What DO we DO part 2…

After language school. December of 2007 the plan was to move to Nairobi and continue with studies a little less formally. On December 26, the day before the elections we moved. Our home is in a complex, like town homes with 8 units. There are two six-year old girls for Jaden to play with and a three year old boy for Katriel. They all get along as well as kids do. Unfortunately, a week after our move, Kenya fell apart. We had plans and schedules to continue with language, Matthew to take a class, continue to take trips to learn about culture, etc.—but this was not too happen. School for Jaden was postponed. We hid in our house. Little food and water since we just moved. We snuck out in the early morning hours when we thought things would be safe to buy food, there were runs on the markets with sugar, flour and beans. It was a crash course in a riots and clashes. Now when I hear these words on the news, I
have a real appreciation for what that country is going through. We had emergency team meetings, discussed emergency plans, evacuation plans, reassured everyone in America (and Canada), and did a lot of praying.

This is when we had two Internally Displaced People (IDP) move in with us. Our house help also moved all of her belongings to our home as she received a letter that she had 72 hours to move or her home would be destroyed. These were times of great fear and hopelessness, but the people that we knew and loved in Kenya were so strong and faithful. The things they have seen, I can’t write as some were so gruesome, but I also heard stories of some of the perpetrators receiving Christ at the road blocks. That pretty much encompasses January through March. Things would calm down for a few days, then riots again. Everyday I would listen to the news, find out if there was school and pray as I put my six year old on the bus to travel 6.5 miles to school. I was scared. But still that peace that surpasses was there. Especially at night. I remember looking at the clock. 5:00pm. 6:00am in America. Okay, people are starting to wake up, get breakfast, they are going to see us on their fridge and pray. I will be okay.

In April we tried to start again. Matthew was finally signed up for a class which was a requirement for him in Kenya. Lisa started a bible study that got her out of the house. Jaden & Katriel continued with their school.

So that is where our lives are now. Matthew is in class Wed & Friday. Jaden is out of school for the summer and this week is at VBS with Lisa. Katriel is on the Kenyan school schedule so she will be in class until August. We have a small group at our house Tuesday nights. Matthew attends Chapel at a school in Karen. He is in another small group on Fridays. Lisa is at Bible study Wednesdays.

Part of cultural lessons were to spend time away in a rural setting seeing how people live. That was scheduled June 6-10. Katriel had sudden high fevers at the last minute and Matthew and her stayed home. Lisa, Jaden, Millicent (house help) and Jack (IDP) went to a small village by Lake Victoria. We set up tents in Millicent’s parent’s yard and had a wonderful time with no electricity, running water, vegetables, or fruit. Fish, chicken, eggs, bread and tea. There was little English spoken. Jaden played with all of the kids for about three days, on day fur she was getting a little tired, it was hard to play when you can’t communicate with people. We went to Lake Victoria and saw some huge fish, and flies, oh the flies! I have never seen so many.

Here are a few pictures from the trip:

Jaden with a goat.
















Millicent and her father, Agutu











Millicent's mother

















The kitchen












A view of the property












The house














Thank you again for walking this walk with us. If you would like to know more information about us, just ask! Stay tuned for the next blog about upcoming plans now that our first year is ending!!!