things i love

There are many things I have loved about are time away from home... perhaps most significantly experiencing time differently...

time for good books, alone and with the kids... time for Frisbee and lying in the grass. I have loved having, and taking, the time to lean into home learning with Dana and the kids. We spend most mornings reading, or being read to, hunched over math books, shoulder to shoulder with Noah or Anna, learning (or attempting to recall) what antonyms are, or why 'ck' and not 'k' happens at the end of a spelling word with Mollie.

I love watching our kids grow, stretch and learn... yes, about this place and it's people, but also about whatever is in front of them in the moment... gecko's caught in the early morning, the joy of tea , sunlight and a good book, reading a social cue...

I am so thankful for this time, because of the experience of where we are, but more so for the space to be slow, to watch our kids grow in real time... to see Mollie's two front teeth reach further out daily.

Though we are half way through our time, I want to resist marking the weeks and days we have left, counting time until 'time' returns to normal. Rather, I would want to continue in the practice of being more aware... engaging our kids, other people, books, shade cooled grass, and learning to live in the present... not just vacation there.

Weeding and Walking

-written by Noah

Last Tuesday we went farming. It took two hours to get there, plus we had to pick up two people on the way there. when we were just about half way there, dad said I could listen to the Ipod. I listened to 'Shilo' all the way there. When we got to the house, a man named Solomon came out. Me and dad got out of the Cruiser and dad and Solomon talked for a long time. Then he toured us around his plants and vegetables. Then we got to work. We started to weed the vegetables, then they called us in for tea. While I was gardening I felt so exhausted and tired. I didn't want to stop because dad and Solomon were still working. After tea we came out and worked for an hour and a half. For lunch we had rice and potatoes. Then we went to catch the goats. We walked for a long time. When we were walking I felt miserable because I couldn't catch a goat. I tried three times! But on the last time I caught one! I was so excited.

Merry Christmas!

Well, we are back from a truly Kenyan Christmas celebration. We were invited along with my parents to celebrate Christmas with a large extended Kukuyu family just west of Nairobi. So after enjoying gift opening with the kids in the morning, we left wondering just what this day would hold for us. Was I apprehensive? I will leave you guessing. :)

There really was no need to worry. The family was thrilled we came (though they had been hoping we would be there earlier to help slaughter the goat... most of us were happy we missed that). We were given a tour of their gorgeous, lush, green farmed countryside (all on a quite a steep hill), tasted sheep liver, shook hands with many people and just enjoyed visiting before dinner. We were seated on wooden benches and told how dinner would be served. We have not gotten used to the amount of food normally heaped on plates, though they are a fit group of people. We served ourselves sheep stew, lentils and carrots, rice, chapatis, cabbage, and traditional African mashed potatoes with maize and greens (like pumpkin leaves) but didn't get close to the amount they thought we should have. Our kids going back for seconds on chapatis made up for the initial surprise though.

After dinner, we were back on the benches (congregation style) and proceeded to hear a couple of sermons, prayers, songs and introductions. Our host brought everyone up (around 60 people were there) by family. Our introductions were a bit more simple as dad has only one wife :)

In closing we had sodas (the Coke for which I was glad as I was about to be introduced to African sausage as a parting gift).

As we shared with them, we felt privileged to share this Christmas with some new friends.

We hope you also shared your day with friends.

Mollie's Adventure

-written by Mollie (translated my her mom)

we went to a kenya vilag . 3 kenya boys stol a medl oet uv a chruck. my mom sur the 3 kenya boys thwo the medl oet uv the chruck. i was sckerd. the gui asckct sum uthr boys to help him get the medl. tha did. i was hape to get hom that day.

(We went to a Kenya village. Three Kenyan boys stole metal out of a truck. My mom saw the three Kenyan boys throw the metal out of the truck. I was scared. The guy asked some other boys to help him get the metal. They did. I was happy to get home that day.)

An African Wedding

-written by Anna

This week I am writing about an african wedding. To drive there it took two in a half hours!I can't believe I made it! All I did is read Where's Waldo? Eat. And listen to Adventures in Odessy. When we got there we didn't go to church right away...we went to another person's house. The house looked like a little cottege. The bathroom was an out house. After we had the break at the house it was time to go to the wedding! It took three hours! After the wedding we were forced to go to the reception. I had rice and chapates!On the way home all of us had to go to the bathroom in the bushes. A giraffe was right there watching us!

I loved that day.

Extraordinary people

Yesterday we have had the opportunity to meet and spend time with some extraordinary people. We spent part of the day at Emmanuel's Place, home to dozens of beautiful children, from babies to high school graduates. Sister Louise is a Catholic nun who has been loving and advocating for children who have lost parents to war, AIDS and other circumstances for the last 20 years. Many of the kids we had an opportunity to meet spoke of her as their second mother, and while you can imagine there would be need for some strict routines in caring for over 100 kids it was immediately apparent that love and being loved shaped the children there.

Many of the kids have spent their whole childhood with Sister Louise, while others have come more recently, escaping SPLA (Sudanese People's Liberation Army) where they had been forced into lives as child soldiers. Regardless of where they have come from, Sister Louise advocates for, and strives to ensure, education and the opportunity for a future, shaped by the dreams and ambitions of the kids she is caring for.

It was very cool to spend a little time with some of the kids, as they proudly showed us their rooms, talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up, or what sport they excelled at (Dana and the kids had the chance to give some of the Soccer balls and skipping ropes provided through the Alex Aitken fundraiser). What struck me most about this place and these kids, is that they were kids, given the opportunity to be kids again... to be loved, to belong and to dream.

Today, Mom & Dad drove Noah & I 56 kilometers in a mere 2 1/2 hours (it is difficult to describe the road conditions, and might be best to say at times we drove on nothing that resembled a road!). Our destination was the town of Najile, where Noah and I spent the day with Solomon, a small plot farmer, who has resiliently established a sustainable farm that feeds his family in a place that is currently suffering from the worst drought the Maasai people can recall in their oral history.

With one 1/2" water line he has cultivated about an acre of corn (for maize flour), beans, cabbage, collards and indigenous fruit such as mango and papaya. After touring their land, Noah and I set to weeding the collard patch with Solomon, his daughter and some neighbor kids curious about the muzungos (Noah and I), pink and sweating under the relentless African sun. Solomon was a farmer to the core, saving seeds, nursing next season's seedlings along, while praying that this years crop would not fail. Nothing is wasted, with weeds going directly to their goats, chicken and cattle, while the livestock' 'fertilizer' goes back into the soil around the hand watered & weeded plants.

Noah and I plied Solomon with many questions around his farming practices, family life, and Maasai culture while we worked. He in turn asked about our life in Canada and we wondered at all that we held in common, despite our very different lives. It was a truly amazing day, in which Noah even learned a little about herding goats... a transferable skill even if we don't have leopards and baboons to contend with at home!

Lately...

Well, we have had some full days.

This week started out with a visit to Nairobi Handicraft Carvers. It it nice to see these places with people 'in the know' and John, a carver the Ten Thousand Villages store buys from, toured us around his shop and others in the coop. Kevin is excited about a cross he is having John carve for him.

On Friday, we decided to visit the Giraffe Orphanage for a more 'touristy' experience. Noah got up close and personal with a giraffe (see picture) and would love to do it again. Anna wanted nothing to do with it, and Mollie ended up throwing the food into the giraffes mouth. They say giraffes saliva has healing properties... here's hoping.

After today's experience, I am just glad to be home. It was a nice day in Najile (a 2 1/2 hour drive on VERY bumpy roads... thank goodness for the SUV) where we were able to celebrate with Joseph and Elizabeth on their wedding day. It started 3 hours late (thankfully we were given a heads up and only had to wait 1 hour). The bride had 24 attendants, the groom nine. The room was packed, and with the choir performances, dancing, preaching (translated into English) and actual wedding, the ceremony lasted 3 hours. I was so proud of the kids, they lasted the whole time... quietly. When it ended at 4pm we had thought we would skip the reception so we could make it home before dark (one big rule in Kenya... try not to be on the roads after dark) but the Maasai culture is very generous and it was obvious not eating would be a huge disappointment to them. We were seated in the grooms mothers house and served our first goat meat. I decided to go at it with both hands and it was pretty good. The Maasai people are so friendly and welcoming, it was a pleasure to eat with them. The only downside (and HUGE stress for me) was the trip home- 1/3rd in the dark. I think it took some years off my life and got through it by burying my face into Kevin's leg. Nothing bad happened and we got home fine but my dad has assured me will try to be in before dark from now on. I will be teased about that for a while.

Again, we are amazed at the generosity and friendliness of the Kenyan people we have met. Our kids continue to be a novelty but they take it in stride, with the occasional 'intervention' by their grandparents.

A day in the life...

Our days look a bit different now than they did two weeks ago. I keep wondering what I will do without Kevin at home all the time come the end of January. If my parents have to spend the day at the office, we spend most of the day doing schoolwork with the kids, either at the office with my parents or at their home. To break up those days, we venture out to the grocery store, trying to cross the roads where the rules are very different than they are at home. Mollie can't get over the fact we are running between cars, waiting in the middle of the road, just trying to cross safely. Pedestrians here NEVER have the right of way. It takes a lot to get used to.

Many days we take trips with my parents to various places. Today we went to one of the more upscale shopping centers for some ice cream. A nice treat on a hot day. Yesterday we visited the Nairobi Handicraft (a carving cooperative) in one of the city slums. Saturday we have been invited to a Maasai wedding in Najile. I hear the bride has 24 attendants!!! Should be fun.

We have adjusted to the food very well. My mom is a great cook and very careful which makes for an smooth experience for us. I am thankful.

Some of the experiences we were anticipating have been cancelled (trip to Molo, Arocha) due to cost and timing. We find we are experiencing plenty just hanging out with my parents! We have a trip planned to Emmanuel Center which takes in orphans, refugee children, and Sudanese child soldiers. This whole trip is an eye opener for our kids but they seem to adjust very well... other than those crazy road crossings. Mollie just closes her eyes and holds a hand.

We have met and had good conversations with many Kenyans. Whether it is about homeschooling (it hasn't caught on here yet), similarities raising boys, or the differences in farming. We love having a 'not so touristy' experience.

So that is a peek into our life right now... never boring :)

Peace, within and around.

During the past week we have had the oppertunity to connect with a number of the Kenyan partners that Dana's parents work alongside. These groups have formed in response to local needs or concerns and include such inititaives as HIV/AIDS education, Food for Work (in response to the current drought), peace, water & food security, and support for children without parents.

Wehanya, a young twenty-something man, has been working in his home town, inspired to pursue and promote peace amongst his own people. He told us about events that occured in his grandparents generation that have caused deep, generational animosity and hatred, intentionally taught and passed on from parent to child. During the era when the British were leaving Kenya, his tribe, the Kikuyu, became deeply divided into two factions, those who supported the revolutionary Mau Mau and those that supported the British (the Home Gaurd). This resulted in violence, discrimination and broken trust that has profoundly effected this people group.

Wehanya, sensing that these entrenched perspectives among his people needed to change, began speaking with his grandparents generation as well as his own peers, wrestling with how to bring peace between families that have harboured hate while living in the same village for nearly 60 years. This has included inititives of bringing both factions of his grandparents generation together to work toward reconcilation, forgivness and grace. While he admits that this work for peace is difficult, and may not be embrace by the whole of his grandparents generation, those within his own generation have begun to throw off the shackles of mistrust and hate.

Beyond this, Wehanya and other who have joined him have begun to work towards a deeper sense of peace, recognising that having the absence of violence needs to be pursued but must be complemented with peace between genders, food security, spirituality, inter tribal relations and within the family. It is inspiring to see a generation respectivly challenging and inspiring themselves, their parents and grandparents to seek peace as a whole way of being, having it permeate customs, work, relationships and individual souls.

I do not know if there is a Swahili or Kikuyu word describing this deeper and holistic peace, but I believe the Hebrew word for this idea is Shalom. In this Advent holiday season, we are inspired to pursue and expereince this of kind peace within and among us.

Mollie's Safari

-written by Mollie, translated by her mom

We god on u SAFARI trip and gus wut we sur. Grafs, elfits, zebus, los uf thes ammls lic cap buflo, hippos to rinos. Lios, dade lios, mome lios, babe lios, leprs, chedus. The leprd wus up on u tree. Los uf vans ther. My ffrt ammls wus the babe lio be cause it wus cute.

( We got on a SAFARI trip and guess what we saw. Giraffes, elephants, zebras, lots of these animals like cape buffalo, hippos and rhinos. Lions, daddy lions, mommy lions, baby lions, leopards, cheetahs. The leopard was up in a tree. Lots of vans there. My favorite animal was the baby lion because it was cute.)

Anna's Elephant

-written by Anna

This weekend Grandpa and Grandma & my family went to a Safari Lodge! On the first night I was mad because I was tired. So I went outside and guess what... right in front of our house there was an elephant! So I called Dad and he called Mom to bring the camera out. Noah and Mollie already ran to tell a Maasai warrior. So dad & I went outside and bats flew right in front of my face! I cried so dad picked me up and carried me half way until a dung beetle creeped in front of me! It was as big as my fist! My dinner was great! I was so tired I went to sleep right away.

That day was great.

Mule Mania!

-written by Noah

We are in Africa! Tuesday we went to a village called Kimende. On the way there we passed a market. I challenged myself to count as many mules as I could. In the end I ended up with 53! We had to deliver 5 computers to the village. When we got to the village, everybody was waving at us like we were kings! We drove past all these shabby looking houses. The truck stopped and we all got out. We took the computers to the lab. People offered us to go to the museum. I expected it to be big, but it was just a clay room. There were amazing artifacts. There were clay pots and horns and many necklaces. Samuel was the museum operator. He talked for a long time and I got tired. I went to the washroom and all it was was a hole!!! There was poo and pee smeared all over. And there was no toilet paper. Finally Samuel stopped talking and he bought us a soda. I was freaked out when they asked me to stay. I had a lot of fun at the village.

Oh my word

Dana writing today. We seem to have conquered the jet lag... thankful for that. It is warm (at times hot), green and beautiful here. Our day today included a visit to the slum Embakasi for the opening of a new school built by 14 Manitobans sponsored by MCC. It was an eye opener for all of us, particularly the kids. It was pretty obvious not many 'Muzungu' (Swahili for white person) visit the slum. We felt a bit conspicuous with our white faces in our white jeep, trying to navigate the nearly impassable lane ways, but when we arrived at the church where the school is being built, we were welcomed with big smiles and greetings. If not many adult whites visit, very few white children visit the slum and our kids were the first white children some of their kids had seen. It took quite some time for Noah, Anna and Mollie to get comfortable but by the end, the girls had left our sides and Noah was playing tag with the young kids.

Though we know their schools are nothing like ours, it is hard to imagine tin walls, dirt floors that turn to mud with any rain, and no windows. They were thrilled to have two new permanent classrooms made with stone walls, windows, cement floors and even a porch! We look forward to going back in January when school is in to see it in use.

The 'Oh my word' in the title had more to do with the trip home. I didn't feel exactly comfortable driving through the slum, and then we experienced something that put it right over the top. We ended up behind a large semi truck that was driving really slow and we saw three young men climb up the back and into the trailer. We thought they were just getting a free ride, but then we saw them unload some of the contents on the road. When the driver realized what had happened, he came out armed with a slingshot looking to right the wrong that had been done. Unfortunately, we were in the middle of this impending conflict, a place you do not want to be. Stuck between a truck and a hard place (that's from Kevin :). Dad couldn't get the jeep around the semi and even the Kenyan in the jeep with us was suggesting we try hard to get out of the situation. The truck driver noticed our predicament and graciously moved his truck forward before seeking retribution on the thieves. Needless to say, my heart was in my stomach. While it gave us a scare, it didn't put a damper on the days experience.

Tomorrow we are off to a food distribution sight for those most affected by the drought here in Kenya. We look forward to sharing it with you!

Pancakes and AK 47's

We make our first blog posting detailing our expereinces in Kenya, happy to have arrived in Nairobi after two relatively sleepless plane trips and enough canned air to be grateful for the deisel scented 'fresh air' of the city's morning gridlock. While looking forward to attempting a full night's sleep we are wonderfully happy to be here with Mom & Dad (aka Grandpa & Grandma). We began our cultural emmersion 'softly', easing into it with a breakfast of pancakes and strong coffee, while talking over the many expereinces that will not be as familiar as Mollie's favorite food...

The kids have observed many little cross cultural differences and have many questions for each of these! Whether it is people selling live chickens or pillows in the stand-still traffic or the AK 47's that every serucity gaurd causually holds while greeting you coridially, we have much to expereince and learn from.

I believe that today is Tuesday, and the week ahead holds a visit to a school in one of the slums where Noah, Anna & Mollie hope to connect with some kids with the universal language of soccer & jump rope. After that we will be heading to the Massai Mara to connect (from the safety of an all terrain van) with the 'big 5' on a three day safari.