Six Reasons for Trip to Savannah

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

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!

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

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

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

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.