Update #2

What an exciting past few weeks it has been. Here are a few highlights:

1. Nairobi International Trade Fair (aka “The Show”)
The Show occurs once a year and lasts for a week. It consists of a variety of agricultural and business displays, as well as, swings, bumper cars, and face painting for the kids. Sounds like a great thing to attend (some of the kids are pictured at right). Well, it would be if you went on any other day, but Friday when practically every other school in Kenya goes. So Amber and I ventured into this school field trip for grades 1-3 not knowing exactly what it would entail. It started with a bus ride with Christmas lights stringed inside the vehicle and Swahili music videos playing. Once we arrived we entered into the masses of humanity (imagine a mosh pit area at a concert and you will have a glimpse of the amount of people we were trying to walk through). Wouldn’t be too bad if you were by yourself, but with 4 kids to your left and 3 to your right, navigating was a bit difficult. Needless to say, one of the teachers lost a child because he ran away when a camel started coming his way. For 2 hours we went around searching for him. Praise God- we found him at the front gate scared and crying. He definitely received special treatment for the rest of the day. All in all, Kenyan field trips are a bit different than ones in America.

2. Church
Two Sunday’s ago we met up with Patsy and Todd McGregor at St. Julian’s retreat center (pictured on the left) just outside of Nairobi for their church service. Both are ordained Anglican ministers and Todd will be commissioned as a Bishop to Madagascar in December. Church with them was a wonderful time of fellowship and community. We were able to met 4 families who also live and work in Nairobi. After church, we had a delightful afternoon with brunch and a few games of volleyball. This past Sunday we attended St. Mark’s Anglican Church, which is within walking distance from our apartment. This is the home church for Mrs. Gitao, who started the Akiba School. We went to their youth service, which basically means contemporary worship because families, married couples, and young adults were there. The people were so warm and we enjoyed tea and samosas (meat and onions in a fried pastry) afterwards.

3. Light and Power Board Meeting
This meeting left me feeling both excited and a bit overwhelmed. The meeting was held at the Muthiaga Club (rent Out of Africa movie and you will know what I am talking about) and the members of the board include Sam Owen, Phillip Gitao (in the coffee business), and George Mayena (former Shell executive). With the huge order from the UN, Light and Power is becoming registered as an official business and a Trust is being set up. There is so much growth and potential for this business and hope for the boys living in the Gatina slums. One thing they have yet to establish though is an accounting system- this is where I come in. I will be training one of the boys on how to keep track of their revenues and expenses and helping the board gain an understanding of where the business stands financially.

4. Picking up our furniture
Picture this- 3 beds, a coffee table, desk, and 2 nightstands pilled in the back of a small pickup truck (I mean really small). Now throw Dave and the furniture maker, Julian, in the back of the truck with the furniture. Add in Amber and myself in the front seat squished next to the driver, who is trying to change gears. Next, take this vehicle through part of the slums- unpaved roads, dirt mounds and holes, and people walking everywhere. I am learning that everything is an adventure in Kenya- you go with the flow and pray that things work out. Pictured: Anne's room

5. Rift Valley Academy (RVA)
This past Saturday we headed to RVA to get a touch of America and cheer the McGregor’s daughter Corby on in her basketball tournament. What an amazing school- the majority of the students are boarders and their parents are missionaries all over Africa. RVA won the whole tournament and we also watched some high school guy’s soccer games. The Rift Valley area of Kenya (pictured below) is gorgeous!


Prayer requests include continued discernment as to our involvement at the various ministries. We visited Beacon of Hope the other day. I was in awe of everything the center provides for people in various slums (mainly Kware)- they have a clinic, test and counsel people for HIV/AIDS, train men and women to make rugs, place mats, and wraps to provide an income, provide business training for women to start their own businesses, sponsor children to attend school, do home visits to provide food to women who can’t find work, and have a nursery and school for the small children of the workers at the center. Transportation to the center will be an issue and the center is pretty self sustaining so our involvement is uncertain.

Also, pray for the health of our team. I was sick for 2 days last week- not sure if it was food poisoning or something, but I had to stay at home and skip out on spending time at Akiba School. I have started to feel better, so I thank God for beginning to heal my body.

DOWNLOAD AS PDF: UPDATE 2, PICTURES FROM UPDATE 2