Christmas Day

On Christmas morning, the kids enjoyed opening their stockings and gifts. We had a sweet time together. It was a much simpler Christmas than in the US - we rather enjoyed the limited shopping options.

Later in the morning, we shared Christmas brunch with our next door neighbors and were delighted to share in a few of their traditions. We played the matchstick game. Their teenage son had hidden about 35 matchsticks around the LR and DR and Abby & Andrew had to find them all! This is not as easy as it sounds (even for the adults). They also read us the book, "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" which is a wonderful Christmas story.

Later in the day we had Christmas dinner with some other friends on campus. Following dinner, we played a few games. Here are a few photos of the kids playing dominoes with Doug and Lisa.

Advent and Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration this year. We had led up to Christmas with a series of advent devotions from Blacknall, celebrating and preparing our hearts to remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus and to anticipate His Second Coming. My favorite Scripture from advent this year is, "God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5) which we repeated each night as we lit the advent candles. I find this Scripture such an encouragement because if I were to only see the darkness in this world that is so prevalent, I would be depressed and discouraged, but to lift my eyes up to God, Himself, who is light and who brings light to the world brings me great courage and hope to continue through each day - especially as we have seen such difficult circumstances in which people live here in Kenya.

On Christmas Eve morning, perhaps the best memory of this year's Christmas was the opportunity we had to go out into the community to deliver Christmas baskets to the poor, to many widows in our community. The Titchies (Elementary School children) had raised enough money through their weekly offerings this fall to purchase food for 60 baskets for the poor. A whole troop of vehicles and people came out that morning to help deliver the baskets. Our family went along with a few others down to Kijabe Town (different from Kijabe, the mission station where we live). We drove down the mountain on a muddy road about 2 miles to Kijabe Town. There are three roads leaving RVA: two paved roads which lead out to the main highways, and one dirt road which I'd never been down. I'd heard that it went to Kijabe Town, but didn't know more than that. Kijabe Town used to be a train station stop, but some 50-60 years ago, they decided to move the train tracks a mile away or so, leaving this little village on its own. No one passes through it. It has no business or economy. The people are subsistence farmers. We stopped in to see 6 different widows, most living on their own, some supporting children or grandchildren. As we delivered the baskets, we were greeted with grace, love and joy; handshakes and hugs. For the most part, these women lived in one room, mud walled, dirt floored homes. They probably only each had one set of clothes. Most probably don't know where the food will come from day to day. Almost all of them greeted us with a deep joy - not just at receiving the food - but in sharing in fellowship with us. It was humbling as these women prayed blessings over us in their native tongue. We couldn't converse too much because these women only spoke Kikuyu, the local tribal language, not even swahili. (We did have one in our group who served as a translator and guide as we visited each home.) At each home, we also sang a Christmas carol. Many invited us to visit again - that we would always be welcome in their homes. The encouragement that I received on that morning was that as we brought light through the children's gift to them, they brought us the same light in their love and joy toward us and in their faithfulness to our God.

Rain, Rain and More Rain

As I had mentioned earlier in the fall, we've have learned much more about subsistence living and what it is like to rely on the earth and the weather for your income/food. Though we haven't learned this firsthand, we have learned through our friends. Most Kenyan folks that we know rely on their chambas (gardens) as their main source of food. Their incomes, if they have jobs, do not provide enough for all of their living expenses. For several seasons, most people have lost their crops to drought. This past fall, the rainy season was off to a good start with a good mix of rain and sun through October and into November, but then in early December it became hot and dry, too early. Our campus started to turn brown, but its really not a big deal to have brown grass. Many of the people have lost their potato crops (main crop), though they say that if it starts raining again, they may be able to save their other crops (maize, carrots, sukama wiki). Well, it has started to rain again. Every day for the past five, it has rained - downpoured all afternoon. We are thankful for the rain for our friends, for the earth; and we hope and pray that their crops will revive and produce to abundance!

Hell's Gate National Park

Our friends, Ed and Debbie, and their three teenage children took us on a day trip to Hell's Gate National Park last week. Its only about an hour's drive from RVA. It was one of the most breathtaking places we've visited in Kenya thus far. As we drove into the park, we saw many zebra, a few giraffe, warthogs, cape buffalo, and various types of antelope, nestled in between the high rock cliffs. We even saw 3 rock climbers in the distance at one point. We drove to the picnic area for lunch and then set out for a hike through a gorge. Some of the hike was wet, though you could avoid the wet if you wanted to. The kids were all wet, of course, enjoying splashing in the stream along the way. Both Abby and Andrew would hardly hold a hand - they were so excited to hike with and like the big kids! The hike was mostly flat, but there were a few up/down spots with rocks to climb which made it a challenging hike. We were definitely sore the next morning.

Can you find the rock climbers?

Cruising through the park (slowly) admiring the wild animals!

Starting the hike...

Taking a break

Walking through the gorge

Doing a little rock climbing ourselves

Gorgeous rock formations

At the end of the hike we tried to visit some hot springs. When some of us were knee deep, others of us were already chest deep and swimming. We decided to turn back only to later find out from some other folks that there had been a landslide the previous day which had caused that area to fill up with water which therefore made it difficult to reach the hot springs. There were however a few small hot springs that we did get to see and feel - its amazing to see water running down a cliff and its almost too hot to touch! And just next to it - another stream of water coming down that's ice cold!

Trying to find the hot springs (They told us we'd get a little wet, but...)

Soaked and loving it!

All the kids at the end of the hike

It was an incredible day - enjoying God's Creation. One of the great joys of the day was that there were hardly any other people there - to be in a place like this and feel like you're the only ones there makes it even that much more astounding!

Baptism Sunday

Today it was Baptism Sunday at the AIC (Africa Inland Church) in Kijabe. There are normally two services: English at 8:30am and Swahili at 10am. Today it was a combined service. We started in the backyard of the church near the baptismal pool (about 10feet x 4feet) at 9am. There were several people heating large pots of water over open fires in order to heat up the baptismal pool. We gathered around for a song and prayer and then the pastor introduced baptism. About a dozen people were coming for baptism, making a public profession of their faith in Christ. Each baptism was full immersion in the pool, a type of baptism which I had never before witnessed before coming to Kenya (the first was two students at RVA in November). It was a celebratory time as each one came forward and was baptized. Following the baptisms, we moved back into the church where the worship service continued.

Most of what was said in church was spoken in both swahili and english, but some of the songs were only english or only swahili. Alex, Abby, Andrew and I know enough swahili to speak pleasantries to people, but not enough to understand sermons or worship songs. However, the morning reminded me of a morning about 12 years ago, when Alex and I barely knew each other and were in a worship service in spanish in La Paz, Bolivia, serving there with others from Park Street Church, Boston, on a short term mission project. I remember the overwhelming emotion of experiencing a bigger world than I had previously known. A bigger world - a world of many languages and cultures - but where across the world, people are gathering together in praise and worship of the same God. It is amazing to sing and praise God in a language with which one is unfamiliar, yet feel united to the other people in the room through the fellowship and unity of the Holy Spirit.

Another thing that struck me was that this week and last week, the service was filled with dancing - not something you experience on a typical morning at our church in Durham. I contemplated the meaning of and our interpretation of praise. We can't help but be affected by the culture in which we worship. The Psalms are full of praise and exhortations to praise God - and I usually think of praising God with my words, prayers, or songs. But here, we are praising with dancing. With whole bodies and with a new (to me) expression of praise. Its not that it was new to me that dance was an expression of worship and praise, but it struck me in a new way today somehow. Perhaps it was seeing the adults this week or the youth last week dancing with all that was in them to praise Him that put new meaning to it for me.

Friend from NC

Two weeks ago, we had a great visit with our friend John, from Durham, NC and from Blacknall, our church. He was in Nairobi for work and drove out to Kijabe on a Saturday to spend the day with us. We toured he and his colleague around campus, ate typical Kenyan food at our local Mama Chiku's, and hiked down the mountain on what is known as The Fig Tree Hike. Its only about a 20 minute hike below the hospital which is about 15 minutes below our house. At the end of the hike there is a gorgeous fig tree growing with roots exposed on the side of a cliff, amidst the boulders. From this point, there is a beautiful vista of the Rift Valley. There were a few Kenyan boys there as well. We conversed a little and offered them our chapatis (which Mama Chiku had packed up for us) for which they were very thankful. They are herders and sell their cow's milk each day at the local market, which was interesting because the project for which John had traveled to Nairobi was related to dairy farming in the area. We spent a little time at the fig tree; and then hiked back up the mountain. It was such an encouraging visit to see John, a friend from home!

The Everyday & Christmas plans

Its hard to believe that we are already halfway through December which means that we are halfway through our school break or "Vac" (pronounced Vake) as they call it around here. We have spent a lot of time enjoying the everyday things: library visits, playtime with friends for Abby and Andrew, baking Christmas cookies, game nights with friends (Settlers of Catan tournament last night), dinners with friends, walks on the guard trail (perimeter of our campus), etc. Alex works most days at the IT office, though occasionally takes a day off here and there.

Many of you have asked what our Christmas plans are. We will be here at RVA for Christmas. Sunday we have a Christmas potluck dinner and Christmas service. On Christmas Eve we hope to help with the Christmas basket distribution (which the children purchased and put together in Sunday School) and later in the day attend an open house at another missionary family's house (complete with live nativity). Christmas day, we will celebrate at home with our family in the morning, followed by brunch with friends and dinner with friends. We have yet to decorate our tree, but it is up in our living room. We keep hoping to string popcorn and make paper chains, but the mood hasn't struck us yet. There are even a few presents underneath the tree: all created/found and wrapped by the kids. Andrew wrapped one for Daddy and when he got home from work he said, "Daddy, guess what your Chrismas present is?" After much back and forth - "Andrew, I don't want to know. I want it to be a surprise" "Just guess!" etc. After much back and forth, Andrew finally gave up and said, "OK, well we won't be able to play UNO for the next week until Christmas. Though I missed making my advent wreath at Blacknall this year, I did manage to put a small one together and we are enjoying the Blacknall advent devotional guide (www.blacknall.org) as a daily family devotional guide through the season of advent.

Another Visit with Friends

Alex with David's father and uncle

The children sharing their meal together

Andrew taking a turn on the swing

their chamba

their chamba, with their homes in the background

David and his sheep

(He was holding one so that Andrew could come pet it, but Andrew couldn't quite get the nerve up!)

an armful of maize

Melissa with David's youngest daughter

Our friend David invited us to his house a few weeks ago. He lives up the mountain from us and works here at RVA. He and his family moved to Myingi about 2 years ago after being displaced from their village because of political tensions. As he put it, "We had everything there, and now, here, we have nothing. We started with nothing." They have built about 4 small houses and a chamba on a small plot of land, about 1/4 acre. The 2 room homes are built with a stick frame, mud walls, and a tin roof. They have dirt floors and tin roofs. The walls are lined with cardboard to keep out the drafts (they live even higher up the mountain than us) and decorated with newspaper and magazine clippings. The kitchens and bathrooms (outhouses) are separate buildings. The kitchen is basically a small room with a fire pit in the middle over which they cook their meals in one pot. David and his wife and two children live in this group in addition to his parents, his uncle, his brother and his family, and his sister and her family. I think there are about 22 people living in their "compound". We were greeted with wonderful hospitality. Goat stew, greens, and ugali - all which were eaten with our fingers. He said spoons were for mazungi (white people) and since we are their friends, we would eat like them! We were honored to receive such a feast, especially since we know that they go without eating many meals because of lack of ability to purchase or grow food. He toured us around, showed us his fruits and vegetables that were happily growing thanks to the mix of rain and sun over the last 6 weeks. We then went back into the house for chai. He next showed us their two sheep and 4 chickens. The children had great fun playing together and his youngest daughter even sang a few songs for us. When we said that we better be going (to get home before dark), they said, "No, no. leave already?" So we sat down and drank more chai and enjoyed more conversation. As evening was setting in, we said our goodbyes and made our way down the mountain. The walk was about 1 hour up and 45 minutes down. He says it only takes him 30 minutes, but we were slow b/c of traveling with children. It was a very steep climb -- no switchbacks; and we were very proud of Abby and Andrew for making it all the way up. David did give them a lift at a few points too which helped! Also, we departed with arms full of ears of corn and fresh eggs from the hen house. What generosity.

Sadly, there has been no rain for the past 10 days. He says that his potato crop (main crop) is dying. If it doesn't rain soon, they will lose it altogether. We continue to pray for rain. David told us the other day that if it rains or if it doesn't he has confidence and hope in God, who is the One in control. What purity of trust and love for our God!

Living on a missionary budget in Kijabe, we have never felt so wealthy (materially) as we have since living here.

We have food - lots of it and lots of variety.

We have a modern kitchen.

We have 2 bathrooms!

We have a wood floor and plaster walls.

We have a wood stove.

We have beautiful flower gardens, without worry of needing to grow our food.

We have work and salary.

We have a washing machine.

We have a refrigerator.

We have clean water with indoor plumbing.

We have clothes - lots of them.

Food. Clothing. Shelter.

We are abundantly provided for by our great God.

This great God is the same God of our friends who seem to have so little (materially).

Yet we share in friendship and encouragement in the faith.

And though they have little, they are rich spiritually because they know and trust that they have a God who is for them. Afterall, He is the one who became man and walked on this earth over two thousand years ago in order to love us and save us and offer us new life in Him.

One of our favorite advent/Christmas songs:

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

Born to set they people free;

From our fears adn sins release us;

Let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

Hope of all the earth thou art;

Dear Desire of every nation,

Joy of every longing heart.

Born they people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,

Born to reign in us forever,

Now they gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone;

By thine all-sufficient merit

Raise us to thy glorious throne.

The Coast

Abby & Andrew on the beach

Learning to swim with snorkels

Andrew learning to swim with Alex

Melissa, Abby and Andrew on the beach

We had the privilege of vacationing at the coast last week. We traveled by car to Nairobi and then by plane to Malindi. We arrived to incredibly hot, humid weather and were greeted at our resort with cool towels and pineapple juice. One of the best parts of a tropical vacation has got to be all of the fresh fruit and fruit juices! We spent the better part of the week swimming in the pool, but also enjoyed a windsurfing lesson, kayaking, pedal-boating, bicycling, snorkeling along the coral reef, tidal pool walks, water aerobics, sand castle building, and swimming in the Indian Ocean. One of the highlights was that Andrew learned to swim! Abby lost her 6th tooth while being (voluntarily) thrown in the pool. Thankfully Alex was able to fish it out of the bottom of the pool. She was happy to discover that the tooth fairy does visit kids in Kenya! The snorkeling and the tidal pool walks were amazing. We saw a huge variety of fish, several different kinds of crabs, sea urchins, sea anenomes, rays, and eels (some very large). It was a truly relaxing and refreshing getaway after a very busy school term. We are thankful.

Thanksgiving Day

We had the pleasure of spending Thanksgiving day with RVA friends and enjoyed quite a feast! Some of you have asked if we had turkey and the answer is YES! Our hosts, Charlotte and Vic, bought and roasted a fresh turkey from a local farm. We enjoyed all the typical treats: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, carrot souffle, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, rolls, and even cranberry sauce (imported, of course). I baked the pumpkin (from an actual pumpkin - not a can) pie and the apple pie (my mom's recipe), complete with whipped cream!

Caught a Chameleon

Alex, Abby, and Andrew caught a chameleon when walking across campus on Thanksgiving day. In order to observe him for a few days, we have him in a terrarium with a few bugs to keep him content. Its been amazing to watch him change colors!

Our Growing Garden!

Our garden is thriving and we reaped the benefits of our first harvest of spinach and sukama wiki which we enjoyed in a yummy soup last night! Well, three out of four of us thought it was yummy... We all love watching our garden grow!

Ballet Class

Abby has been taking ballet classes this term and loves it! Her class is with other children in grades 1-6. There are two high school helpers in addition to the teacher. For the last class of the term, families were invited to an open class.

A Visit with Friends

Sarah and Abby

Michael (7) drawing with Abby and Andrew

Michael (10) showing us his family photo album

Michael and Andrew, drawing together

Melissa, Scovia, Sarah, Melise

Michael and Andrew playing soccer (w/Andrew's old soccer ball that had been flat - Michael had it repaired)

Scovia and her brother, Ben, showing us how to operate the well

Melissa & Scovia in front of her house

Melise and Melissa looking at their Chamba (garden which feeds their family)

We had the privilege of visiting our friend, Scovia, and her family a few weekends ago. She invited us (our family and Melise for whom she also works) to lunch on Sunday after church and it was a feast! We enjoyed a feast of rice, beef/vegetable stew, chapatis (imagine tortillas but thicker), and carrot soup. They live about a half hour walk up the mountain from us. It was pouring rain that day, so some friends drove us up to her house. She lives with her mother, Sarah, and her son, Michael (age 10). Also pictured are her niece Sarah (age 4) and her nephew Michael (age 7). After lunch, the kids drew pictures together and played soccer/football outside when the skies had cleared. Then we had chai (milk, sugar, tea) and carrot cake (which we had brought). They said that Kenyans rarely eat cake - usually only at weddings - unless you work for a missionary family . :) Scovia's mother had worked for missionary families at RVA for many years and is retired now, though she still bakes and sells her baked goods at the dukas on occasion.

When Scovia was 10 her father was killed in a matatu (minivan bus-like service) crash. She and her mother and her two brothers moved to Kijabe to stay with an aunt which is when Sarah began working at RVA. A missionary family bought them a plot of land and built them this house years ago. There is no electricity, no indoor plumbing and a very primitive kitchen. There was one main room which was a sitting/eating area with couches & coffee table. The bedroom(s) were off to one side and the kitchen to the other. Their concrete floor and plaster walls seem a luxury to many Kenyans in the Kijabe area who live in mud walled, dirt floored, one room dwellings made out of wood planks and tin roofs.

It was an incredible day filled with great hospitality. What a blessing!