An African Funeral, An Baking Banana Bread, Over An Open Fire!!

(Saturday July 30th)

Sunset From Hippo Piont

This morning we all got ready an went to another funeral, only this time it wasn't a CBF funeral, so it was more authentic! An I was excited to see how everything would end up going! Stacy an Rhoda Joined our family as well. We had a really great time!

Mom Talking with Jacinta, a lady from our church, who was also at the funeral 

One thing they did at this funeral, that I had never seen before, is that after they dismissed from the services, an as they were carrying the casket to the burial site, they made a big deal out of the whole situation, singing, an swaying in time to the music, then every so often the whole procession would stop, an the leader would read some words to the assembly, then they would start singing, an swaying, again...an all the while they were walking to the grave site the ones carrying the casket were swinging the casket back an forth! I couldn't believe it! I was used to seeing the casket handled with upmost care, an respect! but they sung it from side to side much like I would a hoe on the way to the garden...it was so strange, an I still have not gotten an explanation on why they did that!

The priest's with their flowing robes an sporty hats! 

As usual when we went to leave the funeral, after eating their food, with flies everywhere, an dogs under the table hoping for a stray crumb, there were many people who wanted a ride here, or there, an some even going all the way back to Kisumu with us! so our van was full.
The one man that was riding with us, was sitting on the seat, with just barely half of his body actually on the seat, an all of a sudden his head hits the window with a CRACK! an he jumps, an starts rubbing the spot on his head that had met the window, an mumbled something or other about that he had fallen asleep, after giving my condolences, I almost split my sides trying not to laugh out loud, it looked so funny! an with Rhoda, an Stacy sitting beside me, their bodies shaking with laughter, it was almost impossible to not laugh, but I felt so sorry for the man, what a rude awakening! poor fella!

The funeral Procession...

Our family was just around home in the evening relaxing, the three bros went to hippo point to see the sunset, an Dad was practicing his skills on his motor bike since he needs to get his license for that soon.
(Sunday July 31st )
Today the rest of the family went to church, an I again stayed at home since it was around 6am. Sunday morning before I fell asleep.

The crowd coming, juggling the casket back an forth between them...

So Dad & Mom went to church, an the three bro's took 2 vans an went to another CBF church (Rabour) an picked up their choir an took then to Mark Beachy's church to give a program, they had a long day an didn't return till around 6:30pm that evening.
Dad & Mom got back home, an said that they had lunch at the house of a lady from our church already, so we took naps an since the three bro's were not at home till around dark, we went on a walk along ring road, walking the whole block around the compound, that was interesting an fun.
We got home an made popcorn, an soon after that the three bro's returned, an we were all just around home, all talking about what each of our days consisted of!
(Monday August 1st )
August! Really!? must be time flies when your havin fun... =]

Stopping for a rest...

Today Dad was a pastors meeting from 8-3.
Mom was doing laundry, an cooking.
I worked on the blog off an on, an once Dad got home from the pastors meeting, he took me to town to check up on my lymes test results, an also to talk to the Doc. about my difficulty with sleeping, So first, the Lymes test we did through a blood sample showed negative, an I don't know if I was glad, or sad...my test showed I was 22.88% an you had to show 23% or more to be positive for Lymes, I told my Doc. I get so tired of doing all these expensive tests, just to hear that everything is fine, an looks great, then I go home an have another seizure....sigh. but, I guess I will rest in the fact that I don't have Lymes, an since I started meds I have not had a seizure.
We were all just around home tonight.
(Tuesday August 2nd)

Starting the journey once more...

Today Mom had invited four ladies from our church, to come out to the compound to learn how to make banana bread, an how to bake it over an open fire, Stanley an Mom went to pick-up the ladies in a town close to their homes, an brought them back to our house around 10:30am. an after having chie tea together, they made four batches of banana bread an baked it in pans, floating around in a big kettle of boiling water, with a lid over the top, to trap the heat.

At the funeral....

They had an enjoyable day together, leaving again around 4:30pm. with each a loaf of banana bread to sample with their families, the one ladies family is having a extremely hard time financially, so that was the main purpose of teaching her how to make the bread so she can sell it at a shop, an maybe earn a few extra shillings to help her husband with money for their family.
It was a great day, to get to know the ladies in a different light, rather then just seeing them at church.
(Wednesday August 3rd )
Happy Birthday Wayne!! Welcome to the youth group here, an thanks for all the humor you add to my life!! love ya!
Today our whole family went to Bible study, an since no one was able to host it we bought mondozies, an made a huge cooler full of hot lemon grass tea, an just had Bible study at the church house, we had an enjoyable time together.

The man from our church, who started attending the school for the blind

We drove straight from Bible Study to hippo point to watch the sunset, then went home an had a light supper.
Since Dad had taken part of a day off earlier this week to celebrate Wayne's birthday with him, we didn't do anything special today.
(Thursday August 4th)
I woke up to feeling pretty bad this morning, an ended up having a seizure. I fell in the hallway, an got banged up pretty bad, I came to, with terrible pain in my knee, as it had slipped out of socket again, an my head was throbbing where it met up with the tile floor. So I was resting most of the day, trying to once again accept this illness that barged into my life 3 years ago, without an invitation.

The blind man, an his helper...

Mom did laundry, an Dad took one of the youth guys to the hospital to check out his eyes, as they are really sensitive to the sun, an found out he has an infection in his eye, so dad bought drops at a chemist for that.
Dad was gone most of the day.
Unit prayer meeting was a Joe & Glenda's house tonight. I stayed at home.
(Friday August 5th)
Today we were just around home, Did some cleaning, went to town to develop pictures for several girls from our church.
An in the evening the rest of the youth had v-ball, Markus, Micah, an Dishon joined the game, they all played in the rain, an it looked like a soggy group, that had a blast! was so happy for them that they had enough extra players to play.
Everyone then came to our house to celebrate Wayne's official arrival into the Kisumu youth group.
We celebrated with cake an ice-cream, an I made some pop corn, we had a grand time till curfew, then the twins took Dishon back to his home since it was raining, an too late to ride his bike all the way back to his hut.

Bless her heart! she wanted to carry the pasta's brief-case

Dad & Mom were gone all evening, as they went out for supper with Richard & Janet the ex-Muslim pastor an his wife, to have a meeting with them, an also to treat them to the rarity of eating out, they reported a very enjoyable time connecting with them.


A bit of a highlight, or I should say a huge event our family is looking forward to, is that two of my friends from our home church, Judith an Elaine Schlabach are coming to visit us in Oct. we are all so stoked about it, that we can hardly wait!!!
We feel honored an blessed that after being here for only around 6 months we have our first visitors! unreal! God bless you for making the trip over, I will do my absolute best to give you a real cultural experience, an best of all let you meet all my Kenyan friends!! We're so excited!!


-Sylvia
For the Miller's

Mom with the little girl named, Becky Miller....

$2.00 for a dozen!

The shop where we often buy roses....

 

The Sheep is probably thinking: "I'll most likely be seeing my chiropractor after this ride...."

 

 

Waiting on the banana bread to bake, Dad had to check in to make sure all was going ok

Helping to start the fire...they totally know what their doing when it comes to cooking over fire!

Getting the water to boil....

Rispah stoking the fire....

Mom loving every minute of it!

The "oven"

Keeping the fire hot!

Almost done baking...

Cute little baby Andrew...

He's always so happy...

In the kitchen with Becky, learning how to mix the banana bread...

Having so much fun....

Rispah sampling some banana bread...

Enjoying our porch swing, at first they were scared of it, because the swing moved, an they thought it would break down.

Rispah, holding Joe & Glenda's baby, Elliot.

All the bread is made!!

Eating lunch together...

Looks like their might have been a difficulty with the tractor, or else lack of anger management....

The three bro's, with their "adopted" brother Dishon.

Having so much fun....

In church...

A visiting pasta, Thomas.

The blind man giving the church a report on what he is learning in the blind school.

Monday Pastor's meeting...

"...Wait!! now he gets to ride up front!?...while I'm barely on back here!? Life has a way of doing this sometimes...Be Strong! an of good courage! God is a good God!!

A Birth, A CBF Funeral, An Other Luo Land Happenings!

(Saturday July 23rd)

Not a care in the world...

Happy Birthday to a very special Niece! Angela Ranae!! she is two years old today!
Today we all slept in, had breakfast, an then all got ready to leave for a funeral at 11:15am. It was my first African funeral, but I might add it was very "toned down" then the usual, an traditional African funeral's since the lady that died was a CBF member. usually a funeral is a party place, with drinking, music, an dancing going on, a funeral is their chance to "party!"
Despite this being a CBF funeral things sure were different then what I was used to! there were hundreds of people there, an the poor cooks were trying to feed everyone...we sat there for around 2.5 hours, under a tent with the sun beating down, and a occasional breeze drifting through, wasn't too bad actually. We sat listening as gobs of people

Waiting at funeral....

 came up to the speaker system to share various good things about the deceased lady, Bishop Wayne then had a short message.
After more talking, an then taking up the offering, we were dismissed to go to the burial...but first I have to tell you about the offering, I simply could not believe it. So there were all these chiefs sitting in one place, off to the side, many people would come an bow, an shake hands with them during the service, it was interesting to watch! When it was time for the offering you had to walk up to the basket an drop it in, but the one chief reminded me so much of the Bible story about the rich man, an the poor widow, he made a big show of how much he was putting in, even counting it out over the speaker, as he laid one bill after the next into the basket...an then to see poor widows coming an casting in a few shillings. God sees the heart, an I know who put more into the basket.... We then went to the tent where the casket was in, an after more singing, an a prayer the ladies carried the casket out to the place in the field behind the house where they were planning to bury her.
Earlier when they were bringing the casket to the home for viewing, they happened to drop the casket! unreal. but in this culture it really wasn't a big deal...we went to watch the burial, an then had to go to a warm hut to eat before we left, the hut was set with a coffee table type thing in the middle, with bits of food scattered all over the table from previous guests passing through the hut to eat, there were flies everywhere, an on everything. an if you wanted salt they had poured a mound on the table an everyone used their fingers to spread it over their food. (These are some details I so often leave out since they are such a normal part of living in Kenya anymore.) anyway, so we ate, an left, with a lot of people that needed a lift to different places along the way, they do anything for a bit of a lift, since they have to walk so much, our van was stuffed to the gills, with the AC blasting to keep the body odor under control, a truly memorable ride. We finally left the funeral at 5:30pm. an having arrived there around 12:45pm. it made for a long, hot, interesting, day!

Stacy, Irene, an I

This evening I went with the single girls, an the WATER girls to a small shop to eat supper, an the rest of my family was invited to a Chinese restaurant with Jake's an Dishon, they reported yummy food, an a really enjoyable time!
(Sunday July 24th)

Helping me to keep the fire going, to bake the banana bread

Today Wayne an I stayed home from church, since I wasn't able to sleep Saturday night till 3am. Sunday morning...Also a water faucet by the broiler house was turned on during the night leaving the chicken house flooded, so Wayne stayed home to clean all the soggy bedding out an fill it up with clean shavings again, he reported much hard work, he said he hauled 10 wheel-barrow loads out of the chicken house, he thought he might have over done it for the Sabbath, but didn't want to leave the water standing in there with the chicks being so young yet, an quite able to become sick.
I slept late, had devotions, an then tried to have lunch ready by the time the rest got back home.
Dad had left very early this morning since he wanted to go to the blind school an pick up Charles there an bring him to church, he then had instruction class to teach, with several new applicants, an then he had his first baby dedication for Joshua & Karen who are not yet married but hope to do so soon, (Karen is the 18 yr. old that I have written about before.) the child is not Joshua's child but he loves the baby, an cares for her just like she was his child.
Dad then had a message.

Irene loved Jakes little chubby baby

The twins got home earlier then Dad & Mom an we waited for a while but finally just ate lunch without them since it was getting so late, they finally got home around 3:30pm. but they still had Charles with them an needed to take him back to the blind school, so Mom stayed home, an Dad grabbed a plate to eat on the run, as well as a plate for the blind man he was taking back to school.
Like I said Mom stayed home, an we worked on making food for the WATER girls who were coming for supper, as well as the three single girls, an Joe & Glenda an their two children. Jakes stopped by as well, Dad got home just before the company arrived. Was great to have a house full, with much laughter an talking, the compound families have really become our family away from home, an we love them dearly!
(Monday July 25th)
Today we compound girls, along with the WATER girls had planned to go help with road side clean-up, but two of the WATER girls were sick, probably from the food, since they were throwing up an feeling pretty bad. an also since I wasn't able to sleep till after 3am. again we just cancelled it, an slept in, we all then went swimming in the afternoon, I got home around 4:30pm. since Rhoda an I stopped randomly at Java House for ice cream after swimming, was great to get a piki ride back home too! I always love that!

Baking banana bread

I got home in time to grill chicken for the company we were planning on having for supper, tonight it was Joseph & Becky along with the WATER girls, we had a great evening!
(Tuesday July 26th)
Today I had invited my good friend Irene to my house for the day. I wanted to teach her how to make banana bread in a cooking pot over the open fire, in hopes that she could add that to her shop to sell along with her shoes. We had a splendid time together! I went down to the gate around 10:30am. to let her in, an walked her back to our house, where we dove right into making banana bread, Kenyans absolutely LOVE Banana bread! so I had a fire built in our lawn, an a huge cooking pot setting on top of three bricks, with the fire underneath it, soon the water was boiling, an we put our batter in a smaller bowl, an let it float around in the boiling water for about 35-45 min. till it was baked, an it turned out very nice! I was scared since I had never done it before, but I knew Mom had, so it all went ok, except for the one pan that was too small flipped over an I lost all that batter, but the bigger pan did just fine.
She is all excited about selling that with her shoes to have more income.

Cooking banana bread

I then showed her around the compound, taking her to different houses, to meet the compound people, she knew some of the girls from when she went swimming with us. we then looked at pictures on the laptop, an lastly I took her swimming, she loves swimming an I wanted to surprise her with that, so we swam for several hours an got home in the late afternoon, an she left around 4:30pm. was a very enjoyable day, I walked her down to ring road where she got a piki, an left for her home again. What a fun time we had!
(Wednesday July 27th)
Today there was no Bible study, since Dad & Mom had planned to go to prison with a widow lady from our church that has a son in prison, he has been in prison for 3-4 years an is serving a 30 year sentence for rape.

At the burial

So they wanted to visit him, an take food, an different things in to him, the widow was so happy to think of being able to see her son again, but alas, after an all day deal they were not allowed in to see him, what a let down! So Dad & Mom took them to a small hole-in-the-wall restaurant where they had supper together, as well as with another son the widow lady had, an his wife, an small daughter that they named Becky Miller at birth! its funny to see a small, totally black, little girl an her name is Becky Miller! =] they still had a good day, but were very sad indeed that they couldn't go in to see her son in prison.


Meanwhile, the twins went to a house mudding, with the single girls an the WATER girls. they helped mix the dung, dirt, an water, stomping it with their feet, to mix it, an caking it into the wooden frame for the walls of the house, they reported hard work, an lots of water pumping at the well! an oh the cultural experience they had today, doing something they never did before!
they were gone all day for that.

Stanley helping to cover the grave

So that left Wayne an I at home today doing various tasks, an in the evening when no body was back home yet for supper, Wayne an I decided to get ready, an we went to "hang-over hotel" for supper, an then walked the streets talking with people, an looking at all the things the street vendors had to sell. It was an interesting evening!
Once the rest of the family got home, everyone was exhausted!
(Thursday July 28th)
Today Mom an I, as well as Wayne worked around home all day to try an get ready to have unit prayer meeting at our house this evening, we cleaned an made food, an cleaned some more!
The twins were working in the shop.

Steve Miller

Dad was out having a meeting with an IC class applicant, an older man in his late 50's  early 60's that said he wants to join our CBF church, so Dad was interviewing him, an asked him why he has decided to join our church, he said he is joining because he likes our church, an because of all the benefits that come with being a member at the white mans church, during conversation Dad found out that the man has never, ever gone to school, so when he needed to sign some papers, he didn't know how to write his own name so Dad had an ink pad where he just put his thumb print on the paper to sign. unreal! After the meeting was over an they were leaving, the hopeful IC class applicant came to Dad saying  "Oh! by the way", one of the first benefits he would like, is a small request, an a need that he has, an that is, he is needing an new house, an that the Pasta should think about how, an when he was planning to do that for him! WOW! when this guy mentioned benefits he wasn't joking! Dad trying not to laugh, explained to the man that they don't just hand out free new houses to CBF members, Dad said that the interpreter an himself waited to laugh about the "small" request till they got back to the vehicle, it sure was another one of those, "Welcome to Kenya" moments.
In the evening we had the compound at our house for prayer meeting.

Bishop Wayne at the burial

Lowering the casket into the grave

I requested prayer for the Muslim lady down at my friend mamma Kay's hair braiding shop,(I have wrote about this lady before, an how hostile she has been towards me.) since I had stopped in earlier today, an after talking to mamma Kay, I was ready to leave, an the Muslim lady sat in the corner all the while not saying a word, (I often feel like she resents the fact that I am friends with Mamma Kay. But I don't know that for a fact.) so I asked her how she is doing...an she replied that she is not doing good at all, an that she is very sick! so I told her I was sorry that she is sick, an asked her if she had any pain pills to take, she sarcastically said no! she hasn't taken any because she has no money for pills. I then said that I have some pain pills at home an I could run home an bring her some, if she would like some, she then said, what she wants is a cold coke! an I laughed an told her I didn't have any cold coke for her, but I can get her those pills if she likes, an she said ok, so I ran home an got the pills, an I wanted to only put a few in a baggie an give it to her, but I figured how her nature is, she would probably say, "What kind of pills are these?" or, "I wont take them if I don't see the bottle they are coming from!" so I just decided to give her the whole bottle, I ran back down, glad that I could show her love, despite her obvious dislike of me, an when I gave her the pills I also gave her a bottle of ice cold water to drink, after showing her how many to take, I even got a small smile, an a thank you! I nearly floated back home thinking I finally scored a point with her, an I might be able to get to her heart! I told her I would pray for her, so then I thought how powerful it would be if the whole compound would pray for her! An we did!
We had a good evening together...
(Friday July 29th)

A CBF pastor...

So this morning, I went down to Mamma Kay's shop to show her a picture of my new little Niece Shana Rose, since mamma Kay would always ask me if my sister from America has had her baby yet, an she told me I should tell her once she is born, so I went down with my phone an several pictures, an when I got there, there were several ladies there, but Mamma Kay was no where, they said she went to buy something an would be back soon, they said I should sit an wait for her, so I was showing them the pictures, an talking, when in walks the Muslim lady, I reached out my hand to greet her, an after a little hesitation she shook my hand, an I asked her how she is feeling? mamma Kay came back about that time too, so the Muslim lady said she is not doing good! an is still sick. I told her that I was sorry she was still sick, then she said, "an it is because you gave me pills that were out dated!" she handed the pill bottle to me an I looked an saw that they were outdated, but I knew Tylenol was ok even if it was outdated, an I started telling her that we were still using it, an that it is ok even if it is outdated, but she interrupted an said, "They are NOT ok!" an I said, "I'm sorry! I didn't realize they were outdated." an she yells at me, "How could you give me pills that were outdated!!" an I again told her I didn't realize that they were outdated. Then she started ranting, an waving her arms around telling me that she could arrest me for that, an then asked me, "Do you realize I can have you arrested for that!?" by that time everything had turned to ice in the small shop, no one ways talking, no one said anything, while she yelled at me....I then told her it was ok. an she said No! its NOT ok!! An I explained that I was saying, it is ok if she wants to have me arrested. an somehow that response drove her into a fury, she then told me to get out, an to never, ever come back again! , she said, "This is my word! Don't ever set a foot inside this shop again! Our business with you is over!!" So I showed mamma Kay the picture of my new little niece, an left with out another word.
I thought the hair braiding shop was mamma Kays shop so I couldn't figure out why the Muslim lady was allowed to expel me like that, but now I am wondering if mamma Kay is renting it from her, I don't know, but I know one thing for sure I'm never going back, unless they invite me to come back.

A little boy at the funeral

I stumbled my way back home walking the dusty, stony, road back to the compound, fighting tears all the way home, telling myself I was stupid for crying about what happened. But it hurt. an quite frankly I'm not used to be yelled at! An here I had tried so hard to do everything just right for her, an I still failed! I'm embarrassed to say I cried for several hours once I got home, here we had just all prayed for her at prayer meeting, an I felt like I had taken 2 steps forward when I got a smile an a thank you from her, an now this! It felt like I took 5 steps backwards again.

The three pastor's

But Mom encouraged me that the Muslim lady can yell at me, an try to make me look stupid, but she cant take Jesus from me, an she cant stop me from praying for her soul! So after working through it abit, I was ok... realizing that it wasn't me she was yelling at, in a way, yes, but she was really yelling at God! I had to realize the battle was not a battle with weapons, but a spiritual battle! an the battle was raging, an I had to realize the fact that if they killed they Messiah, the one with no faults, what makes me think that I, a servant of our risen Lord, wont suffer from people who are serving on the opposing side of this spiritual warfare. An lastly I had to realize that it wasn't my battle, but the Lord's! an it was not my job to save her, but only to have a heart of love for her, whether it was a smile, I still love, or whether she is yelling at me, I still need to love, an it doesn't mean I wont feel hurt, because God gave us feelings, we are not robots that don't have feelings, but it is my choice to allow that hurt to bring hate to my heart, or to continue loving her, an I have to continually choose to love her, because she needs love, God's love, an I want to show her God's love, even if I get hurt by her words in doing so. Satan gets worried when us Christians band together to pray for a soul in his kingdom, But God is so good, an the battle is fought, an over! pake jesu!
Help me pray for her, I don't know her name, but God knows who we are praying for when we mention, "The Muslim Lady" to him.


So Friday evening us youth decided to go out to eat at "Simba club" (an excellent Asian restaurant with a buffet, that opens at 9pm.) instead of playing volley ball, so that was fun, an Markus surprised us all by showing up an joining us for supper.


Also, Friday morning Dad & Mom had a meeting with Joseph & Becky at Java house, then after that Dad an the three bro's went to the "Kisumu Farm science show," an Mom an I did our work an left to go swimming in the afternoon, it was very special to have Mom all to myself, an to swim together. was such a treat to have some Mother/daughter time.


And that concludes my blog for this time!


-Sylvia
For The Miller's

A Snake Bite, An A Picnic With A Random Stranger!

(Saturday July 16th)
Today it was no sleeping in. I got up at the smashing hour of 7am.

Sunset on Lake Victoria

Since Stacy, Rhoda an I were planning on making the drive out to where Mark & Maryellen Beachy live, about a 1.5 drive.
Carolyn had been there over the weekend along with the WATER girls from SMBI.
So we got there around 10am. an joined the rest, an went to a local hospital to sing, an to hand out the 25 bible story books from CAM, an lollipops to the children.
We also had a limited supply of bibles to give to the doc. an nurses.
We had a very good time, an got back to Marks in time for lunch, right after lunch Stacy, Rhoda, an I started the long trek back to Kisumu, we arrived back at the compound around 3pm.
I helped mom with several small jobs.

Drying these in the sunshine

Then the three bro's an I headed out to hippo point to watch a gorgeous sunset, over the lake. was a wonderful evening!
(Sunday July 17th)
Today Joseph & Becky, along with Rhoda were at our church, Joseph is the bishop of our church, as well as several other churches, so he had a message on being separate from the world, not only in the way we dress, but also in heart.
We then had a members meeting following the service, so that went on for almost an hour, then we were all invited to Daniels house (A man from our church) for lunch, so that took lot's of extra time, so till we got home it was around 4:30pm an the whole compound was coming to our house for the monthly compound activity at 6:30! so we got home an dove into our last minute preparations before people started coming, we were ready just at the nic of time.
Mark Beachy's came in for the activity bringing with them the WATER girls, along with Carloyn, who had all been out in Denia with Marks over the weekend doing various activities.
So we all gathered in our carport to sing awhile, then Mark Beachy shared abit of his life's journey, the WATER girls shared about their mission in coming to visit Kenya, through SMBI.
We youth directed by Mark Beachy sang several songs, then we had a snack, an that concluded another very busy Sunday.
(Monday July 18th)

A feast in an African home

Today was family day! so everyone was entitled to have the day off an do whatever their family felt like doing.
Well, since our family had kind of taken the day off when we went to see Luke's family on Friday, an since dad had things he needed to see to with various church people, we didn't do anything together as a family, but we had a good day none the less, at least us children did!
Dad an Mom left in the morning, an were gone all day.
Us children did different things around home in the forenoon, then had lunch, an quickly got ready to go swimming by 1pm. we went to a hotel that is really close to the compound here.

Serving the visitors food

It was really nice because on a Monday everything was empty, an we had the entire place to ourselves, we had a splendid time swimming, racing (Steve says he beat me, but I still think we were basically a tie, we'll never agree on this issue!) ha! an diving, as well as drinking cold, glass bottle, coke's, an their amazing slushy passion juice. We got home around 4:30pm. The boys all quickly did their chores, an I fixed a quick picnic lunch, an we all headed down to hippo point, (fast becoming a favorite spot for us children.) to watch the sunset an have supper, we were hoping Dad an Mom could join us but they were not back in time.

Ugali!!

The girl you see in the veiling, is starting instruction class. an also dating one of our youth guys.

So us children were sitting there by the lake watching the sunset, an eating our picnic supper, when this young man kept walking back an forth behind us, an I felt like he wanted something, I was just getting ready to tell Wayne to ask him how he is doing, when the guy stopped walking an ask, " could I join you all?" we said, sure! an welcomed him over to where we were sitting on a blanket, spread out on the grassy bank of the lake, I fixed him a plate of food, an Stanley washed his hands since that is what we knew he would use to eat with, we talked for quite a while, we soon discovered he was a more well-to-do person then most, first, I saw he had a big phone, an then, he told us he works at the bank across from Java House, (Quite frankly, I didn't believe him that he worked such a high class job, simply because he had asked us for food, an wanted to join us, but later we stopped in at the bank, an there he sat in a suit an tie, hardly recognizable, from our former meeting at the lake, maybe someday I will get used to the Kenyans no-shame attitude of asking for food, or anything free. even if they are fairly wealthy.)
Anyway, back to hippo point with our stranger guest, he said he came to the lake to reflect, an to relax, an to see if he was headed in the way he wanted to be heading in his life. Interesting.

Joshua, the shorter guy in the teal shirt an black pants is the youth guy she is dating

He also said he was there with some friends, actually a couple who was having marriage issue's an since they wanted to talk, an try to resolve some issues, he didn't want to disturb their conversation, so he didn't have anyone to talk to, so that is why he decided to join us, he said. We had some great conversation, an he showed us pictures of his family, an soon he left again. We had no idea who he was, but I told my brothers that I couldn't help but think of that verse in the Bible where it says something about, being careful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (That is just me paraphrasing.) Anyway, although we know he wasn't an angel, it felt fulfilling to be able to reach out to a complete stranger.
We had a really great evening.
(Tuesday July 19th)
Today we were just around home in the forenoon, then Dad had a needs committee meeting around noon at church, I worked on the blog most of the day.

Joshua, with all his hopeful in laws, getting the families blessing, on their courtship.

Mom was busy with laundry an cooking. Stan was sick all day.
Steve was busy fixing different things most of the day, we then went to town to pick up some things he needed at the shop as well as some pictures I had gotten printed at a small store.
In the afternoon Richard & Janet stopped by to visit with Dad & Mom for awhile, Steve an I then drove them over to the school where they were headed to pick up their son Peace, we dropped them off there, an came back home an had supper together, an just caught up on each others lives.
(Wednesday July 20th)

As seen in this pic. in this culture, showing any affection is only for the bravest! =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! my Mom's birthday is today an she is 50! wow! unreal! she is the best Mom I ever had! so caring, an patient, with me through my many health issue's, an when I so often feel tired. your the best, Mom!
Today only Dad & Mom went to Bible study, us children stayed at home doing various things around home, we went to town to get some supplies, an the twins finished up the grill for Wayne's that they had been working on for a long time already.


After Dad & Mom were done at Bible study they went to Hippo point to watch the sunset, an to relax an unwind, after a long day with "ever-in-need" church people, an also to not totally neglect the fact that today Mom reached "The Year Of Jubilee" as I told her.

Mark Beachy sharing some of his life's journey

Dad preaching, sometimes he stops to wake the children up. looks like some need it!

So Mom thought only Dad an her would go somewhere for supper to celebrate, but all the while dad was texting us children an told us to get ready, an go, to Java house an reserve a table, so they walk into Java house an Mom was very much surprised that we were all there, it was funny because while we were sitting at Java house waiting for Dad & Mom, Mom sent me a text sayin that we could make some hot dogs for our supper, an I just replied with an innocent, "ok". It was really fun to surprise her. After supper we went to our very favorite spot, up on top of the building were Java house is in, there is a fancy restaurant up there, with modern looking tables an chairs, an a pool. we usually just go up there to relax an enjoy the view of Kisumu an the Lake, it was dark, so we all just sat up there looking at all the lights reflecting off of lake Victoria, an Dad an I talked about how much we love it here in Kenya! Our whole family loves it here, but sometimes it just really hits us how much we are enjoying it here so far.
We had a relaxing evening up there, talking about how we would bring different people from home up here, if any would wanna come visit sometime! ha! hint! hint!
(Thursday July 21st)
So today Dad & Mom went to "get lost" as they say it. since the day of Moms birthday had been spent at Bible study with the church people all day.
So they had different little shops they wanted to go exploring, an I think Dad got Mom a foot spa treatment for something special, an since you can buy a dozen awesome roses over here for $2.00 Mom also got lots of roses!

The WATER Girls sharing their mission

So just before Dad an Mom were getting ready to leave for this amazing day together, Dad's phone rings an it was a needs committee member saying that a lady from our church was deathly ill, an was coughing up blood, an vomiting. SIGH. Dad just couldn't cancel Mom's special day since they were just ready to leave, so Steve an I took the challenge an drove the 1.5 hour drive out to our church to pick up this sick lady an bring her to Kisumu to see a Doc. we took a van, an I stuffed in some pillows an blankets so the lady could be relatively comfortable on the way back to Kisumu.
We got to Masogo an picked up our interpreter there, an then he directed us back in to where her small mud hut was, we found the sick lady laying on a reed mat on the ground, outside her hut in the sunshine, an despite the sweltering weather, she was covered in a thin blanket.

Dad at the market

So after greeting the family that was gathered around, an all the stray children, we waited in the sunshine till they had gotten her things together, an were ready to leave, we then helped the very sick lady into our waiting vehicle, an I guess since the family saw we had a van, everyone an his uncle decided to go along, Steve an I had thought 2-3 people might go, but no, we ended up with a full van on the way back to Kisumu. (The sick lady taking up the one seat.) she seemed to had a great deal of pain, I felt so sorry for her.

Ewww! the meat market, glad we butcher our own chickens

We finally get to the hospital, an drive up to the "emergency" door, an the first thing I see was crowds of people piled into the waiting area, my heart sank, I knew this was going to be a long afternoon, the next thing that happened was while I was helping to get the sick lady out of our van, I almost got run over as a piki-piki comes zooming in with three guys on it, honking, an whistling, all manor of different sounding horns, they jump off of the piki, an made their rapid entry into the already full waiting area, shoving right past us in the line, I was thinking, wait a minute! we're like kinda here too! Just saying. then our interpreter turns to explain the situation to us, saying that the one boy had gotten a snake bite, an needs medical attention right away, I look at the threesome standing in front of us, an saw the one young man's leg had a tight stripe of cloth tied around it, an the bottom part of his leg was huge an swollen! he was soon whisked off to be treated, I sure hope he is ok.

Selling potato chips

So the waiting room was packed out with 50-60 people sitting, an standing, in line waiting to be seen, I soon saw we were also now in line an waiting, so after several minutes, I found a shady place outside where I waited, since you all already know very well, how I don't do those tight, warm, smelly places, with no air an people everywhere, so, we waited for quite a while, then the interpreter talked to Steve an I, saying that the family wants to take her to another hospital since this one is too full, oh! joy! so first I ask, "how far the other hospital that they want to take her to?" they said only 10 min. an so I tried convincing them that since the sick lady was already in line an awaiting her turn, at this hospital, that some of us should first go check at the other hospital to make sure it wasn't the same story there, before we take her out of the line at the hospital where we were at now. The family didn't seem to understand why we would want to do that, an so we all picked up our things, an people, an headed to another hospital, we get there, an people, people, people, everywhere....we drive around to the place where we helped, the by that time, very weak, an sick, lady out of the van an into the hospital, we soon had her checked into that hospital, an she soon was able to see the Doc. thank God! there were people siting every where, along the flower beds, an on the window sills, literally everywhere. an the funny thing about it was how different this hospital was from ones in the US, I was able to walk right into the ER with out so much as a signature, where the Doc. was checking out different people, there were even people sitting on the window sills watching the Doctors work on patients, the doors were wide open an the people, flies, an dust, milled in an out at their own convenience.

Kisumu Town

Way on top of the building were Java house is in

An while I was waiting outside the door of the ER I almost got run over by a fleet of Doctors an nurses pushing a stretcher with a very sick patient on it, they come barreling through the door, an as they bumped carelessly over the door jam, the patients IV bag slips off of the bed an bounced to the dirty sidewalks, but the head nurse just picked it up, an in one smooth motion plopped it back on the bed with the patient, the patient winced alittle with the needle to the IV bag still being stuck in her arm, but was hurriedly being pushed to her new location, breathing with labored breaths, an moaning in pain. I hurriedly tried to get out of the way, but so was not to be... as I kept stepping out of the way an right to the spot they next wanted to go to! The nurse was yelling at me to get out of the way, so id step aside another direction only to realize that was the way they were wanting to go, the nurse kept looking at me very impatiently, waving her arms, an rattling off a whole line in Luo, that I completely, an totally, did not understand, I kept looking back at her like any innocent little opossum that was about to get run over would, I didn't know where she wanted me to go, so I stood there in the tight hall way, waiting for the impact, then a girl grabbed my arm an pulled me over to the steps an out of their way, I felt so stupid, but I honestly had no idea where I was supposed to go to since every way I had tried to go to get out of their way was the wrong direction. I was beginning to feel like a road kill, I don't know which is worse, being a road kill, or being a road kill survivor, an seeing all the people chuckle at this American who simply couldn't get out of the Doctors way as they rushed by. I really wanted to vanish... I felt so embarrassed! so I sat down, to the side, out of the way, an pondered over my narrow escapes, since the piki incident, an the stretcher happening, that had just happened.  I then tried making conversation with the girl sitting beside me, while I waited on Steve an the others trying to get admission fees paid. but she didn't seem to talkative, I guessed it probably wasn't cool to talk to a "almost road kill" since whenever I would ask a question she just said, "yes." or grunted, so, I'd ask her will you be staying here all day? Slight nod, an a grunt. (because this girl was along with the group we had brought, an the sick lady from our church was her Mom, I thought I should probably talk to her.) I would ask her different things that required an answer, an she just said, "yes." so I left it at that.

How they look when they think you might take a picture!

An went to find Steve, he was just finishing up the check -in, an so we soon left to go get lunch.They were going to call us once they were ready to be taken back home, but it was late by the time the family called, so Dad & Mom took them back home,


This evening instead of our usual unit prayer meeting, we all (except for children) went to the local hospital to sing, Dad & Mom were not along since they had taken supper to the van load Steve an I had brought in to Kisumu hospital earlier today, then they took them all back home, except for the sick lady who had to stay in the hospital several days, they got back after the rest of us were finishing up our snack that we had a Jakes after hospital singing, around 9pm.
An so ended another day in Kenya, with many a new experience!
(Friday July 22nd)
Today Dad was out an about most of the day, trying to get help for the sick lady that was in the hospital...
The twins worked in the shop all day.
And mom an I worked around home, I did some cleaning that was long over due.
In the evening we had some great volley ball again, with more players then usual, the three WATER girls were here, an Markus an Micah came in, as well as Kori from Nakaru, an Dishon from Rabour. we actually had 3 teams! what a treat. And we got extended curfew which was really nice.

How they look when you actually do take a photo

an so another week passed.
So here is for my very late blog, sorry people!
Also, sorry I don't have more pictures this time, maybe next time!
-Sylvia
For The Millers