African Down-pours, Power Outages, An Preaching The Good News!

(Saturday June 25th)

Sunset over Lake Victoria.

We all slept in this morning...an then around 11:30am. Stacy, Rhoda, an I went shopping, an just exploring Kisumu town, seems there is always a little shop, or restaurant, that you didn't know existed. We had so much fun doing basically nothing. We returned around 2pm.


Dad had several different meetings today, one was a school board meeting with the new school teacher, Rhoda Wengerd, from Tn. since Dad an Mom are on the school board for the mission school here.
In the evening Dad was practicing to drive his new motor bike, since he needs to be getting his license soon to be able to drive the bike.
Steve was showing me a project that they had been doing, they were putting a gate into the hedge row, to enter into the new food pantry we just put in. So they had to cut hedges, an concrete posts into the ground, an then the main work was to weld the gate together, as well as a frame to hang the door on, looked totally perfect to me, even though he says its not! I marvel at how they come over here to Africa an learn a totally new thing, building barns is quite different from, welding, painting, an hanging guttering, an fixing vehicles, to name some of the things they do. they do great!
After I looked at their work, Steve, Wayne, an I went on a walk before dark.

Pretty Flowers!

Out on a boat ride with some of the youth

There were some big waves...an I was praying that our little boat would stay upright!

We happened upon this Baptist church that was having revival meetings outside, they had a big stage, an a tent setup, an the volume was ear splitting, even though they were preaching in Luo, an interpreting in Swahili, an we didn't understand much, we decided to stay an just analyze the situation from all angles! :)  we enjoyed it, an it added to the experience when a tropical storm moved in an it started pouring rain, but I think that only poured fuel on the fire! the preachers kept right on yelling, screaming, an hollering in to their mikes, which were very, static ridden. I couldn't understand much, but with the amount of energy the two preachers were putting into it all, an the crowds yelling an cheering, I'm pretty sure it was "hell-brimstone, an fire." preaching! It was getting dark, an since Wayne had turned around an went back home earlier, Steve an I kept hoping the rain would slow up so we could get home before dark. but so was not to be, so finally after getting some amazing footage of the preachers outdoing themselves, we left in the pouring rain...we were soaked to the bone, as soon as we stepped out from under the tent! an Steve's long strides had me jogging to keep up, an finally I took my sandals off since I was slipping all over, with the deep puddles, an streams we were hiking through, an it was funny to see people staring out of their huts, watching us either in pity, or laughing at these, white people trotting through the pouring rain, some thought it was funny, an were bent over laughing, which was fine with me, since I was laughing too, an in-between chattering teeth, I kept asking Steve, if he remembers why exactly we had wanted to go on a walk tonight!? he never did answer. I kept babbling nonsense, since I was SO COLD...an Steve kept repeating in an even tone, "lets just get home!" Hey! I was basically running! and it was raining so hard, I couldn't see an I kept rubbing the salt water out of my eyes to be able to see...so by the time we got to the compound we decided we're wet anyway, so we jumped into the amazingly huge puddles on the street outside our house, jumping an splashing each other...we felt like kids again! but there's something fun about not acting your age all the time! lol I would know people! I do it most of the time...but seriously, it was amazing. an we made some epic memories! but, I will add that I'm grateful that is was dark by that time, since I'm sure if fellow missionaries would have seen us....they would have questioned

Steve taking pictures of the hippo's

our sanity! But Hey! missionaries need to have those "moments" too. right!? We can't be sane all the time!
The gate guards thought we were crazy, an when they saw me shivering, they asked if this is the type of weather us Americans like? since we are always saying how hot it is here in Africa. I told them we are really, cold now! an they laughed, an thought it was great that their weather finally had us American's cold! Since they were bundled up like they had a skating party planned!
We got home, an after some dry clothes, we had moms amazing chicken ranch pizza, an were just around home.
(Sunday June 26th)
Today our whole family got to sleep till like 8:00- 8:30am. What a treat, for Sunday Morning!!
Then our whole family went to Lela for church. (JoeAllen &Glenda's church) since we had pastor rotation, an Dad was assigned to preach at Lela, was great to be there, they have a very small church, an the people were super friendly, an had a great time.
Dad preached about having faith as a grain of mustard seed,(He took real mustard seeds along.) Our family then sang a Swahili song together, an that concluded the service. Dad uses a lot of "object lessons" when he preaches, seems the natives remember things better that way, also the natives here have a shorter attention span, an sometimes it takes some creativity to keep their attention.
We were invited to Joes for lunch of yummy grilled chicken an potatoes, (Dad was happy!;)

What is this!? a leaf...or a bug!

Stan at the chip shack

We children were then just around home in the afternoon, except for Dad an Mom who came home from lunch, an then got ready to leave for a local church down here on Ring Road, at 4pm. were an ex-muslim, now Christian, pastor Richard an his wife Janet, wanted Dad an Mom to come, they are both newer Christians, but have faith that inspires me so much. they are also, so humble an want Dad & Mom to teach them things from Gods word since they feel like they know so little. Dad gave them the instruction class book that teaches a lot of the things that we believe. They went for the Sunday evening services, but were a bit late, so the service had already started, but Richard wanted dad to share something, so Dad preached abit, an then they had an alter call, an a young man gave his heart to the Lord for the first time! Richard calls my Dad & Mom, his Daddy & Mamma, since he says he doesn't have family.  So he kept telling his little church that Gerold is his poppa. It was a stretching experience for Dad & Mom.


In the evening everyone was invited to Jakes, to socialize, I stayed at home to catch up on my journal, an different things like that. our power got knocked out, as we had another big thunder storm. We are still getting used to these power outages that happen so frequently.
(Monday June 27th)
Today we were just around home, Dad was in the office, an at pastors meeting most of the day.

This little cutie sat with me at church

Mom was doing the laundry, an I wasn't doing much of anything... since like I wrote in my last post. I had another grand-mal seizure Sunday evening. So I was pretty sore from falling, an just rested a lot today, then in the afternoon, Dad an I went to get several things in town, an just drove around abit... an talked... I so enjoyed that!
Went to bed early tonight.
(Tuesday June 28th)
Today Mom was around home today, but Dad was out visiting the sick, an needy, most of the day.
The twins were in the shop, an I worked on the blog a tiny bit.

Church sign at Lela

In the evening some of us youth decided to go to hippo point to watch the sunset, then on second thought we decided to take a boat ride...which was even more epic! an to top it all off is we saw real live hippos right there in the water, umm...a little too close to the boat for my comfort,(since the boat was a slight upgrade from a dug-out canoe!)  an I kept trying not to mentally rehearse the facts I had heard several days before, about the ratio of deaths by hippos, as opposed to alligators, an snakes. creeps!!!
We got home to a late supper, an Dad filling us all in on the adventures of his day! I wish I could add some of those, but my posts are too long the way it is, so...
(Wednesday June 29th)
Happy 3rd Anniversary to André & Sharon!! ya'll are so special to me! hope you have many more happy, an fulfilling years together! Love you all crazy much! an miss you all more then ever!


Dad & Mom left early for bible study today, since they had other stops to make as well. meet a youth guy from church, stop at the hospital to help pay bills from members that were there, pray for a widow that was still in the hospital, go to a blind school to see if one of our member's could go to school there to learn braille. (I'm pretty sure that isn't spelled right, but you get it. hopefully.)

The one having devotions at Lela

The twins an Weston were painting, an hanging guttering along our house.
An me still trying to mend...worked on my VERY late blog post, an cook meals for the three bro's.
Dad & Mom got home in the early evening, an we were all just around home.
It was an uneventful day.
(Thursday June 30th)
Today Dad was just around home, an the twins were still working on putting up guttering, since it was some strange plastic, guttering that proved to be a work of art to put up.


Then in the afternoon, Dad & Mom an I went to the local Aga-Kan Hospital to do a Lyme's Disease test, as well as see about getting medication for my seizures. That looked pretty big to me, since I was so sure I could just somehow go without medication...but finally, I discovered that falling an hitting your head on tile flooring is very uncool as well! an after much thought, an encouragement from friends that thought I should start medication, I did! because I saw my seizures were not getting better, but worse, an I was having one, on average once a month. so as much as I hate saying it, I always kinda put people in a "box" that were on meds, but I guess I joined em'! lol but, I hope it can help me to g

Sunday school group giving a program

et some of my confidence back, since I am still so freaked I'll have a seizure when I'm out an about, or even at church, I really hope this will help me to not be so scared whenever I leave the house. please pray for me as I start this medication, that is could help me to never have another seizure, an also that the side effects would not be too dramatic. An that I would still be "me".    (I have a feeling that sounded weird), but I don't wanna have a personality change because of the medicine, but rather that it could help me be all that I can be here in Africa, an that it would help me to be more confident in reaching out to others. instead of worrying, will I have a seizure....
So it was a long stressful day at the hospital, I wont get the results on the Lymes for another 2-3 weeks.
(Friday July 1st)
July! really!? I keep trying to imagine it being summer at home, since it was FREEZING COLD! the day I hugged my dear friends at the airport good-bye. wow! I'm pretty sure that was an eternity ago...


Today Dad & Mom an the three bro's went to Deniea  (That town name isn't spelled right either...)  w

Dad an Joe preparing to share.

here Mark & Maryellen live to help them with some work on their church, including building a fence, an other random work, Steve drove a van, as well as Dad, since men from different CBF church's were beckoning the summons to help with the work at the church were Mark's are serving at.  several other pastors also took vans to pick-up people from their churches who wanted to help out. they had quite the crowd, an Mom went along to assist Maryellen with whatever was needed, and with getting everyone a bite to eat, that was working.

Our chickens supply the compound, an some to sell.

I was just around home doing various things, then in the evening I went with Dad to take a load of the workers back home, so we didn't get back till after dark.

We were just around home in the evening...

And that's all for our last weeks happenings!

-Sylvia

For The Miller's

Boats out on lake Victoria, Kisumu airport in the background

Who knows what I'm flipping out about here!

flowers...

our family singing in Lela

Sunset picture...

Two of Dean Miller's sons

A little cutie in church.

Unit Meeting, An A Family Of 11 Fleeing For Their Lives!

At Unit Meeting in Nakaru

(Saturday June 18th)

Today Carolyn, Stacy, Rhoda, an I were panning on going swimming, but we woke up to total over casted skies, an rain, so we canceled. It was very unusual weather for Kenya...but it was nice to have a "fall weather" type of day. later on when Stacy an I went to do some random shopping, I even wore a sweater, It was very chilly!
After we got back I did some odd jobs around home...Dad was studying for his message...mom was baking cinnamon rolls... an finally, Dad & Mom left to go do some shopping, an just have some alone time.

Very intent on the meeting.

After the twins were done at the shop, an Dad & Mom were still not home, we decided to sit down by the lake an watch the sunset. there were lots of people there, so we didn't stay long, but we stayed long enough to see a big, old, hippo walking along the edge of the lake, bobbing up every now an then so we could catch a glimpse of his monstrous face.
We got home in time for some of mom's yummy chicken/ranch pizza.
(Sunday June 19th)
Dad left early for IC class, Mom an Wayne, went along as well.

The girls sitting with rapt attention. (They did a lot better then me on that!)

Steve an I went in one van, an Stan followed with another van, as we made our way to Rabour church, to pick up the choir there, an bring them to our church, (there were about 13 ladies an 4 men on the choir.) as they had a program at our church. They sang very well. Then Dad had a message on Mathew 18. Church finally dismissed at 1:00-1:30 pm after some very elaborate testimonies...we all went home, taking the choir back to their church house, an dropping others off nearer to their homes, then we came home an ate a great lunch, an retired to our napping.
In the evening the youth were all invited to JoeAllen's for supper, an sitting around a camp fire, which we had not done much of since we are here, since wood is so scarce, an is used for cooking not just burning. but we had a great time together, even though it was a small group!

saw this on the way home from unit meeting. (This is why I think tractors should have air bags.)

(Monday June 20th)
Today Dad was at the pastors meeting most of the day...
The twins were in the shop most of the day...
Mom was cooking, an sewing a dress for herself...
I worked on the blog most of the day...then in the evening, Stacy, Rhoda, an I went to hangover for supper, an then did some shopping, we had an epic time together.
(Tuesday June 21st)

A lady was teaching me how to get water from a well.

Today our whole compound made the three hour trek to Nakaru for unit meeting...which meant we had to rouse from our slumbers at 5:30am!! I almost didn't make it people! It was terrible. So after about 100 speed bumps, an three hours later,we arrived at Nakaru for the epic unit meeting, the meeting was so interesting that I actually caught a short snooze out in the van, upon my return the discussion was on suit coats....so interesting. NOT. The meeting started around 9:30am. an they had a very delicious pancake breakfast before the meeting. The meeting finally adjourned around 1:30pm. It was longer then usual for some odd reason, But with taking a nap, as well as texting random boring comments to the other very bored youth, we once again live to talk about unit meeting.

I stayed at a safe distance an watched, I just knew she was gonna fall in!

we had some amazing haystack for lunch, an then started for home around 4:30pm. we returned to the compound around 7:30pm. was great to warm up in Kisumu again, as it was so cold an rainy in Nakaru, I even had a sweater on, an finally wore one of my brothers thick coats because I was still so cold! I have not been as cold as I was at unit meeting, since I left the states! It was like in the 50* in the morning, but I know we should enjoy it because soon it will be in the 90* or more.
(Wednesday June 22nd)
So today was the weekly Bible Study.
And since Rhoda will be attending church with Joseph an Becky, she did not attend Bible study with us, so it was just Dad & Mom, Wayne an I.
We had quite the times...we were way out in the backwoods, an they had just had a big rain.

At Luke's house, with 9 kids, an the neighbors kids too, it made for a lively place!

we put the vehicle in four wheel drive an drove through massive puddles, were people were washing their piki-piki's, we continued to spin our way back in, the vehicle at times drifting first one way, then the other, skidding from side to side, an I kept gasping for air! It was something else. sometimes I thought we were going to turn around completely an head the other way.
Finally we were back in as far as the vehicle would go, then we walked another 30 min. or so in the sweltering afternoon sunshine. Oh! Joy!

Luke an his wife, an some of their children, the rest were gone else where.

Also, our native guide that was supposed to direct us to the people who were having the Bible study, didn't know where they lived, an neither did we, but I soon discovered that African men, are never lost either, even though we were back tracking he still "knew" where he was going.
finally, I took off my shoes an socks, since we were wading through streams, Dad an Mom waded through with their shoes on, bless their hearts, an believe me once I was in the murky water up over my entire feet, I too wished for something to take the blunt of the snakes, an crocodile's bites...not that it happened...but, just in case. because once your in murky water like that you start thinking of the possibility, of being sampled by various reptiles, even though sitting here in our comfortable home typing on my laptop, it sure doesn't seem like I should have been so freaked out. but, I was.

They were having so much fun!!

an eventually as we were slipping an sliding our way to Bible Study, Wayne plodding along barefoot, in front of me, all of a sudden slips, an with a solid THUNK lands to the ground, an since we were way behind all the rest, I start laughing, an then Wayne still on his knees in the mud, randomly started singing, "We bow down." we had ourselves a good laugh! We then concluded that if this is what AMA wanted us to come an do, we were planning on making the most of our experience.
We got to Bible study very late, an the natives trying not to laugh while looking at our mud splattered selves, kept saying how sorry they were for us. They walk much further then we do, an somehow manage to arrive looking spotless, I don't see how they do it!
so after Bible Study we had some bread an tea, an started our trek back home.
We arrived home around 6pm. We then washed up an  joined the twins at hangover for supper.
We had a great time.
(Thursday June 23rd)

Dad & Mom, Lois & Luke, an Daniel our interpreter.

Today we were just all around home, Dad was in his study since he will be preaching in Lela this Sunday.
The twins were working on finishing up the grill that they had welded together, for one of the families here on the compound.
Mom was doing the laundry, an I was working on some much needed cleaning.
In the afternoon Dad & Mom went to get some groceries, then we all  ate a hurried supper, an left for prayer meeting at JoeAllen's which is like a 15 second walk from our house. It was a small group but we had a great time together.
(Friday June 24th)
Today Dad & Mom an I, along with Daniel okalo our interpreter, went to see a family from our church, Luke an Lois an their 9 children, he is a member of the CBF church, but his wife isn't an none of his family is either, but his wife is a very devote Christian, an she really encouraged me, to see her walk with the Lord.

We went past our church, an just so happened that CAM was having food distribution.

Kori, making sure the right families receive the food.

We went to visit them since earlier in the week, there had been another tribe that they are at odd with that came storming into their area, an about 50 men started robbing an killing, Luke's next door neighbor got shot with an arrow, an then was hacked to death! horrible. so Luke an his family fled for their lives, an came to a town that is closer to where the church is, but still close enough so that his older sons can go back to check on the crops. A relative in the town that they fled to gave them a house to live in, an they felt more safe there, so they will just stay there till they hear that it is safe to go back home. Pray for the family if you think of it. we took them some food, an spent time visiting with them, an their attitude was amazing, they were just happy to all be together an to be alive. the family sang several songs for us before we left, I took some pictures, an was so blessed with their contentment, an most of all their joy. It was truly incredible!
Afterwards they escorted us out to the road where our vehicle was parked, an kept saying how thankful they were that we came, we finally left, an took our interpreter back home, as he was feeling sick, an then we stopped by the hospital to pray with an older widow from our church who is staying there right now. We continued on home after that an stopped several times to buy chips (fries) along the way, finally reaching home around 6:15pm. I took a short rest, an then got ready for the weekly v-ball game that was on the street at 7:15pm
Was great to have Marcus Beachy here, as well as Kori from Nakaru
An that is about all that happened last week, at least in a nut shell.
Sylvia,
For the Miller's










P.S( So sorry for this terribly late post, I guess my excuse this time is that I had another seizure Sunday evening, so I've been recovering from bumps an bruises, an a bitten up lip. Pray for me on that if you think about it, I think we will be going to the Doc. tomorrow to check out if it might be limes disease. So please pray for me, I really wanna know what is causing these seizures, an as crazy as it sounds... I am hoping it is limes, just so that I have an answer, I am really tired of spending hundreds of dollars on various tests an the doctors saying, "nope, everything looks fine." then I go home an have more seizures!
 So sorry for all this about my health again, I feel like I always talk about this. but just asking you please pray that we could find answers to this illness that disrupted my life. Thanks in advance! )

waiting to receive their food parcel.

 

 

Headed their long way home, with food!

 

The more fortunate ones had piki-piki's

 

We helped some of them that were traveling the same way, on our way back.

 

 

Here we just stopped to buy some banana's! people! people! 

 

Another Farewell, An A Few Stubborn Hitchhikers!!

(Saturday June 11th)
Had a relaxing Saturday morning.

Charity an Clarissa, at Charity's Farewell.

Then around 11am. Carolyn, Stacy, Charity, Rhoda, Clarissa, Shonda, an I all went swimming at St. John's pool. It was a really big fancy pool, with a bridge going over the center of the pool, it was really neat. We swam till around 2pm. then came back to the compound.


Everyone was just working different odd jobs around home in the afternoon, I then did some cleaning, since we were having company for lunch tomorrow.
An in the evening, I took three of my friends down on Ring Rd. very cold cokes, it was amazing to see their faces light up! (I think I had wrote about that in my last post.)


(Sunday June 12th)

Visiting an snacking after the farewell.

Dad of course left early for IC. (Instruction class.)
The rest of our family, along with Charity, an Rhoda, an my Friend Irene, came at the regular time.
We had a farewell service of sorts for Charity since this was officially her last Sunday in our church, the girls from our Sunday school class sang three songs with Charity, in the church service. (I had told them one song, but since it is just the best thing ever, to sing, or talk, in front of crowds, they wanted to sing three songs.) wow! go them...I'm sitting in the back, "taking pictures!" for Charity! ;)

Some of the compound kiddo's

Us youth girls, Stacy, Clarissa, Carolyn, Me, Rhoda, Charity. (L to R)

I didn't get to hear dad's message much...since when we all stood up to pray before he started preaching, I look out over the shoulder high wall that is all around the church, an here I see a small girl laying in the grass, I watched her a little bit, because it is not unusual for ladies to be laying outside during church on their big scarves, that they carry everywhere, an even children will be laying in the grass in the shade outside the church, since it gets really hot inside. but here this little girl was laying right in the sunshine, so I kept watching her through the prayer, then I see her convulsing, an saliva coming from her mouth, so I pushed at my friend Irene, an asked her, "is that girl ok?" an she took one look an said, "No! she is very, very sick, we have to go help her." so we went outside to check up on her, an she was burning up with a fever, that is why she was laying in the sun, because she was so cold. so we took her over in the shade, an thankfully I had some blankets in the vehicle, an so we put a blanket an pillow down for her, an although it was hot outside she wanted a thick blanket over her, I then gave her some pain killer, an water.


Weston studying something or other.

However, I had just got her all taken care of when I look over an there was another man sitting behind our small storage building at church, an he was crying, so Irene an I went over to check on him, Irene was a great interpreter, since she knows English very well, it worked great! an we soon discovered that this man also, said he was very ill, he had a raging fever too, an was shaking, an shivering from head to toe! so out comes more water, an pain killers, an blankets, this poor man, was feeling so bad...his entire blanket was jerking, an quivering, from his quaking body underneath.

So after the church service was over, an Dad had greeted everyone, the needs committee an Dad decided to take the small girl home to her grand mother, (their mother an father left the children to live with their grandmother.) an they then took the older man (Enoch) to the local hospital, Dad said he was hardly responding anymore till they got to the hospital! they all said it was Malaria, but there were other people too, that said they were not feeling well, so we wondered if it could have been Typhoid? Well, it was an interesting Sunday to say the least! my friend Irene that was visiting, wants to be a doctor anyway, so we both enjoyed taking care of the ones that were sick. I keep praying for them this week, hoping they will get better!

Stan welding a grill rack.

We had Charity, an Rhoda over for lunch, an then in the evening we all went to Dean's house, for a farewell for Charity, an a welcoming for Rhoda. what a bitter-sweet evening it was! so sad to see Charity going...but so amazing to see Rhoda here, after getting to know her a little out at our orientation in Pa. It is exciting to get to know her better on this side of the big pond.

Us youth, along with Mark an Maryellen sang a farewell type of song for Charity, then everyone shared a "farewell speech" to Charity, an a welcoming to Rhoda, then last of all, Dean had asked Dad to share his life story, from Amish life, to how God called our family to the mission field in Africa, as well as his conversion from a carnal, an wealthy life, to a Godly, but spiritually rich life. So Dad had a fairly full day today! but, it somehow seemed to draw us all together, an afterwards we concluded that we should all share our life journey's, as a way of better getting to know one another. guess we will see.

We all had a very good time eating, an fellowshipping afterwards...

(Monday June 13th)

Today there were no Riots! Praise God! Thanks for your prayers...

Brad with his beloved bike!

Dad was at the pastors meeting most of the day...The twins were working in the shop an running to town to get parts that they needed....an I worked on the blog most of the day, somehow, it just took really, really long this time.

In the evening we youth had one more good game of Volley-ball with Charity before she leaves us on Thursday, an since Kori from Nakaru was still here from his food distribution he does for the orphans through CAM, it was all the more reason to play volley-ball, since we had an extra player. We had even teams 5 on 5, so that was nice! we then had a little snack afterwards. It was fun....but we missed Marlin's youth so much, an we were all sad that Charity is leaving us...changes....changes...do they EVER stop!?

(Tuesday June 14th)

Weston doing some painting

This morning around 10am. all of us youth girls went shopping, kind of to do a last thing together with Charity, an also to show Rhoda around, so she can get to know the places we shop at.

So we went Fabric shopping, at the Muslim fabric shops of course, an found some very nice pieces! yah! had several other stops, an then had a nice lunch together, it was a very nice time together...we got back around 2pm. - 3pm.

I then helped mom finish up supper, an did a bit of cleaning up, since we had the four single girls over for supper, (Charity, Rhoda, Stacy, an Carolyn) I grilled the chicken for supper, an then we had a terrific evening together! was great to hang out with the girls, especially since Charity is leaving us on Thursday!

(Wednesday June 15th)

Steve also doing some painting

Today Dad & Mom an Stan, as well as Rhoda went to the bible study.

Steve stayed at home to work since he had things that needed to get done.

Wayne an I did add jobs around home, an made supper! ;)

They got back got back home around 6:30pm. an we had a great evening just being at home!

(Thursday June 16th)

There were no riots today either! they had originally planned to start having them Monday's an Thursdays...but praise God!



Tiffany having fun with a friend

Today was a busy day, with doing some laundry, an cleaning up inside the house, as well as outside, since it is our turn to host the compound prayer meeting this evening.

George our gardener did a great job cleaning our flower beds for the occasion.



A group of sewing ladies that come to the compound, several times a week

Over lunch I took a break, an Wayne an I went down the street to buy some chapatti's, Wayne was sitting inside the hut talking to his friends, an I was sitting outside against the side of the hut, watching the lady make the chapatti's, when right across the street two men started fighting! it was horrible to watch! an I was getting freaked out really fast. They were boxing, hitting, an kicking each other around, I couldn't believe it! then the younger guy picks the older guy completely off of the ground an throws him in the dirt, an continues his hitting, an kicking his head! finally the people watching did something, an a man came an separated the two. Thank God! I never experienced something like that before! Wayne an I got our food, an came back to the compound, very glad to live inside a walled compound.

In the evening we youth girls all took Charity to the airport, an made it back in time for prayer meeting.


Dad beginning services with interpreter Evans

(Friday June 17th)

Today we were just around home doing baking, an different things. It was a relief that most of the cleaning was done already because of the hosting of prayer meeting at our house Thur. evening.

Some of us then went to town in the afternoon to see about buying some metal, an different things, so on our way back Dad decided to stop by one of his friends shop, he has a flower shop an makes floral arrangements, you can buy roses for several dollars a dozen. an other flowers too for terribly cheap!



They just say it, like it is!

So we talked for a little while, an Dad of course bought a small bouquet from the man, (For his own Father's day he said) lol  anyway, we soon headed to the vehicle to go home, we then had several homeless boys that we start talking to, an true to the ways of Kenya, the longer we talked the bigger the crowd of homeless boys got! we soon had 6-7 boys crowded around begging for money an food, so Dad challenged them with the thought, that if they would be willing to give up their glue sniffing, then they could be in an orphanage where they could be taken care of. they didn't really like that dad knew that about them, an so of course, they started saying that they don't sniff glue, but the glue bottles were right in their back pockets! hello. so dad prayed with them, an told them that with their sniffing glue, an lying he does not feel that God wants him to help them today, so when we went to leave, they jump on the side of our vehicle, an ride along! we edged our way out of the parking lot stopping periodically to tell them that we are going out into traffic, an that they need to get off now, but they just laughed, an said that we need to give them food. so we finally kept going! I was so scared that one of them was going to fall off! even though in Kenya they are used to hanging onto vehicles to catch a ride. so we kept going... an then we would slow down an say that they need to get off now, an they would just say "supa maket!" so we would say, "no not today", an continue going....we did this for a while, an soon Dad was becoming a little irritated, since we couldn't continue home with them, an we had things to do. So we kept driving an stopping, driving an stopping, people stopping to stare at these white people, with three homeless boys hanging to the side of our vehicle! Dad wouldn't be Gerold Miller if he wouldn't have given them a "ride they won't soon forget!" an driven a little ornery, after they refused to get off, so without too many details on his driving, an after some "swerves" we soon heard feeble little tapping on the windows, an a desperate, "stop we will get off!" so we stopped, an they all bailed off like tame little house cats...problem solved. an we went our separate ways.

Several ladies from church

It was quite an experience, an I think we laughed most of the way home, rehearsing the incident from all angles. these boys were probably about 13-16 in age, so old enough to know better! but I think they will think twice before they hop onto our vehicle again. I kept suggesting that we just stop by a guard an tell him our problem, or find a police, but Dad was able to handle the situation entirely on his own. true to his nature!

We got home in time to quickly eat super, an then we had volley ball, we got the father's to help since we needed more players, we had a very fun, an I might add entertaining evening, I am just itching to add more graphic details so that you too could be somewhat entertained, but since the nice person that I am, I wont tell you about all the "wobbliness" an the (clears throat) "clumsiness" an fierce pounding of their feet on the ground, before they hit the ball! that kept me laughing most of the evening, but most of them got into the swing of things before too long, an there were even some amazing spikes from some! all in all we concluded, that is was a better then expected evening of good times! An above all! bless their dear hearts for helping us play...

That is about all that happened this week...

I tried taking some family pictures, from the few complete families that we have at church.

~Sylvia

For The Miller's


P.S.( Sorry for the terrible blank spaces on the blog, I couldn't fix that, just keep scrolling till the bottom, so you don't miss pictures! ;)

Another family

Cute little family!

Some of the youth girls wanted to have their picture taken too

Two of my best friends from church, Jane, an Stacy (their pose tho! ;)

Two orphans that come to church, the little boy is super ornery! an his sis is so shy!

Youth girls from Rabour church. (another AMA church)

Us youth girls at the St. Johns pool

Rabour youth

Rhoda beginning her language study, with Rosemary!

Us youth singing at Charity's farewell...