I finally heard from Josh. Here's what he wrote:
'Sorry I haven't been online much lately. ...it has been a littlehectic lately and I haven't had time to check email. I realized myflight was leaving at 930 instead of 1130 the night before I was supposed to leave and so was stressed all night that I had to change my taxi arrangements, not knowing if i could still fit the golf game in and what not. Anyway I still got the game in but was still stressed because Hermann (MAF Avionics) got me to bring some aircraft parts to Mad for him which meant I needed to do some paperwork at the airport in strange places. Plus, my taxi was 30 min late in picking me up and the traffic was terrible. So I get everything done and am ready to checkin and then the lady tells me actually your flight has been CANCELLED and will only leave the following morning at 800. So then they kindly get me a hotel and shuttle back into Nairobi, downtown no less and so here i am sitting at Java at Jomo at 5 am waiting to get on my plane.Not only that, i am now down to 3.5 days in Madagascar to get everything done. Stuff me, it's going to be busy.'
Now Josh has to pack out and pack up suitcases, pay tuition for June and deposit a registration fee for school for January when we return, iron out househelp salaries and ensure our house is being taken care of in our absence, do some office stuff?, find and purchase souvenirs, etc. all before Sunday when he leaves again for Kenya. At this point i think it's still not 100% if he is flying in Sudan or not. It's all dependent on some mechanic inspection regulations for the plane. I'm quite certain Josh would greatly benefit from our prayers as he ties up all these loose ends and sorts things out for his next 2 months.
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kenya. Show all posts
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
waiting...
It's a drag, these late night departures. Because we spend the whole day basically just wasting time until we have to get into the car to drive to the airport.
Last night we were at Habesha again (the ethiopian restaurant that Josh loves) for a farewell for MAF friends who are moving up to Juba. Judah and i didnt eat anything because i didnt want to risk feeling dodgy the next day. Judah basically fell asleep at 7:30 anyway and slept through all the laughing and eating and shouting down the long table. Good times.
This morning, after a leisurely start, we went to the Animal Orphanage to look at the animals. It was basically just a zoo. Then we went to the hangar to do some last minute stuff and had a nice lunch at the East African Flying Club. It was a pretty posh place. Despite reservations of appearing colonial or..., how to say, demonstrating a character of entitlement, which is what such old-kenya places like that make me feel like, i said to Josh that it would be lovely to be a member at a club like that. Meet Josh at the club, for example, after a long day of flying. Take a dip in the pool, lounge on the loungers and drink spritzers. :-D
We went home by 1pm and have spent the afternoon trying to get a lot of horizontal time in preparation for a lot of sitting-up-in-uncomfortable-economy-class-seats time. Josh and Judah are still currently kipping while i sit on the computer. Last night at Habesha Josh made a casual inquiry as to how long it takes to drive to the airport and how early we should be there before the flight. It's a good thing we asked, because we're used to madagascar airport where there's usually only one flight leaving at any given time and the airport is so small and straightforward that there's no real reason to be there more than 1.5 hours ahead of time. The MAFers 'round the table assured us that it may take a while in traffic to get to the airport and it'll be hectic once we get there because there are at least 3 international flights leaving all at around the same time. Apparently sometimes it takes an hour just to get through the front doors where the baggages scans are! Jeepers! And, we learned that only ticket holders can get in the building... i'm a bit nervous about maneuvering our luggage (not much, thank goodness) and a past-his-bedtime judah through the airport to check in and through customs without Josh's reassuring and competant presence. ...but if we gotta do it, i'm sure we can do it fine. If Judah's still sleeping at 4:30, as it looks like he is, we'll most likely be able to have a chipper and excited boy until at least we pass customs.
I am attempting to claim the prayers on our behalf for a trip "far above what i could ask or imagine". At this point i am simply grateful for a healthy boy, a healthy body of my own, and the fact that Josh will at least be able to drive us to the airport. Everything else will be icing on the cake, and easily within God's ultimate capabilities. ;-)
Last night we were at Habesha again (the ethiopian restaurant that Josh loves) for a farewell for MAF friends who are moving up to Juba. Judah and i didnt eat anything because i didnt want to risk feeling dodgy the next day. Judah basically fell asleep at 7:30 anyway and slept through all the laughing and eating and shouting down the long table. Good times.
This morning, after a leisurely start, we went to the Animal Orphanage to look at the animals. It was basically just a zoo. Then we went to the hangar to do some last minute stuff and had a nice lunch at the East African Flying Club. It was a pretty posh place. Despite reservations of appearing colonial or..., how to say, demonstrating a character of entitlement, which is what such old-kenya places like that make me feel like, i said to Josh that it would be lovely to be a member at a club like that. Meet Josh at the club, for example, after a long day of flying. Take a dip in the pool, lounge on the loungers and drink spritzers. :-D
We went home by 1pm and have spent the afternoon trying to get a lot of horizontal time in preparation for a lot of sitting-up-in-uncomfortable-economy-class-seats time. Josh and Judah are still currently kipping while i sit on the computer. Last night at Habesha Josh made a casual inquiry as to how long it takes to drive to the airport and how early we should be there before the flight. It's a good thing we asked, because we're used to madagascar airport where there's usually only one flight leaving at any given time and the airport is so small and straightforward that there's no real reason to be there more than 1.5 hours ahead of time. The MAFers 'round the table assured us that it may take a while in traffic to get to the airport and it'll be hectic once we get there because there are at least 3 international flights leaving all at around the same time. Apparently sometimes it takes an hour just to get through the front doors where the baggages scans are! Jeepers! And, we learned that only ticket holders can get in the building... i'm a bit nervous about maneuvering our luggage (not much, thank goodness) and a past-his-bedtime judah through the airport to check in and through customs without Josh's reassuring and competant presence. ...but if we gotta do it, i'm sure we can do it fine. If Judah's still sleeping at 4:30, as it looks like he is, we'll most likely be able to have a chipper and excited boy until at least we pass customs.
I am attempting to claim the prayers on our behalf for a trip "far above what i could ask or imagine". At this point i am simply grateful for a healthy boy, a healthy body of my own, and the fact that Josh will at least be able to drive us to the airport. Everything else will be icing on the cake, and easily within God's ultimate capabilities. ;-)
Friday, June 5, 2009
More blotches
I thought yesterday that our bout of strange pseudo illness was over since Judah's blotches which appeared first on Wednesday had disappeared by Thursday. Unfortunately this morning he's come up with more spots and they seem as bad as the first round. Fortunately his fever is not as bad... i've had a nurse friend come over to take a look at him, but considering that he's running about like a normal healthy 3 year old it's difficult to imagine that he's in any way terribly ill... He continues to have a very mild fever, but he's not sleepy for afternoon nap and he eats and drinks comme normal. So... what to do? It's difficult to make the decision to see a doctor because we have to pay a lot just to get looked at, which is a real drag especially now when our time in Kenya is just about over and we've spent a lot of money on other things. And the thought of maybe being able to get free Canadian health care in less than a week makes it that much more difficult to go here. argh.
Yesterday evening i chatted on the phone with a lady who works for SIM in Member Care. She and i talked a lot about my issues regarding re-entry. Although i reckon i know most of what we talked about in theory (ie. in my head), there is a lot that i recognize i have trouble putting into practice, or knowing in my heart. Ah well, regardless, it was helpful to talk it over with someone who understands the transitions that moving back to one's home country entail. We'll simply have to see how it goes this time around. Perhaps i am anxious for nothing...
Thank you to all those who are praying for our imminent journey and the transitions that await us apon arrival. Thank you to those who have written notes of encouragement these last few weeks. It is very helpful to know that we are loved and prayed for, since "the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective". Please add Judah's body spots to your prayers, if you can. That his body wouldnt throw a fit en route and that the spots wouldnt continue to concern me at all.
Yesterday evening i chatted on the phone with a lady who works for SIM in Member Care. She and i talked a lot about my issues regarding re-entry. Although i reckon i know most of what we talked about in theory (ie. in my head), there is a lot that i recognize i have trouble putting into practice, or knowing in my heart. Ah well, regardless, it was helpful to talk it over with someone who understands the transitions that moving back to one's home country entail. We'll simply have to see how it goes this time around. Perhaps i am anxious for nothing...
Thank you to all those who are praying for our imminent journey and the transitions that await us apon arrival. Thank you to those who have written notes of encouragement these last few weeks. It is very helpful to know that we are loved and prayed for, since "the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective". Please add Judah's body spots to your prayers, if you can. That his body wouldnt throw a fit en route and that the spots wouldnt continue to concern me at all.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
"A More Excellent Way"
a while back i wrote of a ladies meeting where the hostess read a remixed version of the corinthians 13 "love chapter" as it pertains specifically to foreign workers/missionaries. I received a copy of this piece yesterday and will share it with you here. I may not be able to muster much more than a strict copying of the text, with no additional thoughts or comments from me because i am sick with fatigue. I can barely keep my head up because i slept so poorly last night: the dance club i've written about before, the one that has live music every friday night, the one that's just over the wall from our house, started playing music last night LOUDLY. Dance music. on a Wednesday! And they played it until well past midnight. ack! i swear to you that the music was as loud as if we had put on the stereo in our own house at top volume (with very large speakers) and then gone to bed. terrible. i could still hear the music clearly despite the windows all being closed and my earplugs jammed in my ears!
Besides this music deterring sleep, Judah was also feeling poorly last night with fevers and head/stomach aches. Alas. I'm a bit nervous about it, since i cant tell whether it has something to do with the hives or if it's unrelated and is merely the flu. I just hope that he's better by Monday when we depart, because i dont fancy carrying a sick child through airports and whatnotall.
Anyway, without further ado.
_____________________________________________________________
Edgar Stoesz in 'Beyond Good Intentions' (with gratitude to St. Paul)
We may speak the language of sacrifice and of service, but if we have no love in our hearts for those whom we seek to help, our efforts will have no more effect than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal whose influence fades away with its clamour.
We may emphasise the urgency of development, comprehend all the urgent problems and needs of the world, and have such absolute faith and determination that we can imagine the masses living in prosperous communities at a respectable standard of living, but if we have no love for the people, it is all in vain.
We may distribute all the aid we possess. We may give our lives to save the needy masses, but if love is not our motive, the world will be none the better for our effort.
With love we will be very patient as we confront a foreign culture with change.
With love we will not feel boastfully righteous as though we have all the solutions to the world's needs.
With love we will never assert our superiority, never selfishly seek praise for sharing with others that with which we have been so abundantly blessed.
With love we will never inflate our ego at the expense of those we have come to serve.
With love we will always be slow to expose the failures and weaknesses of others.
With love we will not be resentful when our sevice is taken for granted.
With love our efforts will hit the mark.
Love never gives up. As for teaching, it will be superseded; as for agencies of development, they will cease. For our technology and our planning and our institutions are incomplete but when our actions are guided by love and justice, they then will be complete.
We are limited in our understanding, we see in a mirror dimly. We are baffled by problems and lasting solutions elude us. But we are learning bit by bit and we long for the day when love shall rule the world.
Thus faith that God has a plan for the world, hope that seeks the full life for all, and love that knows no boundaries - these three endure - but the greatest of these is love. Make love your goal.
Besides this music deterring sleep, Judah was also feeling poorly last night with fevers and head/stomach aches. Alas. I'm a bit nervous about it, since i cant tell whether it has something to do with the hives or if it's unrelated and is merely the flu. I just hope that he's better by Monday when we depart, because i dont fancy carrying a sick child through airports and whatnotall.
Anyway, without further ado.
_____________________________________________________________
Edgar Stoesz in 'Beyond Good Intentions' (with gratitude to St. Paul)
We may speak the language of sacrifice and of service, but if we have no love in our hearts for those whom we seek to help, our efforts will have no more effect than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal whose influence fades away with its clamour.
We may emphasise the urgency of development, comprehend all the urgent problems and needs of the world, and have such absolute faith and determination that we can imagine the masses living in prosperous communities at a respectable standard of living, but if we have no love for the people, it is all in vain.
We may distribute all the aid we possess. We may give our lives to save the needy masses, but if love is not our motive, the world will be none the better for our effort.
With love we will be very patient as we confront a foreign culture with change.
With love we will not feel boastfully righteous as though we have all the solutions to the world's needs.
With love we will never assert our superiority, never selfishly seek praise for sharing with others that with which we have been so abundantly blessed.
With love we will never inflate our ego at the expense of those we have come to serve.
With love we will always be slow to expose the failures and weaknesses of others.
With love we will not be resentful when our sevice is taken for granted.
With love our efforts will hit the mark.
Love never gives up. As for teaching, it will be superseded; as for agencies of development, they will cease. For our technology and our planning and our institutions are incomplete but when our actions are guided by love and justice, they then will be complete.
We are limited in our understanding, we see in a mirror dimly. We are baffled by problems and lasting solutions elude us. But we are learning bit by bit and we long for the day when love shall rule the world.
Thus faith that God has a plan for the world, hope that seeks the full life for all, and love that knows no boundaries - these three endure - but the greatest of these is love. Make love your goal.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Morning Surprise
Judah came downstairs for breakfast this morning clad in his boxer briefs and huge red blotches all over his body. great. He looks like he feels fine, doesnt have a fever, says he's not itchy or sore, but the raised blotches look TErrible! This morning's activity will be to check and see if his buddies around the compound are similarly afflicted and then see if we can get him checked out by a nurse or doctor. What a bother right before we leave! I wouldnt be concerned about it, especially since he doesnt seem uncomfortable at all, but if we return to Canada with some sort of tropical malaise there's a good chance Canadian doctors will be unable to diagnose him.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
sun stroke
How often does one get sun stroke while Christmas shopping? :-)
It's a funny thought to me that i did just that, but i feel a bit queezy just now from the 2 hours i spent haggling in the sun at the Masai Market in Nairobi today. I reckon, though, that i got some good deals, especially the last purchase i made for myself from the man who declared himself my friend because i had bought Josh's birthday present from him a month before. The problem with market haggling, especially in Kenya as i've found out, is that you never know if they are really hosing you over with their price. I'm sure i've already mentioned how the market shopping here is way more of a "strain" because a) i can understand what they're saying and b) Kenyans are WAY more agressive than Malagasy. But, the market principles still stand, no matter how bullying the vendeurs: shop around for the best price without being bullied into buying the first product of a kind you see and 2nd, pay only as much as you are initially prepared to pay for a given item. No matter whether i think, after the fact, that the seller has ripped me off, if i've determined how much i'd pay for an item and i get that price, it's fine in the end, isnt it. We're not out to get THE cheapest price, only the price we're willing to pay.
Today has been a lovely day from the start. Most likely our last visit to the Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church (K3C) was an outpouring of blessing, for me at least. We were encouraged to walk out in faith and accept the blessings that the LORD has promised us. The pastor, at the end of the service, asked specifically for those of us battling a specific concern to stand up and receive the blessing prayer he had for us. I was blown away at how God, despite my blinding fears at times, knows me so intimately that He can speak directly to my concern and extend a promise that i can, in faith, reach out and grasp onto. Thank you LORD. It was a timely message for me as i prepare to face some of my biggest fears and battles in the coming months. It is truly amazing how, when we are able to let go of something and allow the LORD to hold it for us, how freeing and rejeuvenating it is.
Indian chicken leftovers, chocolate chip cookies, a Sunday nap, iced coffees at Dorman's while we escaped the sun outside in the market, and now a Sunday evening faspa of popcorn - it is a great day indeed. :-) Tomorrow is the last day of our long weekend and we will enjoy it together with the Plett's 'round the corner from us who have invited us for lunch. Tuesday finds us at the Aga Kahn for a last doctors' visit before the last few days of packing, a few dinners with friends and the MAF monthly BBQ prior to our Monday night departure. I cant tell you how excited i am to be back in Canada: to see my parents' new house!, to see "our" new home-assignment suite, to unpack wedding gifts i've used 3 out of 6 years of marriage, to enjoy fellowship with people who (i hope) know me well enough and for long enough (more than 3 years, like anyone on this side of the world) to understand when i'm being serious and when i'm being facetious. People who are known well enough to me to say things as they are. I'm looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to firesides with s'mores, and to showing Judah so many things for the first time!: camping, snowmen in the winter, a movie theatre, a toy store with a large percentage of good quality toys rather than junk, playgrounds within walking distance of our house, fireworks on Canada Day, biking in a straight line and to a specific destination rather than round in circles within a compound driveway, kid's meals at McDonalds (in strict moderation!), riding on busses, bath water he can drink if he wants! drinking from the garden hose!! drinking from something other than the water filter!! eating food straight out of the garden rather than bleaching it first... Wowzers, the luxuries of north american living! :-)
It's a funny thought to me that i did just that, but i feel a bit queezy just now from the 2 hours i spent haggling in the sun at the Masai Market in Nairobi today. I reckon, though, that i got some good deals, especially the last purchase i made for myself from the man who declared himself my friend because i had bought Josh's birthday present from him a month before. The problem with market haggling, especially in Kenya as i've found out, is that you never know if they are really hosing you over with their price. I'm sure i've already mentioned how the market shopping here is way more of a "strain" because a) i can understand what they're saying and b) Kenyans are WAY more agressive than Malagasy. But, the market principles still stand, no matter how bullying the vendeurs: shop around for the best price without being bullied into buying the first product of a kind you see and 2nd, pay only as much as you are initially prepared to pay for a given item. No matter whether i think, after the fact, that the seller has ripped me off, if i've determined how much i'd pay for an item and i get that price, it's fine in the end, isnt it. We're not out to get THE cheapest price, only the price we're willing to pay.
Today has been a lovely day from the start. Most likely our last visit to the Kileleshwa Covenant Community Church (K3C) was an outpouring of blessing, for me at least. We were encouraged to walk out in faith and accept the blessings that the LORD has promised us. The pastor, at the end of the service, asked specifically for those of us battling a specific concern to stand up and receive the blessing prayer he had for us. I was blown away at how God, despite my blinding fears at times, knows me so intimately that He can speak directly to my concern and extend a promise that i can, in faith, reach out and grasp onto. Thank you LORD. It was a timely message for me as i prepare to face some of my biggest fears and battles in the coming months. It is truly amazing how, when we are able to let go of something and allow the LORD to hold it for us, how freeing and rejeuvenating it is.
Indian chicken leftovers, chocolate chip cookies, a Sunday nap, iced coffees at Dorman's while we escaped the sun outside in the market, and now a Sunday evening faspa of popcorn - it is a great day indeed. :-) Tomorrow is the last day of our long weekend and we will enjoy it together with the Plett's 'round the corner from us who have invited us for lunch. Tuesday finds us at the Aga Kahn for a last doctors' visit before the last few days of packing, a few dinners with friends and the MAF monthly BBQ prior to our Monday night departure. I cant tell you how excited i am to be back in Canada: to see my parents' new house!, to see "our" new home-assignment suite, to unpack wedding gifts i've used 3 out of 6 years of marriage, to enjoy fellowship with people who (i hope) know me well enough and for long enough (more than 3 years, like anyone on this side of the world) to understand when i'm being serious and when i'm being facetious. People who are known well enough to me to say things as they are. I'm looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to firesides with s'mores, and to showing Judah so many things for the first time!: camping, snowmen in the winter, a movie theatre, a toy store with a large percentage of good quality toys rather than junk, playgrounds within walking distance of our house, fireworks on Canada Day, biking in a straight line and to a specific destination rather than round in circles within a compound driveway, kid's meals at McDonalds (in strict moderation!), riding on busses, bath water he can drink if he wants! drinking from the garden hose!! drinking from something other than the water filter!! eating food straight out of the garden rather than bleaching it first... Wowzers, the luxuries of north american living! :-)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
June Long weekend
It's the long weekend for us this weekend. We've spent our first day recuperating from the long week. Well, Josh has. He was pretty bushed from the ICAO Safety Management Seminar he attended everyday last week. Judah was stoked to finally be able to play with his dad for the day. It makes me a bit nervous about the 2 months he'll be unable to play with his dad in the next short while. Alas.
Judah's countdown calendar tells us that we've got 9 more days until our departure. The suitcases in the spare room are slowly starting to fill up with clothes and bits and bobs. Thankfully we didnt come here with much, so we're leaving with not much more than a small suitcase and a carry-on between the two of us (Judah and i). I'm trying to find "treats" to fill Judah's carry-on with that will occupy him on the long voyage... He's already beginning to show significant signs of boredom due to movie overload, which makes me wonder what he'll do for 8+8+3 hours of flight time. :-S ACK! Hopefully his Geoff-inherited trait of sleeping for 95% of the trip will kick in like always on the airplane. ;-)
I think it's public knowledge already that Josh will be flying to Madagascar 2 days after our departure, re-packing our stuff and sorting out everything that needs to be sorted for our house and Judah's school and whatnotall from the 3 months we've been in Kenya and for the 5 months we'll be in Canada. Then he's back to Kenya 4 days later to fly out to Juba, Sudan where he'll be flying the Madagascar program's MKE Caravan (which had been in Uganda until now) until he departs on our original departure date at the end of July. He is VERY excited to be flying again after almost 3 months of office work. I'm glad not to be moving to Juba, to be honest, but i'm glad that he'll have something to do to keep him occupied/in the air for the duration of time until he arrives in Canada for our home assignment. I reckon a 7 month furlough would be too long for him to be on the ground. :-)
Judah's countdown calendar tells us that we've got 9 more days until our departure. The suitcases in the spare room are slowly starting to fill up with clothes and bits and bobs. Thankfully we didnt come here with much, so we're leaving with not much more than a small suitcase and a carry-on between the two of us (Judah and i). I'm trying to find "treats" to fill Judah's carry-on with that will occupy him on the long voyage... He's already beginning to show significant signs of boredom due to movie overload, which makes me wonder what he'll do for 8+8+3 hours of flight time. :-S ACK! Hopefully his Geoff-inherited trait of sleeping for 95% of the trip will kick in like always on the airplane. ;-)
I think it's public knowledge already that Josh will be flying to Madagascar 2 days after our departure, re-packing our stuff and sorting out everything that needs to be sorted for our house and Judah's school and whatnotall from the 3 months we've been in Kenya and for the 5 months we'll be in Canada. Then he's back to Kenya 4 days later to fly out to Juba, Sudan where he'll be flying the Madagascar program's MKE Caravan (which had been in Uganda until now) until he departs on our original departure date at the end of July. He is VERY excited to be flying again after almost 3 months of office work. I'm glad not to be moving to Juba, to be honest, but i'm glad that he'll have something to do to keep him occupied/in the air for the duration of time until he arrives in Canada for our home assignment. I reckon a 7 month furlough would be too long for him to be on the ground. :-)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
"cheap" thrills
Last night Judah had friends come over (Colleagues from MAF) and Josh and i went out for a movie... in a theatre!! Since we arrived in Nairobi we've been eying the cinema with avarice. Since we dont have access to theatres in Mada, and since Josh and i used to go to the movies often before we left Canada, it's something we miss. A Lot. While many of you may read our posts about safaris and giraffe centres with slight wistfullness, (and while we think these things are cool too!) last night while we walked up the stairs to the theatres, while we bought our tickets and popcorn, while we waited in the empty theatre for the movie to start* i had such a thrill in me! :-D A Movie in the Cinema!! WhooHoo!! It is indicative of the change in us, i guess, what we find exciting these days. I found the trailors exciting!! Since we havent gone out for a movie in so long and we dont have TV even the trailers are new and thrilling! :-D It makes me a bit nervous to think of returning to Canada where all the things i've missed over the years will be waiting for us. ACK! We capped off our evening with a browse in the English Bookstore (!!) and a burger at the Java House. Josh declared it a great way to celebrate his birthday.
*I had thought, since we were cramped for time what with getting the pizza, instructing the sitters, driving in what is usually TERRIBLE traffic which gets insanely worse if it's raining, which it was, we'd get to the theatre too late and they'd tell us that the seats were all sold out. :-D Ha. By the time the movie started there were a total of 4 people besides us in the theatre.
Judah apparently had a marvelous time with his friends eating delivery pizza and coke, watching a video, reading books and being able to tell someone else to please leave the room while he dressed himself for bed. He also reportedly locked the bathroom door so they wouldnt come in while he was on the toilet. :-) Our friends told us they didnt mind minding such a cute kid. :-) I dont mind that my kid's so cute if we get such willing sitters.
4 more weekends until Judah and i leave the country. Judah is now crossing off the days on the calendar to mark off our progress towards our departure. We're getting increasingly nervous about our time away from Josh for so long, but perhaps Canada will be so distracting that the time will go by quickly.
*I had thought, since we were cramped for time what with getting the pizza, instructing the sitters, driving in what is usually TERRIBLE traffic which gets insanely worse if it's raining, which it was, we'd get to the theatre too late and they'd tell us that the seats were all sold out. :-D Ha. By the time the movie started there were a total of 4 people besides us in the theatre.
Judah apparently had a marvelous time with his friends eating delivery pizza and coke, watching a video, reading books and being able to tell someone else to please leave the room while he dressed himself for bed. He also reportedly locked the bathroom door so they wouldnt come in while he was on the toilet. :-) Our friends told us they didnt mind minding such a cute kid. :-) I dont mind that my kid's so cute if we get such willing sitters.
4 more weekends until Judah and i leave the country. Judah is now crossing off the days on the calendar to mark off our progress towards our departure. We're getting increasingly nervous about our time away from Josh for so long, but perhaps Canada will be so distracting that the time will go by quickly.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Back to the weekday
Yesterday, after breakfast, Josh and Judah walked out down the street and came home with 18 roses (for 3$). If you lived in Africa Mom, i would have bought you a few armfuls of roses for mother's day. :-) Judah, quite miffed that someone should be receiving more attention than him and have a whole day for themselves, kept insisting that it was also Judah's Day! (for future reference, dear family, PLEASE try to keep the hype down over meeting Judah again upon our return . He doesnt need more 3-year old perceived evidence that he is the most important person in the world!) He also demanded that one of those roses he bought with dad was for him (for judah's day).
Josh took us to a wonderful Italian restaurant for Mother's Day lunch. It was divine! And we sat beside a group of French ladies who chattered away in France French, which made me so homesick. I have realized in the last month that i miss speaking and hearing french. I'm not terribly good at it, mind you, but i enjoy it immensely.
But now the weekend is over and we're back to enduring a LONG day of doing mostly nothing until Josh gets home from work. The poor guy, although his days go by lickity-split, is working so hard at just making sure to keep up with the day to day hectic operations of the MAFK office. He has remembered again why office work isnt his calling. :-D Currently, Judah is just finishing off his morning cartoons (Inspector Gadget) and then i think we'll be off to the Adam's Arcade "mall" where there is a Java House, a playstructure, a pharmacy where i need to get some drugs, and the leather shop where last weekend i bought the most delightful leather African bag... but i'm going to attempt to bring it back because after 4 days of use it's already unraveling and falling apart. Bah! We'll see if Kenya has a return policy :-) After a cuppa and a "treat" and a good play on the cement egg-playstructure it'll almost be lunch time, which will be followed by nap-time and then making supper time. And then the day is over. :-) Only 4 more weekdays to go until the weekend! :-D
_______________________
Since most of you are still sleeping and havent read the blog yet today, i have the chance to add a bit more. We just got back from a walk to the Adams Arcade where i was successful in at least getting an exchange for my bag. I am sad about not having my original choice (the one you see in the photos from the weekend) especially since it had a nice long strap, but this new bag is nice too and bigger... better for more stuff like extra clothes and nappies and whatnot.
Since this is a boring blog (mirroring our boring weekdays) i thought i'd also add a short "Currently" list, since i'm reading some interesting stuff recently:
Currently Reading:
Green City in the Sun, Barbara Wood (recommended by Lydia). It's really good!! Sort of a history of Kenya/Nairobi but in novel form. It's neat to be living currently in the general area of what i'm reading about.
Royal Gardeners: The History of Britain's Royal GArdeners, Alan Titchmarsh (BBC) A facinating history of Gardens in Britain. :-)
Websites about Manitoba Gardening in preparation for living at my parents' house who have a new garden to put together.
Josh is reading
The End of the Spear, Steve Saint. He giggles a lot while reading this book, which i find surprising. I guess, knowing the end of the story, i thought it wouldnt be a funny kind of read. I am obviously wrong in that regard.
Judah is almost able to quote by heart:
The Lorax, Gertrude McFuzz, Yertle the Turtle, all by Dr.Seuss. Josh and my favourite is when he says "miff-muffered-moof" :-)
Currently Watching:
Judah - Gadget and the Gadgetinis (4 episodes); Flushed Away
The rest of us - Heros season 3. (argh!)
Currently Working On:
Not spending too much money on all the lovely stuff they sell in the Masai Market. I realized recently that i am doing in Kenya exactly what i am puzzled about in others when they come to Madagascar on short visits: buying all sorts of things to display in my home that come from a foreign place even though i dont live there! This realization should cause a reaction of either helping me to curb my spending or... changing my attitude towards others. ;-) Hopefully both.
Documenting our Nairobi budget in an attempt to become more involved in family finances because i love my husband.
Being patient while waiting for word on what day Judah and i will depart for Canada.
Compiling, documenting and sending out our Health Care Claim Form to Dubai to be reimbursed for the astronomically expensive (relative to supposedly "free" in Canada) health care we've been blessed to take advantage of in Nairobi.
Making lists of things we'll need to invest in once in Canada BEFORE we arrive so we're not swayed by the overwhelming amounts of things we either didnt know there was to have or that we've forgotten about in our absence. :-) My neighbour Rhonda from Madagascar (currently in Uganda) confirmed to me the wisdom in such a plan when she returned from her end of term home assignment. She said that she had had such a list, but when confronted by the innumerable choices and new cool things available, she reveiwed her list and (because 5 months is a long time to be away) thought she really didnt need the things on the list and would rather have some other things... only to return to Madagascar and realize that she had written those things on the list down for a reason! (this is why lists are a good thing... and only as good as you keep to them! :-D ) I hope Rhonda will write me in December and remind me to ensure i have all the things on my list and not much else!
Making a mental list of things i would debrief myself on if i were MAF Canada.
Making a list of appointments to make and attend in the first month after our return. (Shame, today i was telling Judah about how i needed to go to the Dentist when we got back to Canada and whether he'd also like to go to the dentist... and he became so frightened of the prospect that he didnt even want to leave the house to go out for coffee!) I'm holding my breath for a haircut (after 4 years) that actually looks nice for once!
Josh took us to a wonderful Italian restaurant for Mother's Day lunch. It was divine! And we sat beside a group of French ladies who chattered away in France French, which made me so homesick. I have realized in the last month that i miss speaking and hearing french. I'm not terribly good at it, mind you, but i enjoy it immensely.
But now the weekend is over and we're back to enduring a LONG day of doing mostly nothing until Josh gets home from work. The poor guy, although his days go by lickity-split, is working so hard at just making sure to keep up with the day to day hectic operations of the MAFK office. He has remembered again why office work isnt his calling. :-D Currently, Judah is just finishing off his morning cartoons (Inspector Gadget) and then i think we'll be off to the Adam's Arcade "mall" where there is a Java House, a playstructure, a pharmacy where i need to get some drugs, and the leather shop where last weekend i bought the most delightful leather African bag... but i'm going to attempt to bring it back because after 4 days of use it's already unraveling and falling apart. Bah! We'll see if Kenya has a return policy :-) After a cuppa and a "treat" and a good play on the cement egg-playstructure it'll almost be lunch time, which will be followed by nap-time and then making supper time. And then the day is over. :-) Only 4 more weekdays to go until the weekend! :-D
_______________________
Since most of you are still sleeping and havent read the blog yet today, i have the chance to add a bit more. We just got back from a walk to the Adams Arcade where i was successful in at least getting an exchange for my bag. I am sad about not having my original choice (the one you see in the photos from the weekend) especially since it had a nice long strap, but this new bag is nice too and bigger... better for more stuff like extra clothes and nappies and whatnot.
Since this is a boring blog (mirroring our boring weekdays) i thought i'd also add a short "Currently" list, since i'm reading some interesting stuff recently:
Currently Reading:
Green City in the Sun, Barbara Wood (recommended by Lydia). It's really good!! Sort of a history of Kenya/Nairobi but in novel form. It's neat to be living currently in the general area of what i'm reading about.
Royal Gardeners: The History of Britain's Royal GArdeners, Alan Titchmarsh (BBC) A facinating history of Gardens in Britain. :-)
Websites about Manitoba Gardening in preparation for living at my parents' house who have a new garden to put together.
Josh is reading
The End of the Spear, Steve Saint. He giggles a lot while reading this book, which i find surprising. I guess, knowing the end of the story, i thought it wouldnt be a funny kind of read. I am obviously wrong in that regard.
Judah is almost able to quote by heart:
The Lorax, Gertrude McFuzz, Yertle the Turtle, all by Dr.Seuss. Josh and my favourite is when he says "miff-muffered-moof" :-)
Currently Watching:
Judah - Gadget and the Gadgetinis (4 episodes); Flushed Away
The rest of us - Heros season 3. (argh!)
Currently Working On:
Not spending too much money on all the lovely stuff they sell in the Masai Market. I realized recently that i am doing in Kenya exactly what i am puzzled about in others when they come to Madagascar on short visits: buying all sorts of things to display in my home that come from a foreign place even though i dont live there! This realization should cause a reaction of either helping me to curb my spending or... changing my attitude towards others. ;-) Hopefully both.
Documenting our Nairobi budget in an attempt to become more involved in family finances because i love my husband.
Being patient while waiting for word on what day Judah and i will depart for Canada.
Compiling, documenting and sending out our Health Care Claim Form to Dubai to be reimbursed for the astronomically expensive (relative to supposedly "free" in Canada) health care we've been blessed to take advantage of in Nairobi.
Making lists of things we'll need to invest in once in Canada BEFORE we arrive so we're not swayed by the overwhelming amounts of things we either didnt know there was to have or that we've forgotten about in our absence. :-) My neighbour Rhonda from Madagascar (currently in Uganda) confirmed to me the wisdom in such a plan when she returned from her end of term home assignment. She said that she had had such a list, but when confronted by the innumerable choices and new cool things available, she reveiwed her list and (because 5 months is a long time to be away) thought she really didnt need the things on the list and would rather have some other things... only to return to Madagascar and realize that she had written those things on the list down for a reason! (this is why lists are a good thing... and only as good as you keep to them! :-D ) I hope Rhonda will write me in December and remind me to ensure i have all the things on my list and not much else!
Making a mental list of things i would debrief myself on if i were MAF Canada.
Making a list of appointments to make and attend in the first month after our return. (Shame, today i was telling Judah about how i needed to go to the Dentist when we got back to Canada and whether he'd also like to go to the dentist... and he became so frightened of the prospect that he didnt even want to leave the house to go out for coffee!) I'm holding my breath for a haircut (after 4 years) that actually looks nice for once!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
And then he kissed me...
Actually, i think it was a she. :-D LOL.
We just got back this morning from the Giraffe Centre where we were delighted to see giraffe up close (instead of running away from us like they did in "the wild") and where we were able to feed the giraffe and touch them, and have them touch us with their slimy tongues. :-) This was one of my and Josh's favourite things i reckon. Judah was a bit of a fraidy cat, despite peer pressure from his mother that "Josiah did it and HE wasnt afraid!" (i know, i am a bully-mom). I succumbed to peer pressure from Josh and the staff at the centre myself and allowed the giraffe to "kiss" me (that is, take a food pellet from between my lips). Josh was too much of a chicken to do that himself! ;-)
You might be able to see in the photo above that we've been to Kazuri Beads (the bracelet and earrings). Judah and i went to the Kazuri Bead factory and store on Thursday with Lydia Plett. We got a tour of the whole process and Judah liked to see how the ladies took the mud and made them into balls and then painted them and put them into big deep-freeze-looking ovens. I quite liked all the pottery dishes and teapots i saw there... 
These photos are thanks to Daniel and Damaris Lowen-Rudgers' camera they allowed us to use today.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
I wept. Again.
Church makes me cry, for some reason. We arent really attending a church regularly here in Kenya. Our drive to see as much countryside as possible during the weekends has kept us from picking one community with whom to celebrate on Sunday. This last weekend we attended the Mennonite Hymn Sing again. And it was great. And i wept. Again. I cant exactly put my finger on what i am overflowing with during a gathering of Saints, praising the One God with One voice: mourning church disagreements perhaps, mourning denominational misunderstandings, or simply overflowing with awe at the incredible unity that emanates from a group of people* who gather to sing hymns for the pure joy of it.
I had to smile when, after a few sad attempts at a song that few people knew, someone suggested having one person who knew the song to run it through first and then we'd all follow. Does that happen in any other fellowship than Mennonite? (i dont know, i'm asking) Like, "let's not give up on this song that we know could be so beautiful an offering of praise to our God. Let's forget our sad first attempts and allow someone to help us..." and then it was beautiful.
I also appreciate that every time i attend Mennonite Hymn Sing (the two times we've gone) they sing 606 at the finish (606, for those who dont sing it every family gathering, is the extended version of Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow). It's heavenly. Mostly because it reminds me so potently of my Reimer family... except that at Mennonite Hymn Sing they sing it terrr rrr iiiii bbbb lll yy sssslll oooooooooooowww lly! For almost every other song the song leader encourages us all not to let it drag... but then she allows 606 to drag on interminably. Bah! It's a PRAISE song for goodness sake! Praise is supposed to be lively, isnt it?!
After Hymn Sing we loiter around eating cake and drinking coffee and chatting with people. I happened to see a chap with a "CMU Blazers" t-shirt on. Since i used to work for CMU and the shirt put me back in the "meet and greet" mode, i struck up conversation with the guy and his buddies. Happens they are from Winkler. and the guy played hockey with my little brother this last winter. small world. Well, it sure is if you live in Kenya rather than Madagascar. (although i did meet one of my little brothers' friends in Madagascar too now that i remember... perhaps it's more that my little brother has a big world of friends ;-)
I'm looking forward to celebrating Sunday in Manitoba in a few weeks. We have made the decision for me and Judah to return to Canada straight from Kenya rather than route through Madagascar for 6+ weeks. Praise the Lord for that!! If everything works out with the ticketing, i hope to survive 16+ hours of flight time with my 3 year old without either of us getting lost sometime early-mid June. Haha! Jocelyn scores an almost full summer in Canada after all!! And Josh scores a weekend in the Kenyan game park sleeping in a tent with lions and leopards prowling around in the dark. I hope he wont need to use the loo in the night, is all i can say. :-) Josh will return to Madagascar mid-June and hopefully do a bit of flying prior to leaving for Canada at the end of July.
* and i dont think it's only Mennonites at the Mennonite Hymn Sing, they dont check your i.d. for your last name before you enter.
I had to smile when, after a few sad attempts at a song that few people knew, someone suggested having one person who knew the song to run it through first and then we'd all follow. Does that happen in any other fellowship than Mennonite? (i dont know, i'm asking) Like, "let's not give up on this song that we know could be so beautiful an offering of praise to our God. Let's forget our sad first attempts and allow someone to help us..." and then it was beautiful.
I also appreciate that every time i attend Mennonite Hymn Sing (the two times we've gone) they sing 606 at the finish (606, for those who dont sing it every family gathering, is the extended version of Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow).
After Hymn Sing we loiter around eating cake and drinking coffee and chatting with people. I happened to see a chap with a "CMU Blazers" t-shirt on. Since i used to work for CMU and the shirt put me back in the "meet and greet" mode, i struck up conversation with the guy and his buddies. Happens they are from Winkler. and the guy played hockey with my little brother this last winter. small world. Well, it sure is if you live in Kenya rather than Madagascar. (although i did meet one of my little brothers' friends in Madagascar too now that i remember... perhaps it's more that my little brother has a big world of friends ;-)
I'm looking forward to celebrating Sunday in Manitoba in a few weeks. We have made the decision for me and Judah to return to Canada straight from Kenya rather than route through Madagascar for 6+ weeks. Praise the Lord for that!! If everything works out with the ticketing, i hope to survive 16+ hours of flight time with my 3 year old without either of us getting lost sometime early-mid June. Haha! Jocelyn scores an almost full summer in Canada after all!! And Josh scores a weekend in the Kenyan game park sleeping in a tent with lions and leopards prowling around in the dark. I hope he wont need to use the loo in the night, is all i can say. :-) Josh will return to Madagascar mid-June and hopefully do a bit of flying prior to leaving for Canada at the end of July.
* and i dont think it's only Mennonites at the Mennonite Hymn Sing, they dont check your i.d. for your last name before you enter.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Kenyan Labour Day weekend
We're enjoying a long weekend this weekend, Josh is enjoying an escape from the mayhem of the operations office, and Judah and i are enjoying Josh at home for a change. Yesterday we strolled down to the Toi market and picked up a few finds: some crocs for Judah, and - finally - a pair of green sunglasses so we can all look cool walking the streets with our shades on, a hat and a shirt and some board shorts for me... Then we strolled on to Java House for a cold drink and i meandered up to the second level for a look into a nice looking leather shop... and strolled out with a fantastic bag, and Josh got himself a new belt. Later on in the evening we left Judah with some "big boys" who live in the MAF compound, and 3 pizzas and a movie and took the parents out for some yummy Italian in an ambiant restaurant to thank them for the babysitting and the use of their camera last weekend and the toys they lent to Judah for our time in Nairobi. It was lovely. Then we went on to Java House for a "late" night cuppa and a cake. It was a harsh day for the JRPlett finances, but a great day together as a family and with friends.
This evening we're off to the MAF monthly BBQ. and tomorrow we're attending the Mennonite Hymn Sing with Menno and Lydia. Although we didnt escape the city this weekend, it'll be a nice relaxing time enjoying the things Nairobi has to offer.
I am debating with josh whether it's a good idea to return directly to Canada from here with Judah, thus shaving 6 hours off our flight time. The Crisis in Madagascar doesnt seem to show signs of abating soon (but, we are out of country and therefore our sense of how things are going on is somewhat skewed) and i dont fancy another 2 months of tension wondering what's going to happen and what we wont be able to find in the shops... I do fancy a longer time in CAnadian summer, but not being without Josh for over a month. I do fancy being in my own home again and checking up on my garden (i really miss my garden!!), but the fact that we'd be returning in winter time sort of curbs my enthusiasm since nothing's growing just now anyway. Alas. It's a tough decision, but one we'll need to make soon so we can actually get on a flight that doesnt cost the earth. Regardless of our decision, Josh will return to Madagascar until our original departure date at the end of July.
This evening we're off to the MAF monthly BBQ. and tomorrow we're attending the Mennonite Hymn Sing with Menno and Lydia. Although we didnt escape the city this weekend, it'll be a nice relaxing time enjoying the things Nairobi has to offer.
I am debating with josh whether it's a good idea to return directly to Canada from here with Judah, thus shaving 6 hours off our flight time. The Crisis in Madagascar doesnt seem to show signs of abating soon (but, we are out of country and therefore our sense of how things are going on is somewhat skewed) and i dont fancy another 2 months of tension wondering what's going to happen and what we wont be able to find in the shops... I do fancy a longer time in CAnadian summer, but not being without Josh for over a month. I do fancy being in my own home again and checking up on my garden (i really miss my garden!!), but the fact that we'd be returning in winter time sort of curbs my enthusiasm since nothing's growing just now anyway. Alas. It's a tough decision, but one we'll need to make soon so we can actually get on a flight that doesnt cost the earth. Regardless of our decision, Josh will return to Madagascar until our original departure date at the end of July.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Olerai House, Naivasha
April 24-26 we and another missionary family from Madagascar staying for a while in Nairobi spent a splendid weekend at Olerai House on lake Naivasha in Kenya. It was utter loveliness. Thanks to MAF Kenya friends of ours we had access to a borrowed camera to use for the weekend. It was nice to have a camera in hand again after "so long" without one. :-) The photos, obviously, will not do the place justice, but imagine lovely temperatures (not too hot, not too cold), the exotic-to-us birds and wildlife all around us all day out in green grass fields and green trunked acacias, the fresh and tasty food (all grown in the house gardens), lolling around on outdoor beds with bright cushions (or jumping on them as the case may be)... All these things were water to our thirsty souls after so many weeks of being strangers in a strange land. Josh in particular has been having stressful weeks at the office, recently even more stressful since another operations officer is out of office due to paternity leave. For this reason, among others, it was lovely to have nothing to do but lounge around, eat, play, and go birding.
1. This is part of the main "house", which wasnt really a house at all but a series of buildings/rooms connected by an inner courtyard of a sort. The courtyard was covered by flowering vines. Our room and that of our friends were in this collection which provided easy access for all of us between bedroom and evening lounge and dining. This photo i took to show the fun architecture. Out through the round window you can see a glimpse of a terrasse (where Josh sits studying his book of East African Birds) and out from there the table where we took our breakfast and lunch and where we cavorted throughout the day.
2.
3. We left Nairobi at 8:30am in order to make the most of our weekend out of city. (i've never lived in a city i've wanted to get out of so much!!) Upon arrival at 10:30 (a long drive only because the last 15km were the worst road you can imagine!! HUGE potholes EVERYwhere!! it took us at least 40 minutes to make the last 15kms) the hosts greeted us with fruit juice and showed us to our rooms, and then we pulled out the croquet set for a friendly family game while we waited for our friends to arrive. One of the greatest things about this place was that as soon as we arrived the hosts asked us when we'd like to eat lunch and at what time we would like to eat supper (this may not sound exciting to you all from Canada, but for those of us used to French (non) hospitality, it was absolutely thrilling!! imagine eating before your kids are so tired they would rather go to bed than eat! amazing!).
4. Here we are eating our first lunch out on the garden just off the open savannah where the zebra were grazing. heavenly.
5. This is a photo of the grounds looking from our lunch table to the houses. The main house/lounge area with terrasse is on the left and the Plett sleeping quarters are on the right, just behind that big tree. You can also sort of see the one big outdoor bed just in front of the tree where we spent some time reading our books and lolling around looking at parrots and eagles through binoculars. I found it enchanting that the whole place was grown overtop with flowering vines.
We went for a "safari walk" across the animal sanctuary and got quite close up to some giraffe. Judah was a bit afraid of them and didnt want to pose for a photo by himself. Mostly the kids wanted to dig in the dirt with sticks they had picked up along the way... Note to self: do not invest in African Safari trip to big game parks that involve lots of travel, expense, or time when you have kids under ca. 7 years old... maybe even 12!
Some of my favourite parts of the weekend were the meals out in the garden watching the animals as we sipped our morning tea and ate the most mouth watering scones. (oh my!) It was a bit surreal, to be honest. I mean, i know zebras and giraffes and baboons and monkeys are "boring" for those people who live in Kenya long term, since they are so easily seen, but to us Prairie folk who live in animal-scarce Madagascar, it was pretty fantastic!
This is the African Horn Bill, who, together with his mate, made the most African sounding noise the whole time we were there. They hung out around the main house most of the day.
On Friday afternoon while i took my after lunch nap i heard some stomping and munching outside the window of our house. I got up to see a whole herd of zebra just outside the window. :-) Below you can see me at the window with the zebra just outside.
This is a photo of the room/house we stayed in. the end here at the right end with all the windows is where Judah's bed was. Pretty nice. Below is a photo of the door to our house in the background. Judah and i are enjoying the swing beneath the courtyard canopy of flowering vines.
The kids for once interested in the animals. There were also baboons and monkeys running around the grounds, which made me a bit nervous that they would jump onto the kids playing in the outdoor bed or running after the monkeys. With Judah's recent track record of being attacked by animals i thought he should have perhaps exhibited a bit more hesitation...
Me enjoying a book on the outdoor bed in the garden.
Josh and our host for the weekend, Alfred, who just happened to be a birder as well. It was like a special God-Gift for Josh that weekend to have someone who knew the birds so well he didnt have to struggle through that huge bird book every time he saw a bird, but only had to wait to ask Alfred what the bird was that he had seen. They spent a lot of time together strolling the grounds finding up to 39 new-to-Josh birds.
Josh reading by the fire in the lounge/common house area.
Josh took a walk together with Aaron and a guide up a mountain near where we stayed.
the J.R.Plett's in the Acacia forest.
1. This is part of the main "house", which wasnt really a house at all but a series of buildings/rooms connected by an inner courtyard of a sort. The courtyard was covered by flowering vines. Our room and that of our friends were in this collection which provided easy access for all of us between bedroom and evening lounge and dining. This photo i took to show the fun architecture. Out through the round window you can see a glimpse of a terrasse (where Josh sits studying his book of East African Birds) and out from there the table where we took our breakfast and lunch and where we cavorted throughout the day.
2.
3. We left Nairobi at 8:30am in order to make the most of our weekend out of city. (i've never lived in a city i've wanted to get out of so much!!) Upon arrival at 10:30 (a long drive only because the last 15km were the worst road you can imagine!! HUGE potholes EVERYwhere!! it took us at least 40 minutes to make the last 15kms) the hosts greeted us with fruit juice and showed us to our rooms, and then we pulled out the croquet set for a friendly family game while we waited for our friends to arrive. One of the greatest things about this place was that as soon as we arrived the hosts asked us when we'd like to eat lunch and at what time we would like to eat supper (this may not sound exciting to you all from Canada, but for those of us used to French (non) hospitality, it was absolutely thrilling!! imagine eating before your kids are so tired they would rather go to bed than eat! amazing!).
4. Here we are eating our first lunch out on the garden just off the open savannah where the zebra were grazing. 
5. This is a photo of the grounds looking from our lunch table to the houses. The main house/lounge area with terrasse is on the left and the Plett sleeping quarters are on the right, just behind that big tree. You can also sort of see the one big outdoor bed just in front of the tree where we spent some time reading our books and lolling around looking at parrots and eagles through binoculars. I found it enchanting that the whole place was grown overtop with flowering vines.We went for a "safari walk" across the animal sanctuary and got quite close up to some giraffe. Judah was a bit afraid of them and didnt want to pose for a photo by himself. Mostly the kids wanted to dig in the dirt with sticks they had picked up along the way... Note to self: do not invest in African Safari trip to big game parks that involve lots of travel, expense, or time when you have kids under ca. 7 years old... maybe even 12!
This is the African Horn Bill, who, together with his mate, made the most African sounding noise the whole time we were there. They hung out around the main house most of the day.On Friday afternoon while i took my after lunch nap i heard some stomping and munching outside the window of our house. I got up to see a whole herd of zebra just outside the window. :-) Below you can see me at the window with the zebra just outside.
This is a photo of the room/house we stayed in. the end here at the right end with all the windows is where Judah's bed was. Pretty nice. Below is a photo of the door to our house in the background. Judah and i are enjoying the swing beneath the courtyard canopy of flowering vines.
The kids for once interested in the animals. There were also baboons and monkeys running around the grounds, which made me a bit nervous that they would jump onto the kids playing in the outdoor bed or running after the monkeys. With Judah's recent track record of being attacked by animals i thought he should have perhaps exhibited a bit more hesitation...
Me enjoying a book on the outdoor bed in the garden.
Josh and our host for the weekend, Alfred, who just happened to be a birder as well. It was like a special God-Gift for Josh that weekend to have someone who knew the birds so well he didnt have to struggle through that huge bird book every time he saw a bird, but only had to wait to ask Alfred what the bird was that he had seen. They spent a lot of time together strolling the grounds finding up to 39 new-to-Josh birds.
Josh reading by the fire in the lounge/common house area.
Josh took a walk together with Aaron and a guide up a mountain near where we stayed.
the J.R.Plett's in the Acacia forest.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Photos (of the past 2 weekends)
The closeup family photo is from the tea farm.
This is the house of the owner of Mayers' Farm. I couldnt even fathom living in a place like that, with acres of gorgeous groomed gardens all around you, surrounded by the Rift Valley... man. It was so nice!
That's me and Christine H., a pilots' wife and mother of 4 children under 7.
Judah on the waterfall.
There were many little pools that all connected, but were crossable by various bridges along the river. The kids started out playing mostly in the lower shallow pool and by the end of the weekend were only in the deeper pool (about adult chest level). Judah borrowed some water wings and actually "swam" for the first time in deep water on his own! Very impressive since he's a bit of a water-wuss.
Snack time. The boy in the front with the Orange shirt is Judah's best buddy in Nairobi, his name is Timo (Tee-Moh)
This was Josh's pose for most of Saturday and Sunday while we were there. :-) 29 new birds he saw!
Judah in one of the many little natural pools together with Joel of the H. family and his favourite girlfriend these days, Janneke.
Josh and another pilot family, Ryan and Kristen. Ryan was one of Josh's students at Harv's Air.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Guardian Angel
I know you dont want to read about these kinds of things, but i am still still on an adrenaline rush after... now 6 hours since my child was almost run over by a car. I simply have to remind those who pray for us that it's necessary to continue to pray for SAFETY and HEALTH!! To be sure, i acknowledge that only by the Grace of God Judah is now being read his favourite bedtime story before going to sleep for the night. We were at the grocery shop with friends this afternoon, his favourite friend these days is a 12 year old girl who is really good with kids. She and him were running down the ramp from the shopping center to the lower level of parking and Judah didnt stop at the bottom. I watched in that slow-motion movie like state where i could see the car coming at him and he's still running out into traffic... ACK!!! And then like a Guardian Angel the security guard just happened to be right to the side of the ramp and stepped out, put his arm around my son and stopped him just in time.
Except for the fact that his mother is freaking out, how is a 3 year old to understand what danger he was just in?! Anyway, I am praising the Lord with great fervour this day as i lay down to sleep with my child still intact in the next room. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf!!
I am also praising the Lord today because the ritzy place we made enquiries with for this weekend has agreed to the price we negotiated with them. To make a long story not much shorter, a friend of ours recommended this place as being a great spot to stay on Lake Naivasha. You can watch the animals on the savannah from the house gardens! We emailed and asked if please they could give us a good price since we were Missionary escapees from the Madagascar political crisis. The lady responded back that "because of everything you've been through we are happy to offer you the price of $150USD per adult per night and $100USD per child per night..." Uh... I think she may have missed the part about us being Missionaries!! :-) So i wrote back and told her that we were happy for her generocity, but were really expecting to pay the same rate that our friend had told us she had paid. To which she responded that this price was the "Residents' Rate", and we were obviously not Residents of Kenya since i claimed at the start to be from Madagascar. (my plan for pity backfired on me). So we bartered back and forth a bit more and we seemed to have gotten in with the amount we were willing to pay! Nice, huh! Check it out at Olerai House. I'm hoping someone will loan us their camera so we can take lots of photos.
Except for the fact that his mother is freaking out, how is a 3 year old to understand what danger he was just in?! Anyway, I am praising the Lord with great fervour this day as i lay down to sleep with my child still intact in the next room. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf!!
I am also praising the Lord today because the ritzy place we made enquiries with for this weekend has agreed to the price we negotiated with them. To make a long story not much shorter, a friend of ours recommended this place as being a great spot to stay on Lake Naivasha. You can watch the animals on the savannah from the house gardens! We emailed and asked if please they could give us a good price since we were Missionary escapees from the Madagascar political crisis. The lady responded back that "because of everything you've been through we are happy to offer you the price of $150USD per adult per night and $100USD per child per night..." Uh... I think she may have missed the part about us being Missionaries!! :-) So i wrote back and told her that we were happy for her generocity, but were really expecting to pay the same rate that our friend had told us she had paid. To which she responded that this price was the "Residents' Rate", and we were obviously not Residents of Kenya since i claimed at the start to be from Madagascar. (my plan for pity backfired on me). So we bartered back and forth a bit more and we seemed to have gotten in with the amount we were willing to pay! Nice, huh! Check it out at Olerai House. I'm hoping someone will loan us their camera so we can take lots of photos.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Mayers Farm
Saturday to Sunday we spent at a "farm" located in the Rift Valley. It was by a natural spring and subsequently had the most lovely little pools and water falls to swim in and the gardens (both "wild" and cultivated) were utterly lovely. We did use the cameras of the two families we spent the weekend with, so in due time (when we get the photos from them) I will post them up. All in all, it was a gorgeous 2 days spent lolling in the water, eating, cozying up by the fire with lantern light.
Unfortunatley i didnt sleep terribly well because there were monkeys/baboons running up and down our tin roof which gave me the heebie-jeebies because i was so nervous they would somehow climb into any windows we may have left open during the night. I was too scared to go have a look because i was afraid to come face to face with a monkey through the window pane while i closed it! ACK!
I have also come to realize that i have moved into the realm of Birder's Widow. Seriously, it's almost worse than having an active 3 year old boy in tow since Josh gets so caught up in looking at a bird he is oblivious to anything else! He took many long walks into the bush to look for new birds, of which he found 29 as i recall. His favourite, he claimed on the ride home last night, was the Giant Kingfisher.
The great thing about this place we went to was that it's only 45 minutes from Nairobi, which is great for those of us who dont particularly enjoy long drives. The roads in Kenya, however, are notably better than in madagascar, so the drives into the countryside are much, much less vomit inducing (ie. less bumpy, curvy, and hilly). I also really enjoyed the fact that the cabins had no electricity, which meant they came in at dusk to light numerous lanterns and the fire in the fireplace which created such a lovely evening ambiance.
Unfortunatley i didnt sleep terribly well because there were monkeys/baboons running up and down our tin roof which gave me the heebie-jeebies because i was so nervous they would somehow climb into any windows we may have left open during the night. I was too scared to go have a look because i was afraid to come face to face with a monkey through the window pane while i closed it! ACK!
I have also come to realize that i have moved into the realm of Birder's Widow. Seriously, it's almost worse than having an active 3 year old boy in tow since Josh gets so caught up in looking at a bird he is oblivious to anything else! He took many long walks into the bush to look for new birds, of which he found 29 as i recall. His favourite, he claimed on the ride home last night, was the Giant Kingfisher.
The great thing about this place we went to was that it's only 45 minutes from Nairobi, which is great for those of us who dont particularly enjoy long drives. The roads in Kenya, however, are notably better than in madagascar, so the drives into the countryside are much, much less vomit inducing (ie. less bumpy, curvy, and hilly). I also really enjoyed the fact that the cabins had no electricity, which meant they came in at dusk to light numerous lanterns and the fire in the fireplace which created such a lovely evening ambiance.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
More Gifts from the Sea: Island Living
"...living in Madagascar means less visitors and fewer options for neat vacations, no big animal safaris. However, as i'm sure i've mentioned before, i am glad for the opportunity to challenge myself and my children to learn another language. I am VERY thankful for the slow pace of life in Madagascar, even in the capital city - for the limited options we have for entertainment and consumerism, for the small missionary community which forces us to work hard at relationships and look past insignificant cultural and theological differences." Jocelyn's blog, April 09
In light of what i wrote a few blogs ago i found it lovely to read similar thoughts from Anne Morrow Lindberg on the same topic. She even refers to "her island" which, in her book, refers to a small island where she goes for a vacation retreat. My island, however, is where we've relocated for a significant portion of our lives... the concepts still hold though, for the most part:
"My island selects for me socially too. ...I see people here that i would not see at home, people who are removed from me by age or occupation. In the suburbs of a large city we tend to see people of the same general age and interests [or denomination, or socio-economic level]. That is why we chose the suburbs, because we have similar needs and pursuits. My island selects for me people who are very different from me - the stranger who turns out to be, in the frame of sufficient time and space, invariably interesting and enriching. ...Out of the welter of life, a few people are selected for us by the accident of temporary confinement in the same circle. We never would have chosen these neighbours; life chose them for us. But thrown together on this island of living, we stretch to understand each other and are invigorated by the stretching." 54-55
"The difficulty with big city environment [and small towns] is that we tend to select people like ourselves, a very monotonous diet. We tend not to choose the unknown which might be a shock or a disappointment or simply a little difficult to cope with. And yet it is the unknown with all its disappointments and surprises that is the most enriching."55
I reckon that's a reason why i thrive in missions overseas, because i enjoy those unknowns even though they do stress me out. :-) In a small environment like a missionary community in a country not your own, you are forced to get to know people you would never otherwise choose to hang out with due to many varied reasons. Furthermore, the missionary community selects for you not only people from different social strata, but also different cultures and countries, different denominational backgrounds and theological traditions. If you are brave enough to delve into the richness that is the varied family of God to taste and see that the Lord is Good, then, in my experience, the discomfort and unknowns are paid off by new adventures in living that are hard to come by any other way.
"In so many ways this island selects for me better than I do myself at home. When I go back will I be submerged again not only by distractions but by too many opportunities?" (to be sure, it is inevitable in my experience at least) "...by too many interesting [people]? The multiplicity of the world will crowd in on me again with its false sense of values. Values weighed in quantity, not quality; in speed, not stillness; in noise, not silence; in words, not in thoughts; in acquisitiveness, not beauty. How shall I resist the onslaught? How shall I remain whole against these stresses and strains?" 55
indeed.
In light of what i wrote a few blogs ago i found it lovely to read similar thoughts from Anne Morrow Lindberg on the same topic. She even refers to "her island" which, in her book, refers to a small island where she goes for a vacation retreat. My island, however, is where we've relocated for a significant portion of our lives... the concepts still hold though, for the most part:
"My island selects for me socially too. ...I see people here that i would not see at home, people who are removed from me by age or occupation. In the suburbs of a large city we tend to see people of the same general age and interests [or denomination, or socio-economic level]. That is why we chose the suburbs, because we have similar needs and pursuits. My island selects for me people who are very different from me - the stranger who turns out to be, in the frame of sufficient time and space, invariably interesting and enriching. ...Out of the welter of life, a few people are selected for us by the accident of temporary confinement in the same circle. We never would have chosen these neighbours; life chose them for us. But thrown together on this island of living, we stretch to understand each other and are invigorated by the stretching." 54-55
"The difficulty with big city environment [and small towns] is that we tend to select people like ourselves, a very monotonous diet. We tend not to choose the unknown which might be a shock or a disappointment or simply a little difficult to cope with. And yet it is the unknown with all its disappointments and surprises that is the most enriching."55
I reckon that's a reason why i thrive in missions overseas, because i enjoy those unknowns even though they do stress me out. :-) In a small environment like a missionary community in a country not your own, you are forced to get to know people you would never otherwise choose to hang out with due to many varied reasons. Furthermore, the missionary community selects for you not only people from different social strata, but also different cultures and countries, different denominational backgrounds and theological traditions. If you are brave enough to delve into the richness that is the varied family of God to taste and see that the Lord is Good, then, in my experience, the discomfort and unknowns are paid off by new adventures in living that are hard to come by any other way.
"In so many ways this island selects for me better than I do myself at home. When I go back will I be submerged again not only by distractions but by too many opportunities?" (to be sure, it is inevitable in my experience at least) "...by too many interesting [people]? The multiplicity of the world will crowd in on me again with its false sense of values. Values weighed in quantity, not quality; in speed, not stillness; in noise, not silence; in words, not in thoughts; in acquisitiveness, not beauty. How shall I resist the onslaught? How shall I remain whole against these stresses and strains?" 55
indeed.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Currently...
I'm copying my beloved neighbour of Tana and doing a "Currently" blog since i reckon anything else i write will be even more boring for most of our readers! (it MUST be boring considering how many comments we get! :-D )
Currently,
Reading:
(jocelyn) Selections from Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
(josh) Talking the Walk, Marva Dawn
Blue Horizon, Wilber Smith
(judah) "Lolla-Lee-Lou", aka Gertrude McFuzz, Dr. Seuss (we saw a real live "lolla-lee-lou" bird at the tea farm last weekend with a long tail. So long in fact it seemed as though it had trouble flying straight for any great length).
Just Go To Bed, Mercer Mayer. This may sound like i'm a cruel mom, but i simply cannot shake the humor in the bedtime conversation Judah and i have almost every other night that goes something like this:
Judah - mom, can you read me a book?
mom - but daddy just read you 3 books and it's way past your bedtime. let's just get into your bed and say your prayers and go to sleep.
Judah - (whining) but i want YOU to read me a book!!
Mom - (relenting) ok, how about "just go to bed"?
Judah - (in desperation and near defeat) but i want a book mom! please!!!
Mom - "ok" i said!, why dont we read "just go to bed"? (pointing to the book this time so there's no confusion)
Judah - oh yeah. i like that book!
Watching:
(Josh) Top Gear
(Jocelyn) Judah's cartoons
(Judah) The Lion King, Over the Hedge, Brother Bear
Missing:
Madagascar!!
Cooler weather with less dust
Driving my own vehicle instead of depending on the graciousness of others to drive me around town.
Preschool and our normal weekly routine that helps judah and i to maintain our sanity and like for each other.
Less traffic jams, josh home earlier in the evening after work
Speaking French
Madame Pauline and Madame Fanza and Mr. Fred
and my garden and deck and firepit/firebasket
our BBQ!!!!!!
my own bed
our camera! :-(
our church!
Enjoying:
New restaurants with new great food!!
New friends
English speaking country
English bookstores
Hamburgers and ice tea
Good coffee, even though i dont drink any of it. Coffee has, unfortunately, begun to make my stomach go "off" in the last year or two. Maybe it's due to the terrible coffee i've had to drink.
Josh feeling useful and busy
"The Marriage Course" we're taking on Wednesday nights
Anticipating:
A weekend trip to Naivasha with friends
A weekend trip to Nakoro with friends (maybe)
A trip to the Giraffe Centre where Judah will feed the giraffe with his own mouth... ha.
An evening out with my husband for dinner and a movie?
A piece of that Chocolate cake i saw in the Java House display case... Mmmm.
Trying valiantly to:
not eat out too much
cook something other than grill cheese and macaroni and cheese (ie. get out of this "temporary living" slump)
not visit the mall too often
not brag about Madagascar too often to others who like living in Nairobi
spend quality time with Judah despite having so much quantity time with Judah...
not be homesick too much for Madagascar
Currently,
Reading:
(jocelyn) Selections from Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
(josh) Talking the Walk, Marva Dawn
Blue Horizon, Wilber Smith
(judah) "Lolla-Lee-Lou", aka Gertrude McFuzz, Dr. Seuss (we saw a real live "lolla-lee-lou" bird at the tea farm last weekend with a long tail. So long in fact it seemed as though it had trouble flying straight for any great length).
Just Go To Bed, Mercer Mayer. This may sound like i'm a cruel mom, but i simply cannot shake the humor in the bedtime conversation Judah and i have almost every other night that goes something like this:
Judah - mom, can you read me a book?
mom - but daddy just read you 3 books and it's way past your bedtime. let's just get into your bed and say your prayers and go to sleep.
Judah - (whining) but i want YOU to read me a book!!
Mom - (relenting) ok, how about "just go to bed"?
Judah - (in desperation and near defeat) but i want a book mom! please!!!
Mom - "ok" i said!, why dont we read "just go to bed"? (pointing to the book this time so there's no confusion)
Judah - oh yeah. i like that book!
Watching:
(Josh) Top Gear
(Jocelyn) Judah's cartoons
(Judah) The Lion King, Over the Hedge, Brother Bear
Missing:
Madagascar!!
Cooler weather with less dust
Driving my own vehicle instead of depending on the graciousness of others to drive me around town.
Preschool and our normal weekly routine that helps judah and i to maintain our sanity and like for each other.
Less traffic jams, josh home earlier in the evening after work
Speaking French
Madame Pauline and Madame Fanza and Mr. Fred
and my garden and deck and firepit/firebasket
our BBQ!!!!!!
my own bed
our camera! :-(
our church!
Enjoying:
New restaurants with new great food!!
New friends
English speaking country
English bookstores
Hamburgers and ice tea
Good coffee, even though i dont drink any of it. Coffee has, unfortunately, begun to make my stomach go "off" in the last year or two. Maybe it's due to the terrible coffee i've had to drink.
Josh feeling useful and busy
"The Marriage Course" we're taking on Wednesday nights
Anticipating:
A weekend trip to Naivasha with friends
A weekend trip to Nakoro with friends (maybe)
A trip to the Giraffe Centre where Judah will feed the giraffe with his own mouth... ha.
An evening out with my husband for dinner and a movie?
A piece of that Chocolate cake i saw in the Java House display case... Mmmm.
Trying valiantly to:
not eat out too much
cook something other than grill cheese and macaroni and cheese (ie. get out of this "temporary living" slump)
not visit the mall too often
not brag about Madagascar too often to others who like living in Nairobi
spend quality time with Judah despite having so much quantity time with Judah...
not be homesick too much for Madagascar
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Gift From the Sea
I hear the thunder booming in the distance as I sit in the back garden reading a book during another blessed Sabbath afternoon. I hope the boys get up from their nap in time for Judah to search out his Easter basket and chocolate bunnies before the rain comes… or before they all melt in the hot afternoon sun!
I am currently reading a short book that Lydia Plett lent me on Good Friday, Selections from Gift From the Sea, by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. One of my favourite things in life is picking up a book and opening to the first page to discover someone who has written, much better than I ever could have, the thoughts and ideas regarding life’s lessons that I have garnered over my own life and the importance and values I yearn to pass on to others because I find them so helpful. This book is one of those and I would recommend it to any woman I call friend. It is refreshing.
A comment on my last blog entry remarked on how the pace of life in Canada is so fast. I am very passionate about the topic of how we choose to spend our time in this day and age, and Lindberg seems to echo similar sentiments in her first few chapters:
How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity. We seem so frightened today of being alone that we never let it happen.
Now, instead of planting our solitude with our own dream blossoms, we choke the space with continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill a vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place.
It is difficult today to leave one’s friends and family and deliberately practice the art of solitude for an hour or a day or a week. And yet, once it is done, I find there is a quality to being alone that is incredibly precious. Life rushes back into the void, richer, more vivid, fuller than before. 14-15
Solitude… Every person, especially every woman, should be alone sometime during the year, some part of each week, and each day. To many women, such a program seems quite out of reach. They have no extra income to spend on a vacation for themselves, no time left over from household drudgery, no energy after the daily cooking and cleaning for even an hour of creative solitude.
Is this then only an economic problem? I do not think so. By and large, mothers and housewives are the vacationless class. But if women were convinced that a day off or an hour of solitude was a reasonable ambition, they would find a way of attaining it. 19
(personal note: I just read in a church minutes document the axiom, “People always do what is most important to them at any particular time.” This statement was made in reference to creating core values for a group of people, but I reckon it is no less true for individuals determining how they spend the minutes and hours, weeks and months of their lives. How are our minutes indicative of what we hold to be most important?)
Lindbergh goes on,
How inexplicable it seems. Anything else will be accepted as a better excuse. If one sets aside time for a trip to the hairdresser, a social engagement, or a shopping expedition, that time is accepted as inviolable. But if one says: I cannot come because that is my hour to be alone, one is considered rude, egotistical or strange. What a commentary on our civilization when one has to apologize for it, make excuses, hide the fact that one practices [solitude] – like a secret vice! 19-20
I made the same statement in my paper on Sabbath Keeping, that even in the church we have succumbed to the world’s core value that to be busy is to be: important, useful, valuable, successful, holy (!) Richard Foster, in his book Freedom of Simplicity calls us instead to not “just do something, stand there!” Just BE! Enjoy the blessings and graces of our Lord who does not require anything of us to be called children of God. It is not us who “do”, but Him alone. Nothing we “do” can garner anymore favour with the Almighty. Can we not then simply rest in that scandalous gift and spend the day “doing” nothing? After all, God led by example in this matter at the beginning of time, who are we to think we are so important that we cannot take time to rest and simply enjoy all that is Good?!
Could it be that by doing nothing we could be making the most counter-cultural Kingdom witness?
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