Tea Time
We took a break from the work on Wednesday to visit the house of Romo, who serves as manager for the Newmans’ farm/school/etc. Romo has built an amazing house using many of the same techniques as the Newmans–it’s a brick house with solar power that Romo wired up himself. Pretty amazing! We enjoyed sitting around and talking with Romo’s family as they served us tea.
Masai manyatta
Drinking tea at Romo’s house
Next Romo took us on a tour of a couple manyattas, traditional Masai mud houses, which some of his family lived in. These houses are built by Masai women–they’re something like 8 feet wide by 15 feet long, but up to 8 or 10 people can sleep in one, and cooking is traditionally done here as well. They’re really cool!
Work Complete!
Our team in front of the completed walls
After three days of hard work, we finished building the walls of the store. It was amazing to see how much we could accomplish in that short amount of time! I can’t wait to see pictures of the store when the Newmans’ workers complete it, roof and all.
Laura and me with Doug, Immanuel, and Dan
Wednesday was our last day to work at the Newman’s house, so we spent some time at the end of the day thanking the workers and saying goodbye. This was a very emotional time; it’s crazy how close you can grow to people in just a few days, but I suppose that’s how it is when you share a connection with someone in Christ at the heart level.
The Best Birthday Present!
Dan’s bracelet
Wednesday was also my birthday–it was kind of fun to have a birthday in another country, except I kept forgetting it was my birthday! Coincidentally, Dan, one of the workers with whom I worked quite a bit last year, gave me a Masai bracelet, a beaded bracelet that most of the guys wear. I was humbled and thankful, but even more so when I found out that it was not just a gift, but a gesture saying “you’re one of us.” Sorry to anyone who’s ever given me a birthday present, but this was the best thing I have ever received on my birthday, hands down.
School Kids at the Park
Elephant X-ing
After a safari day where we saw giraffes, wildebeests, water buffalo, monkeys, gazelle, elephants, lions, hyenas, and more, our last day in Kenya was a day at a beautiful arboretum in Nairobi with the kids from Christian Family Ministries school, which is run by the same church we visited on Sunday. Many of the kids at the school had never been out of the slums, or only a couple of times, so this was an INCREDIBLE day.
The kids performing songs for us!
The kids performed songs, poems, and dances for us, and we played games with them all morning. Their smiles and laughter were contagious as they got to just play and have fun in such a beautiful place. They also got to eat a really nice meal which was provided for them–a big upgrade from their typical meals; this was such a special day!
Tug of war!
The kids from this school are part of one of the Newmans’ initiatives in Kenya, a child sponsorship program which provides 2 meals a day and enables kids from Korogocho to attend the CFM school. Meeting the kids firsthand and hearing some of their stories, I can’t express how big of an impact this program is having on these precious lives. To learn more about this program and how you can pray for these kids, or even sponsor a child, please visit http://www.hopeeternity.com/.
Back to “normal”
Wow, what an amazing trip. It’s such a whirlwind of emotions heading back home, but I hope that as I get back to my “normal” life, I live a little bit differently after witnessing the joy, simplicity, hospitality, and friendship of my Kenyan brothers and sisters in Christ.