We want to take a moment to apologize for letting two weeks ... and now two more days pass without a new post. We were unbelievably busy before we left for Nairobi, and then we were somehow even more busy after we returned from the five day getaway. Apology accepted? Yes ... ok thanks!
So the past two weeks have been quite fun and even a bit exciting. Taryn held a poster competition for the art classes of grades one through seven, and the theme was "a better world". The kids made posters with paint, crayons, markers and oil pastels about how they would change the world to make it a better place. I (Ryan) and Wanyeri (a new accounts manager at PACE) were judges, and let me tell you it was not easy choosing! We looked at over one hundred posters, and had to choose two (a boy and a girl) from each class as winners. One class only had girls, so that was a bit easier (though not much!). The winners got some props from the judges, and also got to pick a prize from baseball caps, coloring sets, kids jewlery, diaries, school supplies, and some wonderfully stitched slippers (thanks mom!). When given the chance, these kids can be really creative - we pray that art classes will continue with the classroom teachers after we leave. The kids were cute before we left for Nairobi - they thought we were going for good, but gave us the a-OK when we told them we were just going to Nairobi for a couple of days.
So spealking of Nairobi, we did indeed get away for five wonderful days of relaxation and getting spoiled and blessed by our friend Julia. The main purpose of the trip was to renew our Visas so that we would be able to stay for another three months. We're happy to say that we got the extension, and it was a fairly hassle free experience. Well, except that we had to harass no less than two immigration officeers before they let us take our change. Note to self: Always bring exact change to the immigration office :) After we got legal, we went out to this place called "Java House" to celebrate - and my goodness, I swear the Lord himself prepared our meals (bacon cheese burgers ... yum!). I had an iced coffe ... it was like drinking pure amazingness. God probably made that, too. Our mouths are already watering thinkng about the next time we might be able to sneak away to Java House. There is also this place in Nairobi called "Nakumat", which is a grocery store chain that rivals the size of a Wal Mart store. No kidding. And if the regular Nakumat isn't enough, there is "Mega Nakumat" in down-town Nairobi, where you can walk in off the street with nothing, and walk out with a 50" flat screen TV, all the groceries you could ever want, a new wardrobe, and a 10,000 watt home audio system. Oh yes, and you can put in all in the back of your new Toyota Corolla station wagon. What's next, houses? Nakumat is a crazy place, but it was really fun to go there and feel a bit at home in this far off land.
So the past two weeks have been quite fun and even a bit exciting. Taryn held a poster competition for the art classes of grades one through seven, and the theme was "a better world". The kids made posters with paint, crayons, markers and oil pastels about how they would change the world to make it a better place. I (Ryan) and Wanyeri (a new accounts manager at PACE) were judges, and let me tell you it was not easy choosing! We looked at over one hundred posters, and had to choose two (a boy and a girl) from each class as winners. One class only had girls, so that was a bit easier (though not much!). The winners got some props from the judges, and also got to pick a prize from baseball caps, coloring sets, kids jewlery, diaries, school supplies, and some wonderfully stitched slippers (thanks mom!). When given the chance, these kids can be really creative - we pray that art classes will continue with the classroom teachers after we leave. The kids were cute before we left for Nairobi - they thought we were going for good, but gave us the a-OK when we told them we were just going to Nairobi for a couple of days.
So spealking of Nairobi, we did indeed get away for five wonderful days of relaxation and getting spoiled and blessed by our friend Julia. The main purpose of the trip was to renew our Visas so that we would be able to stay for another three months. We're happy to say that we got the extension, and it was a fairly hassle free experience. Well, except that we had to harass no less than two immigration officeers before they let us take our change. Note to self: Always bring exact change to the immigration office :) After we got legal, we went out to this place called "Java House" to celebrate - and my goodness, I swear the Lord himself prepared our meals (bacon cheese burgers ... yum!). I had an iced coffe ... it was like drinking pure amazingness. God probably made that, too. Our mouths are already watering thinkng about the next time we might be able to sneak away to Java House. There is also this place in Nairobi called "Nakumat", which is a grocery store chain that rivals the size of a Wal Mart store. No kidding. And if the regular Nakumat isn't enough, there is "Mega Nakumat" in down-town Nairobi, where you can walk in off the street with nothing, and walk out with a 50" flat screen TV, all the groceries you could ever want, a new wardrobe, and a 10,000 watt home audio system. Oh yes, and you can put in all in the back of your new Toyota Corolla station wagon. What's next, houses? Nakumat is a crazy place, but it was really fun to go there and feel a bit at home in this far off land.
Wea also got to see a humungous and very modern church in Nairobi called "Nairobi Chapel" - this place was the mega of mega churches, and it was made entirely of tents! There were huge poles holding up the massive structure which by our best guess is about 100ft high. They had lighting, a big speaker system, video monitors and the whole nine yards .... and modern worship, which was nice - made us feel a little more at home :)
Here are some February/early March shots:
1 comments:
Ryan & Taryn,
Thinking of you today!
Praying that wherever you are today, whatever you are doing, that God will richly bless you, and will richly bless those around you through your presence there!
Love Trish
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