Mudding Dishon's house, Building in Nakuru, More visitors...

(Saturday November 12^th)

Sunrise on Lake Victoria....

Today I did cleaning around home, then Stacy an I did a bit of shopping in town, we had a grand time!

In the afternoon I helped Mom makes pizza, then we had the three single girls over for Pizza.

We then had another game of Volley ball since Jadon an Lavon were here from Greenville Tn. We had some great games, an even three teams…we had much fun!

(Sunday November 13^th)

Today was a very normal Sunday…other then me having to go over to the children’s section during church to try an quiet down their laughing an whispering, I tried my best to look super-stern, but their big, black, scared eyes looking back at me almost made me burst into laughter…I always knew I wouldn’t make a good parent! They were pretty shocked that the white girl came to tell them to be quiet, since most times the usher does that…but he was somehow on the blink that day.

A group singing at Rabour Youth Seminar...

At testimony time, a lady repeatedly tried to give a testimony…she is an older lady an her mind is abit shallow…to say the very least!  An she would just randomly while someone else was sharing a testimony, get up, an loudly say, “Pake Jesu!” (Praise Jesus!) then the interpreter would tell her to sit down again…an again…an again! Yeah it was pretty funny! I thought at least!

In the Evening the whole compound went to Jake an Janice for a hot dog roast…an fellowship with former missionaries Marlin Stoltzfus family from Greenville TN. It was a great evening, with two other families visiting from the states, visitors of Wayne’s an Joes.

(Monday November 14^th)

Today I went to Java House to write my blog…for something different…then I also went to acacia for some alone time.

Youth Seminar...

Dad was at pastors meeting all day.

Mom was working around home…

(Tuesday November 15^th)

Today Stan an I went to Nia Where Mark Beachy’s church is to help Dishon with mudding his house, We worked hard an after mudding the house we had a big Kenyan feast.

We had a lot of fun, a lot of Marks church people were there, the ladies singing incessantly an stepping around in the hut to the tune of the song they were singing, it was a new cultural experience for me!

And also to see them making mud by chopping up the dirt an adding water, then stopping around in the “mud pit” till it was soft an pliable, an just the right consistency to fill the wooden structural frame they had built.

All of the white youths were supposed to sing a song too...

One of the highlights was throwing mud at Micah an Stan, an another highlight was being mistaken for Markus’s Mother! Oh! Happy Day! Lol

It was just a grand day of doing something totally different! An I loved it!

Stan an I started home after Bible study since we had Richard an Janet coming over for supper, so we got home in time to clean up ourselves an get ready for supper.

We had a good evening, eating, talking, an planning to travel out to Richards family with them in Dec. some of his family is still Muslim so that should prove to be an interesting experience!

(Wednesday November 16^th)

Today Dad an Mom went to Bible study alone, the rest were working around home.

I felt sick most of the day…

(Thursday November 17^th)

The Rabour Youth...

Today Mom an I were busy getting ready to host the unit prayer meeting at our house, it was a really small group, so we just all sat around in our living room, instead of the carport like usual, then we also served some snacks afterwards, it was really neat having a smaller group.

Wayne's an Joes had left for Nairobi to pick up their visitors, an bring them back to the compound.

(Friday November 18^th)

Today I was sewing most of the day…

Dad an Stan along with some of the other guys from the mission here went to Nakuru to help with a building project, Marlin an his two oldest sons coming over from America to help with the big project as well….Steve an Wayne had left on Monday already to help, they said it was a lot of fun, but also a lot of hard work…work starting at 6am. Every morning, an working till 6pm. At night. For a week! They sure got a lot done…

The Aroba Youth...

 

So mom an I were at home alone catching up on things that needed to be done, but mostly cooking an cleaning.

In the evening Carolyn invited mom an I to eat supper with the single girls, we had a really great time an Carolyn went all out on the food, an even set everything up all fancy, in our thatched roof gazebo in our back yard, it was really neat!

An That is it for this week.

~Sylvia
For The Miller's

Rabour church house...

Dishon mudding his house...

In the mud pit mading mud for the house walls...

The ladies working an singing....

I tried people! I really tried...I know, bless my heart.

The finished house...

Nyakoko Youth...

Holding little Peter Gerold....

Playing with the children at Richards house...

Playing kick ball with the boys...

The boys showing off their skills...

Elaine an friends....

Richard & Janet with sons Peace an Peter...

at the chip shack, they make homemade potato chips...

Selling the chips...

Sheep wool drying...

Dying the wool scarlet, he said the dye is all made from berries...

Showing us how he spins the wool into thread...

The loom, where they make blankets... 

At hippo point with our picnic...

fisherman with their nets...

Steve wrapped in his blanket, fresh out of bed...

fisherman bundled up for the cold...

Awe...Elaine holding Peter Gerold...

The Building Project in Nakuru....

At The Sheep Wool Market, A Picnic At Hippo Piont, An Youth Seminar!

(Sorry my pictures are abit out of order...some of these pictures are from things I had written about in previous blog posts, but I will try to write below the pic. so you know what's going on...the next post will be the same (As far as pics messed up.) till I get things back on schedule here...sorry!

At the falls, When we were hiking with Nurse Jabet...

(Saturday November 5^th)

Today we had planned to go to Jennifer’s Gardens, but Mom was feeling sick so we all just worked around home in the forenoon, Judith an Elaine did some laundry, then in the afternoon Dad took us girls to a wool market where we watched the process from drying the sheep wool to spinning, an we even got to watch them dye the white wool in a big clay pot, over an open fire! It was really neat, an Judith ended up buying a nice big bed spread made out of sheep wool, but had to place her order, as the size she wanted will take till sometime next year, to reach completion.



Eating a Jabet's house after the hike....The girl looking at the camera is Emma From our church.

It was a very interesting place, an the owner was more then willing to show us around, an answer all our questions, but still was not pushy at all that we buy something, a rarity in Kenya, an it also made for a better experience all together, to not be bombarded all the time.

We got home in time to help Mom finish packing the picnic lunch, I quickly grilled some chicken, an our whole family, with Judith an Elaine piled into our vehicle an sped off for Lake Victoria, we had a amazing sunset, family time, an good food, an the bonus was being able to see some hippos lumbering around lazily in the water only a few yards out from where we were eating our supper! What a treasured evening!

Emma an I eating our lunch...

(Sunday November 6^th)

Today Dad & Mom went to our church like usual.

But us youth along with Judith an Elaine went to Rabour church were youth meetings were held on Sunday.

Stan adding water to the radiator before we start the trek back to Kisumu...

Steve an Stan both took vehicles to Masogo to pick up youth from Aroba an Nyakoko there, an bring them all back to Rabour, all of the missionary youth attended, even Markus an Micah showed up for the occasion.

I'm hoping Ryan will be able to get a copy of this one! ;) even with the photo-bomber in the background!

It was a good day filled with lots of singing, an even some disorganization (Imagine that!) the services stretched out for so long, that I haven’t been as anxious to see a service be dismissed, like I was that Sunday, in a long time!

We FINALLY dismissed for lunch, then after lunch there was yet another session, this time segregated, then after some visiting, an a few games of checkers, an bouncing a volley ball around, an some kick ball too, we all left for home again.

I went along with the twins to return the youth to masogo.

They had counted around 95-100 youth 16 an up were there, an that wasn’t all the CBF youth, so it was encouraging to think that a generation might be springing up to carry the torch on someday.

Steve an I still had to help take the tent down, they had set up a big white tent on the outside.

So we finally got home from church around 7pm. completely worn out!

Elaine doing what she does best!

We were just at home in the evening, enjoying our company, an of course talking nonstop!

(Monday November 7^th)  

Walking to Bible study...

Today Elaine an I were doing their laundry for packing, then Elaine an I once again went to do some last minute shopping, we had a jolly good time! Judith stayed at home, (probably emailing Ryan was Elaine an I’s best guess. However I might add she did very well in being “with it” while she was here, so I feel abit guilty even saying what Elaine an I were suspicious of.)

After Elaine an I got back, we three girls all went to the orphanage that is close to the compound here, an helped feed the toddlers an babies their lunch, an watched as they tucked each one into their beds for their afternoon naps.

Mamma Becky singing at Bile Study...

It was a really neat experience…

After that we went swimming, but actually it consisted of mostly snacking on goodies, talking, journaling, an sitting in the sun! we all concluded it was the perfect ending to their stay here! I know it was about time Judith went back home to a certain “Prince Charming” named Ryan, because at the pool the one day I caught her staring into space, smiling….after I asked what she was thinking about she admitted she had her thoughts at home…Ha! Judith you’re the best!

(Tuesday November 8^th)

Dad an brothers from church praying for a troubled man..

Serving the people mondozies....

Today we all got up at the unrighteous hour of 5:30am. An our family along with Judith an Elaine went on a boat ride on lake Victoria, it was amazing, seeing many hippos, the sunrise, (A first for me.) an the birds, flowers, an the fisherman coming in after all night if fishing with their nets. It was once again a really neat experience! But I felt rather guilty all day of the misdeed of getting up so early…so I took a few naps throughout the day, (Yes! I said a few!) An I felt worse then ever every time I took another nap, confirming my former suspicions that I’m allergic to sunrises.

Elaine an I having fun times...

After the boat ride Judith an Elaine went to JoeAllens house for brunch, since Elaine would have gotten to know them from Faith Mission Days...

Dad left to help blind Charles move from the blind school to his home, after finishing his schooling there at the blind school.

The rest of our family had to go to the immigrations office to renew our alien cards, for our stay in the country...in the mean time Judith an Elaine were packing up their bags an getting ready to leave us...Judith for home, an Elaine for Ireland, where she will help out a family for another 5 weeks...after tears, an hugs we said our final good byes an Steve an I took them to the airport, where they left around 6:30pm. for Nairobi.

Emma Washing hands before eating....

(Wednesday November 9th)

I guess since I do a day by day journal, you will notice some days there is simply nothing much to write about...this is one of those days...lol Dad an Mom went to Bible study...us kids were around home. That's it.  

(Thursday November 10th) 

Today I was at home working on the blog...And doing things around home.

The menu of the day...

In the evening I was invited to Becky's house with the single girls for supper an to help put quilt blocks together for quilts she was making, an since Joseph was away from home anyway it made for the perfect opportunity for us all to get together an do something...

(Friday November 11th) 

The couple that hosted Bible study...the man is a member but his wife is not...

Today there was a sewing day planned at Becky's house since all the pastors were gone to a pastors meeting...So mom was sewing, an I cleaned some of the guest houses, since Stacy wasn't feeling well, after that I paid the sewing ladies, an then went to Becky's house to do some sewing myself. Becky had wanted me to sew some smock's (Maternity Dress.) for a lady from their church, I got some of it done.

Going home after Bible Study....

Then around 3:30pm. the sewing ladies told Becky that she should come down to the carport where they sew, right away! Becky went down, an found one of the sewing ladies laying on the ground...she was gasping for air, an foaming at her mouth, it was awful! We tried to decide what we should do, an finally decided to take her to the hospital.
I went with Becky after us ladies along with Sammy the gate man loaded her into the vehicle, we took her to the hospital, an of course it seemed no one at the hospital was in any kind of a hurry! I kept thinking that I was going to hear Emily take her last breath any minute...it was so scary! She was laboring so hard for every breath, an was not responding. The sewing ladies said she had just said she doesn't feel well an had laid down to rest, an finally started gasping for air, they didn't know what happened...
I ran inside the hospital looking for assistance, asking in a frantic manner if there was someone to help us, an that we had a lady in our vehicle that wasn't able to breath, no one seemed to even notice me, much less hear me! the nurse looked at me like I was the first human being she had ever seen, then causally pointed into the intensive care unit, an said, "there is the stretcher, you can use that one." I said, "you mean I get the stretcher?" of course that's what she meant...I was not amused, an made sure they knew it! They kept asking me [very perturbed]  if there wasn't any family members here that could help us, I said no! thinking that is why we came to the hospital! if we were at a family gathering then family would be helping us, but we came to the hospital so they could help us! I'll admit it people. I was hopping mad. The way they treated this emergency was awful!
So finally the guard that was there [A lady] helped me shove the rattle trap of a stretcher out the door to the vehicle, then when she saw that there were two other ladies with us, she promptly turned on her heels an left! I was exasperated! So we ladies huffed an puffed an finally had the gasping woman on the stretcher, then hauled her inside, where there was still more waiting on the Doc. When he finally did come he looked at her an kinda had an amused look on his face, mentioning something or other about hysteria...kinda chuckling to himself as he left the room...I was now more mad then ever, how could they not care about anything!? Finally we moved her to her hospital bed, ( After one of the sewing ladies an I were supposed to move her to her bed, they drug her off of the stretcher by her one arm, while I tried to carry the lower part of her body along with the rapid rough movements of the nurse, an the stench, an body Oder was so bad that I kept gagging, an trying to not breath more then I had to, urine smell was through out the entire building, an I thought maybe the lady we brought in might get sicker being in this smelly situation!)
Finally she was more stable an responding some again...So Becky an I left to head back to the compound since the sewing ladies were there, an had money to take care of Emily.
What an experience it was! An Becky an I talked on the way home, why this had to happen just when all the pastors were gone...Oh! well... it all ended up ok I guess.
In the evening we had volley ball with quite a few visiting youth here from the states, it was a fun time.
An that's all for this post....
~Sylvia
For The Miller's  

Visitors From Home! Twin Baby Girls, Painting!

(Saturday October 29th)
Today I took Judith an Elaine swimming after we slept in late again...
We swam most of the day an then went to do some shopping at Nakamatt, we walked ring road, an ate a snack while we watched the local soccer game, then in the evening our family along with Judith an Elaine went to Kiboko Bay, to celebrate the twins birthday...the restaurant made it special by bring out a dessert, an even dimming the lights, an added some candles, then the servers came marching out, singing Happy Birthday with a heavy accent, hitting around on pots an pans! really quite an impressive operation! They sure gave it their best shot anyways...
It was a relaxing, fun evening, of talking, watching the sunset, an of course eating great Kenyan food.
(Sunday October 30th)
Today we all went to our church....
Judith an Elaine an I went along with Dad to IC class, since they wanted to listen in to Dad teaching IC. So we were there earlier then I am used to going to church, but it was extra fun with visitors of course.
Afterwards we were all invited to James Ondieck's house for lunch, we had a great big Kenyan feast there, an the girls got to experience the culture first hand.
The three bros then headed on home, an Dad & Mom an us three girls went visiting an older widow lady's house from our church, who is ill.

At Kiboko Bay for the twins birthday...

We took her some food, an visited a while...
Then on our way home from church we stopped in at the rinky-dinky Masogo Hospital, since I had told Elaine that I sometimes go there, an you can walk right into the maternity ward an see new born babies, an you can even hold them...well, Elaine thought she couldn't pass up that opportunity, so we went to the hospital an asked if there are any new born babies that we could hold for a while....the nurse said yes there are, an told us to follow her, an took us to the maternity ward where only one lady was, (Usually the place is full.) an here she had just had TWINS that morning! two little girls! they were born just a couple hours prior, an still had not even had a bath! they were SO cute, an the mother said that she had not given them any names yet, so I suggested that I think Sylvia an Elaine would be great names for them! she smiled weakly, an I don't know if she actually did it then...anyway, I prayed a blessing on the tiny little angels, an we left, at awe of our experience! an ever grateful that we decided to come back an see if there were any baby's there.


(Monday October 31st)

Really!! The last day in October!? wow!
Today we slept in once more...Oh! Happy Day!!
Then we started painting my bedroom by 8:30am. we worked fast an were surprised when we were done by noontime!
After that we rested an refreshed ourselves, then we went to the animal market, which is basically touristy kind of shops that sell all kinds of little hand carved things...we then took a tuk-tuk an went to Jubilee market were it is basically a huge fruit market...with rats running around under the make-shift tables, (thankfully we didn't see any today.) they also sell random other things there at the market. Mom went with us today, an we had a great time riding tuk-tuk, piling in the tuk-tuk on each others laps, laughing, shopping, an most of all buying things for people back home...
(Tuesday November 1st)
Today we all got up terribly early to go to Nakuru for unit meeting, our visitors were excited to go an be able to see the other AMA mission in Nakuru, so we left around 6am. it took around 3 hours to get there, then we all had breakfast together at the mission there in Nakuru, then the meeting started around 10am. an was dismissed around 12:30pm we had lunch, an after dishes were done all of us youth went to a big ware house to play volley ball.

Our Church house

After volley ball we all started for home, an the long trek back to Kisumu, not very far into our journey we got stopped by the police, supposedly for speeding, they were going to fine us 5000.00sh. or else Dad would have to drive all those hours back to Nakuru next week an come to a court hearing...SIGH.
After sitting beside the road trying to think what the best plan of action should be, an praying that God would somehow intervene, since Dad was not going to have time next week to come out for a court hearing, but neither did he feel like spending $50.00 of the missions money on these corrupt officers, then, out of the blue, this guy walks up an asked Dad if we were from Kisumu?
We said, yes we are! he said he noticed our license plate, an thought we were from his area in Kisumu, he ended up being a police, showing us his badge, an said he will go talk to the police about stopping us, so when he returned he told us that we are free to go, no fines will need to be paid! an no court hearing! unreal! God still works miracles!

Dismissing for Sunday school, trying to find a spot of shade...

"Mamma Becky" Talking with a small orphan girl..

But also, on our way home, we missed a right turn, an long story short we ended up driving out of our way really, really far, an then as we were finally nearing Kisumu, the GPS decided to take us down this dirt road, that got more an more narrow till we were finally bouncing over large stones, an no way to turn around with the cliff going off right beside us on the one side...an it was dark, an like 10:30 at night!! we were all a little scared as we just continued forward since there was nothing else to do...passing by groups of drunk men staggering around, it was freaky! an finally we bumped around yet another bend in the trail, only to come to a solid dead end road. We somehow managed to turn around, an with Gods help made it back out on the main road...PTL Just as we were turned around on the trail, an the boys were getting back into the van, from being on the outside to direct Dad in how far to back etc. to get us out, I looked back on the dark trail an saw two figures coming toward us, the one had a machete, but just then we had managed to turn around an were on our way out, an we locked the doors an left fast! God was protecting us that night I have no doubt! an we all sang on the top of our lungs the rest of the way home, even though we arrived home around 11:30pm from unit meeting....we were just happy to be home safely! what an experience, especially with our visitors along! oh dear!
(Wednesday November 2nd)
Today we took Judith an Elaine to one of our Bible studies...Dad & Mom an I went today.
Leaving the three bros to look out for themselves at home.

Dad having IC class...

We had a good time, an I think it was another good cultural experience for the girls, at least I hope so...After the usual Chia an Mondozies, we left for Kisumu, We stopped at a little market on our way home, an let the girls watch them make Chappaties an Mondozies. It was a good day!
(Thursday November 3rd)
Today I had scheduled a hike in the Nandi hills with Nurse Jabet, She is a CBF single lady, who is a social worker, making sure that the people living in the mountains, are living as sanitary as possible.

A normal Sunday service...

So after we picked up Emma, one of my friends from our church, we continued our journey out to the hills were the nurse would take us hiking, we met her close to her clinic where she works, then she took us on a hike visiting different homes, for about an hour, then we went to her house for lunch, were she cooked up a big Kenyan feast! Our group consisted of Stan, Wayne, Judith, Elaine, Emma, an myself.
After lunch we hiked to a big water fall where we sat for a long time, taking pictures, an dangling or feet in the refreshingly cool water.
In the Evening we all went to Joe & Glenda for prayer meeting.
(Friday November 4th )
Today we once again did some last minute fabric shopping...an lots of walking along the road side stands in town.

The Ladies cooking for us, at James house...

Judith was not feeling well today, so she took a piki an went home early, leaving Elaine an I to our tromping around. Elaine an I were fairly positive that Judith was missing Ryan, an thus had fallen ill! we felt sorry for her...but celebrated our own health, an singleness to the fullest extent!!
Elaine an I had a bomb! I felt like I got to know her in a different way, an I'm pretty sure that her being at Faith Mission has changed her a lot too! we just had so much fun...an both being a bit blonde sometimes, just made for the greatest memories, some which I wont project out to you all, to save us some embarrassment! But Oh! the much needed laughter an joy these friends brought to my life, an the life of our whole family! Thank-you so much girls!!!
In the afternoon, after resting abit I took them to Richard an Janet's house (Ex-Muslim pastor.)  Richards sister Christian was also there, still helping out Janet since their baby was born.

James house, were we ate lunch...

We had a jolly grand time, an after eating rice an green grams, we hung out with some of the children who were there, Elaine was busy holding Richards baby "Peter Gerold", so I think she enjoyed her time as well!
We all got back in time to go to Wayne Yoder's for supper....then we youth had volley ball afterwards.
And that concluded this weeks post....I hope to eventually get caught up on my posts, I know I'm a week behind, but maybe soon I'll get my act together again.
~Sylvia
For The Miller's

Chappaties....

Quote for the week: "Don't waste words on people who deserve your silence. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is nothing at all." -Mandy Hale

Stacy, 17 yr. old, IC class member, an one of my best friends...

Stanley getting his hands washed before lunch...

Our Sunday lunch feast....

Finishing up our lunch....

The pasta enjoying his food very much...

Mom an the sick widow we went to visit after lunch...

Judith an the sick widow lady....

Elaine....

Visiting the sick, an afflicted...

Elaine an I with the newborn twin girls....

Elaine working hard....

Trying to tape the lines to paint stripes...



Judith edging the tape...

Elaine slaving away....



Elaine scrubbing the floor...HARD WORK!

Finished product!

Going walking on Ring Road, an shopping...(this dirt road is our home street.)

A Tuk-tuk shop to fix tuk-tuks on our street...

Piled into a tuk-tuk going shopping...you cant see Judith an Mom who are holding Elaine an I.

At Jubilee market.....

I feel like I have done such a poor job describing to you all how much the time we spent together with these visitors actually meant to our family....