Africa Based Orientation

Well, we've been here at "ABO" for nine days now, with twelve days to go.  We're not counting, but we are excited to see our new home soon!  We've been learning quite a bit, the kids are enjoying their classes, we are enjoying the Kenyan food, and figuring out how to adjust in this VERY new environment.  Today is a day off, so we have been playing on the swings, treated the kids to a soda from the duka (little shop), and will try to go for a hike this afternoon.

For those of you who were aware of the election that took place yesterday here in Kenya, things seem to be going well today.  The vote was much more one-sided this time, which will hopefully keep things peaceful.

Here are some photos and stories from our time here so far.

This is the view out our dorm window in the mornings.  Machakos is a beautiful, more rural (in comparison to Nairobi) area of Kenya.  It's nice to see a few hills and mountains!

Here's a typical meal... lunch or dinner.  Clockwise from the top:  sukuma wiki (a sauteed mix of greens, tomato and onion); fried fish (that was unexpected... very yummy, and we've had it twice now); boiled potatoes; ugali (a stiff maize meal cooked... umm... thing.); and stewed vegetables.  We also have rice, chapati, other types of stew, and lots of vegetables.  There's definitely a difference, and Faith said she was ready for me to cook for her again, but we are all four enjoying trying new things.  Breakfast is bread with butter, honey, peanut butter, or jam, as well as the occasional sausage, hard boiled egg, or cornflakes with hot milk, which the kids surprisingly love.

Here's Joel and his class, playing with milk box cars out on the basketball court.  He and Faith are learning about different African countries each day, as well as a little Swahili, culture, and other "kid versions" of the topics mommy and daddy are learning about.  A few times we've woken up to Faith teaching Joel different Swahili words and asking him to repeat her.  It's pretty cute!

We have a swing set and a see-saw here on Scott Theological College's campus.  We have about an hour to play with the kids before supper, and we can often be found at the playground!

There is a soccer field just outside the gate, and one evening we walked down for a game of kickball.  A few local women keep a fruit stand by the gate, and the kids enjoyed getting a pre-supper banana.  We'll have to try the pineapple sometime soon too!

If you know Jim, you know he's a pretty fun daddy.  Faith wanted to join in the game, but was pretty small compared to everyone else.  She did kick the ball once and ran on her own, but after that she was content to ride around the bases with Jim.

This was just yesterday evening, we went down to play a Kenyan team in soccer.  Faith enjoyed exploring in the grasses while watching daddy play.

The last time we had an afternoon off, we ventured into the town of Machakos.  "Downtown" is about a mile away, so we walked into town.  This is the local grocery store where we bought a few extra things for the kids, but the picture doesn't do it justice for how busy it was!  We had to really be assertive to get that far down the aisle!  It was the last day of the month, which is typically payday, so I think everyone was doing their shopping.  We'll have to go again at a quieter time!

We also walked down the road to the open-air market.  We looked around, bought a piece of fabric to use as a picnic blanket, and talked with a few people.  There were a few kids around who enjoyed meeting Faith.  Jim has so much fun talking to the locals, kids and adults alike... he's a natural!

For the way home, we decided to get brave and try out the local transportation.  This is a tuk-tuk.  It's a three-wheeled motorbike with a bench in the back, with canvas covering a metal frame.  We rode in this with another family of four... it was crowded!  It was quite an adventure, and we've been riding around since, but that first time is always interesting!

As fun as this all looks, it's tiring, stressful, and not too easy to get used to living here.  The home we knew feels very far away, and we long for the day when our hearts know this as home.  We know that day will come, but until then, we're just taking it one day at a time and remembering with faith that we have been called here!  Jim's mom sent this wonderful quote yesterday.  A good reminder of the right attitude of service:

"There is no place we can go where Christ is not already at work before us--no nation, no home, no place of work or entertainment, no hospital, no place where the homeless; unemployed, and untended sick huddle together.  We do not have to go into the hostile and callously indifferent world anxiously, defensively, or belligerently.  We can go thankfully, confidently, and joyfully, because we go not to take but to meet Him."  Dr. Shirley Guthrie