Habari za nyumbani!

We arrived in our new home on Thursday morning.  Although we were a bit tired from the traveling, we were both mesmerized by the sights and sounds of Nairobi.  We came in perfect time for rush hour – so we were able to take in the bustling streets, people rushing to work, and matatu minibuses (imagine a loud, customized A-Team van with 15 passengers) speeding to the next stop by passing into oncoming traffic and using the shoulder. 

These past few days have been busy as we learn more about what each of us will be doing.  We have spent time in Tyler's office, obtained cell phones (call us! Lydia +254 723 311 128, Tyler +254 713 786 170), overcame jetlag, ate traditional Kenyan food and watched their soccer team in the home of the director of First Love Kenya, attended church, experienced the Kenyan Wal-Mart – Nakumatt, acted as a human jungle gym for many kids, attempted to learn Swahili, and hunted for apartments.  We have been learning so much and soaking up things like sponges - there is so much to take in!

 
[Lydia] On Tuesday, I went with First Love into the slum to visit a mother of two students who attend the school where I am working.  We walked through narrow slits in between tin shacks, over sewage, and past precious children with snot covering their faces.  Earlier this year, the 23 year old mother of two was attacked by her boyfriend.  He threw kerosene on her and then lit her on fire.  Her face, neck, back, and hands were badly burned.  First Love has helped her with hospital visits and has assisted her with daily needs through home visits.  I was overwhelmed with emotion entering the mud-caked walls which made up her home.  She had a smile that could warm the hardest of hearts – and her perseverance despite what she has gone through was such a challenge to me.  Her name is Agnes – please pray for her if you think of her as her recovery process is very painful.  The mzungo (white person J) in the attached photo is Heather, the wife and mom in the missionary family.  She has a huge heart and is a lot of fun.

[Tyler] On Wednesday, I drove four hours south to Kibwezi and Kalulini with my two co-workers from Partners Worldwide.  A pipeline of water was built to bring water to these communities because their water source was saline and they were spending much of their day fetching water from afar.  The benefits of the pipeline are not yet fully realized because of management and technical issues that we hope to address in the coming months.  Attached is a picture of a water kiosk along the pipeline where families can collect water and a picture of what we hope is the future for this area – irrigated mango trees and other fruits and vegetables.  I hope to write a blog post about the drive back to Nairobi.  If I dare think back on it.  This Kansas farmboy was asked to drive back in the rain, at night, no painted lines...no real road at some points with huge semi-trucks passing eachother with farm animals (goats, sheep, cows, and their herders) and baboons crossing all with the headlights covered in mud.  I owe my life to God and my sore neck to that trip.

 

 

We will write more when we have a place to live, please pray that we are led to the right place.  Everything seems quite big compared to our old place, if any of you had been there, you know that anything is bigger than that apartment :-) 

Please email us any updates on yourself and any prayer requests you may have as well- we want to stay in the loop on your life as much as possible!

We love you!

Tyler and Lydia