Safari Time!

“And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was good.” 

Genesis 1:31

This past weekend, Julie and I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a “safari!” We ventured up to Nakuru Lake and Game Park, which was about 2 hours away from Kisumu.  We went with our friends who I have mentioned before, John and Connie.   Let me tell you, these two are a hoot. Non-stop laughter the whole weekend. My body literally hurt from laughing so hard. Is it weird that they are like my new best friends? And did I mention that they are in their 50’s?! Ha, I have seriously had an absolute blast getting to know them. They bring so much joy to my life and I am beyond thankful that I have met them. The two of them have taught me so much in the last 4 weeks. They just left Kenya yesterday for some much needed family time in England and in the States, and it was kind of hard to say goodbye to them. It is a sad and strange feeling to think that I might not see them again when they have become such a part of me. Sounds corny, but really, I can’t describe how much they mean to me. Connie is from Texas so I am bound and determined to see them again…maybe in Texas. Orrrrr, maybe I’ll just have to venture back to Kenya someday! Darn ; ) Anyway, enough blubbering, I’ll get on with the safari business.

Best Friends ; )

It was a beautiful drive to Nakuru. We drove up past Kericho which is an area filled with tea fields. It is incredible the amount of tea that you see in this area and it is so pretty!  Everyone and their dog drinks tea in Kenya so it was cool to actually see the fields and also the men and women who work so hard to keep the tea coming.

Sweeeeeet.

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived to the Nakuru area and checked into our hotel…which was awesome. I truly felt like I was on an exotic vacation. We unloaded, had some lunch and were off to enter the park. As we were driving towards the entrance, I was looking over by some trees and spotted 2 lionesses! They were probably no more than a mile from our camp…Yikes!  But it was definitely an awesome way to start our safari!

Zebras everywhere! They like to pose for me when I take pictures : )

 

When we reached the gate, we accidentally left a window open when we went to pay. In no time at all, a baboon had entered our vehicle and ransacked the place. Luckily we didn’t have much in there so nothing was taken or too damaged. Just a little dirty and disheveled.  The baboons were everywhere in the park, big and small. These things are terribly mean and have literally been known to bite people’s face off (it’s true…google it). There was a bunch of them by a picnic table so I thought it would be fun to sit at the table and get a picture with them. Well, let’s just say, the baboons weren’t having it. Below is the only picture that was taken with the baboons. Just as they were snapping the picture, a baboon came up behind me and literally hit me on the back of the leg. I don’t think he liked me at his table. Ha, as you can see, I was a little terrified so I skidaddled.

If you look closely, you can see the feisty little furball behind me by my legs and feet.

 

That first afternoon, we drove our own car around. We saw lots of different birds, including hundreds and hundreds of pink flamingos (Lake Nakuru is known for its flamingos). It is a bird watchers paradise. Maybe when I reach my 70’s I’ll make it an annual trip ; ) We saw zebras, water buffalo, giraffes, HUGE rhinos, monkeys, gazelles, water bucks, antelope things, etc. It is really breathtaking to see these animals in their own environment. I always have loved going to the zoo, but I don’t think it will ever be the same again. It is awesome to be in the wild with these animals. John thought it would be fun to get as close as possible to the rhinos…like the baboons, they weren’t having it. It didn’t take long for the biggest one to get up and warn us to leave the area. So we took heed and went on our way : )

Massive beasts

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful pink flamingos everywhere

The next morning we woke up and had a driver take us around. We went to different parts of the park and saw some more animals like Pumba (warthog) and some dreadful hyenas. Sick…not my favorite animal. The top of the jeep was completely open so it was fun just to take it all in from up above. Sadly we never got to see anymore lions, but we were thankful that we saw some on the way in.

And I got down-hearted...how did you feel?...Everytime that I...Pumbaa, not in front of the kids...Oh, sorry! Hakuna Matata!

big water buffalo everywhere. thought this picture was funny.

 

Over this awesome weekend, I realized that I often find myself getting so used to everything around me that is normal that I sometimes forget the immense beauty of God’s creation. I love going to Colorado because I am in awe of the mountains. When I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time last year, I was speechless. When my family went to Mexico last December, it was hard for me to fathom the gorgeousness and vastness of the ocean. Being in Kenya and being surrounded by the beauty of the country and the wildness of the animals, I am being reminded of God’s love for us.  He made all this for US. He made it for us to sit back, relax, and enjoy. He made it so that we might look at it and see His awesomeness : ) He made it so that we can declare His splendor and glory. 

"Oh Lord, when I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Psalm 8:3-4

Ummm, maybe still questioning why this creepy thing was created...

cute little mama and baby

  It was a great weekend. With only one week left, it was a nice way to spend one of my last weekends in Kenya. While I didn’t come to Africa to see animals, I was so thankful that I got to experience it. 

more beautiful zebras. their stripes get me every time.

again...the animals just like to pose for me.

For all you Facebook users, I will be posting more photos from the safari on Facebook (probably not until I get home, but sometime for sure). So, if this didn’t satisfy you, there will be more coming : )

"How many are your works, oh Lord! In wisdom You made them all. The earth is full of Your creatures." 

Psalm 104:24

a week in the life of jill ablott in kisumu!

Elaine and I

Julie and I

 I haven't blogged for a while so I suppose I will start with last Friday, the 13th. Julie,  Elaine, and I had a girls night out at Kiboko Bay. This is a beautiful restaurant right on Lake Victoria. It was somewhat of a stormy night so we got to watch the lightning reflect off the lake over a delicious meal. After eating lots of vegetables and ugali all week, I officially stuffed my self completely full of Masala Chicken. Shoulda taken a picture...it was gooooood. The above pictures are of Julie and I and Elaine and I. Elaine is the founder and director of R.O.C.K. Ministries and hands down one of the strongest and most incredible woman I have ever met. About 12 years ago she started to take children off of the streets to provide them with the care and love that they so desperately needed. Today, she has 35 "kids" that refer to her as mom : ) She loves them as her own and for some of them, she is the only mother they have ever known. So thankful for people like her in places like these. 

Julie and I with the Great Rift Valley behind us

 Julie and I ventured to Eldoret for the weekend with John and Connie. John preaches in a church once a month in an area about 2 hours northeast of Kisumu. They thought it would be a good opportunity for me to see some more of Kenya so we tagged along. I am so glad we did because it was beautiful! It was nice to get out of Kisumu and just enjoy some hills and countryside of Kenya. We left on Saturday and drove up, up, and up and by the time we were all the way up, we were looking over the Great Rift Valley : ) It was so wonderful and refreshing. We had a little picnic at the top before descending down into the valley. The farther we went down, the dryer it got. It was neat to see how the people of Kenya live out in the bush in the middle of nowhere in their mud huts. That'd be sweet. But it was sad to see that there was no water for them to really live. No water for their crops, their animals, or more importantly, their families. Praying for rain.

Check out the roots. It's a good sign that they HAD rain at one point...they are just needed more.

I love this picture.

 Mmmmmmmmmmmmm, yummy! Anyone want a slab of beef for a nice price? Just tell me how much you want and what part you want, I'll grab my nice clean knife, and cut ya off a hunk. You see these butcher shops quite often. I have been here for almost 4 weeks now so you'd think that I would be over it. Buuuuut, I just cannot seem to get over it. At all. I will try almost anything... I will eat a termite and stuff my face with ugali, but if someone told me that they were cooking this up for me...I might have to decline.

 It has been great to get to know the kids better at ROCK. I can't believe I only have 2 more weeks with them. It is sort of hard because sometimes I feel like I distance myself because I know my time with them is limited and I know that when I leave here, it is going to be a lot harder for me to say goodbye to them than for them to say goodbye to me. They are all so sweet. Most Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays I am in the preschool classroom with Julie assisting in whatever way I can. Those kids...HA. They are so sweet. But yet, they can be so naughty. Sooo, when they are naughty, what do I do? I laugh. So then I have to turn my head so that they don't see me and think that their behavior is okay. They are fun for sure.

Sometimes spending time with these kids reminds me of my time at Royal Family Kids Camp. In all reality, some RFKC kids and ROCK kids are coming from backgrounds that are very very similar but just in different parts of the world. Speaking of Royal Family...I am so so so sad that I will not be there this year. It will be the first time in 5 years that I won't get to be a part of the Hastings area camp. Such a bummer, but I know it will be a great week for everyone else! Again, I am constantly being reminded of the many many blessings in my life and I am also so thankful that I have the ability to serve and love these kids.

some of the children at ROCK singing (or posing...whichever) during devotion.

 BABIES, BABIES, BABIES!!! Ahhh, love them. Let's be real...I am officially the most talented baby feeder/diaper changing lady you will ever meet. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays when I am finished with ROCK I walk around the block to New Life and get puked on and pooped on FOR FREE!! It is so exciting : ) If you have children and would like to bring back the wonderful world of cloth diapers, let me know...I am your girl! 

In the next two pictures below you will see my two great friends at New Life. The one on the left (your left) loves me. I hate to be so forthright about it, but it's just the facts folks. No but for real, it is kind of a funny story. A while back New Life had a mazungu (white) girl who spent about 2 months with the babies. For some reason she was particularly drawn to this baby so they spent lots of time together and had sort of a bond. Well she left and I happened to show up about a week later. Lucky for me, he thinks I am her so when I walk in the room, this baby lights up like the fourth of July and lemme tell ya...I ain't complaining. He is learning to army crawl so he scoots his cute little self over to me every time I walk away from him. Love it. I have never been so overjoyed to have someone think that I was somebody else : )

here they are again. mr. chubby cheeks over here on the right is just a pile of seriousness. it takes a lot of work to get this one to smile, but when he does...well then, it makes you want to pack him in your suitcase when you fly back to nebraska : )

soo many babies...this is just a fraction.

This is a picture of me on a boda boda (bike). This past Saturday (yesterday, I guess), Julie and I were running around like mad women. We woke up and walked to the grocery store. Then we got a lift back. Then we turned around and walked to the market so I could pick up some cool gifts for my family (woops, cats out of the bag on that one). And then we walked back home. And then we turned back around again and headed to Jubilee Market (where we get our fresh fruits and veggies.) We met with our good friend Emmy who took us to her friend who is a seamstress. We had both bought fabric and got measured to have some legitimate African skirts and tops made. I am so excited!

 These two ladies Emmy (left) and Zipporah were so great. While we were in her little tin shop, it started to downpour so we had to stay there for about 40 minutes until the rain finally stopped. It is so fun to get to personally know some of these wonderful, hard-working Kenyan women. I so wish that I could stay in contact with them forever!

 Anywho, this is a really lame and boring blog, but I thought I would just inform you all on a couple of things that I have been up to. Sorry about the lack of effort. Blogging is hard, okay? : ) 

I hope that you are all well and enjoying the month of May!! Missing many of you and looking forward to bringing you all back with me to Kenya someday ; )

P.S. Sorry for any grammar/spelling errors. I tend to just type and type and not really think about anything. Woopsie.

it's just been one of those days

Time to get serious. Uh Oh. This is only because I felt like I have spent the majority of the day crying….WOOOPS! (If you know me well, then whatever...you know that it is just another day in the life of Jill Ablott : ) But I guess that it is okay considering I am halfway across the world in a completely unfamiliar place surrounded by things that break my heart with every turn of my head (well, this is my justification for being emotional, anyway). But regardless of the crying, I had a great great day today and I just feel like I should blog about it. (Plus, it helps me to process days like today)

I started my day by walking to New Life Home (which if you do not remember is a home for HIV/AIDS babies and toddlers). Currently there are 22 infants, about 10 toddlers, and 9 special needs children (who are older). A wonderful fact at New Life is that almost all of the infants and toddlers get adopted and a few get reunited with their biological families. A very sad fact is that those 9 special needs children in the home right now have been there since birth because no one has adopted them and they cannot be reunited with their biological families.

I spent my morning with these precious kiddos in the Special Needs Unit and I was overcome with many emotions (woops again). I was full of sadness over the fact that they have no real mom or dad, overwhelmed that they have been in an orphanage since birth and some are now 8 and 9 years old. However, I was also overcome with happiness because of the pure and simple joy that they find in everything. Also so thankful that they have had a place like New Life to grow up in and be healthy and grow strong with people who care about them. I tip my hat to all the individuals that do this work, day in and day out.  So anyway, that was my morning…(I will talk more about New Life at a later date aaand put some pictures up of the kids).

Then Connie, a wonderful missionary woman from Texas that I have met through Julie (who I will talk more about later as well because her and her husband and that work that they do are awesommmmee!), came and picked me up to go to a Bible Study. This study consists of a group of missionary women who are in Kisumu (or surrounding areas) that meet once a week on Thursday afternoons. Today’s topic was death. We read about the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. To be honest, I have read that story many times and was sort of hoping for something “more” during this meeting. Ha, ya right…by the end of Bible study I had turned into an emotional wreck again (okay, not really a wreck at all, but you know what I mean).  We talked about the differences in mourning practices between cultures and individuals and how different people deal with death. Then we talked about how each of us deals with death. Many of the women shared stories of their own and how they dealt with it and then how they have grown from that. 

This is mainly why I was emotional: One of the ladies shared a story about an event that just happened last week to a very dear friend. She has good friends from another town in Kenya. Their 2 year-old son was very very sick, so they were heading to a hospital in Eldoret (another town in Kenya). As they were driving down the road, they were stopped and ambushed by robbers. The men took the family out of the vehicle, and beat them horribly and took everything they had. The young boy who was ill was hooked up to oxygen, and in the midst of all of this, they unhooked his oxygen and he passed away before the family was able to do anything. 

These things happen here, and they happen often. Yes, things similar to this happen in the U.S. but the prevalence of these events in Kenya is scary. In a situation like this it is so easy to question God. It is so easy to be angry at God. For the longest time, I always had the mindset that it is NOT okay to be mad at God. God is good and He is sovereign…therefore, it is wrong to be upset at him. However, I recently read the book “Same Kind of Different As Me” (if you have the chance, I highly recommend it). It is the true account of an international art dealer, a homeless man, and a woman who forever changed both of their lives. Anyway, since I am suggesting this book to all of you, I will try not to spoil anything. In this story, a man experiences a large amount of pain and suffering. Something that he said in his book during his journey has completely changed my outlook and my feelings surrounding death. He says, “I cannot mask my profound disappointment that God did not answer yes to our prayers for healing. I think He’s okay with that. One of the phrases us evangelicals like to throw around is that ‘Christianity is not a religion; It’s a relationship.’ I believe that, which is why I know that when my faith was shattered and I raged against Him, He still accepted me. And even though I have penciled a black mark in His column, I can be honest about it. That’s what a relationship is all about.” 

How cool! Maybe everyone reading this blog doesn’t necessarily agree with this statement, but it was so profound to me today. John 11:35 says, “Jesus wept.” One of the most powerful verses in the Bible. I believe that Jesus loved Martha and Mary so much that when he saw them hurting, he was also so hurt. We serve a very compassionate God and I believe that although he allows tragedy to happen, he does suffer with us as we suffer. But I also believe that by Jesus being “deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled,” (John 11:33), he is, in a way, giving us permission to be upset with Him. Giving us permission to question how he could let something so terrible happen because He is feeling that pain right along side of us. It is okay because in the end, through tragedy, if we cling to the hope of Christ, His glory shines brighter than the sun! (John 11:4)

Anyway, back to the story of the family who was beaten and whose son was killed recently. The father had a New Testament Bible in his wallet thing that they took from him and one of the things he said after all was said and done was that he was thankful for the opportunity to minister to those robbers. WOAH! I honestly have to say that I do not think there would be ANY way that I would be able to say that…even years after the incident. However, he chose instead to glorify God through this terrible event. The father recognized the reality that although his son’s life was cut very short and although he probably felt as though he had received a death sentence himself, He was able to rely on God, who raises people from the dead, rather than relying on himself or another human being (2 Corinthians 1:9). And ultimately, through a situation that I can’t even bear to imagine going through myself, God was given ALL the glory.

Death here in Kisumu and in Kenya in general (and very broadly, Africa as well) is such a daily occurrence. Being in a country that is home to one of the world’s harshest HIV/AIDS epidemics, where children without families roam about on the streets with nothing to eat or drink, where the words “health care” mean nothing to the people, I find myself surrounded by death.  But in the midst of it all, I find myself thinking of the words to a good ol’ Sandi Patti song that a friend reminded me of that says, “I’ve just seen Jesus. All that I’d done before won’t matter anymore.” If I could shout this from the rooftop for all of Kisumu (and Kenya, and the whole world), I would and I would pray that the people would cling to the hope that we are given in Christ! Maybe I should just play a little Carrie Underwood, "Temporary Home,"out my window tonight ; )

I am sorry for such a downer blog (but hopefully it wasn’t a downer at all…because my intention was quite the opposite!) Like I mentioned, today was just one of those days and I felt like I should write about it. I am glad I did because it has caused me to take a step back and examine different areas of my own life. I am thankful for the things that I see daily that soften my hardened heart and humble me at the foot of the Cross. I pray that I can be a light to at least ONE person while here in Kisumu, as I know that many Kenyans have already been a light to me. 

P.S. I am sorry that there is a lack of pictures on this blog…like I said, I was just regurgitating (sorry, gross word choice) the day that I had. This blog probably doesn’t even make any sense or have any direction. Woops again! But anyway, as far as pictures go, I will do better in my next blog. But here are a few just for fun!

little kids with some big time muscles : )

This is me cooking Ugali (the stuff I strongly dislike). It is so thick that I couldn't even continue to stir it anymore.

Julie and I at dinner at John and Connie's

okay, so I was walking down the road and I saw this lizard/gecko/iguana thing climbing up a tree. It was the brightest blue and green that I could ever imagine and the thing was sitting in line with the sun and it was literally sparkling. Unfortunately, the little booger was too fast and I couldn't capture it in all of its beauty.

The preschool class "taking tea." Ha, seriously, everyday at 10:30 they take tea. So cute and funny and random.

I LOVE Kenya!

I LOVE Kenya! Everything about this place has in some way drawn me in. I love the tress...they are so much cooler than the ones in Nebraska. I love the annoying sounds of all the different birds that wake me up each morning...I really do! I love how nobody here swats bugs away...I wish I didn't care. I love how there are so few cars around...they drive mostly bikes (bodas) and motorcycle things (piki's). I love that the children run around on hard, sharp rocks with no shoes on...I remember being a kid and running around on gravel barefoot. I DON'T love the food (yet) but I DO love how they eat and why they eat what they eat. I love the people, especially those that I have been able to have one-on-one conversations with...they are so welcoming and so excited that I will be here for a whole month. I love that a large grocery sack full of fresh fruit costs me hardly anything. I love the way that Kenyans shake hands alllll the time...over and over and over again...coming or going...over here of over there...they.shake.hands.  I love that there are herds of cattle just randomly roaming down the road...with no owner in sight. I LOVE Kenya! Is it obvious? And those are just a few of the many many reasons why.

another reason...tiny little coke stands with picket fences : )

the random cows

 

On Monday, Julie and I went to the market. It was so cool! It was just a very large tent with lots and lots of Kenyan women selling their fresh fruits and veggies, beans, fish (they may or may not be so fresh : ), etc.  We walked around and bought lots of delicious food for SO cheap. You will never guess how much money we paid for all of these fruits and veggies…

 

Yup, I knew you’d never guess.  Approximately (because it is hard to convert from shillings to dollars) FIVE U.S. dollars. Seriously. Who would ever think you could get a bunch of bananas, 4 avocados, 3 big cucumbers, a clump of cilantro, 3 green peppers, a whole pineapple, 2 mangoes, a papaya, a whole bag of passion fruit, and a clump of sukuma.  ALL for five dollars and I ain’t even kiddin ya! I know, I was just as surprised! It was so fun to just walk around and talk to the women selling their foods.  When it comes to food, things are so opposite here than they are in the states. That much fruit in the U.S. would have cost me a very pretty penny. And here in Kisumu, you can buy Frosties (which is basically our version of Frosted Flakes) for about 5 dollars. So, take your pick…a basket full of fruit and vegetables or one box of frosted flakes.

Love the rain...big time down pour

 

I have spent the past few days at ROCK just hanging out and getting to know the kids better. Talk about simplicity. These kids are the happiest when they are playing with nuts off of a tree or a wire toy that they push around! They don’t need electric Barbie cars or stretch arm strong (or whatever you call that guy) to keep them happy and occupied. Sometimes the kids in Kisumu will take a bike tire and push it around with a stick with the biggest smiles on their faces! They are so joyful, yet they have so much less than the majority of children that I know around home.  Also, when they get hurt (which I am still trying to figure out if they even CAN get hurt) they just get up and go about what they were doing. One of the kids was riding a bike at very high speeds and just absolutely biffed it. He basically went flying over the handle bars and skidded on his front side right onto the pavement. Of course I let out the biggest gasp, I jumped to my feet, and about had a heart attack. What does he do? He just looks up at me with these cute little eyes, gives me a grin, and gets back on his bike like nothing ever happened. And all the other adults just sit there as well because they learned that there is no reason to react. Which in turn may be the reason why these kids don’t erupt in tears in the first place. Again…very different here.

So happy to have built such a tall lego tower!

One more reason: because you can plant pineapples (which you can see in the ground) right next to corn! Ha, makes me laugh.

 

While being in Kenya has made me strangely envious of their way of life, it has also opened my eyes to how completely blessed I am. Every direction that I turn, I see something that makes me realize how much I have to be thankful for. I do not know how many times I have had a child come up to me and ask if I still have my parents. I don’t know how many times I have been asked that already but each time breaks my heart more and more. Honestly, when they ask me that, I want to lie to them. I want to tell them that I lost my parents long ago to disease, or that my mom left me when I was very little, or that my parents just didn’t have the means to keep me so they dropped me off at an orphanage. I want to say that to them because that is the stories that they have to tell. When they ask me this, I feel strangely guilty that I have 2 parents who will always love me and support me. I know that “guilt” may not be the right emotion to have, but that is really how I feel.  However, when I tell them that yes, I do still have my parents, they look at me with a big big smile and say to me “Ahh, I am so happy for you. You are so blessed.”  <--- that is mostly why I love Kenya.

Great Church, Great Kids...semi-Great Food : )

Church in Kisumu…SA-WEET! For a little over two hours I was worshipping with almost 200 Kenyans in a very beautiful and humbling service. It is very hard to explain this experience but in a way I felt like I was in a good ol’ Southern Baptist church, which made me feel right at home ; ) Life Celebration Center (the name of the church) is just a big green tent…they refer to it as the “Tent Church.” It was very hot and a lotta bit sweaty, but I cannot wait until next Sunday. 

Like I mentioned in my first blog, I met the children for the first time on Sunday. After church I walked back to the compound with Julie and the children. Some warmed up more quickly than others but many wanted to know who I was and where I came from.  They were pleased that I came from the same “Nebraska” as Julie…they love her so much!  Julie showed me around a little before we ate lunch. Hmmm, I am not sure how I feel about the food yet. For those who know me well, you know that I can be sort of picky sometimes unless it contains sugar, which in that case, I will eat anything…wooops! For lunch we had Ugali. Ugali is a staple food in Kenya. It is basically corn flour mixed with boiling . It doesn’t really have a taste and the consistency of it could sort of be compared to that of really thick grits. With the Ugali, we had cooked sukuma (which is what we know as kale…same family as spinach). When you eat this dish, you do not use any silverware. Instead you take the Ugali, squish it in your hand, and make a scoop out of it to sort of “spoon” the spinach up and then you eat it all.  Haha, it’s fun, but different.

 

This is ugali (the white stuff) and a little something different than I described above of what they eat with it. This stuff was DELICIOUS! not feelin' that way about the sukuma and ugali...I am sure it'll grow on me!

 

 

On the last Sunday of the month, they celebrate the kids’ birthdays that had past during that month.  After one day of being in Africa, I really have been having a sweet tooth. Molly Mathews, a friend of mine who traveled to Tanzania for three months and who helped me a tremendous amount before I left, warned me that she didn’t eat much for sweets at all and sometimes craved sugar.  Hearing that almost made me change my mind about coming…(not really, but, it was a knife to the heart sort of thing).  Thank GOODNESS that Kenya is different than Tanzania! We had cake and ice cream last night and it was awesome. Of course, the cake was homemade by Julie and the girls of R.O.C.K. and it definitely beat your standard Betty Crocker mix. There was only one girl who had a birthday during April so she was the star of the show. All of the kids got up and said something to Lornah. It was so precious to hear them thanking God for her and wishing her many more years and even someday blowing out 101 candles.  At the end of this celebration, they warmly welcomed me into their R.O.C.K. family.  So so so excited to be a part of this family! These kids are seriously incredible!

Oh, and I forgot to mention what was for supper…we had Chapati (pronounced cha-potty). This is basically a really thick fried tortilla. We ate it with just plain red beans.  I definitely liked it better than the Ugali…can’t wait to find out what else I will be eating here.  

I am HERE!

As I am sitting here in Kisumu about to go to bed, I cannot believe that I am halfway around the world in Africa! It is just so crazy to me. I feel so blessed to be here right now and I cannot wait for the next 5 ½ weeks!

Before leaving for Kenya

Ever since I was in high school, I have had a desire to go to Africa. Each year, I tried to figure something out for over the summer during breaks in school.  Whether it was because of money or time or anything else, it just never seemed to work out. During college, I met my now good friend and most recent roommate, Jordan Went.  At the time we didn’t know each other well, but for some reason, I happened to share my passion for Africa with her. She shared in my excitement and told me that I just had to meet Julie Grotelueschen. I sort of just shrugged it off because I didn’t know what the use would be to just have a conversation with some random girl from Columbus, NE ; )  Some time later, I was talking to one of my brothers friend, Josie, and she told me that I just had to meet her great friend, Julie Grotelueschen.  HA! At that point, I decided that it was probably a good idea to get ahold of this girl. Thank goodness for facebook or else none of this would have happened : ) Just kidding, but seriously, I went to Omaha and met with this “Julie” girl. I shared with her and another woman, Katja, my desire for Africa, as they both told me about theirs.  Julie’s heart for Africa sent her to Kenya in 2009 to Joytown, a school for physically handicapped children. We were bonding quickly while in Nebraska, and now here we sit together in the beautiful country of Kenya!

Julie is a teacher at R.O.C.K (Reaching Our Children of Kenya) Ministries here in Kisumu, Kenya. She is lucky enough to spend her days with children ranging from 3-18 years of age and teach them many things. She not only teaches them English, Math, etc. but also (and more importantly) about Christ’s never ending love for each one of them.  I met these kiddos for the first time this Sunday (May 1^st) and I. am. sunk.  They are so beautiful and so passionate about their relationship with the Lord. I am floored by their desire to serve our awesome and loving God.  Here is a sneak peek of who I will be hanging out with for the next month!

Some of the younger kids at R.O.C.K.

Fred and Asman acting very serious

Cynthia and little Juliette (the youngest at R.O.C.K.)

Mr. Lameck -- he LOVES the camera

Celebrating Lornah on her 13th birthday!

 

I will be spending the next 5 weeks or so either at R.O.C.K. or at New Life, a home dedicated to serving the needs of abandoned/orphaned babies with priority given to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Like I said before, I cannot wait for this journey to begin. I know that I am only here for a short amount of time, but I am excited to see what God has in store for me and for these awesome Kenyan children!

I have never blogged before so please bear with me. I thought it would be a good way to keep my family updated and as another way for me to do some journaling. This might turn out to be a total flop, but feel free to read if you are interested in what I am doing in Kisumu : )