Friday, May 29, 2009
Keith and Laura Made It!
9 YEARS!
I just finished my ninth year of teaching. Next year I move to the double digits! How did I get here this fast? How can I be old enough to have taught for almost 10 years? Year nine was a good year. I taught in Kenya with 11 nations represented in my classroom, nine languages spoken, and plenty of fifth grade pre-adolescent attitudes. Despite some challenges with teaching in a foreign country and adjusting some pre-teen attitudes, it was a successful first year in Kenya.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
My Kenyan Girls!
Susan had tacos for the first time.
Nancy loaded her taco up - a little bigger than bite-size.
We continued through the night with more talking, praying, and dessert - peanut butter cookies and ice cream. At midnight we decided we were all tired and headed off to bed. In the morning we prepared for a busy day together... I made french toast and sausages for breakfast, then we went to a Women's Ministry Launch Event at church. It started at 9 am, and we arrived at 10:20. (I'm turning into a true Kenyan!) The Women's Launch was quite a show (the part we were there for anyway). Lots of worship and speakers, as usual, but some things stood out that you would not see at a women's church event in the States:
* the leadership team of six all wore matching African dresses
* the leadership and worship teams sang a practiced theme song
* the main speaker started speaking at 11:20 (remember, the event started at 9)
* and the biggest thing that stood out... Fireworks! As the pastor cut a ribbon to launch the new women's ministry, huge sparklers and confetti went off on the stage inside the church tent! I'm talking lots of sparklers shooting up toward the fabric hanging from the canvas roof. It was a huge show, like a concert!
After some mingling and tea, the girls and I went to The Nest, a babies' home near the church. We helped feed the babies during lunch, then continued on our busy day: lunch at my house, more talking, and some Bible study stuff. We finally said good-bye at about 5 pm. It was a fun-filled and exhausting weekend, but as you can see, I had a great time with my Kenyan girls!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Rainy Days
On the positive side of things, there are only three more weeks of school left and summer weather is in my future for June and July. I'm getting excited about going back to the States and seeing all my dear family and friends, but also having mixed feelings about it (for various reasons). I'm so busy right now with ending the school year well and spending time with friends here that I haven't really had time to think about transitioning back to life in the States. Even if it is just a holiday (or "vacation" in American lingo), I haven't been to the States in almost eleven months. It will be strange.
My American family and friends, no worries... "Summer Kim" will arrive on June 4. My dear Kenyan family and friends, I'm planning on "Summer Kim" arriving on May 22, as I push for all my work to be done, so I'll be ready to play! In the meantime, sorry if I seem melancholy. I'm missing my sunshine!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park has two things that are not common at other national game reserves: rhinos and flamingos. Although rhinos are one of the "Big Five" of Africa, they were not as exciting for me as the flamingos. The lake was filled with the buzzing sound of these birds as they plucked food from the lake and took to flight in groups. When you see pictures of Africa's flamingos, Lake Nakuru is what you are viewing.
Some other fun creatures I had seen before, but haven't posted about included the warthog (aka Pumba for the Lion King fans). They are ugly creatures, but run with their tails in the air, just like the movie...
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