Hello. Wow, it seems forever since I've posted. A few days this week we didn't have internet and then I tried to post earlier this week but blogger wasn't working, and I was in a rush so I couldn't try to fix it, and a few other little things, but here's another update.
Last week wasn't all that exciting. Again, we were just doing the routine things like worship team practice, the Bible studies and prayer meetings that we attend regularly, and the like. It's great to have a routine, and now it's breaking out of the routine that is getting exciting.
First of all, it's hard to believe that it's already June. I've been here officially more than one month, with just two and a half left, and it really seems like the time is going quickly. Monday this week was Madaraka Day, which is a national holiday here in Kenya. It marks a significant time in history related to their independance from Britain, and I've been told a few times, but it's a little confusing so I'm not really sure exactly what it commemorates. It was interesting to be out during that day because where in Canada on national holidays everything is closed, here it's not so much. Some places were closed, but then you have the little shops, called dukas, that would be privately owned and they would still want to be open that day so they are. The closest thing to a mall that's nearby was also open, not every store was open but it was, and the main department store-type place was open, so just the difference was interesting to observe.
There were a lot of people here that day. There were some family and friends from the church. It was quite intimidating. Someone brought over a goat as a gift (this time it had already been slaughtered and skinned), so they cut up the goat and roasted the meat and served to people. The interesting part of it was that it was served like a snack, people were just taking small pieces as they wished and really were just snacking. I wasn't thinking of it like that and thought that this would be like our supper, or at least part of it, and so when it actually came time for supper I had had so much of this that I ate very little. So, that as Monday.
Tuesday and Wednesday were fairly routine. Wednesday evening a missionary friend of the Mutangili's came by on his way back to the States from Uganda. He was I think the first missionary they had stay with them. So it was good to get to know him a little.
Thursday and Friday were pretty cool days. On Thursday Pastor decided that we were going to go to the animal orphanage which is a part of Nairobi National Park. The animals there were so cool. They had warthogs, lions, cheetahs, hyenas (which are much fatter than portrayed in The Lion King), monkeys, mongoose, an ostrich, other birds, and some other animals I can't remember the names of. I got lots of pictures, but they don't do justice to the real things. They were really great to see. We talked a little to one of the lion trainers. He was saying how he had helped with all the lions in the orphanage and how they come in at different ages and whatnot, which I thought was pretty cool. He called them all by name, and really seemed to have a rapport with these animals that was particular to each animal's individual personality. I'm not sure if they take in sick animals, but it seems like that bring in animals who wouldn't really survive on their own in the wild. Like it says, it is an animal orphanage, which would portray that the parent that would take care of them when they were younger either abandoned them or was killed. So that was a fun time. Another interesting thing I thought was when we got there it was 100 kshs (Kenya shillings) for residents of Kenya and $15US for visitors, and $15US is about 1200 kshs.
Friday we tooks a road trip to a place called Kijabe. This is one place where AIM has a hospital set up. This is more of a children's hospital, but I do think they treat adults as well. The great thing about this hospital is that fees are much lower than a normal hospital. It is very affordable, which is why it is one of the bigger hospitals in Kenya. Pastor was saying how they would have people from Somalia, Sudan, and other countries come into Kenya to come to this hospital because of the low fees. It seems to be a great ministry opportunity that AIM has set up there because the patients would be Christian, Muslim, people who I believe would still hold to their tribal religions, and others. I think that it's great that they have this hospital there.
Kijabe is located in or at least close to the Rift Valley in Kenya. This is a huge valley between two sets of mountains and it is absolutely gorgeous! To get to Kijabe we were driving in the mountains, and when we got the the Rift Valley Pastor pointed it out, and when I looked my jaw dropped, it's so big and the view from up there wa amazing. There's also a lot less polution than in the city so the air is really clear and there are a lot of trees and plantlife to see there. The town of Kijabe itself was also a very pretty place. Coming back from Kijabe we drove through the valley, so we got great views of the mountains from there. Again, I took lots of pictures. We drove past quite closely to a dormant volcano, which I thought was great. Some of the scenery in Kenya is just beautiful and really unique as well.
So that's a recap on my week. When we got back yesterday the prayer meeting that we usually go to on Fridays was still at Pastor's house because we had decided to meet here instead of the church this week, because people wanted to see the baby and pray for her. This baby has been waited for for a long time, and is seen as a true blessing for the Mutangili's. She is now six weeks old, and we can see how she's grown since we've been here. We're praying for her right now because she is not feeling well with colic, and that is also keep Pastor and Sylvia awake during the night. Other than that, she is perfectly healthy, which is a blessing in itself.
We are also praying for rain still, although the request has changed somewhat. There are places in Kenya that are getting good amounts of rain, but there are also places that are in danger of having too much rain, and places that still do not have enough. It's a little confusing, but we pray that the right amount of rain will come to the places that need it.
I am also praying for some of the members of the young adults. Many of them have requests for family members and school fees and their own relationships with God, and they believe so much in the power of prayer that it they are always asking for prayers from people.
Just in closing there have been a few people asking some questions that I would like to clear up. First is that THQ is the Territorial Headquarters for the Salvation Army. I thought that I had put that when I was explaining it, but when I looked back it wasn't there, so for people reading this so did not know that I appoligize for any confusion. Secondly, the Swahili that I put on here, is pretty much the extent of what I know. People were asking if I was taking regular Swahili, I'm not, we had a few lessons the first few days, and I'm learning a little from the people around me, but that's it. Lastly, regarding picture, I will not be putting any up here or on Facebook until I get home. The internet here can be quite slow, and it's a bit of a hassle loading them on the computer then on the internet, and I don't want to be bothered with it here. I'm trying to think of a way to get some pictures back to Canada, but I'm still working that out.
Well, thanks so much for reading and all your support and prayer!
Kwa Heri,
Steph
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