6 Weeks and Counting!

Here's me riding the camel- I was actually terrified 

The month os October has been a wild one. From Uganda to the desert to the coast. I can't believe its already November. Surprisingly Christmas Decorations are already up at the malls in Nairobi! My friend and I took a break to the coast and had a wonderful time being pampered by the family there and the hotel we stayed at for the night. I even got to fulfill my goal of riding a camel! Halloween I had some friends over for dinner and cheesy "Hocus Pocus" - Em and I carved "african" pumpkins! "Georgia was on my mind" as you can see from the photo. :)

November will wrap up softball. We have had only a couple of games this season. The expectations I had from this ministry kinda proved to disappoint. We have hardly had practice, much less opportunity for devotion time due to girls showing up on time.

Prayer Requests:
- Girls from softball and opportunities to share
- Our University friend's salvation
- My friends Bethany/ Andrea are coming for Thanksgiving!
- Ladies Prayer retreat ( Im leading worship)

Our view for the Saturday Afternoon 

Deep in the Desert

Meet Evelyn 

Nursery School in Kargi 

Patience, Ruthie, and Peace 

Kibaki in Kurkum 

Kids in Kurkum 

Meet my Rendille Mom! 

Pastor Brown 

Story time under the tree 

How creative is Our God in cultures! 

100 KM from the nearest town you find a unreached people group called the Rendille. Deep in the desert- where only thorn bushes and acacia grow. Our trip started with a long bus ride to a town in northern Kenya called Marsabit.  We took an all night bus where the three of us were stuck on the same bench crammed together, attempting to sleep. We arrived the next morning and crashed until the next journey. Our next mode of transport was called a "Lory." This meant we sat on top of large bags ( maize or rice) for three hours while the people stared at us. The dust was so bad I had to wrap my head in a scarf. Finally we arrived to where we were staying for the night. The Ndegwa's welcomed us with open arms. This family has been serving in Kargi for about 5 years. They have 3 beautiful girls who made the house always "alive." Our first day in Kargi I went to the school with a girl named Evelyn. She is a short term missionary. I taught the story of Noah to the kids in 4th grade. Most of the kids just stared at me or wanted to play with my watch. Its so hot you cant possibly do anything for most of the afternoon so each day we took a break from about til about 4 to rest. That afternoon we went to the first Manyatta. A manyatta is a cluster of thatched houses. The children came in droves. Some of the women came over - mostly older women. Emily told the story of the demon possessed man. Day 2 I went to the new nursery school. The kids were crazy and hardly understood any Swahili. This was the first time any of these kids had even been to school so they were restless. In the afternoon we went a different manyatta to do a birthday party for some rescued twins. The kids were anxious to get their hands on the goodies we had for them. We moved to Kurkum that night. We stayed in the manyattas where the 2 missionary guys stay. We had to learned to take a bucket bath in the moonlight praying no one was watching. Day 3 I went to the local school with one of the missionary guys to teach class 3. That afternoon we had the frustration of having no translator to speak in Rendille for us so we just walked a greeted people. As we walked up to one lady she stated she wanted to adopt me. She gave me the name "Kurkumea Nalea" Which meant I was born in Kurkum. (The Rendille believe we were all once Rendille and we have come back home). She gave me a necklace on the last day. She was a very sweet and affectionate lady. We were also able to go to the tree where the old men sit all day. This has been unheard of for me when Ive gone to other places, but they received us well. Emily shared C2C with them and they actually answered the questions when asked what they thought about the story. Day 4 I spent the morning in the Manyattas. We walked, greeted, and prayed for many sick people. The Rendille only eat what "relief food" is provided on the trucks when it comes, which basically consist of starch and beans. No vitamins - which means their immune systems are poor. One lady's house we stopped into gave us soured camel's milk to drink. This was by far the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth in all my trips abroad. The missionary, pastor Brown took the bullet and drank most of it for me. That afternoon we visited another manyatta and shared the C2C story with the women and children. The children were restless and the women didnt respond as well as the men did, but they at least heard the story.  That evening we had to pack up our stuff and leave. It was very sad to go after such an incredible week.
This week I learned so much about "counting the cost" Seeing Kenyans reaching to their own people was humbling. The Rendille have nothing but can always afford a smile. They give sacrifices to a fake god and believe in witchcraft. Their "sin" and "doing wrong" is OK when it is done to someone who has wronged them or have "more" than them. One man will have multiple wives and a girl will marry as young as 9 years old. A woman's role in life is to have children and feed them. Having livestock is more important than food in your children's bellies. Going to school is only for the few. The Rendille need to know the gospel.
Please pray for ...
- Pastor Ndegwa and his family as they minister to the people of Kargi.
- The nursery school as is begins and for sponsors to supply needs.
- Evelyn as she finishes her time there.
- Pastor Brown in Kurkum
- Kibaki as he finishes his time there.
- That the Rendille people would come to know God.

On the Road again.

October will be the month of traveling! Im so excited to get out of the city for a little while. Next week I'll be traveling to Uganda to take part in Passion World Tour Kampala. Louie, Chris Tomlin ya know all those guys are coming over. The last time this took place in 2008 there was about 12,000 people there so I'm sure there will be even more this time. 

I'm really excited to get to see all the students who go to school in Tanzania. I have missed them all so much and looking forward to seeing some familiar faces. 

No less than a week after we return from UG I will be traveling up country to a people group called the Rendille who inhabit the Eastern Province of Kenya. These are a people who live in the forest and speak their own mother tongue. We will be going to tell stories and working with girls helping they are worth more than making babies at the age of 14. 

Facts about the Rendille 

Population is 63,000 

15% Christian but only 4.2% Evangelical

85% Practice African Traditional Religion

They offer sacrifices and pray to the moon and call their god "wakh" 

Pray This month:

- Upcoming trips ( safety, restful nights even on the bus, health)

- My health 

- Softball team at USIU opportunities for Emily and I to be bold 

Not Ashamed.

This past week I worked at RBC ( the church I attend here) for Teen's Week! The theme was Not Ashamed. I wonder if old Christian music songs pop into your head as they did mine. Oh Newsboys. Well anyways it was a great week with about 40 everyday in attendance. We had to do the activities in the afternoon due to the students attending required remedial classes by their parents/ gov. So the youth pastor was a little hesitant about who would even show up. But I think the turnout was more than any of us expected. My role included a lot of juice mixing and constructing " JimmyJamieHour." Which means there is another guy named Jimmy, he and I ran games for the week. Every afternoon we did parody's of game shows in the states and had the teens compete all week long. We wrapped up the week by teaching them Capture the Flag!

             "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, 
for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, 
        to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16 

Playing Traffic Jam.

They Cant Figure it Out. haha. 

"Minute to Win it" Wrap a guy like a Mummy.

Cuties hanging around the church to see what's going on. 

Pray For: 
- Uni work starting back up aka Softball starting again. 
- 3 more months! Praying to finish strong! 

Love in Action.

Family came and went. What a wonderful treat to spend some time with them and showing them around Nairobi.


This past week I attended a VBS at the local church I attend and took video all week long. I stepped back on the first day and thought about home much time, effort, and money is put into the VBS's back home and watched a no frills VBS be successful in its own way. Kids met in the morning for group time listening to one of the pastors share about Loving others, loving our enemies and how much God loved them. Then they split off into classes grouped by age for bible story time and maybe a trivia game. After tea time they would get into even smaller groups and prepare for Sunday's "celebration." We even got to take them to the pool one day!! Over all it was a wonderful week of getting to serve along side of the students in the youth group. I was very proud of how they took time out of their break off from school to serve as teachers and leaders.

Here's some shots from the week!

Pray for :
- stamina and added patience with culture
- Cousins as they wrap up Ramadan
- friend we have been sharing and hanging out with, he's been seeking for a while

Grateful

grate·ful

 [greyt-fuhl]  

adjective

1.

warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefitsreceived; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

2.

expressing or actuated by gratitude: a grateful letter.

3.

pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome;refreshing: a grateful breeze.

Its hard to believe I've been living in Nairobi almost a month. As I look back on the last few weeks I can't help but be grateful. Within the first week of arriving I was overwhelmed with information and responsibilities but at the same time - there was great grace in questions. There was a full week dedicated to our rest and company related business. I am thankful our company still sees that week of value even if its a lot of expense and planning. My birthday week was full of fun and adventure. I am still learning my way around Nairobi. The people in my life really made my day special. I attended a weekly small group for the local youth group I've been sort of assigned to get involved with. The other jgirl who goes to the church and I took the youth minister and his wife out for all 4 of our birthdays. I love this couple and their heart for not only the church but the community around the church. I have moved into my home for the remainder of my 6 months here, started learning my way around the shelves of the resource center, making less wrong turns off the roads, and trying to catch a vision of how God can use me over the next few months.

I am grateful for your continued prayers!

the 4th!

Now in Kenya!

I have been here since Sunday. Yesterday was enough for me to want to update on my new life. Nairobi is chilly and busy. I have been staying with a friend from training back in VA. Its been fun hanging out with the Jgirls here and getting to know them. The family whom I will be in staying in their home has also been wonderful with their hospitality and information. I was a bit timid driving until this morning when I mustered up the guts to ask a friend if I could drive back from the local grocery store, and I did just fine.

A Jgirl here has gotten involved in a local softball team at USIU. I went to practice with her on Tuesday for the first time and lets just say, ' I whipped them into shape.' They all said they had learned more about the game in that one afternoon, than any other, so hopefully I didn't scare them too much.

The other families on the compound all got together yesterday for the 4th. We all brought sides and our own meat for the grilling. We just hung around all day playing cards, roasting marshmellows, and fellowshiping. It was beautiful weather for all of you who sweated in the states- but no fireworks here!

Happy Birthday 'Merica! 

Mk's are so cool! 

All the yummy food! 

I am thankful for where I currently am and the freedom and I have in Christ. I am also excited about this upcoming month with arrivals of old friends, making new ones, retreat, moving into my house, and my parents arrival.