Lately

*So, the layout/fonts of this blog are really weird. I am not quite sure why, but it bothers me. I tried to fix it, but couldn't. Also, I wanted to add a load of other pictures, but the internet has been super-dooper uncooperative. I have no idea how that movie downloaded. Go figure.
Maybe later...

Mayfield Guesthouse - Nairboi, Kenya

I met Joe, a teacher and coach at Christ Gift Academy, a school serving orphans located in Mbita, Kenya, at Mayfield one night at dinner. After a few days of sharing our team's story and hearing more about his work in Kenya, he asked if I would like to plan a visit to the school.

While I was still considering whether or not to take Joe up on his offer, I met Darla at a Mayfield breakfast. As the Mayfield trend goes, conversation centered around our work here on the continent. She spoke of her work with street boys in Kisumu, Kenya and almost immediately, already aware of our Didinga situation, asked if I would be interested in accompanying her and her family to Kisumu the following day. With my interest in the ministry already peaked, Darla sealed the deal when she offered to pay for half of my plane ticket to Kisumu (the very city I planned to take the LONG bus ride to en route to Mbita!!!).

Agape Boys' Ministry - Kisumu, Kenya
And while traveling with individuals one meets the previous day is not entirely commonplace or by most even suggested, I was very well taken care of and for that I am thankful.

The first four days were spent with Darla and her family, visiting and learning more about Agape, an outreach center and boarding school serving street boys in Kisumu. I was incredibly impressed with the patient and loving manner in which the all male Kenyan staff interacted with the center's boys. Good things are happening at Agape, but it is no place for a single, white, female.

• It is a small, small world... Darla, her family and I also visited a baby home in Kisumu. While there, I ran into a fellow AIMer I met last January in Northern Kenya. Turns out the friend she's traveling with is from my home church, Imago Dei, in Portland, Oregon. She had already heard our evacuation story and had been praying for our team and the Didinga people. It was pretty encouraging.
  

Suba Lakers Football Team -Kisumu, Kenya
I left Darla and her crew or rather, she left me, at the sports center in Kisumu. I had been instructed to meet Joe there between the hours of twelve and five. He promised to be easy to find, as the only white male present, and I couldn't imagine that an African football field could be all that crowded. So with that in mind, I assured Darla that I would be fine, stepped out of the car, into the sports park and away from my only Kenyan contact. I was surprised to find not only one, but two VERY crowded football fields at the Kisumu sports center. Fortunatly, us mzungos stick out like sore thumbs and after asking only a few spectators, I was directed right to the guy.

Three days were spent with the Suba Lakers Football Team. Most of the girls on the team come from broken homes, foster families and/or economically stressed households. Many are students at Christ Gift Academy and oh, did I mention, these little ladies can play some football! Both the Senior and Junior teams won first place in the weekend's tournaments. For me, the best part of the weekend came when the Junior team scored their winning goal in front of hundreds of cheering fans on the main football field Kisumu. Hearing their names and each play by play announced over the loud-speaker was so exciting!

These girls are not only learning how to play football on the Suba team. They are learning something about themselves, they are learning who they are in the Lord. Beautiful women of Christ.

Suba Lakers Football Team - The Champions!!!

African Travel: Five adults, 14 teenage football champions, 19 backpacks, two trophies and one trusty Land Cruiser.

Lake Victoria Ferry - En route to Mbita, Kenya

Christ Gift Academy - Located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Mbita,Kenya
I spent about five days observing elementary classes, working with small groups of students at CGA and getting a general feel for the Mbita area. After visiting and working short term in several schools here in Africa, I can boldly say that Christ Gift Academy is, by far, the best school I have ever seen on the continent. Teachers are teaching, students are learning. And the basis of it all, is Christ.

This little sweetie was finishing out her first year at CGA.
I couldn't believe the quality of her penmanship, she was only about four years old!
She could have taught my 2nd graders back in the states a thing or two.

The Islands
I traveled to the Islands on a Thursday and was immediately struck by the natural beauty of the place. The turquoise blue waters, white sand beaches, green, cloud covered mountains and busy spice markets, absolutely bursting with color, were an ironic contrast to the loads of garbage strewn up and down the coastline and pitched alongside most every Island roadside.

I spent a week on the Island, getting to know the team leaders and team a good deal of that time. They're pretty great! Without the least bit of hesitation, I would gladly serve beside each and every one of them.

I had the opportunity to observe an adult English lesson, visit several Island families, tried to partake in some of the sports ministries and broke fast with a local family (the food is AMAZING!!!). Ramadan gave the Island an almost holiday-like feel and proved to be an excellent bridge towards discussing the foundation of a Christian fast.

Strangely, I was surprised by the unity the Islanders experienced throughout this time of communal fasting and by the joy they shared in their feasting.

Nairobi - Mayfield Guesthouse
I am, once again, at Mayfield Guesthouse (the closest thing to home sweet home these days). Yesterday, I said goodbye to my Didinga teammate Tianne and after seeing Bill off to his new assignment with TIMO setup this morning, I am left alone.

Walking to Java House this morning, Bill and I were in agreement, we just can't believe that our team won't be reconvening, boarding a caravan and flying back to the Hills. Sipping our lattes, under the electric lights of this modern world, we speculated how Abahbook spent his morning back in Didinga. This slipping in and out of worlds...

I never thought that it could happen, but I have grown weary of new landscapes. Craving a bed that I can call my own, I plan to stay with a generous family who has opened their home to me until the path ahead is clear. For, although the opportunity to teach at Christ Gift Academy in Mbita or minister in the Islands seem "perfect", I feel no peace at this time in accepting either offer. I need time to pray, I need time to rest, I need time to reflect. I need time to wait on Christ to show me the next step and I know that He will.