i really should have blogged in between some things. now i have so much to write about!
well, my time in nairobi was wonderful. it was so nice to get to know some of the other missionaries & spend time with them. i went to a tea plantation last monday, & left early tuesday morning for masai mara. it was unbelievable. there really aren’t words to describe how overwhelmingly beautiful the land & life there is. i was in constant awe & thanksgiving of creation. we saw lions, giraffes, gazelles, impalas, zebras, elephants cheetahs, a black rhino, hippos, an alligator, monkeys, hyenas…& well, lots & lots of other things. we caught the lions on honey moon. they have no privacy policy. the mara is absolutely amazing. the sky & land seems like it goes on forever. we got to see the sunrises & sunsets…and of course, i love the trees. i really don’t know how anyone could see all of that & not believe there is a God who perfectly created it all & placed it exactly as it should be.
while in the mara, tabera & i went to visit a masai village. it is probably one of the most enjoyable experiences i have had since coming to kenya. they live in the plains, amongst all the wildlife, in tiny huts made from olive tree branches & cow poo. (& it actually doesn’t smell so bad, believe it or not.) they wear red clothing to scare away the lions. in the past, they had to kill a lion to be married. however, now most only kill in defense. they are one of the few people groups of kenya where the majority have stuck to tradition & kept their nomadic ways of life. they herd cows, & that’s all their diet consist of- meat, blood, milk. they asked us if we’d like to try their blood/milk combo. we passed. ha… they welcomed us with a dance & song/chant. then we joined them for dancing & jumping contest…i think we lost. (; the women showed us their jewelry & things they had made, & then i danced & sang with them. they were so friendly & welcoming, & i am so glad i got the chance to spend time with them.
as soon as i got back to nairobi, i was on the road again for my new 2 week placement. there are less children than i though- only 21…however, i don’t think “only” should be used to describe any amount of children all under the age of 3. most are 2 & 3, & there was a special surprise- newborn baby esther! (: i have officially made it over 24 hours. it’s nap time here, & i am already exhausted! it is constant chaos, but i love it! i can imagine it’s hard to discipline 20 toddlers, but geez…they hit & kick & throw & bite & spit like crazy! it’s a bit frustrating, but we have 2 weeks to work on that one. but, they are very sweet as well. they’ll grab my cheeks & lay big wet ones right on me! a couple of them have even decided to call me mommy, & i wish i could take them home with me! i usually have baby esther is one arm, a couple hanging on my legs & about 4 holding the other hand. it’s wonderful (: lets see if i can remember names…david, evans, charles, timothy, moses, 2 esthers, tabitha, tabby, (i don’t know how this happens when 1 person is naming them?) eluid, magy, rebecca, elizabeth, debra, mercy, freshia, merriam, alice, martin, & joshua! i have my hands full, but i am more then happy. i don’t know how anyone could even abandon these sweet faces, but i am so glad they have a good home. the managers are a very sweet & loving family, and care for these children so well.
i feel like there are so many more things i need to say, but my brain is on overload. oh yeah, check out the flor ala, una’s publication here. (:
i love you all. i think i need to squeeze a nap in too! (oh no. as i hit the exclamation mark, a shrill let out from upstairs. back to work! haha)
