Loving Daily Life, In Luo Land!!

(Saturday April 23rd)


Sunset over Lake Victoria

Today was actually a very relaxing day! had Language class till 12 noon, on my beloved Saturday! starting at the terribly uncivilized hour of 8 a.m.  after class the twins an I, along with Carolyn, Stacy, an Charity, went to "hangover" which is a very awesome restaurant an ate chapatti's an beef, an the food was actually served very quickly which is a very unusual occurrence for Kenya! we then strolled around town alittle visiting the little shacks an looking over what they had to sell, Steve wond up buying a sporty little hat for the youth supper this Friday evening. we enjoyed having luo conversations with the locals, as far as our limited store of words allowed us anyway.

At Kikoko Bay

We got back in the afternoon, an I helped get laundry back in an put it away, then we all chilled abit, an then got ready to go to Marlins for supper, had some of their much advertised, amazing pizza, an hand cranked ice cream! It was all very good. after supper the electric went off but we still had a good time.

(Sunday April 24th)

Fish Dinner

Today we had a normal Sunday. As well as a smaller attendance. Linford had a message on: Is the hub of your life Jesus?! he used a bike tire to demonstrate, something they could identify with, an have a visual mind picture, that with out a hub, an spokes of Prayer, Bible reading, an witnessing going out to the tire, the wheel cannot rotate.

We had had a lot of rain Saturday evening, so that made for a muddy trip to church, with sloshing  through huge mud puddles, an slipping around in the mud at church. I so wished I would have worn my old sandals, or else went barefoot like I seen some smart natives doing, course a person never knows what is crawling around in the dirt here.

To get our van out of the church yard, Dad had to take a run at a little patch of gravel, an then, speed up an use that traction to propel him out of the low wet church yard.

Dad & Mom an Linford & Kay

Linford was trying to get their vehicle out an all four tires were slinging mud, so it was a new experience going to church in older dresses, but if you get muddy might as well not ruin good clothes!



Charity was at our house for lunch. We Sorta made a deal with her that if she brings dessert, she can come every Sunday for lunch, she always did that with Tommy's, and she also said she always washed the dishes after lunch, so we are keeping up the tradition I guess. we love having her!

Our family was just at home Sunday evening, studying our homework for classes Monday Morning.

Eating supper at the Bay

(Monday April 25th)

Had Language till noon. After class Dad an Joe went to join the pastors meeting till around 4:30 or 5:00.

After having lunch break, the twins went to help Jadon an Lavon work in the weld shop.

I helped around home, but mostly worked on the blog.

as Stan was coming home from working, I ask if he would wanna go walking? so we went out an walked up the street almost to Nakamatt where we do most of our grocery shopping, I'm guessing it's about a mile one way, but with all the sites along the way, it seems a lot shorter...Seems there is always something to watch along the way!

(Tuesday April 26th)

Had Language class.

In the afternoon the twins were working in the weld shop. Dad was around home all day, running here an there doing things that needed doing. Mom was baking, an I was sewing the dress for my friend Jane.

The native youth from Stacey's church came around 5:30 pm about 15 of them, we had a v-ball game planned for tonight, but it got cancelled because it started to rain an it didn't stop for quite some time.

so we all just loafed around home here. an that is about all that happened today!

(Wednesday April 27th)

Language till 12.

In the afternoon Dad an the boys went to town to get several things.

Mom was cooking away in the kitchen, an I was enjoying working an weeding the flower beds, in the very warm sunshine!

We will be hosting the weekly Thursday evening prayer meeting at our house.

Dad an Mom went to town to get some groceries, then came back in time to go out for supper with Linford & kay.

Dad doing lawn care

The bros an I went to town an bought random things to eat at little booths along the way, then sat on the pavement to eat our food, an watched as everyone passed by with amused looks on their faces, that we "white People" sat there in the middle of everything eating our supper.



The Mystery Supper

We then strolled around town looking at various shops, Stan bought a pair of pants he had spotted earlier, we had a grand time chatting with people, an my brothers already have friends that recognize them, so when they start laughing an talking, it usually goes awhile! Wayne especially likes talking with the natives, they get a huge kick out of his humor, an his size! =) they are always asking what he eats, since Kenyans prefer being heavier, rather then skin an bones like most of them are!



seems that our family keeps breaking things around here! its so embarrassing...but my brothers were all sitting on the one side of their bed earlier this week, they were looking at something on the laptop, an with a loud CRACK! the bed collapsed!! an they descended rapidly to the floor with a solid THUNK!! needless to say the next day found Steve the handy man strolling around looking for any stray pieces lumber to restore their former place of abode.

Stacey, Micah, Charity

Anyway, me an the three bros got home just shortly after dark from an enjoyable time with our town people.

We all then worked on getting our homework assignments done...

(Thursday April 28th)

Had Language in the forenoon.

We all ate lunch, an either took power naps, or started on various tasks, but by afternoon we were all busy, mowing lawn, cleaning, washing windows, etc. Trying to get our little place ready for the compound prayer meeting, an even though we had a big rain storm just before prayer meeting an it knocked out our power, we lite the candles, an the lamps, an prayed for the requests anyway. an for the restoration of light! :) we all had a great evening.



Weston, Carolyn, Marcus

(Friday April 29th)

Had Language in the forenoon.

Then we all ate lunch, an rested abit.

Dad an mom went to town for some things, an I worked on getting most of the blog done, which is shorter then usual, which I am very proud of... an was a nice break from typing!

Wayne cleaning up the place

The twins did odd jobs here an there, an then we all got ready to go to the mystery supper that Janette, Jadon an Lavon had planned for the youth as a farewell before they leave us in several weeks. So they had a nice table set up for the whole group of us, Marcus an Micah joined us for the occasion, adding their epic humor to our fun little group! We had a great evening...even if I had to eat my salad, an Peanut butter pie first. since all the food had different names,(Salad= Jennifer's Gardens, Silverware= Masia spears, etc.)  you had to fill out a slip of paper with what you "thought" you wanted for first, second, an third course. at least we all got our silverware with the first course, but was rather disappointing not to be able to watch a poor soul trying to eat their food without utensils!

Janette did an amazing job, an she had cooked up a 5 star meal, with all her younger siblings underfoot, an her parents gone! wow! what a super-women!



Steve an Jadon Working on welding

Stan, Clarissa, Steve, me!

Dad & Mom left around 8:15 pm to go out for supper with Joeseph & Becky, an Linford & Kay the Asian restaurant doesn't open till 9:00 pm! so that is why they left so late, seemed like a strange hour to eat dinner to me, but tomorrow would be Saturday anyway, an they reported much yummy food an amazing time together! Seems the last several days we have helicopters flying overhead, an I heard say that they are calling in soldiers from the Kenyan army to help with the riots that have been breaking out, with the upcoming election, there was a riot in town earlier this week, an the local police were able to control it temporarily with tear-gas ect. but make it a matter of prayer, if you think about it, that the staff could be safe, during this time.

An so ends another week in Luo land...we keep loving it here, more an more every day!

Sylvia -For the Miller's

 



Center piece

 



Jadon, Lavon, Janette

 



Charity Got heaping portions!

 

Me an Me Bro's =)

Tires Spinning Mud, An Our Brains Spinning with The Luo Language!!!

Some of the AMA youth

(Saturday April 16th)

We have upgraded on our vehicle! oh happy day!

Misawa! (hello)    *at this time feel free to clap for me, as I have officially learned a Luo word! =0   =) along with several other words as well.

Had a lazy Saturday by sleeping in a little. then at 12 I went swimming with Stacey, Carolyn, an Charity at a local pool, we had a grand time together, an I felt like I got to know then a little better by hanging out with them! We got back from swimming at around 3:00 pm all fried to a crisp!

The rest were just around home doing various tasks, Dad & Mom were just leaving for town to pick up several groceries.

Stan with some Masi Friends

I quickly made some pizza dough for supper, an did some other food prep.

We then had supper on the front porch once Dad & Mom came back.

Then I finished the blog...we were jus around home, Dad stopped next door to check up on Joallen & Glenda our new neighbors, that we are learning to know very well, by spending time together in language classes.

(Sunday April 17th)

Today we keenly felt the absence of Tommy's...but appreciated that Linford & Kay were here to help us out with all their Kenyan experience!

Language Class

Dad along with Linford & Kay left early for instruction class, the rest of us miller's along with Charity coming for Sunday school an the services.

The services went fairly normal, with Linford doing an alter call after the message, several people responded, however, alter call is something fairly new to the backwoods, poor people from our church. none the less, the one man became converted for the first time! Praise the Lord! so that was exciting, an adds fuel to the spirit of working here!

My First Piki-Piki Ride!

The usher made a complaint today that when he got to church, he noticed that someone had seen we hadn't slashed our grass with machete's in a while, an somehow unlocked the main gate, an turned his cows loose in our church yard, an since we don't have doors on our church house the cows entered the place of worship, an bumped the backless benches around, as well as leaving digested, recycled "food" all over, he encouraged whoever it was to not do that again as he had a big mess to clean up! so I thought, well thank God for dirt floors...because you never know who, or what, might be inspired to attend church, we had several chickens turn up for worship as well the other Sunday... I guess so is life in Kenya!



Ministers Meetings Seminar

We had charity to our house for lunch as she would always go to Tommy's for lunch an according to the report she was always welcome for lunch at Tommy's if she would bring dessert, as well as wash up the dishes! so the tradition has kept on as she is added to our family to have lunch with us every Sunday, an we are thrilled to have her!

We all took our naps of course, after lunch was disposed of.

Little Tiffany She reminds me SO much of Angela

In the evening Linford an Kay stopped by for abit on their way to Wayne an Clara's house. We ended up inviting Joallen & Glenda to our house for popcorn an drinks.

And so ended yet another week!

(Monday April 18th)

Today was the first day of language classes.

There are 8 students, our family except for Wayne (you have to be 16 to join class) Joe n Glenda and the social worker Stacey. So that makes for an exciting learning atmosphere, along with lots of laughter an goof-up's to be sure! It starts at 8 am every morning, ending at 12 o'clock noon. Monday - Friday, so it is nice to have the afternoons off to catch up on other things that need to be done.

Language Class

After classes were dismissed Dad an JoeAllen went to the pastors meeting that had started at 8 am as well.



Wayne went with Jadon an Lavon to Nakuru to do some carpentry work for CAM there. they left this morning at 6, an will be back on Wednesday.



Mom was doing laundry, an supervising the lady that now comes to do our ironing for some of the ladies here on the compound, she makes several shillings, an we get a little break! I like this lady a lot! =)- since I am the next thing to allergic to ironing!!

Ministers Meetings

Mom also discovered a new occupation around home here is to keep our new dog "prince" from becoming too protective! as he was fairly vicious with some customers that came to buy eggs, he was growling at them, an mom was trying to get him to calm down! but no one got hurt so it all ended ok.

We are in charge of the terribly smelly, before mentioned chickens, an sell the extra eggs to stray customers that stop by.

After language classes I tried to settle the "Jumble Tumble" state my Brain was in, with English, Luo, Dutch, an maybe even Spanish wordo's floating around in it!

Janette then asked me if I would wanna go to Java house(coffee, ice cream shop.) with her on Piki-piki's (dirt bikes) an of course I said no! as I wanted to do more studying on language, an maybe some laundry.... KIDDING!!!  OH! My! Word! YES!! I wanted a ride on a piki-piki for so long, an was terribly excited to get out an do something with her!

The youth playing games at our house

The ride on the bike was really neat! I loved it! only I had to try an control my GASP'S! to short, little, quiet, intakes of air, especially when we went sailing right through town, an dangerously close calls zipping in front of other vehicles, I also thought he leaned way to far going around corners! but I had to remind myself to take long even breaths! an also that he probably, hopefully, had done this longer then me!

So I got home put the laundry away an then we had supper, Dad an Stanley went to Nakamatt were we do our shopping, to buy some groceries, an also bought some pringles! we all enjoyed those a lot! an I think some of them even got put into hiding, since they are really expensive. We really missed having Wayne around.

Steve had a little bit of a fever today, but it only lasted today. an us others have not gotten sick yet. so that is something to be thankful for!

(Tuesday April 19th)

We had language classes In the forenoon.

 Visiting an Singing with The couple that stayed at our house over night

In the afternoon the twins were working on digging holes to concrete in the posts for the carport they are constructing, the holes needed to be 2 feet deep, an on the second hole they hit rock, an had to get out the crowbar an sledge hammer an in the blazing sun try to keep digging! needless to say they really missed Jadon an Lavon, an had many water breaks, an no weight lifting for them that evening! =) lol

I worked on some sewing.

(Wednesday April 20th)

Had language till 12. Dad & Mom along with Linford & Kay an Charity left for the weekly Wednesday Bible study with the church, right after language classes were over.

Steve & Stan were still working on the holes to set the carport posts in.

And I was at home cooking an cleaning, first I cooked two chickens for the soup that they wanted at the ministers meetings, to put over the rice. Our compound is hosting the ministers meetings this year, on Thursday an Friday. there were somewhere between 150 - 200 pastors an their wives an some children that came, most were natives.

Also cleaned my room extra good as a native pastor an his wife stayed at our place Thur. Evening.



Wayne got home this evening, finally! reporting much hard work, an also how he realized that he took things like air nailers for granted when building at home! as they had to pound every nail in by hand, I believe they were adding an addition to something or other. Wayne said they got it as far as the drywall, In three days! so he was excited about that, an despite extra callouses he enjoyed it very much!

(Thursday April 21st)

Wayne an our new dog prince

Today was a crazy busy day for me!

of course had language till 12 (you may get tired of that part of the blog, but bummer for you, its gonna go in! lol ) Mom an Dad left right after class to go to Rabour to have lunch with all the pastors there. Then came back to Kisumu with the rest of the caravan, an so started the seminars for ministers meeting. they were in seminar the rest of the afternoon, in Joseph & Becky's spacious back yard, under a big white tent, since, after all, this is right in the depths of rainy season!

Mom was gone the rest of the day so most of the cleaning an making the soup was left to me...I know poor, little, over-worked me! lol

With the forenoon already being extinct by being in language class, I dove into my cleaning, an making soup with a viciousness known only to a petrified individual running way behind schedule.

On our way to church, welcome to rainy season!

I was still cleaning windows at 5 pm, an supper was at 6 pm, I was supposed to be there to help serve the food! yikes! oh! me! I barely made it in time to help serve at the seminar, but I got there, just at the nic of time...I adjusted my veiling, smoothed the wrinkles out of my dress, took several deep breaths, an assumed nobody knew that my heart rate was unusually higher, then your average guest attending a dinner. I did however find out I hadn't made my soup quite right. imagine that! I was supposed to leave the chicken bones in the soup, since the natives are oh! so fond, of such "delicacies" so I guess bummer for me! I figure our dog an I will have a better friendship though, even if the natives missed having the bones! But chicken bones!!? For real!? I was almost sad... but then I happened to think how lucky these people are, that I am even here at the dinner, with the soup, an we are both still in-tack! maybe someday I will learn all the various ways of this strange culture... 

After supper was served, an bread an chia served, all us youth washed up all the dishes, an had just started good, when a African  rain storm blew in, scattering everyone to their various places of abode, an shortly after dishes were under way, the electric decided to go on the blink as well, so we finished up by using iPhone flash lights, then everyone piled in the van as the drive-ways were basically lakes of water, an everyone came storming into our house to play card games, an hangout till curfew! Marcus an Micah Beachy also joined our youth for the occasion, since obviously Mark & MaryEllen came for the seminar.

Hope we can make it through this one!?

(Friday April 22nd)

Today was a busy day again. we actually didn't have classes today because of the seminar, but will need to have classes on Saturday, to catch up, which gives me a terribly queasy feeling, since my sleeping in will not happen. yeah! I know...wimpy me. I got over it now... an even still live to tell about it! 

Dad & Mom were at the ministers meetings all morning, they got back home around 1pm right after the meetings were dismissed, only to leave for Rabour church where everyone was to have one last lunch together before everyone scattered back to their various villages. Dad & Mom got home in time to go out for supper with Marlin & Lavina, they reported a good relaxing evening, chatting an eating beside lake Victoria.

  In Kenya it's all about fellowshipping together, eating together, an building relationships!

On the way home from church, so now we wait!

a prime example of this is the other day, Dad was telling us how that when Tommy was still here, they were going to bible study an were running late, an come hurrying to the church where bible study was at, an find the group waiting, an chatting, just to discover that no one had a key to unlock the gate, an the key was at another house, so Tommy an Dad left again to hurry go get the key, so they get there to pick up the key at the ladies house, an the lady insisted that they sit down for a spell an wait while she makes chia, she also wanted to visit awhile... an then have them pray a blessing on her an her house. Dad said he was sitting there thinking, here we are waiting, an drinking chia, needing only a key, an the rest of the group is sitting an waiting for us to unlock the gate, but he reported on coming back no one was ruffled by the long wait, an continued on as if nothing happened! someone later told us that if they had returned right away, the bible study group would have been surprised an thought that they were very rude not to take time. amazing.

Mom working in her kitchen

Anyway, as for what the rest of us did on Friday, we were really glad for a day off of language classes, the boys were helping Jadon an Lavon with installing the carport. I then made lunch for the bros.

then I did mountains of laundry, with my amazing wringer washer, an other then running out of wash line space, an not having enough clothes pins, things progressed very well!

I was just barely finished with laundry, in time to leave with Stacey at 2 pm to go shopping at the local markets, where you can buy cool little things the natives make, as well as the traditional scarves all the ladies love wearing, Stacy even showed me where some cool( actually very WARM) Muslim fabric shops were, an some pretty fabric, so now I know where to take all you visitors that are clogging up the airports on your way here to visit our family!! ;)  it was a really neat cultural experience, an even got to practice Luo with the natives, but I was a little disappointed how many of them spoke Swahili.

Table to serve food off of at the ministers meetings

We got back from shopping in time to eat supper, an leave for v-ball. the Nakuru youth guys came too, an we had some excellent games.

So now for my apology...ok, so yeah this blog was late... an yes, I am sorry it is. so I was really really busy this week, an I simply did not have time to write, an when I wanted to do the blog the internet was down, so there you have it! take it, or leave it! I will try my best to get it out on Saturdays.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive Mercy!"


I really Hope you all have the best week EVER! and remember... it's up to you to decide to have a good week...just saying.


Sylvia - For the Miller's

Communion, Bible School, an Two Sylvia's

*Our Family At Jennifer's Gardens*

(Saturday April 9th)

We all slept in like usual. mom did some cooking, an I worked on the blog. After lunch we all went driving around Kisumu, an finally found a parking spot, we walked around Kisumu, shopping along the little booths an shops along the street, every now, an then, stopping to buy different foods we hadn't tasted yet, that is when the blessing on the food, before you eat, becomes more important then usual! an the "Sanctify this food for our bodies sake!" part in the prayer becomes an earnest plea...



Jennifer's Gardens! (Warning Lots Of Pic's On This Blog, Of The Garden's)

we had quite an interesting time, my brothers especially liked stopping an talking to other boys along the way, chatting about anything from Luo words, to how much they can "bench" =) they enjoy the interaction about as much as the natives do.

we did wind up going to jubilee market, which has anything you can imagine... an then some more! it was terribly over-populated, an makes a person wonder where ALL these people come from!?

the market smelled horrible! an they had fish laying out in the sun, covered in flies, chicken coops, that smelled VERY bad too! I soon retired to the outside of the building to seek out some cooler temps an fresher air!

And then there are always the children that are begging...sigh...their big brown eyes looking pleadingly up at me, saying that they want a little something to eat, I always feel so hard-hearted to say no! but once you help one, seemingly they multiply, an soon you have a whole herd all around you!

we started for home again around 4:30 an Stan tried out his skills with our little manual  "stone crusher" as the people at the compound call it! he did very well! didn't stall it once...And once we got home, he explained in full dramatized detail how he had managed to do it so well! ;) (I love my brothers...most of the time!) lol

Tommy Baptizing The Three Applicants 

(Sunday April 10th)

Answering The Baptism Questions

Today was a BIG day! We had a baptism, communion, commissioning for Dad as Pastor, An Tommy's final message, an farewell. wow!  what an emotional time it was, the natives usually don't show much emotion, but for the last message with Tommy, an him having been their pastor for 10+ years is was quite the day, the ladies all crying an wiping their eyes as they hugged Margi for the last time, not knowing if they will ever see their family again...the men stiffly giving Tommy a hug, an blinking fast, to fight back the tears, as they left the church house. It was touching for me too, just to see how much the church loved an relied on Tommy's family, an it seemed like we were the "problem" that they were having to go through this change...an yet we knew that wasn't how it was, it just felt like it. we know it was God who was leading Tommy's back home, an it was God who was leading us to Kenya for 2+ years. so all I could do was put my arm around them an say, "Polly sauna"-very sorry- an cry with them.  (Don't know if that is spelled right, since I haven't taken langue classes yet. ;) but it seemed to draw us all together.

Commissioning Dad As The Pastor, An Linford As Assistant.

I was really blessed with my friend Jane, I guess for a little update on her...she was one of the applicants that was baptized, an then after baptism we had communion, an she made sure she was right in line so she could wash my feet, I somehow felt unusually humbled, an awed, watching her very black hands wash my feet, an realizing that way back in the bush of Africa there are Christians that believe, an are willing to face terrible mocking an rejection from family an friends to live the Christian life, it truly was awesome experience, that I wouldn't trade for anything! an the water even got dirty an had to be changed! so different from at home.

Jane also shyly told me "yuh dress looks smart!" an after she repeated it several times, I finally got that she was saying that she thought my dress was nice! :) but what touched me the most of all that Sunday, was after the service, I was standing outside the church house, watching the ladies hug an cry on Margi's shoulder, telling her their final good-byes. I had to cry just watching it all...an suddenly I feel someone was standing right beside me, an I look... an it was Jane!! her eyes filled to the brim with unshed tears, so I put my arm around her an we cried together...somehow I feel like I am beginning to know a really good friend, we haven't talked much because

My New Friend Jane, An I

of the langue barrier. but somehow I already dread to ever have to tell her good-bye! I can sense such a friendship with her...Thank you Jesus for your care!!

We got home from church around 3:00 since good-byes stretched out for a good long while...we ate a quick lunch, an retired for our naps. The twins an I met at Marlins at 6:30 for song practice, along with the rest of the youth, as well as Mark Beachy an both of his sons. (Marcus An Micah) we sang three songs in Swahili for Tommy's farewell, that was at 7pm. we also watched some slides at Joseph's house from the years of service that Tommy's have done here at Kisumu. All the men shared a "last speech" with Tommy an Tommy shared briefly with them, encouraging them to not despair, but keep on working in the work of the Lord! we then had a snack afterwards, an comforted ourselves that the final good-byes could be left till Tuesday morning when they left.

Linford Counseling A Former Baptism Applicant.

It felt like a very emotionally draining day. Especially pray for dad as the reality of it all sinks in as Tommy leaves. We are very thankful for Linford an Kay though, as they will take care of church responsibilities till we are through langue classes.  

(Monday April 11th)

Today we had "family Day" at the compound, basically, you did something with just your family, or else another family on the compound.

Thatched Hut At Jennifer's Gardens.

Monkey Eating A Banana

The Gardens

Flowers In Gardens

Marlin An Dad Discussing Life's Perplexity's

Dad Gone Horizontal! ;)

Marlin's family invited our family to go with them to "Jennifer's Gardens", which we had seen pictures of but never got to go there. Jennifer's Gardens is a lovely, well kept, garden up in the Nandi Hills, an perfect for relaxing, as it has several small ponds, an it is up in the mountains, so it is a little cooler, an saying it is pretty is totally an completely an understatement! words an pictures cannot capture the real beauty of it all! (only a visit! ;)  It is about 1-2 hours from the compound here. the gardens have all kinds of flowers, creeks, an nice green grass! an even have friendly monkeys that came really close when we started feeding them some popcorn! we all sat around eating, talking, played some very lame rook games, an corn-hole, an just relaxed in the "heavenly" atmosphere! after all the people, bad smells, dirt, an stink, we faced the last month, it was so very awesome to be there! I actually caught myself wondering, if perhaps, just maybe.... I had for real died an went to heaven!! no! really!! it was SO pretty, an the air was fresh an clean! an I could take deep breaths, without my stomach threatening to toss up it's contents!(by now you prolly realize,  I do not cope well with things that stink! =)- a real trail for me in Kenya!:) BUT Then as I was strolling through the gardens an meadows, an admiring the ponds an the surreal surroundings, all of a sudden! I feel a terrible stinging on one of my poor little toes! I quickly look down, an here this BIG red ant was literally feasting away on my toe!! I tried brushing him off, but finally had to pull him off as he was stuck onto my toe! needless to say my toe was bleeding were he had made a cut! an it hurt something fierce! Then I knew for certain that I indeed had not died an went to heaven, but was still quite alive an living in Kenya Africa! (It took awhile for the emotional setback to subside, but I got over it eventually! ) =) something funny that happened, that I feel is heavy on my heart that I should share, for those of you that know my Dad, you will appreciate this little story...so we had these rocket thingys an the children were shooting them around, well one got stuck waaaaay at the top of a big tree, so Jadon was standing on the van shooting rocks at it to no avail, then tried throwing one of his tennis shoes, yep! you guessed it! that one got stuck up there too! then he tried botchy balls, (they are really really heavy, kind of like bowling balls.) an wond-up getting three of those balls stuck up in the tree too, so Marlin said someone HAS to go up there an get them! they had tried different ways to get up the tree, since the tree bark would just crumble off, it made it hard to climb, they even backed a van up to the base of the tree, with a long, very unsteady wooden ladder on the top, but that didn't work either! so finally Jadon climbed the tree, an after much struggling, deliberating, an several loud "OUCHES!" he got all the items out of the tree an got back down safely. So this is the part of my story that I really wanted to say! so we were all standing around, or sitting around, (in some cases)  watching the drama unfold up in the tree! when there is a loud CRACK! an Dad goes head over tea kettle...one of his chair legs broke, an he went leisurely rolling under the table where all the food was on, of course everyone was howling with laughter, an Dad stays under the table a while, till the laughter subsides, or else his face changes to a more normal color again, then slowly rolls back out under the table an said, "If someone could bring me a tum, I think I might be ok!" wow! so typical Dad, I guess there's more then one way to handle an embarrassing situation! =) I don't know, maybe driving around visiting people an eating Ugali an chapattis is harder on the weight then we thought! possibly the mission should invest in more sturdy chairs around the compound since the arrival of our family!! :) :)

Enjoying Grilled Chicken

we left the gardens around 4:30 an got home to discover we were all quite sunburned with being up in the mountains, an right on the equator, the sun nipped us pretty good.

(Tuesday April 12th)

Saying Our Final Good-Bye's To Tommy's

Today was a busy day! we all gathered at Tommy's to bid our last good-byes at 8:00am Also, had a prayer of blessing on their family as they find their place back in America.

Dad was at home all day, organizing everything in his office, setting up the printer etc.

mom was home too cleaning up the feet washing utensils, an getting everything to Wayne an Clara as they will use it this Sunday in their church.

Steve went with Jadon as they took some of Tommy's luggage part ways, an then someone else met up with them, an took it on to Nairobi, an they returned home by evening.

Lavon left for a well drilling project, so that left Stan all to himself all day working on a steel frame for a carport they will be installing.



Christian Wagler Spending Last Few Minutes With "Prince"

after 8 am prayer at tommy's I did some laundry, as we had been gone all day Monday. an after Tommy's left I went over to get their wringer washer that they had said that we could use, I brought it home an set it up rejoicing that I wont be washing dresses an shirts by hand anymore, or waiting for the poky slow, little, front loader washer...but like a true missionary day, the story wasn't over yet! as I was putting the second load in the wringer washer, an already having visions of getting my laundry out early...something sounded funny with the motor, an with a crackle, an a sputter, an eerie silence followed! the "hero wringer washer" quit working right there. so it was back to the poky washer, till Jadon would have time to look at the wringer washer.

Wayne Practicing Photography Skills

After lunch I went to Tommy's house where all the ladies flocked to after Tommy's evacuated. The mission for the afternoon was, stripping the old wax off, an re-waxing the tile floors...a daunting task! especially with some furniture still in the house, after scrubbing an waxing all afternoon I got home around 6:00.

Unloading The Vehicles For The Picnic

 For those of you who don't know about this whole waxing floor jazz, I will explain in short: first you sweep the tile, then mop the tile clean, then put the stripping solution in water an slosh over the floor to remove all the old wax, then you scrub it with a brush to properly remove all wax, then mop three times, with new clean water each time, then put three coats of wax on, letting it dry in-be-tween each time, then move furniture to the newly waxed area, an repeat process!! yeah! pretty hard work. the floors were so clean you could practically eat off of them.

Tommy's had a dog named "Prince" that we somehow inherited after they left, so he is trying to get used to his new home, an will hopefully provide some protection for us, in an "all Mennonite, loving, nonresistant way!" =)

(Wednesday April 13th)

Hello! Any Banana's??

Mom an Dad left with Linford an Kay for the weekly bible study with the church on Wednesday's...the rest of us were working around home here. nothing major to write about today.

(Thursday April 14th)

Arriving At The Garden's

AMA Youth Meetings

Today all the youth from the compound along with all the pastors from the compound, an several of their wives, went to Rabour for a day of bible school with most of the native youth from all the different AMA churches. for once we Americans were the minority, it was just a one day thing, beginning in the morning an lasting till late afternoon, we had services of course, with two messages, with a break in-be-tween the two messages, in-which you would go up front with your church youth an introduce yourself, saying what church you are from, an then your group sang a song. my favorite part of the day... NOT!!!  an the service was true Kenyan style, very warm, an very LONG! we were running about an hour behind schedule. I think we were finally dismissed for lunch around 1:30 - 2:00. we sat out in the grass, eating the traditional meal, with our hands. then afterwards we played some games of volley-ball, again very Kenyan style, the main goal being to get the ball over the net in one hit, instead of three, no setting, an hardly any spiking, but they were in-fact more organized then usual, since they actually made teams, an rotated, an even kept score. I had fun just playing like they do, an having fun with them, learning their names, an what they work, I really enjoyed it!

Sylvia An I

I also met a cute little girl, maybe 2 years old, an her name was also Sylvia! I couldn't believe it! I hardly ever find people with my name, an the sweet little thing...during introductions, while our church youth group was up there singing, (my brothers, charity, an I being the only white people.) an introducing ourselves, here she comes padding up the aisle, in her tattered flip flops, straight for me, wanting me to hold her! she just melted my heart right there! I had taken a picture with her before the service, when I heard her name was Sylvia, so must be she recognized me.

we got home in the late afternoon, in time to welcome JoAllen & Glenda an their little daughter to the compound! Stacey also returned after going home to a wedding, as well as, seeing her father who is having health issues.

(Friday April 15th)

This morning Dad an Linford left to go visit some erring members, they got back around 3:00 pm

they rest of us were just working around home, the boys at the weld shop of course.

The Kitchen Were All The Food Was Made... For Lot's Of Youth!

mom an I at home doing laundry an cleaning for the weekend, I worked on the blog since I was running behind on that...mom made a snack to take along to Volley ball tonight, as we will be having a welcoming for JoAllen's little family at 8:00 on the lane during volley ball. We even got extended curfew!!

We are so happy to have JoAllen's  here! we enjoyed getting to know them at orientation in Pa this winter, an looked forward for a while already, to reconnecting with them once they arrive here in Africa!

Sylvia - For The Miller's

 

 

 

The Garden's

 

 

 

 

Monkey With A Broken Tail! (Can't Have Everything!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Garden's

 

 

 

Water Lilies

 

 



Beautiful!

 

Blue Hydrangeas



The Garden's

 

Ladies Choir Singing With Margi One Last Time