and they are full of very long briars as well. They are there to keep the wild animals out at night.

Long before we arrived at the park area we saw Maasi men herding their animals – cattle, goats and sheep. The animals signify a man’s wealth. The animals spend each day wandering in a group looking for grass to eat. They are accompanied by a man dressed in bright red. We were told by the chief’s son that the lions and other predators have learned to fear the man dressed in red. It’s also helpful to spot another man herding his animals. (By the way, the chief’s son had gone away to school to learn English and he knew it well.)

We were greeted by a group of warriors who did a dance and song for us. The dance consisted of seeing who could jump the highest. This is used in competition vying for females’ attention. I’m not sure why they bother since the chief selects his son’s wife anyway. One evening the men came to the lodge where we were eating and performed the same dance for dinner enjoyment.

The chief’s son told us that the tribe is Christian. He pointed out that for a man to be a deacon in the church, he could only have one wife. Obviously they struggle with the conflict between Biblical standards and their culture.

I could tell you more about the price one pays to become a warrior and how the females are treated but we must save some information for when we share our pictures when we get home!

From an American’s point of view, it’s hard to believe that people live like this tribe does. But most of the people we saw did not appear unhappy. They seem content with their land, their language, and their people.

Maasi Mara

2009-10-13T12:20:00.012+03:00

A visit to Maasi Mara leaves one speechless! To absorb the beauty of the animals there is breath-taking to say the least! Combine that with a glimpse of the Maasi tribe,one of the 42 tribes in Kenya, during a visit to one of their near-by villages (next blog post) and we can but be grateful for such a wonderful experience. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, enjoy the ones below. You'll have to wait until next year to see them all.

"Feed my lambs." John 21:15b

2009-10-03T20:27:00.006+03:00

Last Tuesday I had the privilege of accompanying Esther Mwangi to the local K - 8 school here in Kijabe. She used to teach there and has now established a program to feed some of the children there on Tuesdays and Fridays. We learned about this from Elisha, her husband, who is the man we hire to drive us occasionally.

When we first heard about it, we pictured a plate of food being handed to each child. I was in for a big surprise. Here are the boys and girls (separate pictures) lined up quietly and patiently waiting
to receive their food.

The food they received consisted of one kilo of beans and three kilos of maize flour. As you can see, they came prepared with a sack in which to carry it home. Only thirty-five of the 600 students at the school get this food. When I asked Esther how she decided which students should get it she explained that actually the students decide. They know which families are the poorest and need it the most.

You can tell by the expressions on the faces in the next two pictures that they are happy to receive this food. Since Tuesday, Jesus' words in John 21:15b, "Feed my lambs," keep going over and over in my head.

After the food was given out, we visited a few classrooms where the students stood as we entered. They sat on wooden benches at double desks and there were 40 - 50 students in each classroom.

As we left, I could only think how blessed the students back home are; if only they realized it!

Murphy's Law

2009-10-03T18:43:00.003+03:00

Murphy's Law is alive and well here in Kenya! If you read our email written September 23, you know that we had guests (Steve and Hope Shearouse) from the Savannah area and a local pastor and his family (Issac, Margret, Timothy, and Edwin Mwangi) for dinner Monday night, September 21. Just as they called to say that they were on campus I heard a strange fluttering noise coming from the gas stove. Upon checking, I found that the oven (where the main dish was) had gone off and the rice on the top of the stove was barely cooking. The bomb (what they call the propane tank here) was empty. We had a spare on hand but I had no idea how to hook it up and Vic
was at faculty meeting. PANIC TIME!

But wait, "Gladys, our house helper, is working at our neighbor's (next door in the duplex) today." I summoned her aid and soon the chicken and rice were both cooking in and on our neighbor's stove. I quickly ran to campus and met our guests. What fun to have visitors from home and from nearby. How exciting to receive some needed items that our daughter, Esther, sent with the Shearouses.

We only had two hours together because they needed to return to Issac's home before dark (the roads here are much safer in the daylight which is gone at 7:00 every night year round). A great time appeared to be had by all and God and we got the better of Murphy's Law!

Mini-safari

2009-09-27T11:38:00.003+03:00

Saturday, September 26, found us with 10 others from RVA boarding two minivans and driving an hour northwest to Lake Naivasha. We arrived at the Country Club there about 11:30. A buffet lunch would be served at 12:30, so we walked around the beautiful setting with Vic seeing many new birds. God went crazy painting some beautiful ones there!

At 12:30 we gathered out under the trees for a delicious meal. It started with pumpkin soup followed by the buffet. I can't say that much of it was African food but it was all good.

After lunch we went by boats to the island (Crescent Island) in the middle of the lake where "Out of Africa" was filmed. The animals on the island were brought there for the movie but they have continued to multiply and do well in spite of very dry conditions. In fact, the lake is very low and the local flower business (which is big in that area) is using too much of the water for irrigation.

We walked and walked on the island mingling with wildebeests, zebras, impalas, giraffes, and waterbuck. We got closer to some than others but it was an amazing experience. The guide took us to see a sleeping python in a rock and then we saw one stretched out in some weeds. They estimated it to be about 16 feet long. We didn't get very close!! The hippos were numerous in the lake as were many beautiful birds all day long. You know that made Vic happy!

Back to the club where we sat on the porch and had tea and coffee before our trip back to RVA.

The trip was a wonderful change from the fast and fairly rigorous pace we keep teaching during the week. We look forward to the next chance to experience some of the beauty of Africa.

Shopping - Dukas in Kijabe vs. Malls in Nairobi

2009-09-13T19:56:00.007+03:00

A fifteen minute walk down the hill to Kijabe or an hour harrowing ride to Nairobi - those are the shopping options. Our present plan includes a once-a-month excursion (hiring a driver) into Nairobi where "nearly" everything we need and want is available. (No chocolate chips and no walnuts!) Yesterday we bought amounts of meat, rice, flour, sugar, and other staples to last a month. This particular trip there was no brown sugar in the store but today we learned how to make it by adding molasses to regular sugar.
The dukas are a bi-weekly walk. (Sometimes our indoor worker makes the trip.) There we or she can get yogurt, small bags of staples and most fresh fruits and vegetables.
The greatest difference in the two choices is the quality of the structures. You should have no trouble distinguishing between Kijabe scenes and Nairobi scenes in the pictures below.

Walking to the Dukas

Mama Chiku's

Premier Duka

Nakumaatt

The Village Mall

The Food Court

Other Perspectives on Life at RVA

2009-09-12T06:23:00.004+03:00

We have added two links to this blog. You will find them on the right hand side. All you have to do is click on the link and it will take you to the blog.

Many of our short-termer co-horts have blogs so we thought you might enjoy getting some other perspectives on life here at RVA. Alex and Melissa Hartemink are from North Carolina. He is a professsor at Duke on leave with a sabbatical. They have a preschooler and first grader with them. Jim and Gayle Holt are from West Virginia. He is a pastor and she is an English teacher. We share the duplex with them. Both of these couples are becoming good friends and have been a big help to us. Enjoy!

A Class with Class

2009-09-05T16:18:00.006+03:00

Monday morning, August 31, 2009 twelve timid quiet fourth graders walked into my classroom. The class has six girls and six boys, five Kenyans, two Koreans, one Korean and Tanzanian, one Canadian, and three Americans. English is a second language for eight of the students and for several that is British English. Truly a class with class!

Half of the class are boarding students and half are "station kids." That's what they call the local students who either live on campus or near campus with their parents. The boarding students live in a dorm with just ten students in it and as much like a home atmosphere as possible.

They've taught me a lot this week. Most of them know the ways of the school better than I do. They've been a big help as I've learned how to operate. They are helping me learn a few Swahili greetings so I can greet Africans appropriately. It's amazing how many Africans in the area know English but they love it when we greet them in their language.

I think I've taught my students a few things this week. We read a story that took place in the thirties so I shared with them about my rationing book when I was a small child. They quickly reminded me that sugar is rationed here and gas may be if what we hear is true.

As the week progressed, the timid quiet class became alive and enthusiastic. I'm looking forward to spending the next ten months with them.

Our week ended with a short walk down the hill to the high school campus for the lowering of the flag as the Kenyan national anthem was played. The whole student body took part in a short chapel service around the flag pole. My students behaved beautifully and proved that they are indeed a class with class.

How Do We Bless Others?

2009-08-30T06:20:00.004+03:00

Before we came to RVA and we heard that we would be expected to hire a house worker and a yard worker we were shocked! But having come here and seeing how the Africans who live in this area love RVA because it provides work for them, we have a clearer understanding. They feel that they are ministering by allowing us to have more time to do the jobs we came to do.

We have hired Gladys and Ben to each work two days a week. They also work for the Holts who share our duplex for two days.

Ben keeps our fire wood and kindling chopped and by the door (we have a fire mornings and evenings to take off the chill), runs errands to get things for us, is slowly redoing the gardens, and waters the flowers with the water saved from our washing machine. The plan is for him to start a small vegetable garden too. Ben walks an hour down the mountain to get here each day. You might be interested to know that he asked to be paid on the 27th instead of the 31st this month so he wouldn't have to walk home with his pay on the last day of the month. Men are often robbed walking along the road. Women seem to be left alone.

Gladys cleans, goes to the dukas shopping, hangs the wash and irons, and cooks and bakes. This week she made us homemade bread and stew chapatis. We had some of the lentils and rice that she made for the Holts. They do all of this for about $5 a day. That is all we are allowed to pay them. We try to make sure Gladys takes home some of whatever she fixes for us.

We are blessed to have this help. Apparently they feel blessed that we have hired them. It's a win-win situation.

A House with a View

2009-08-26T14:51:00.008+03:00

Sitting at 7,000 feet above sea-level on a terraced side of a hillside
overlooking the Great Rift Valley gives Rift Valley Academy a spectacular view. Here are a couple of pictures to attest to that fact. One is of Vic sitting at the picnic table in our front yard with the front of our house behind him. It's a duplex and ours is on the right - the door you see. One is taken from that porch looking southwest out over the valley. Over the hedge is an athletic field, a roof of a building and then the valley. The sun is on the valley and the mountains are slightly visible beyond. The picture of Mt. Longonot is taken from down at the end of our yard more toward the west. We are enjoying our house with a view!

Shopping in Nairobi

2009-08-23T10:53:00.002+03:00

So far since we've arrived in Kijabe shopping has been done at the dukas about a 15 minute walk down the hill. There are certain things (like meat) that should not be bought there and the selection is limited. So yesterday was the bi-monthly shopping trip to Nairobi. First stop - ATM machine. Punch in 30,000! That's right 30,000 Kenyan shillings.

First store - Nakumatt Village Market inside a lovely shopping mall. Vic found a book store which you know made him happy. This village market was a lot like a super Walmart or a Target. Fortunately our host, Nancy Peifer, was shopping too and helped me know what choices were good. The stress level was high having no idea if we'd gotten enough money at the ATM. We spent 13,204 shillings - all on food except for an ironing board and small wall clock.

Second store - Zucchini Green Grocers which had mostly fruits and vegetables. Guess I'll evetually learn which to buy from the vegetable ladies here in Kijabe and which to by in town (the way everyone here refers to Nairobi). Spent 958.10 shillings.

Third store - Gilani Butchery. Chose 4 lbs. ground beef, stew beef, and four chicken breasts. I must say it all looks great. Cost - 1834.50 shillings.

Total - 15,996 shillings, equivalent to over $200. Food is expensive here. The sad thing is that very few Africans can shop in the stores where we did.

Arrive home, put food away - WRONG! All fresh fruits and vegetables need to be soaked in a bleach solution for twenty minutes. I did it gladly as I thought about the thousands of Africans nearby who only ate beans and ugali (cornmeal mush) yesterday.

First Impressions of Kenya and RVA

2009-08-17T20:49:00.003+03:00

Our first impressions contain bad news and good news. The bad is that Kenya is experiencing severe drought and poverty. They go hand in hand. Kenya is nearing the end of the rainy season but there has been practically none! Along the drive from Nairobi to Kijabe we could see where people had attempted to plant gardens wherever possible (even in what we would call ditches along the road). But to no avail. It was too dry for most crops (mainly corn and potatoes) to grow at all.

Then we left the main highway and drove down a bumpy road (actually that's the only kind of road we've felt), through a security fence and onto the campus of Rift Valley Academy. Two things seem to make RVA stand out - the setting and the people. The campus is on a terraced hillside overlooking the valley below. It is beautifully landscaped although we've been told that because of the drought, it's not as pretty as usual this time of the year. (Only the water saved from the washing machines can be used for watering outdoors.) We have huge hills to the east behind our house. We don't get a good view of them because the elementary school is just up the hill behind us.
To the west, our front view, we will see great sunsets over the Rift Valley when the present haze lifts. The sun did come out for a while today and presented a nice contrast to the 60 degrees inside this morning. The house has no heat except a fireplace so we will be happy when winter is over.

All 12 of us newcomers who arrived yesterday have been welcomed with open arms. Each has had a host to help get our homes set up. We have invitations to dinner the first 5 nights. Everyone seems to wear several hats and is happy to do so. Vic knows that his one hat will be teaching two advanced French and one Spanish 2 classes. Maybe another will be helping with the tennis team. The elementary principal told me today that we have to sit down and talk so at least I know where I'll be - right up behind our house.

And one more blessing - Vic's boss likes to bird watch. She helped us identify a sunbird right outside the French classroom today.

We are doing fairly well with the elevation (7,500 ft.)adjustment but I must tell you that my legs are sore from climbing hills and stairs. It's so good for us!

We feel privileged and blessed to be here where it is so beautiful and the people are very kind.

Things We Learned in London

2009-08-17T20:35:00.004+03:00

The lesson was short (24 hrs.) but here's what we learned:

1. London is huge and beautiful! It was sunny and very warm.
2. Don't take the underground (subway) during rush hour. Our hotel was near the airport so we took the underground into the city (about a 40 minute ride) to take a tour of center city. The two-hour tour in a two-decker open air bus was great. The return to the motel during rush hours wasn't - nearly 1 1/2 hours all standing and crowded.
3. Money exchange is a ripoff! We thought we would just use our credit card to avoid exchange charges. No such luck. The bus from the airport to our motel required British pounds. It cost us four pounds - about $7 each for a ten minute bus ride.
4. Keep to the left even when walking. Being directionality challenged, I (Charlotte) got dirty looks changing sides on the sidewalk. You better believe I am not going to try to drive here in Kenya.
5. We must go back to London someday!

Ready, Set, Go!

2009-08-10T03:39:00.004+03:00

Wish y’all could have been in our church service today. Mike, our new pastor, had a prayer of consecration for us and invited the church to join us at the altar. It was overwhelming to sense the love and support. We are blessed!

We’ve been wined and dined by many wonderful friends and now it’s READY, SET, GO! Monday and Tuesday will be spent finishing getting READY (the suitcases are 95% packed). Wednesday will be getting SET – final suitcase weigh-ins. Thursday will be GO. Eric, our son, will drive us to Atlanta where we’ll catch an evening British Airways flight to London. Friday night will be spent there and Sat. morning we’ll board a plane flying straight to Nairobi. The schedule has us arriving in Nairobi about 9:00 pm (2:00 pm Eastern time) Sat. and spending the night in the city at the AIM mission guest house. Sunday we will finally reach RVA in Kijabe. Orientation for new teachers starts on Monday so our feet will get wet fast – that with jet lag, and adjusting to an elevation of about 7,000 ft. above sea level. Yes, we need your prayer as we adapt. The next entry will include some Kenya news!

Watch a video about Rift Valley Academy

2009-08-02T00:14:00.002+03:00

If you'd like to watch a video about the school, click here.

Grandkids

2009-07-27T19:43:00.003+03:00

Here's who we are leaving behind:

Caroline 15
Mary 12
Bobby 10
Teddy 3
John 1
New baby Ball due in February!

But at Rift Valley Academy there will be about 500 students away from their grandparents so we hope to be surrogate grandparents to them.

Beginning Our Blog

2009-07-27T16:11:00.003+03:00

With our granddaughter Caroline's help we are venturing into the world of blogging. We hope to post at least once a week after we've arrived in Kenya. Because we will have dial-up there, blogging may be easier than trying to email regularly.

With just 17 days before departure day, we are busy with many last minute details. Please pray for calm and clarity of mind as we pack and say difficult goodbyes.