We were able to go back to Kenya for the first time since we left in 2003. Our oldest daughter, Rinnie and family (Erik, Lauren, Meredith and Coriena) live there. Erik is involved in the tech. world, of which I understand little, but you can go to http://www.ushahidi.com/ and find out more about what he does. Rinnie homeschools her kids and generally keeps her family together. They are loving being back in Kenya. Erik also grew up in East Africa. He's parents were with Wycliffe in Sudan.
So we left
London Christmas Day with Anna, our youngest, who had come from the US Christmas Eve. When she left Kenya in 2003 she was on her way to Covenant College. We all expected to see a lot of changes and wondered if we would fit back in again or feel really strange being there.
Meg, #4, came up from Tanzania to join us for a week. It ha
d been over a year since we'd seen her so were thankful she could take the time to come up.
It was wonderful being there. We felt very much at home and, although there were lots of new buildings and shops, it still felt very much the same. We visited some old haunts, saw our dearest friends, Danieli and Lenah Katumu, went camping at Lake Naivasha, ate Ethiopian food and bajia. But mostly, we enjoyed Erik and Rinnie's hospitality, drinking tea, talking, crying, praying. God is teaching our family a lot these days so it was good to be together and be able to talk through some things together. We only wish Wil and Amy (and Eliana), Sarah and Kirk (Joanna and Sam) could have been there too. Skype certainly helped to bring them into the room with us.
There's a mosque near Rinnie's so the "call to prayer" is quite easily heard in her back garden. Their daughter, Meredith, has a real fascination for Islam and concern for those caught in that religion. She sees the women all covered walking down the street. So several times she would say, if she heard the "call" or saw a woman, "Mommy, I want to pray...Dear Jesus, help that woman to be able to hear about Jesus." It was a real testimony to me to remember Jesus loves to hear us speak his name and pray for those around us, no matter what.
We are so thankful for this opportunity to be there. Being loved on by Rinnie's girls was so fun. We were there for Meredith losing her first tooth and Coriena learning to ride her bike without training wheels, very special occasions when you are six and four. Anna and I made gingerbread houses with the girls, another highlight. It was also warm and sunny!
So a big thank you to Rinnie and family for having us and to the Lord Jesus for loving our family enough to bring each one of us to Himself.
This is a "terrace house" on two floors instead of our former "flat" on the ground floor only. It has a "through lounge", that is the living room and dining room together go from the front to back of the house. 
The kitchen should give us adequate space and both of us will have an office space for our work.
Rinnie and her family. Erik and Rinnie live in Nairobi where Erik works with a NGO called Ushahidi. Don't ask me the particulars of what he does but his heart is in improving African technology and promoting entrepreneurism (is that a word???) among Africans. Their three girls, Lauren (9), Meredith (7) and Coriena (5) are a delight to us. The two weeks went by entirely too fast for all of us. But we had a lot o
f fun going to Windsor Castle, Kew Gardens, "high tea" at the Maids of Honour, and the Tower of London. The rest of our time was spent in playgrounds, walks in the park, cooking, reading and just being together.
list of must do's while living in England. The scenery was indescribable and the time together very special. We've been reading through II Chronicles and had some sweet times of prayer together as we brought before the Lord the needs of our children and ourselves. God really spoke to us through this book of the Bible and we are thankful to Him although many times times "we don't know what to do we can keep our eyes on Him". II Chron. 20:12
g a group of
these folks throughout the month. This summer I spent time with a couple and single gal going to Thailand and a family and single gal going to India. Paul's group was made up of four families going to Cyprus, Greece, Cambodia and Ethiopia. We're really grateful to be a part of this great training that MTW offers.
New Mexico and our daughter Anna and I headed for Pennsylvania to visit our mothers. Earlier in July Paul and his siblings had been called home because hospice felt his Mom was very near to death. But Mom really rallied and that no longer seems to be a concern. Paul was able to have a good visit with her early August along with three of his siblings. Anna and I had a great time with my Mom.
d through so many people.
m. Paul spoke from I and II Corinthians, Jeff Talley facilitated a Tim Keller series, we played some games, ate too mu
ch food, had good times of prayer, walked in the snow, and enjoyed the town. We are grateful for the opportunity to be with each of these team members and the Gregoires six kids! Here we are with Miriam, Paula and Kris, Jana, Jeff and Esther, John and Kathy, Dan and Rebecca. Much thanks to the team for inviting us!
London Christmas Day with Anna, our youngest, who had come from the US Christmas Eve. When she left Kenya in 2003 she was on her way to Covenant College. We all expected to see a lot of changes and wondered if we would fit back in again or feel really strange being there.
d been over a year since we'd seen her so were thankful she could take the time to come up.
