I'm back...

Hey,
I made it home safely and am being spoiled with all the stuff I missed... washing machine, microwave, cheese, quiet, my own bathroom, etc. It's a little hard to believe I was in Africa two weeks ago. It's nice to be home, but I really miss everyone in Kenya too. The last few days there were pretty busy- lots of packing and wrapping up last minute projects and saying goodbye. On Wednesday, we loaded up all the kids (age 8 & up) into the church van and headed to the Nairobi Giraffe Centre. We had fun feeding the giraffes, and afterward we went for sodas...
Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement throughout this trip- it's meant a lot to me. God bless you all!
love in Christ,
Jess

Susan & Wairimu 

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I'm not sure if there's a good explanation for this one... 

Feeding the giraffes... 

We set up and decorated the Christmas tree... 

On Tuesday (1/30), Johanna, Muiruri, Wairimu, and Susan helped me make pizza one last time for all the kids and CMIA compound staff... 

Johanna & Muiruri 

Johanna & Wairimu 

A few pics from my adventures in London... 

Westminster Abbey (I think) 

Big Ben 

From London...

It's Thursday, and just wanted to let you all know that I made it to London safely- and it's freezing here! I got in around 4:30 this morning and took the Underground and walked around a little... I leave for Seattle in a couple of hours. Thanks for praying for a safe trip! -Jess

Headed back...

Hi, I'm headed back tonight... it will be hard to say goodbye, even though I'm looking forward to seeing all of you again. As far as I know, my plane leaves tonight at 11:20, and I should be getting back to Seattle on Thursday afternoon. Thanks for your prayers- I'll update you all on the last few days when I get back.
-Jess

George turns 11... 

Last week...

Thursday- this has been a busy week, so I’ll try and remember what’s happened over the last few days for you all…

11-20-04
Saturday was George’s 11th birthday, and we celebrated with mango cupcakes…the muffin pan was a little rusty, so we made cupcake holders out of notebook paper and cooking fat. He was pretty excited about his birthday, and he tells me he feels much, much older now that he’s 11!

11-21-04

After church, we (COTR- Langata youth) went to visit a new church plant in the Ngong Hills- only two months old. They only have four or five youth in their church, so we went to encourage them and hang out. They meet in a tiny building (probably about 12’ by 24’), but they still used the microphone to preach…it was pretty loud! Johanna (Kariuki) and Peter (Nguva), the two oldest boys at G.C.C, came along too, and I think everyone had a good time.

The youth from Church on the Rock, Langata and Ngong...can you find me? 

11-22-04

11-22-04
We first noticed the weird rash on Maina (Patrick, 4)’s neck on Sunday, and by Monday morning, he had a temperature and it was starting to spread up his face- tiny white specks all over. Kanoti and I took him to the doctor, who was very vague in his explanation as to what it was and what we should do about it. He prescribed a few things, including a treatment for another skin infection on his scalp, which was spreading down his face at the same time. Tuesday, it was even worse, and Mama Eliza was sure he had Measles. Now the first rash is gone and we’re pretty sure he’s going to be fine, but he has dead skin flaking off all over his head, neck, and chest… poor little guy is probably wondering what’s going on.
In the afternoon, the eight oldest kids and I walked down to Hardy for sodas- lots of fun!

sodas... 

11-23-04

11-23-04
Tuesday afternoon, I took the big kids for a hike, this time in the opposite direction. We went down to a river/stream (no one seems to know what it’s called), where we had a big water fight. Rahab managed to fall in, and by the time we were finished, all of us were soaked and covered in mud. It was fun, and that’s what counts, right? We took the long way back, hoping to dry off a little bit before Mama Eliza saw us, and stopped for sodas and “crisps” (chips) again. We were probably an interesting sight on the way back… we were able to sneak back in the house and change before she saw us, and we all went out back to wash our clothes so we wouldn’t get in trouble.

from top: Peter (Nguva), Zawadi, Johanna, Rahab, Martin, George, Ismail 

11-24-04

11-24-04
Yesterday was the last day of the term for Church on the Rock Academy (1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades), so Mama Vigi (Maryanne) and I went to watch their closing day and awards ceremony. All the parents came to watch, and everyone got dressed up for it. They started with a fashion show of their coolest outfits. Muiruri was pretty funny- I think he borrowed one of the older boys’ clothes for it, and he has the walk down really good! Next, was a song, a poem about HIV/AIDS, and a traditional dance. Then they did a Luhya dance/drama with drums and chimes. It was about education for Kenyan girls. Chege (Joseph) did a great job playing the “mzee” (old guy)- he wore a beard and hobbled around with a stick. He was going to dress up again afterward so I could take a picture, but he couldn’t find his beard. The girls all wore lesos and danced and sang- they’ve been practicing for weeks. Finally, they did a Christmas pageant. It was interesting…two kids played each part and said all their lines in unison. Wairimu (8) was very excited to be one of the Marys, and Pauline and Susan (12 year old twins) played Gabriel. They finished with a couple Christmas carols, and Jennifer and Francis passed out all the awards. It was too dark for good pictures, so some of these are a little blurry.
Last night, I stayed up ‘til four in the morning organizing and wrapping the goodbye gifts for all the kids (it was the only time I could do it without the kids seeing). We had a big thunder storm, and it poured all night. Whenever it rains hard, thousands of termites come out from wherever it is they live the rest of the time- they especially like the outdoor kitchen, so we have to keep everything covered up. Right now, I have to keep blowing them out of the keyboard. Joyce tells me you can eat them.

everyone dancing in their lesos... 

Chege (Joseph) as the "mzee"... 

Gabriel(s) (Pauline & Susan) appearing to Mary(s) 

Mary(s) & Joseph(s)... (Wairimu is on the left) 

King Herod and the wise men... 

11-25-04

David and Jennifer picked me up this morning and we went shopping and had lunch at Java House. It’s hard to believe I have less than a week before I leave- and there’s a lot to finish up before then. Happy Thanksgiving!

Preschool's out!

Hi,
Just a quick prayer request… Today was the preschoolers’ last day of school… which means they will be home for the next two weeks. This probably sounds stupid, but could you please pray for sanity for me? Thanks!
-Jess

Joyce (night housemum) brought these on Monday night... I forget what they're called, but they're tiny dried fish from Lake Victoria- they smelled a lot like fish food 

and here's us eating them...yum, yum!? 

Hope Wendy- isn't she cute?!!! 

The Market (and other stuff)...

11-16-04
Tuesday-
We had two more birthdays this weekend- Vincent turned thirteen on Saturday, and Brenda turned eight on Sunday. Their cakes turned out much better this time- I cut up a few pieces of fruit leather to add a little flavour.
Yesterday was a Muslim holiday, so none of the kids had school… I can usually handle it when they’re gone part of the day, but when they’re all home for more than two days in a row I start to go crazy. Tomorrow is the big kids’ last day of school, and next Thursday Church on the Rock Academy and the pre-primary school get out (they go to school for three months and take one month off). The COTR Academy kids have exams this week, which will determine whether they go on to the next grade, so please pray that they will do well!
This morning, I went to the market with Mama Eliza (Elizabeth) and Mama Vigi (Maryanne) to do the shopping for G.C.C. I felt slightly out of place with everyone staring and pointing at me, but I’m starting to get used to it now. Everyone comes and lays their burlap tarps out on the ground, with their produce (or whatever) on top. The walkways between them are pretty narrow, and lots of people are constantly coming through- so you have to be really careful not to lose your balance. Then, every couple of minutes, you have to duck to avoid being taken out by someone carrying a huge load of potatoes. Something else I thought was interesting- if you’re a customer, it’s okay to just pick up an orange or mango or something and eat it. I didn’t take my camera, so no pictures (sorry).
I guess that’s about it for today.


11-18-04
Thursday-
Yesterday, Kanoti took me to visit Daystar University in Athi River. The campus is really nice- Athi River is Southeast of Nairobi, and . On the way home, we stopped at Uchumi’s (grocery store) and I got all the ingredients we needed for pizza. This morning, I showed the housemums how to make it- “’Tis very sweet!” Today is Muiruri’s ninth birthday, so we made a couple extra pizzas for the kids- and a new discovery: mangoes are a very good pizza topping.
I’m spending a little more time in the office this week, since Francis (principle of Church on the Rock Academy) and Pastor Hassan (COTR- Langata) are in Rwanda. The COTR Academy kids (standards one, two, and three) are getting ready for their parents day next week- Wairimu (8) is very excited about the traditional dance they’re going to do, and she’s borrowing my sarong for the performance.

Prayer Request...

Hi,
Just to let you all know, Pastors Hassan, Peter, Francis and Jeffrey (another COTR pastor) are headed to Kigali, Rwanda this evening. They're going to help one of the new churches there, and to deliver money (raised by COTR- Langata) for their new building. They'll be gone a week. Please pray for a safe trip (they're traveling the whole way by matatu, so they'll need it!), and for their ministry in Rwada. Thanks!