AFRICA WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS

 First of all ... thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments on my previous blog post.

It truly was a day that filled up our Memory Bank.

Now on to another episode of volunteering for mission work.

This time it is to Kenya, Africa.  What a beautiful, exotic and full of wonderful people "world" it is.

Dave and I went there for another 2 week trip to do and help where ever was needed and to share the gospel.

We arrived in Nairobi which is the capital of Kenya and traveled to Kijabe which is in the Rift Valley.  Very high elevation of 8000 ft and the valley floor was at 6500 ft.

After a few days at the Rift Valley Academy (school for the students of missionary parents) we were off to the Valley floor and our exciting projects to come.  There were 6 of us as a team.

You can see the rich red earth of the volcanic dirt, which got into everything...

Preparing our Accommodations  for the duration.

One for the guys, one for the gals and one for our leader and extra "things"

See the ring of branches around our tents?  That was protection from critters and mostly for the curious kiddos that wanted to be with us 24/7.

Kim seemed to know how to smile and engage the kids with so much ease.

This area and settlement was called Namuncha.  Very poor Masai goat herders .

Brian and the Masai Pastors son Moses.

We came to work on the community center/church both physically and through our finances to buy supplies.

And Work we did...

Me breaking up the uneven foundation so cement floor could be poured.

Sifting the dirt to get the gravel, rocks and junk out so the cement/sand could be mixed

I loved working along side of this lovely Masai woman.  We got a lot done with a whole lot of smiling and shoveling.

My Hubby and Jessica doing a lot of hard labor too.

Mudding the walls for the main room.

See the men in suits?  They felt it was such an honor that we would come to help them that they wanted to show their appreciation and make it an official happening.

Beautiful Veronica and her baby Ruth

Pastor Simon and his wife Eunice

I just have to share some of the kids who were always around and fascinated with us.

Eunice cooking Chapati (bread) for the kids of the settlement.

Jaquline and her friend.  So sweet.

This is Mary and her baby.  She seems like a baby herself.

Mary actually had learned some English at school and we had a bit of conversation together.

She kept having this worried look on her face and I thought I had said something that culturally was wrong .

Finally she sighed and touched my hair.  She said with a shy smile "Soft".  Kenyan hair is coarse and wirey.  She just couldn't help herself and had to touch my red hair.  I was thrilled.  It was such a touching moment of trust and boldness.  I Never will forget it.

This says it all...

The trip was worth every penny .

No Colors in Heaven!

Church service in the unfinished building.

Never got those shoes clean after our time there.

 We also served with a college group from Georgia at the Little Lambs Orphanage.

Sang songs and played games together.  it was a rich time for all of us.  Dave and I are still in touch with 3 or 4 of those college kids to this day.  Now they are parents themselves.

Hokey Pokey works in any language.

Hand motion songs always go over well.

We also went out to visit a Compassion International Site called Karima Child Development Centre to distribute food and they in turn entertained us with dances and singing.

I wish you could have heard their voices and could actually see all the colorful clothes.

Even the teachers and some of the Compassion people danced and sang for us.

We went out into the Bush to check on some families and bring them necessities.

This entire family lived in a one room building.  Dave said they were refuges from the civil war between two factions in Kenya.  It is so hard to see such poverty and terror.

This is Winnie and 2 of her children. I think she had 5.  Her husband left her with nothing.  She has HIV Aids because of his life style.  There were 2 beds in the room and an Empty Pot for food.  Because of her HIV Aids she has been shunned.  We brought her blankets, a new mattress and staples.  I was asked to pray for her and the family.  I wrapped my arms around her  to pray.  She was shocked and didn't know how to receive my love.  God gave me a prayer which I don't remember as soon as it was out of my mouth. and I  began to feel her acceptance of me and the prayer.  You know  ..  When you are obedient , The Walls are Broken.  I have no idea how the rest of her story goes but I truly believe God did a work in her life.  Probably the first time in a very long time that she felt Human Touch.  

I am getting teary eyed just writing this.

I think this is where I'm going to leave this part of the Kenya story for a few days.

More to come in a different vane.

Pastor Simon's tee shirt..

His Goal