As usual, my life seems like a blur or for your Harry Potter
fans, like the golden snitch that I can never quite get a grasp on. This year
is so quickly fleeting that I have not had time to really sit down and think
about what month it is or how it even got here until now. It’s August people,
August! The 22nd of this month will mark my 7th month in
Kenya and 6 weeks until I visit home for the first time since I came to Kenya.
I can’t even comprehend how good the Lord has been to me in not only bringing
me here, but giving me life-giving work that passes the time so quickly that I
have to consciously remind myself to cherish every moment. Here is what has
been going on recently…
The last week of our second term at Uhuru Academy mainly
just consisted of exams but we took one day to take a field trip to the
meteorology center in Nairobi where the girls had the opportunity to expand and
apply their knowledge from geography class to real life data and weather
forecasting! I had the privilege of being a chaperone on this field trip and I
really don’t understand weather forecasting or cloud formations or any of that
stuff so it was interesting to hear people who spend their careers researching
and following weather patterns explain it. I think the girls really enjoyed
their field trip and break from exams before they headed home for a month
before 3rd term starts! Here are some studious pictures of the girls
from that field trip and just a few individuals with some of the students!
Ann Gathoni
Ann Wangui
Gladys Chege
Lynette Wanjiru
Gladys Mbuya
Margaret, Form 2
Margaret, Form 1
Last week, two pastors from the Summit Church where I
attended when I was in school at NC State, J.D. Greear and Todd Unzecker, came
to Kenya on their way back to the states from a conference in Turkey to check
in on Uhuru Child! It was nice to get to meet and hang out with them outside of
church and in our environment and be able to share with them what each member
of Uhuru is doing to expand God’s kingdom. We got to share with them our
testimonies and stories of how we made our decisions to come to Kenya over
dinner at Tim and Jody’s house and through some front porch talk afterwards. It
was relaxing getting to come together as a body of believers, sharing what God
has done and is doing in each of our lives, as well as the places in which we
live. We also got to go on a tea field with these two pastors, some Uhuru staff
members, and some Kenyan friends from Tim and Jody’s church. It was a cloudy
and rainy day as usual but we made the best of it with the ample amounts of
conversation and laughter. Not to mention, I found a puppy and carried it for 2
hours as we walked through the tea fields! It was skinny and hungry when we
found him and so I just decided I could not leave him there and took him home
with me! Unfortunately, he cannot stay because of the compound in which we
live, but Christine and I are fostering him and currently looking for potential
homes for the little guy! Then, on the last night JD and Todd were here, we all
went to Zen Garden, this super delicious sushi place in Nairobi, and had one
last hoorah and meal with them before they headed back to the states. I really
enjoyed their company and entertaining them while they were here (both in the
hospitable sense and comedic) and really hope they come back soon to visit!
JD, William (Steve's friend), Steve (Tim and Jody's watchman), Todd, Christine, Tim, Me and Puppy, Dennis (Tigoni Fellowship Pastor) , and Samuel (Steve's friend)
JD Greear thinking it's funny to pretend to love this puppy like I do!
He might actually think the puppy is cute in this picture.... I'll give it to him.
I would say he is comfortable in his temporary home!
And wouldn’t you know that as soon as they left the airport
in Nairobi, the next morning the international arrivals section went up in
flames! So, a friend from the states who was supposed to arrive that day and
come stay with us, ended up being delayed for about 3 days before she could
enter the country. Her name is Ashton and we are really excited to host our
first guest! Christine and I have worked hard on making our house, our home
with decorations and furniture, and that we finally get to welcome someone into
it for a 2 week stay J
In addition to that Christine and I finally bought a pretty sweet coffee table
the other day and it will be here on Wednesday! Pictures of that find coming
soon! All in all, we are excited Ashton finally made it to Kenya and that we,
yet again, get another opportunity to show someone our lives here and invite
them in to what the Lord is doing in Kenya! Plus, it’s just nice to have new
people around to interact with because being in the rural part of Kenya
sometimes can make you miss the availability of driving 20 minutes to see
friends you don’t work with or haven’t seen in a while! So, if anyone wants to
come on over, we can get you a place to stay!
August will be coming and going just as quickly as the past
6 months but I plan to continue to pursue that “snitch” that is my fleeting
time here and appreciate it!
Speaking of quick, remember those kittens I helped birth on
the 4th of July? Well, they have grown up like weeds and here is an
updated picture of them!
