Miller Family Kisumu, Kenya: Dust storms, A Sad Good-Bye, An Normal Kenyan Life!!

(Saturday January 7th)
Today was a rather busy day for a Saturday, Us youth girls had a Christmas exchange, so we all gathered at Carolyn's house, where she made an amazing lunch, an had lit candles, an even had Christmas music playing, despite the 90* temps I almost caught the Christmas spirit!

Somewhere amongst the dust an dry land here, this flower is blooming beautifully

An then all opening our gifts that we had gotten for each other, it all brought back lots of good memories from home.

In the afternoon I was baking some, an then in the evening our family invited Victor an his girlfriend Winnie with us too the lake, since Victor had a birthday on Friday, an we also invited Rhoda since Victor is a youth guy from her church.
We had a really good evening eating banana bread, an pop corn, laughing, talking, an taking pictures of the beautiful sunset!
(Sunday January 8th)
Today was a normal Sunday.
Dad went to IC class early, Mom, the three bro's an I came later.
Today the twins said their good-byes to the church people, as they will be leaving for America on Wednesday.
Us children got home in record time today, it was 1:57pm. when we drove into the compound...breaking the time record for getting home seems to be a priority for my brothers somehow...I guess its a "guy thing" because I sure don't understand it!

Sorry for this pic. this is still from my last post: unit meeting

I wont go into detail about the ride home, however, with the main goal being to "beat the record" you can imagine I was abit tense most of the way home, (Stating it very mildly!) I guess I never realized that passing vehicles on the left was an option, but apparently it is!
Anyway, Dad an Mom went to pray an visit a widow who is almost dying, after the service, so the bro's an I ate lunch alone, an Dad an Mom came home late.
After naps I went walking on ring road, something I have not done in a long time!
Then in the evening spike ball on the lane was the main Sunday evening entertainment.
(Monday January 9th)
Today Dad went to pastors meeting...
I worked on the blog most of the day.
Mom an I also had an appointment at the dentist at 2pm.
The twins were doing odd jobs here an there that needed doing before they leave for the states on Wednesday.

Lester & Hannah from PA. fill-ins till Mark Beachy replacements arrive

After Mom an I went to the dentist, we did some fabric shopping, as I wanted to send some pieces home for some of my friends.
(Tuesday January 10th)
Today we were all just around home an trying to finish up packing for the twins trip to America...they are beyond excited to be going home to friends an foods that they love so dear!
I went to the market today to buy some traditional cards to send home for friends...We were all just at home in the evening.
(Wednesday January 11th)
Today we were working around home in the morning.
In the afternoon Dad an mom went to Bible study, an I worked on late blog posts, an some sewing.
Also that afternoon Rhoda, Stacy, an I went to do some shopping, before Rhoda's family gets here.
The twins flight was around 6:30pm. so we all ate our last supper together at KFC an then took them to the airport, an gave our last hugs an best wishes, then we sat outside the airport for around 1.5 hr. till their flight left, waving at them as they boarded the big Kenyan airways plane headed back to the land we call home.... I think most of us were in tears as we watched the plane leave the ground, an plummet through the dusty air, into the grey clouds, heading for Nairobi.
I think we all felt pretty left behind, an lonely.

Discussing serious things at unit meeting...

(Thursday January 12th)
Today I was working around home with mom.
I cut out a dress an was working on sewing it.
Dad was in the office most of the day.
In the afternoon, Becca, Londa, an I went swimming, since they invited me to go along, I couldn't resist, and it was a scorcher of a day so.....
We had a very nice time, an I enjoyed getting to know them better.
We had compound prayer meeting at Joe an Glenda's in the evening.
(Friday January 13th)
Today Rhoda's family, or part of her family arrived for a visit, her parents an the four youngest still at home came to see the world their daughter lives in, an to experience Africa!
Today we all worked around home in the forenoon, then in the afternoon Dad an Wayne went to have some father/son time, so Mom an I decided to have some, Mother/Daughter time as well!

This car crashed right outside our compound wall, an right close to our house

It was a treat! we went to the dentist to change the wires in my braces, then we did some fabric shopping, an ate an early supper at hangover hotel, then we met Dad an Wayne at kiboko bay to watch the sunset!
It was a relaxing afternoon, In the evening it was popcorn an chairs on the lane, with some dramatic sounding spike ball games for entertainment.
It was a good Friday, but we missed the twins so much already! And with so many pictures an news from home, it made us realize just how long it has been since we were at HOME!
Well, that's it for this week! nothing major to write about, but I hope you survived the boring update on our everyday life here in Kenya!
Have a blessed week!
~Sylvia
For The Miller's

this car had hit another car, then raced away to escape trouble, but ended up, driving too fast, an hit a speed bump that propelled the car over toward this small house you see on the other side, a big gnarly stump is what brought the car up in the back. The car also struck two children playing on the other side of this stump, they were taken to the hospital, an we have not heard more details.