...from Kurungu and back again...

Through this whole experience of being medi-evacuated out of Kurungu with the Callaghans, to staying in Kijabe at the Moffat Guesthouse and then with Sue Bird, to then being driven with Kevin (who I in a divine appointment met at Mayfield Guesthouse at the beginning of my trip) and his wife Linda to Nairobi, to then driving up with the Swanepoel family to Nanyuki, to being hosted at Nick and Lynn Swanepoel’s home for 5 days, and then afterwards making the 8 hour continuation trip from Nanyuki to Kurungu … *breathe …. has all been apart of Abba’s plan.

The drive back with the Swanepoel’s was eye-filling with dense and diverse greenery (many types of trees with different heights and shapes), various animals (ostriches, goats, camels, sheep, dik-diks, and various birds), and cultural differences. It has been said that you can experience two parts of Kenya: Kenya 1 (South) and Kenya 2 (north), and as you passed through these different regions, the style of dress (modern to traditional), and structure of homes (rock structures to huts) was apparent.

I also saw many school children; you could tell from their uniforms – and so young too! Many parents send their children to school as a babysitting service. I think the youngest child I saw, wandering off on their way to school alone looked to be 3 years old.

 

However… even though I got to experience much of the beautiful landscapes across central Kenya, it’s really the people that make this experience in Africa worth it. The people I have come to know on this trip; the relationships that have been built are so much more meaningful that capturing a beautiful picture on a countryside (what?! I know, huge thing for a wanna-be photographer to say). However, this post wouldn’t be as exciting without pictures, so enjoy the photos!

 

P.S. Thank you for your prayers for Jay – his testing is completed and his body is healing. His body is now recovering and is just very sore. 

Standing on the Equator... literally

On the way back home to Kurungu, we stopped at a place near Nanyuki... two hemispheres at once?! Yes!!

Lily with her favorite flower... you guessed it - Lilly! 

Meet the cute Jesse

Lily, Nathan, Luke ... Jumping!

Caity and Abby 

Miles and Owen ... driving a duel stirring wheel car

Change of Plans

Well… the day of June 9th, Sunday, started off pretty normal, besides the fact that it was Jay and Laura’s 12^th anniversary, that I was teaching Sunday school (but that’s becoming more common), and that the Swanepoel’s had gone to Nairobi, and that Jay’s sickness had become so demanding of action that I now sit and update you from Kijabe (an hour and a half north of Nairobi or in other words, a two day drive from Kurungu)! 

After some email communication with some doctors that the Callaghan's knew in Kijabe, it was decided Sunday, after church, that we would be flown on an emergency flight to Nariobi, to where we would then be transferred to Kijabe in order that the symptoms Jay was showing could be tested and named. Stop. Breathe. So, without a moment of delay, after teaching Sunday School I was informed that we were leaving. I made lunch for the kids and then packed; within two hours of finishing Sunday school we were on a plane headed to Nairobi!

Since that time on Sunday, so much has happened - but Abba is faithful! Jay has received various testing and they have factored out the major travesties his symptoms could've been indicating. However, while we wait for confirmation, we have been blessed. So many people have opened up their homes to us and have provided us meals and have shown us hospitality. 

As it stands right now, the plan is to be in Kijabe till Friday and then, instead of flying back to Kurungu, I'll drive back with the Swanepoel family - North Country, bumpy roads (literally - we thought we had it bad in Canada, no way!), dust, people, and adventure! The Callaghan's will be staying another week to primarily wait out potential relapse. 

Thank you for your continual prayers of healing for Jay, patience for the Callaghan's to adjust to new settings, safety for the drive back to Kurungu on Saturday or Sunday - not sure yet, and that Abba would continue to set up divine appointments! 

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time there was… oh so many things that happened!

Today the choice of story to share with you consists of a moment removed from routine and some unrelated pictures to the story.

Everyday in Kurungu, the moms have encouraged me to take a break (even just a short one) from working with the kids (they have encouraged this for personal growth and in hopes that I wouldn’t burn out :) - no worries about that yet!). However, as you may know I am a person that definitely loves to be active and when I sit down for too long of a period of time, I feel like I should be doing something. I have told this to the ladies and so, yesterday when they had scheduled me to take a break, Loki, one of the moms came looking for me, just to make su

re I was actively engaging in soloist time. She ended up taking the baby that was in my arms and sending me off.

I ended up taking Jay's (one of the Dad's) guitar and my Bible and trekking a short walk to the church, to where I had earlier discovered has amazing acoustics. Even in an isolated area you always end up seeing people around who are at the taking care of their animals or wandering to the watering hole with their animals. Despite all this, there were moments of calm and I was able to set apart time to spend in devotions and song. After that I thought, God I want to sing you my own song - so I began to write and play a new song! Oh so exciting! It's rather interesting parallel (in the song) about between being strung on a clothes line and shattered expectations. I'll have to share it with you when I get back :) 

But the take away from this story is that sometimes we have to be removed from our daily routines of life in order to do what has been on our hearts to do; to have our 'self' wrung out to dry in order that we can be stamped with God's image, rather than being held back by expectations, attitudes of laziness or even just plain tiredness. 

So, wherever you are, I encourage you today to step out of that routine find a hiding place and seek Abba; his heart, his desire for your life. Do it :) 

Walk to the Village one fine Friday

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