Nairobi Fire

Yesterday, in Nairobi, not too far from us, a fire broke out in the slums. A fuel line burst, and people were so desperate for fuel, that they ran to the broken pipeline to gather as much as they could. As we well know, running toward an open fuel line isn't the best idea. The result of this, was that over 100 people died and several are badly burned as the fuel caught on fire. Several people, in addition, have lost their "homes" to the fire. Besides being incredibly saddened by these deaths, I am still amazed at the poverty here. Who in their right mind runs towards a broken pipeline for fuel except for desperate people? Please keep this country in your prayers, as this one story shows how truly poverty stricken most of this country is. I suppose on a more selfish note, the bursting of a fuel line could mean more power rationing, food rationing (as trucks run out of gas to run their cars to import goods), as well as losing gas for our cars. If we do have to have gas imported, the prices are going to skyrocket to an even higher price than they already are (over 5 dollars a gallon currently), which won't be very fun. Wanted to post this, not to alarm, but to ask for prayer. Jonathan and I are fine and trust in a sovereign God for protection as needed. Continue to pray for this countries poverty and unrest. It is like nothing I have ever seen before.

Always An Adventure

SO much to be told from the last two weeks. Maybe it feels like a lot because it's so surprising to me STILL (even after a year of this) that things happen the way they do in Kenya. Maybe it's really not a lot...even so...here are some highlighted stories from the last couple of weeks since Jonathan and I started school.

August 9-Tuesday...a half day for the first day of school. Sounds great right? It is! Except...with 3 days left to teach in the week, it makes for an interesting schedule. Either way, absolutely love being back in 5th grade and love my students!

August 10- Receive my first complaints of the year from parents...here we go! One parent is not happy that I have a sharing policy in my class because their child might have nicer things than another child...Okkkaay. I won't even get into the others...I'll just say the conferences already began.

August 11-KFC comes to Kenya! So exciting for here! We wonder, though, if locals will be as excited as us Americans to have the first American chain here since the first time it came over 30 years ago and failed....SOOOOO....we decide to wait in line opening night. Turns out...opening time at 6 means 7:30. So Jonathan, our friends, and myself watch the KFC team tear down, clean up, and stock chicken for an hour before we decide...it's just not worth it! We don't even like KFC that much. We head down to our other favorite semi-American restaurant for a late dinner (we've waited 2 hours now for KFC, which we didn't get). We sit down at an open booth and actually get kicked out of our seats for a wealthier Kenyan woman who was supposedly waiting for our booth....that was vacant and waiting might I add....Well....4 hours later...we finally get to go home...Rumor has it, people are waiting in lines for over an hour STILL for KFC, so we have yet to try it...I guess the locals did know about it!

Week two started pretty good. Mexican food came back to the stores here as well as peanut Skippy peanut butter...so that was exciting. I won't mention we are on a sugar shortage here, so there is none to buy...but we have mexican food, so I'm going to take what I can get and be happy!

End of week two...not too many stories. We are glad to have made it through the first full week of school.

Today...August 20...a Saturday...I am sitting in my classroom, here at school for Open House. Why am I blogging you might ask? Because no parents are here! There is about a 5% parent involvement at this school...at least that's what it feels like. No one wants to meet their child's teacher or hear about their rules for the year...they don't care...or they just aren't in town. I have to say...it's not the most encouraging day which is really sad. I won't even get into how the morning started with an argument over a coffee order with the barista before we headed to school (I'm guessing this entry is too long already and I'm borderline complaining too much). I am just still amazed at life here.

This is just to give you an idea of what the last two weeks have been like. Please be praying for encouragement, patience, and endurance to deal with all of the cultural differences that are challenging daily! I'll be writing more soon!

Year #2

It's hard to believe all that's happened since I came here one year ago! Last year was an absolute whirlwind between getting used to moving to a new place, new culture, new people, new grade level, AND, a new love. Now that that is past me, it's time to try out a new marriage in a new year...phew! Can you tell how crazy this has all been?

I can't say I am absolutely thrilled to be back. Maybe I shouldn't make that public knowledge, but I never have been that great at faking things. I soaked in every minute I got to spend with people this summer...went to Starbuck's AT LEAST once every day and enjoyed cereal and lunch meat like I'd never had it before. All that to say, Jonathan and I both know we have been brought back here for a purpose. We will for sure be here this year and give it our all. Come December, we will have to figure out if we want to stay longer, so I'm sure my blog posts until then will be interesting. Oh yeah! Jonathan and I...we finally are married! And I love that I get to figure all this out with another person. The wedding went well, the honeymoon ended up being in Italy for 7 days. We had an amazing time and still can't believe all that was seen and done this summer...including that trip! We are beyond blessed to have gotten to do all that we have. And like I said, we loved every minute of it and are loving every minute of being married. We are so lucky to have not had to go right back to work when we arrived in Nairobi. We have had two weeks to get our apartment settled (which let me tell you, needed that long).

When we arrived, we had no power (it had been disconnected even though we payed extra in advance), we had no fridge for food, no shower, and no washing machine...oh AND, our curtains got stolen from the store we took them at to get work done on them. Welcome back we thought! But since that first weekend, our curtains have been replaced, we have had power more often than not (praise the Lord), and all appliances have been installed. Now, it's time to teach!

Teacher orientation started two days ago, and we are hopeful with new administration, we will have a more positive year. I moved to Fifth grade and am very excited about that. Third grade was great, but I think I work better with the older ones. Jonathan has a lighter schedule this year and has lessened his extra-curriculars so that he will not be as worn out as last year (Senior advisor, Student Counsel facilitator, FCA facilitator, PTF treasurer, Girls and Middle school basketball coach....yep...exhausting just writing it all). And as grateful as I am to have such a willing and helpful husband, I will be happy to have him home more for our first year of marriage.

Anyway, that is about it for now. We are both praying for a better year and appreciate your prayers as well! Fingers are crossed this will be more updated more frequently...it is my intention! Blessings to you!

Pictures to highlight the good :)

My friend Jen and I both got engaged this year.

Two sweet ladies threw a bridal shower for us here.
A group of us traveled to the beautiful coast of Lamu for Spring break.


My kids all passed their multiplication facts tests 1-12.

They got an ice cream party to celebrate.

Trials, Tribulations, and Hope

The last few months have been...interesting. One might think that due to my engagement I have been wrapped up in wedding planning and the reason why I have lost all communication or connection back home. Oh how I wish that were the case. Unfortunately, it hasn't been. So much has been going on, I haven't even known how to put it into words. I am finally attempting it and I hope it makes sense.

Life as a missionary is just not what I have expected. I guess I assumed because I was following God's calling, it would be easy or something. I know I've expressed in previous posts things being difficult here, but things only got more difficult after that. My friends and family have asked, what is so difficult? It's so hard to explain. I miss people back home like crazy. I miss luxuries and conveniences (like hot water and electricity ALL the time). I miss working at a school that has good leadership and where I feel like I have a voice that matters. And as grateful as I am to have met my soon to be husband, I haven't felt like I could even enjoy that to the fullest knowing my friends and family back home couldn't celebrate this time with me. Negative, negative, negative, right? Yep, that's what I've been drowning in for the last few months. I've had difficulty wanting to write anything that was going on here because I didn't know what to say without sounding completely hopeless. I wondered where God was and why he brought me here? I broke down several times and voiced I would not be coming back next year...it was just too hard (and I am not typically one to throw in the towel and give up). I didn't care though...take me back home.

In the last week though, some relief has been brought to me, to our school. Prayers are being answered and I can finally say I'm starting to see some purpose in all this difficulty. I am learning how to lean on God more for comfort instead of a nice shopping spree or trip out of town. Don't get me wrong, those weren't bad things, but I was leaning on them way too much. I feel like I've been in detox from all that this year and it's been painful. God is showing me how selfish I've been and am. I feel my covetousness is more evident than ever. However, through all these voices of negativity and feeling of hopelessness, God is also showing me where my hope can only lie. I am not here on my own strength and I can only continue with His strength. I see where God can use difficulty for good and for his glory. I am seeing where being obedient to him is being used to shape me into a better person; hopefully more like him. I never want to stop learning or growing as a person or in my relationship with the Lord. I know he is using all of these hard times to prepare me for what is to come and to use me for his glory. I am almost done with my first year here in Kenya. My small class of third graders is hopefully ready for fourth grade. I have learned to adapt to what it takes to teach here in the land of slow and "hakuna matata" no worries....HA....I mean, am getting better at that. I am just learning; learning to surrender and stop asking why to everything. At the end of all of this, I have hope. I think that's one of the most important things and one of the things I am grateful for in having a relationship with Christ. I have hope, there is purpose in life and all that is happening. As I prepare to celebrate Easter this weekend, I personally am so grateful that it's more to me than eating ham and deviled eggs. I am celebrating the one who suffered for me, a sinner, to become clean, and have the hope of an eternal life that is filled with hope and joy.

I continue to ask for prayers as I walk through this season of my life. Please know that that is one of the biggest things you can do for me as I am over here. I feel it and I know they are being answered. Proof of that, is that I will be coming back next year. I haven't crumbled and I continue to want to do whatever the Lord asks of me.

Oh the Internet in Kenya!!!

I just spent an hour writing updates on what's been going on these last few months and why I've been absent. But as normal, or what has become normal, I lost everything when my computer and internet went bonkers. Please forgive me for the long hiatus from blogging. I will be updating, or trying to, again tomorrow. All I'd like to say for now is I can use as many prayers as possible. I appreciate the love and support. Back soon!

What a whirlwind month...oh, and...I'm Engaged!

Wow, so lot's has happened since my last post. After getting over the wonderful chicken pox, life got increasingly busy; trying to catch up from being gone for a week and a half from school, prepping for Christmas break, etc. As soon as Christmas break hit, my fiance'...hehe...Jonathan and I took a trip with our good friends to Uganda for a week to raft the Nile. Upon return of that trip, got to deal with my first Christmas away from family and friends (not easy). And then finally, got ENGAGED on January 5th (very fun!). Needless to say, blogging has taken a back seat, but I would love to share in a little bit more detail about all of this fun stuff!

Well, I guess the fun really began once Christmas break hit (we get three weeks off here..woohoo!). Jonathan and I headed out on a 14 hour bus ride (no air conditioning) for Uganda to check out somewhere different and to go white water rafting down the Nile. My friend Sarah's parents are doing ministry work there, so we got to stay with her family and parents for the week. It was great getting out of Nairobi for a bit and checking out someplace new. The biggest adventure of our week, besides the bus ride, was getting to white water raft. It is something I wanted to do coming here...little did I know what that entailed. Let's just say, a couple 15 foot water waves makes you see your life flash before your eyes, and I was THRILLED when it was all over. 6 hours down this river and through several rapids filled my adventure quota for a while. I'm glad we did it, but I was happy to come back and have relaxation awaiting us back in Nairobi.

Once back in Nairobi, Jonathan and I got to spend our first Christmas and New Year's together. Even though it was hard to be away from family and friends, it was a sweet and memorable time for us. Five days after the first of the year, Jonathan had something else in mind to cause room for celebration...

On January fifth, and after three months of dating (yes, I know it's quick...but when you know you know right?!), we took a day trip out to Crescent Island. For those of you who have seen the film, Out of Africa, this is where most of the movie was filmed. It's an 'island' where there are animals left from the film still roaming around. You can just walk along with zebra, giraffe, buffalo, sometimes Hippos, and other fun animals. Anyway, I had no idea what was going to happen. All I thought we were doing was walking around in intense heat, no water (we forgot that) looking for these animals to take pictures of. Little did I know Jonathan was looking for a place where giraffe were. We both LOVE giraffe and zebra and he thought it would be special to have them around. We found an old hut with seating and he suggested we sit there and rest from the heat for a while. We looked up from sitting and saw giraffe outside eating in front of us. I guess he said that was his sign that that was the spot to propose. After sitting for a bit in awe of these animals, he got down on one knee and proposed! It was a very African proposal with giraffe and zebra as our witnesses and just perfect! We will be getting married July 10th of this year, will be continuing to teach together at West Nairobi School for the following year, and then seeing where God leads us from there.

Phew! That should cover it for now. Please continue to pray for the ministry happening here and the months ahead!