Chapel

This past Sunday I was asked to speak at chapel for our kids.  Preparing for this was a little hard as the topic was Courage. Something I feel like I do not always have. Especially as I look to changing my life in the next few months. The kids at school are not aware of my transition but I was wishing they were. It would have made my words a little more meaningful. I always spend time on my words but when it comes time to speak I rarely look at them. I use them as a bit of a guide but that is all. It always feels good once I get going. Then I leave the rest to God and hope that at least one child has heard something. To add a bit of excitement a bird flew into chapel while I was speaking. But kept going.

Birthday

Well I had the special honor of celebrating my Sister Charity's birthday. I left home around 6:30 am to get a matutu and leave town at 7 am to head to Charity's home in Nakuru. I spent the morning there as Charity needed to get some things done around that house before we headed to town. We did some shopping once we got there and then had a very special lunch together. It was such a privilege to spend the day with her and Iamni. Precious time I will never forget.

Imani enjoying her ice cream

Ended with the best cake I have ever had in Kenya

Joy

I think the pictures say it all. I have known this family since I came. There are three kids in the family. The oldest is in grade 4. This baby is a bit of a miracle so it be a blessing to see her. She is 5 months old. It took us a while to get to see her but we finally did.

This one wanted nothing to do with me at the house. When we were walking away she heard bees and ran to me and would not leave.

Visit

While we were in Nairobi to visit the church we also went took time to see some former students of PACE that lived in the area. It was good to see them again and catch up on there lives. It is hard to believe how long we have been a part of there lives. Another blessing to thank God for.

Pineapple

Pineapple is one of my favorite things to have here. It just tastes right. We saw a new way of eating pineapple and thought we would give it a try. You know how you see things on TV or some other place and it looks so easy. Well this looked easy in reality it was no so easy. We still enjoyed it but it was a messy process.

You cut off the top of the pineapple. Then each section you are just pull off.

It turned into a two hand effort that left lots of juice behind.

Five Hour Church Service

This past weekend we (David, Diane and myself) headed to Nairobi for a few things. I had not been feeling well the week past. I had picked up a bug that was not letting me keep food down. I had gone to the hospital to get meds. So I was a little unsure about the 3 hour travel to Nairobi. But I made it okay. We left Sat.
On Sunday we attended a church in one of the slums in Nairobi. It was a pastor friend of David's. They picked us up at the hotel around 9:30.  We were dropped and walked through part of the slum to get to the church. The first thing you smell is sewage and the smell does not go away. Then we hear loud music. Now this is not abnormal in Kenya. If the music or TV are not loud then something is wrong. We walk into the church. It is not that big. Maybe 50 seats packed in. The music was so loud the it was impossible to talk to another person. In fact my the inside of my body was vibrating. At first we just sat at the first row. Then we got moved to the front. The service started and then it went and went and went. We were also under a tin roof which made it so hot. Diane and myself shared a short word with them. And David did the main message. They also had a baby dedication at the end. This was also interesting as once the baby has been dedicated by the pastor the baby is passed around to everyone. And just passed by thrown. It was crazy to watch. It what was done to that child done in Canada someone would be going to jail. But the baby was content.
It was also good to be there as some of our students at PACE attend that church so we got to see there parents.

After the service we needed to talk lunch. I only took plain rice and water.  We left the church area at about 4:00 and then got caught in a jam so it took another 30 mins. to get back to the hotel. We survived. It is always a good experience.

In front of the church. I am beside a parent and the pastor is beside him

A better look at the outside of the church and area

Me speaking with interpreter 

Rainbow

This was outside our house. It was a good reminder of God protection. The pictures do not show how clear it was but it was amazing.

More time for family

I had the privilege once again to spend time with family. It is always a blessing to come together. To catch up and to bless one another. This family has been a part of my life since 2015.  Rose the one beside me has been a faithful sister. I traveled to there house starting at 2:30 am Thursday morning. Meet Rose on the road in Nairobi around 5:30 am. Then we drove to her house were I slept for bout two house. We then spent the day in town as I had some business at immigration and she had some things to do. We arrived home around 6:30. Then I took them for supper. It was a blessed night. Friday morning we had a relaxing morning and then I left Nairobi about 2:30 pm. It was a good time.

Out for supper with Family

One of there cats that liked to sleep on my slippers