Changa: The Dirt in Our Lives

My current Kenya housemate, Elizabeth, has once again made a great post. Visit her blog to read all about it - Changa: The Dirt in Our Lives.

The Truth Is Who You Are

Great song by Tenth Avenue North - "The Truth Is Who You Are."

It would be easier

If You were just a thought in my head

Simply something that I once read

A belief needing my defense

And it would be easier

If You were something I once knew

A hope just to hold onto

But You're holding out Your hands

'Cause You came to take us back to the start

You came to touch the hardness of our hearts

You gave us truth, the truth is who You are

It's who You are

And it's not enough to just say, "I believe"

'Cause truth is that talk is cheap

So grace give me eyes to see

That You came to take us back to the start

You came to touch the hardness of our hearts

You gave us truth, the truth is who You are

It's who You are

Flesh and blood, You offer us

Oh, to eat the bread and drink the cup

Oh, to taste, to see, to feel, to touch

Emmanuel, God with us

Emmanuel, God with us

'Cause You came to break the chains apart

To wake the dead and the sleeping of our hearts

You gave us truth, the truth is who You are

It's who You are, it's who You are

It's who You are

Go Fish and Football

Part of my Sunday afternoon :)

So adorable hearing Collins say, "Go catch a fish!"

Maina, Freddy and Collins.

Collins is already a pro at the game!

We had a mini-photo shoot

Humphrey

Maina

Patrick

Collins finally got a turn!

And this is my picture :)

My fellow dog trainer and I

Samson

Buddies

Came over to investigate

Collins chilling watching the big boys play football

Lilah got tired of playing

Relaxing

Julia's Journey to Texas

The visa interview, the final step in the process for Julia to be able to go to the States, is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Please keep Trena and Julia in your prayers! Pray that they have all of the documents in order, and above all, that the Lord's will be done.

One Year Anniversary and Birthdays

Today was a fun day. We celebrated the one year anniversary of the move to Nakuru for HCO and the birthdays of three staff members: Suzy (baby caretaker, 22 years old), Tobias (groundsman, 22 years old) and Eunice (house keeper, 29 years old). To make the day special we made chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes this morning and then took them to the baby house at lunch time. It was funny listening to everyone sing happy birthday three different times! They didn't combine everyone's names in one song like we would probably do in the States. Anyways, the cookies and cupcakes were enjoyed by all!

The chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and colorful sprinkles :)

The two birthday girls: Eunice and Suzy

Maina, Collins, Tobias (the birthday boy) and Joshua... sorry I forgot to turn off the flash!

Sadly though, as we were trying to leave the baby house, the Prado (Trena's car) wouldn't start. So we called a tuktuk (something similar to a small taxi) to take us home... while we were waiting we decided to start walking and meet him out on the main road.

Trena and Julia walking to meet the tuktuk

I didn't get a picture of the tuktuk but they are fairly small... usually just three grown people max. would ride in the back of one (I'll try to post a picture soon so you can have an idea of what I'm talking about). So it was a tight squeeze with six of us but thankfully three were kids!

Maina sat in the front with the driver

Julia, Trena, Collins and I...

...and Tobias all sat in the back.

As you can see, we made it work :)

I'm here!

I am safe and sound in Nakuru :) It is great being able to see the aunties again and the babies - little David now has teeth! I have also met the Cherished Handworks women and the boys. It has been a busy first couple of days but it has been great to hit the ground running! This weekend I will have the chance to recover a little from my trip (hopefully get on a somewhat normal sleeping schedule!) and unpack and get settled at Trena's.

Random Notes:

• My travel time from Houston to Nairobi topped out somewhere around 34 hours... total time was around 37 hours if you include the drive on to Nakuru. 
• Love "The Light Meets the Dark" CD by Tenth Avenue North
• Successfully completed my first trip to Tusky's without passing out :)
• Trena and I taught the boys how to play Twister and Jenga.
• Stoked the Mavericks won game 5

Prayer Requests:

• Quick adjustment to the time change
• Be able to organize everything and have a productive start on Monday