Happy Christmas!

Hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! We are thinking a lot about all of you these days. Thanks for your support and continued prayers.

Love,
Amy and David

Distracted and Embarrassed

We have now spend over two weeks in Ratta, Kenya. These two weeks have been a lot easier than the two weeks we had in Tanzania. We have a Swiss roommate who speaks English, others around us speak English as well, we have a job to do (instead of nothing to do), we have electricity (that goes out daily, but is usually there), we have running water (that we have to pump from one container to another, but is still there), we can listen to music, we can call home, and we can watch a movie when we are felling down or bored, we feel like we are doing something here, we are teaching, we are helping.

But something was better in Tanzania. Without anything to do, without anyone to talk to, we managed to get closer to God. Daily, Amy and I read the bible, our devotional that Rebekah gave us (thank you Rebekah), and prayed together. It was wonderful, I was really starting to see God in everything that I was doing. We decided that we needed to keep this up no matter where we were. We planned to keep it up when we got back to the states.
Today was the first day in Ratta that we managed to do all three things in one day again. Individually we were still reading the devotional, and from time to time we would pray together, but we hadn't read the bible out-loud since Tanzania.

Things are going better in Ratta. Life is easier in Ratta. But I was closer to God in Tanzania. I was starting to conclude that it was because I was miserable in Tanzania that I saw God, so I needed to make life miserable for me always, so that I could always see God. I hope that you are smarter than me, and see the flaw in this plan immediately. Sometimes it takes me longer to see the flaws in my own thinking.

Maybe it was easier for me to see God when I was lonely, bored, homesick, miserable; but that does not mean I have to be miserable to see God. That just cannot be right. So what is it. My new theory has two parts, with one conclusion. In Ratta I have more distractions (movies, phone, job, people to talk to, friends to get to know), and these distractions have made it easier to do other, more fun, things than sit down and try to be closer to God. The second part is a more serious problem. In Tanzania, Amy and I lived alone, with no one around. It was easy to be vulnerable through prayer and biblical readings with each other. Now we have a roommate, and it is harder to be unguarded, and total vulnerable to God with someone else watching. This too, is flawed. Andrea, our wonderfully nice and wonderfully friendly roommate, is also Christian, also vulnerable being so far from home, family, and a boyfriend. And yet I am still embarrassed to read the bible in front of her. I am still embarrassed to speak to God in front of her. I need to get over this. I need to learn how to be vulnerable in front of more people than just my wife and God. I need to learn how to live a honestly imperfect life. I need to learn how to give myself to God, even when it is a little embarrassing. I need to learn how to give myself to God, when others are watching, especially when others are watching.

So my new conclusion is not that I have to be miserable. It is simply that I have to make an effort. I need to make an effort to put to the side more amusing past-times. I need to make an effort to carve out a little time each day to be truly vulnerable and truly honest with myself, my wife, and God. And I need to make an effort to be Christian in front of others. I need to make an effort to not be afraid of how others see me all the time. I need to make an effort to be braver than I feel. So no I don't need to be miserable to have a relationship with God, I just might need to be a little brave, and a little uncomfortable from time to time.

Attack of the King Cobra!!!!

    My dad calls me "Amy the brave" and secretly I like to think it is true although I am scared of many things such as very long worms, Dr. Kim (my old principal), and large groups of ants.  But more than any other fear I am afraid of snakes.  Before I went to Kenya I did a quick google search and have myself a few nightmares from what I learned.  There are many snakes in Kenya, including the cobra.  The cobra, in particular freaks me out because its hood and its ability to raise its body. 
     One of the first conversations I had when I got to Kenya was how to aviod snakes.  My program director loving laughed at my snake fears and confidently told me that she would be very suprised if I would even see one (even though her mother-in-law died from a snake bite.)  Feeling a little better, I set out to Tanzania and then to Ratta, Kenya.  I was feeling great at this point, no snakes spotted in Tanzania, Phyllis was right, I was going to have no problems with snakes!  I could not have been more wrong.
     My FIRST encounter with snakes THIS WEEK was walking to the market with David.  As we left our compound and turned the first corner, David almost stepped on a Green Mamba snake.  Still, after closer inspection, (by David, I was sprinting away screaming) the snake was injured or dead (although it had disapeared later so I think it was just sleeping or pretending to sleep.)  My dad later sent a very cheerful text telling me that the mamba was nicknamed the "three step snake" because you took three steps before you died if you got bitten.  Lovely Pa, thanks a lot. Still, I can deal with half dead snakes that David almost steps on.
    Yesterday, I had gone for a run and had finished a small workout.  I was feeling really good about myself as I almost skipped off to my first class.  David and Andrea (our wonderful housemate) both had earlier classes and therefore were already gone.  So, alone, I set off to my first class.  I had just stepped past my gate when I felt, rather than saw, something raising to my right. I looked and there, two feet away, was a fully-grown king cobra raising up hissing and hood unfolded.  Well, there was Amy the brave staring at the snake and the king cobra staring back at Amy the brave.  Alas, Amy the brave could not move.  I think I took one step back in suprise, but as the snake rose higher and higher, I could not will my legs to move.  I realize that I am very lucky, many cobras in the area are spitting snakes and this snake at this point would have spit at me if it could.  As it was, the snake was trapped between me, and a stone wall to its back and therefore felt like it needed to attack in order to live.  Still, as I looked in absolute horror at this black, huge cobra that had risen to a height I though impossible, I could not move.  I was trapped in my worse nightmare!  Questions like WHY ME? ran through my head, the girl who had spent a year at this same location before me had never seen a snake but I had not only seen two in the first week but was about to be attacked by a huge king cobra! 
    I realized the snake, realizing apparently that I was not going to move, was going to strike, it was like watching a huge, black coil tensing.  I lept to the side just as the cobra stuck.  Luckily for me, I had a skirt that fell to my feet and close toed shoes.  The snake hit the side of my skirt and did not bite me.  I sprinted to the side screaming for help and the snake made a hasty escape also.  I am thankful that it did not turn around after it missed me to bite the back of my legs.  I did not make it to class that day.  I ran back inside my house.  Locked the door and all the windows for good measure.  My students tell me today that yes, there are many cobras in our area but usually they do not venture out on the road and stay back in the "bush."  I am left unscathed by the snake encounter but with a lifetime of nightmares.   

Dear Chip,

I just wanted to thank you for how God has worked through you and your music. I know that you play and write music because life would not be life without music. I know that The Pace We're At was about enjoying life by playing music. But I really need to thank you again for the pure, simplistic, and true beauty that is that album.

Some of the things that we have been seeing and doing this year have been the hardest things of my life. I seem to either be drowning under the weight of life, or feeling guilty that I am not drowning.

This morning I listened to The Place We're At, and immediately started crying from the power of the first song. I don't think that I can fully describe to you just how much I needed that song and that album this morning. I have never been more affected by a song.

In a moment when I was wishing time would speed up; in a moment when I was feeling guilty about having electricity and running water; in a moment when I wanted to go home; in a moment when I question whether I should have come here at all; in a moment when I was wondering if I would ever be the same again...

you reminded me that yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is not here yet; you reminded me the past wasn't as romantic when it was the present, and the future is unknown; you reminded me that I am living in the now; you reminded me that I need to simply follow the path I'm on and see where it leads; you reminded me that if I worry about where I came from, or where I am going, I will miss the beauty of the trail that I am on now.

I thank God for making you a part of my life. I thank God for the amazing gifts he has given you. And I must thank you for sharing those gifts with me. Thank you for being you, and letting me know you.

Your Brother,

David/Daudi

          I hear a lot of people say they want to go back in time

Well, the good ol’ days - They ain’t for me.

          I don’t want to spend my life lookin’ behind.

          I want to see what tomorrow will bring.

          Let’s get in a boat, Get on the water,

          Float down to where we will be.

          Let’s get on the trail, And we’ll start hiking,

          See where this trail will lead.

          Lot a folk talk about how they wanna go back in time.

          Well, the good ol’ days – Ain’t what there cracked up to be.

          Today is a day we’re alive.

          And today is the future of the days that used to be.

                                                             -Chip Andrus, The Place We’re At

                                        (Available on iTunes for all who have not heard him.)

Where have we been?

So a lot has been happening to us, and we have had no chance to share it with most of you. Today we are bombarding you with a few blog posts, to help make up for our recent lack.

Firstly,

Where have we been? What have we been doing?

Mid-October we left Nairobi for Goribe Secondary School, just South of the Kenyan border in Tanzania. It was a very small village, spread out over many kilometers. We had a hard time. Going without creature comforts like running water, electricity, more than minimal furniture, and a grocery store was hard enough. But the hardest parts (and eventual reason for leaving) were a lack of being able to communicate, and a lack of being able to begin work for want of a work permit. We were lonely, isolated, bored, hungry, dirty, and driving each other crazy.

Amy and I didn't (and still don't quite) know if what we were going through was usual YAV homesickness/lonliness or if we were a special case. We didn't know if we were questioning our placement on legitimate grounds, or if we would get used to it.

Phyllis listened to our concerns and helped us figure out what to do. She found us a placement in Ratta Mixed Secondary School in the rural outskirts of Kisumu, Kenya. We have now been here for about 3 or 4 days and feel very good about where we are.

We are still homesick, dirty and a little hungry. But feel significantly less isolated, are able to communicate with others, and are only driving each other the normal about of crazy.

We have been to the school daily, and will begin teaching Monday. And there seems no shortage of projects for a proactive YAV to jump into. We feel like Ratta is a great fit for us, and our happy to be here.

Our time in Tanzania certainly wasn't wasted time, and we will never forget what we saw and felt there. Tanzanians (at least the ones where we were) really are amazingly friendly people. No matter where we went, people were undettered by our lack of KiSwahili in welcoming us to the villiage, to Tanzania, to Africa.

I felt first hand the importance of water, and the true gift from God that is rainfall. (It is amazing how much faster rainwater will filter than brown river water!!!) I will never be upset about a rainstorm again (not even on graduation day!)

I learned that even cooking rice and beans can take three hours if you are out of kerosine, and when you have to sit there and fan the flames for the minimal dry firewood you can find.

It donned on us that we are living this year off the charity of others. We are being supported financially, spiritually, psychologically, and emotional by our family and extended family (friends) back home. And our best meals have come from invitations (or insistence) that we come in for some food. "Karibuni, Karibu nyumbani." Is perhaps what we heard more than anything else. "Welcome in. Welcome in my home."

And, among other things, it gave us a chance to slow down, and see God. It is amazing how easy it is to talk to and feel God's presence, when you are unhappy; and how much more work it is when you are distracted by easy-going life.

One of the main reasons why I chose the YAV program was to get closer to God. And there were moments in TZ, where I knew my only solace, my only chance at feeling at peace, was through God. Those moments truly were among some of the best of my life. It is easy to give your faith, trust, future, your life to God when there is nothing else to give it to. I just hope that I can continue to find that peace in my life, even when things seem to be going brilliantly. I hope I can remember that I need God, even when it feels like I do not need anyone but myself.

At YAV orientation they gave us a packet of, "A Little Collection of Readings and Reflections to accompany you on your journey..."  It is where we have gotten many quotes from our blog, including this one:

            A New Way of Struggling

To Struggle used to be

To grab with both hands

            And shake

            And twist

            And turn

            And push

            And shove and not give in

But wrest an answer from it all

As Jacob did a blessing.

But there is another way

To struggle with an issue, a question—

Simply to jump

            Off

                        Into the abyss

                        And find ourselves
               Floating

                        Falling

                        Tumbling

                        Being led

Slowly and gently

But surely

To answers God has for us –

To watch the answers unfold

Before our eyes and still

To be a part of the unfolding.

But oh, the trust

Necessary for this new way!

Not to be always reaching out

For the old hand-holds.

                                                -Susan W.N. Ruach

Quick update

Dear Family and Friends!
      We hope and pray everything is good with you.  David and I are still waiting for our Tanzanian visa to come through but hope it will do so today!!!  In the meantime we have kept busy.  I have been working at African Pride, a pre-school in one of the informal settlements.  The school is well run and the kids are very happy.  It has been a wonderful, up-lifting place to work.  This week, David traveled to small town on the boarder of Kenya and Uganda to assess needs in the community and at the school.  He came back experienced in riding matatoos (a taxi but very dangerous) and beautiful pictures which will be posted asap. (We have created a site we have posted pics but need to link it here which for some reason has been a little confusing.) 
     We have not had internet access for the last week or so, I apologize if we have not written back.  We thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  We know that we are surrounded by support which makes days that are more tough bearable.  This might be our last post for a while if we are going to Tanzania.  We will find out today and then leave tomorrow.  David and I have no idea where we will be living.  It is very possible we will not have running water or electricity let alone internet access.  Either way, we will find someway to let you all know that is going on.  We love you all.

Amy and David

Kibera

             Over the last two weeks David and have tried various times to write our experiences of Nairobi so far.  We have written blogs and then, in defeat, deleted them.  How is it possible to capture our experiences?  My only comparable experiences is to relate the poverty similar to my experiences in  Haiti, the generosity of the people to my experiences in Appalachia and the beauty cannot be even compared to top-of-the-line travel magazines. How can we do Kenya justice?

We have experienced many highs in our last two weeks.  We have some snorkeling on a beautiful reef where we saw dolphins, an eel, and hundreds of beautifully colored fish.  We have fed giraffes, monkeys, ridden camels, held baby goats seen crocodiles, baboons, zebras, buffalo, and much, much more.  We have learned so much of the history of Kenya.  We had gone to numerous lectures and our knowledge grows with everyday and every question.  The people here are amazingly friendly and generous, even when they do not have much to give.  They help me extend my little Swahili and give me thumbs up as I run past looking ridiculous in the morning. Today David and I met a bishop and I knew without a doubt that Jesus was in this man. 

            We have also had many lows; felt anger at God, government, and ourselves.  We have had so much trouble processing the misery we are seeing among the poor.  We have a lot of poverty in the USA but it is segregated into certain areas of cities or towns and therefore easier to ignore or deny.  Here poverty is inescapable.  (Maybe if it were this way in the US, we would have done more to help our brothers and sisters.) 

Today, we visited Kibera, the third largest informal settlement, (or slum) in the world and my own world was shaken.  We visited a school in the settlement.  Since I am not finding the words to describe the few hours I spent with those children, here is my journal entry for today:

I will not forget you.

I will not forget your little head peeking in at the children eating.

Or your tummy, extended in hunger,

You grasping her hand in hope of a meal.

I will not forget you.

Little eyes looking at me among the dust, waste, and darkness of your school.

Hope among hopelessness, smiles and laughter among desperation.

I will not forget you.

Jesus is in you, working though you.

I can see Him clearly through you; this is where He would choose to be.

Your hands are His.

You humble and honor me.

I will not forget you.

Voice so soft, words so slow.

Father dead, hope dwindles.

Sweet, smart, cherished child- God loves you!

I will not forget you and I will not forget your words.

The informal settlement, as I said before is the third largest in the world.  The government has no programs, schools, or charities helping the 1.3-1.6 million people who live there.  These people make an average of less than one dollar a day and some, no more than five cents a day.  Every election the government promises help, taxes the people heavily, and does nothing.  The churches, mosques, and NGOs help where they can, building schools and health centers but the life, as you can maybe imagine is very hard.  A dollar will get you a loaf a bread, not too much more. 

Today, as I saw a piece of life in the settlement I was, and am, mad.  How are we allowing people to live this way?  Are we not all children of God?  God’s children are not meant to go hungry?  More than anything- WHAT CAN I DO??? Why am I suppose to see this?  Why can I not DO anything?  In this case I conclude I CAN do something.  I will tell you what I saw as honestly as I can.  I will post pictures of what I see both good and bad.  Perhaps, together, we will at least open our eyes to the plight of people in Kenya and hopefully also much closer to home in the US. 

 

“…But the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny.  His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent.  The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible.  They are marginalized by our social and cultural world.  They are oppressed, exploited, proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity.  Hence the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief action, but a demand that we go and build a different social order.”

                                                        Gustavo Gutierrez, The Power of the Poor in History

Thank you (asante sana) for reading, I promise the next post will not be of the pipeline explosion, or the informal settlements, but of something lighthearted and fun.  Perhaps we will blog of our time in Mombassa! 

Pipeline Explosion in Nairobi

Monday, September 12th, 2011
A pipeline explosion in the Kenyan capitol kills over 100 and hospitalizes more than 100 more.

Why?
A pipeline from the Kenyan coast to Nairobi, that goes through an informal settlement (Sinai), formed a leak or burst. Many flocked toward the gas, hoping to get enough to sell. A garbage fire and/or cigarette butt lit the river of gas.

Why?
Poverty/desperation led some to flock toward gas, instead of away from it. "While the burning garbage may have lit this fire, poverty seemed to be real fuse." (-Jeffrey Gettleman, NY Times)

Why?
Pipeline put in place so we can live off gas. Malfunction caused by ???

Why?
No trash pick-up (lack of infrastructure) leads to garbage fires, leads to explosion.

Why?
Why can't I do anything?

Why?
Why am I here?
Why am I called to watch?!?
I don't want to see.
I don't want to see what is happening to my brothers and sisters.

Why?
Why did I break down crying?
Why was this so hard for me?
Why did this affect me so much?

Why?
Why is this not the top story on every news website?
Why do so many of our poorest community members need to die so that we can see them?

Why?
Why is there so much disparity in Nairobi?
Why is there so much disparity in the world?
Why do so many people live off less than a dollar a day, while others live in luxury?

Why?
Why is it so easy to be distracted away from the poor?
Why is it so easy to turn our back on our family?

Why?
Why am I here to watch?
Why can't I be here to do?
Why do I have to see this?
Why do I have to feel this?

Why?
Why do we pick the cheaper option instead of the moral one?
Why don't we let ourselves see the world?
Why do we ignore the things that make us feel weak?
Why do we ignore the things that make us feel vulnerable?
Why do we ignore the things that make us feel afraid?

Why?
Why am I afraid to let the world see me cry?



Matthew 25: 35-45 -

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
     "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
     "The king will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me.'
     "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
     "They will also answer, 'Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
     "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

                                                                                                                               

WHY?
 

We are okay.

In case you read about the pipeline fire in Nairobi today, just wanted to let you know that we are okay. The informal settlement where the fire took place was on the other side of the city from where we are staying.

Karibu Nairobi!!!

We have finally made it. After another hiccup, a mix-up with United and Swiss Air, and about 36 hours in airports and airplanes, we finally made it. Really not much more to report right now, except that Phyllis is a great cook; we started Kiswahili lessons today; and we are headed out to a homestay for the weekend.

Just so glad to be in Kenya!

David Finally Writes a Blog!

As you can probably tell, all of our Blog posts thus far have been written by Amy. I think it is finally time that I write one. We are not in Nairobi. We are not in Dar es Salaam. We are in Jersey. Hurricane Irene gave us a little surprise, and there just aren’t that many flights to Kenya, so we will be leaving Saturday. We were ready to go. We are ready to go. A week of YAV orientation got us prepared. Will a week of sitting around unravel us? We just want to see where we will be. We want to know where we are going. We want to start language school...etc. etc.

Last night I forgot all about these concerns. Last night at dinner Amy and I watched as one of my idols came in and sat down at the table next to us. Last night I got to shake hands with Dr. Cornel West. Dr. West is a professor at Princeton University. Amy and I knew this, and thought there was a slim chance we might see him on campus somewhere. We never dreamed we would be able to talk to him. It was worth an extra week just to shake hands with this great writer/orator/(and now) radio personality.

"To be a Christian is to live dangerously, honestly, freely - to step in the name of love as if you may land on nothing, yet to keep on stepping because the something that sustains you no empire can give you and no empire can take away."

—   Cornel West

"Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public"

—   Cornel West

"The country is in deep trouble. We've forgotten that a rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it. We need the courage to question the powers that be, the courage to be impatient with evil and patient with people, the courage to fight for social justice. In many instances we will be stepping out on nothing, and just hoping to land on something. But that's the struggle. To live is to wrestle with despair, yet never allow despair to have the last word."

—   Cornel West

And a week in.... Princeton.... not Nairobi

      We are suppose to be somewhere between Zurich and Nairobi right about now.  Flying around 550 mph to go learn a new way of life and hopefully make some kind of difference while we are doing it.  I prayed during this week of orientation at this year, God would bless David and I with His Way.  I was not pleased (and did not feel very blessed) when His Way was apparently canceling our flight Monday and rescheduling us for Saturday!  Another week at Stoney Point????  With NO ONE THERE???? Pass. 
     As Monday slide by and our plane did not magically uncancel as we all prayed it would, we got word that another YAV's father generously set us up to have a week in Princeton; staying at the seminary housing for free.   OK we reasoned, we could be a train ride away from NYC and Philly... better than just a small gas station.  Monday night we were on our way after a tearful goodbye to Rebekah and Lydia (whose plane also got canceled and rescheduled for Wednesday).
     This is how I find myself at beautiful Princeton.  I took a run around campus today and was asounded by the campus's beauty.  What a lovely hiatus from the stress of this year so far.  OK... not bad God.
    
  

deflated

      The first few days of this week, in a word, has been OVERWHELMING!  I have never felt that I could not do something, I know I need God to be able to make it through this year.  We are at orientation this week at Stoney Point, NY.  My perception of orientation was it was going to be a little training, some encouraging words and music, and then off we go ready to learn, serve, and be.  No so.  So far almost everyone has just spoken about how hard their year was as a YAV.  How nothing worked out, they talk about how lonely, depressed, and difficult the year was.  This shocked me!  What have we signed up for???
     I came back to my room tonight deflated and anxious.  I wanted to check my first YAV email before I went to bed to see if our email was sent, who David and I missed, and whose emails we mistyped. I was humbled and touched by what I found.  Family and friends had already sent us many emails, supporting us, surrounding us.  Thank you for making me remember I have all of you!  That you will support and love us even if this year is a disaster for us.
      Psalm 139 says "...even if I settle at the other side of the sea- even there Your hand will guide me."  I AM settling at the other side of the sea.  Like Ruth, I am leaving what is dear to me and that has been harder than I can sometimes bear.  BUT I have the promise that God will be there regardless of my experience.  Was this the right decision?  I don't know.  All I know is it is a leap of faith, something I have never really had to do before... and I am afraid.

Cousin Rachel to the Rescue!!!

I was already in Bay View Michigan when I started to worry about the passports. We had been so many places already that summer, DC, Cleveland, Louisville, Nashville, Chicago, and Cleveland again- could they have slipped out in one of those places? David had mentioned that he had not seen them but I reassured him they were in Louisville safe and sound. I had been organized up to this point, I was sure they were in that blue backpack along with the prescriptions, receipts, and visa. Or was I sure?
We arrived in Louisville Thursday, August 11th, after a lovely trip up to northern Michigan and some great family time. The first morning after arriving I headed upstairs to look for the passports while David returned the rental car. I looked… and looked… and looked- NO PASSPORTS!!!
Trying to breathe normally, I faced my husband- Oh by the way, no passports sweetheart! David enjoys working with his hands and therefore was in charge of getting our DC apartment ready for the move out while I did all the organization work and YAV paperwork. In the move I had one job- DO NOT LOSE THE PASSPORTS! David, to his credit did not yell or even slip in an angry comment, he just started looking. An hour later, the house ripped apart, we decided that they were not in Louisville. They must be in Cleveland??
As David continued to search, I begin to calculate how long it would take to get a passport and visa. We had five more business days until we needed to leave for orientation. We would need to go to the DC passport office and then the Kenyan embassy. Lets see, 6 hours to Cleveland where the search would continue, then six to DC and twelve back to Louisville. That would be a tough week and a lot of money!
Just when hope seemed lost, I remembered… cousin Rachel is in Cleveland! A quick call to Rachel sent her to my family’s house where she quickly located the important documents. Pa sent them overnight shipping and they are now kept safe somewhere by David. I am not allowed to move them.

Thank you God for cousins!

Fund-raising goal reached!

We are so thankful to announce that after only two months of fund-raising, we have reached our goal of $16,000!!!!  We are so blessed to have such generous family, friends, and co-workers.  Thank you God for your faithfulness and making us feel so loved and supported!

Getting ready to leave

Habari Gani!  This is the first time I have ever blogged- very exciting!

David and I have had a really difficult time getting the yellow fever shots.  We had several adventures but last night finally made it to a clinic before closing and finished our shots! It is difficult having a foot in several worlds and I will be happy to have my 8th graders graduate so I can pack up and concentrate on Kenya.