There's No Place Like Home

CRWRC Holds Travel-to-Africa Contest- Christian Reformed Church

2009-11-03T19:23:00.001+03:00

CRWRC Holds Travel-to-Africa Contest- Christian Reformed Church

OK, friends and neighbors, how cool is THIS! I wonder if I can register to win even though I just returned from Africa, working for this same org? Hmmmmm.

Seriously, this is cool and you should all sign up!

Change

2009-10-27T05:24:00.002+03:00

For the three of you that are kind enough to 'follow' this blog I thank you. However, I've decided that as much as I have a soft place in my heart for blogger as it being where I learned to blog (thanks to the good Friar!) I cannot justify maintaining two blogs and facebook. So I'm going to keep this account so that I can continue to comment on my blogger friend's but will be writing, hopefully more regularly, on my other blog. You can find me there, come and visit!

Pancakes and Macs

2009-07-20T19:27:00.003+03:00

I'm sitting at the Pancake Day Hall of Fame (you should all really come, it's great - and I'm bored).

I'm also trying to figure out how my Mac works. It's new and I don't really have a clue. There is also no one in this town that apparently has one. At least not anyone that I've found yet. I'm getting closer to getting things going though. Yea! Right now, however, I can only really do email, add contacts to my address book and use the internet. I'm having a hard time getting itunes up and running and my word documents to show up in a normal fashion. That makes it difficult to apply for jobs when my resume is all screwed up.

Yea, good times.

I am glad that I have a Mac though and someday it will be awesome I am sure. I just hope that day is sooner rather than later. I need me some learning.

cheater, cheater

2009-07-16T16:46:00.002+03:00

white trash ho

I just watched a video on CMT that included that line.

The commercial that followed it was for eHarmony.

That made me really laugh.

new mags

2009-05-28T02:50:00.002+03:00

OK, another quickie.

I bought two new mags this past weekend. Didn't know anything about them just bought them.

1. BUST - mag for women, thought that would be good. Not my type of mag I do not believe, althought did find some good and interesting things like yummy grilled cheese sandwich recipes.

2. yes! - 'buliding a just and sustainable world' haven't read this one yet, but still holding out hope it's a keeper. Afterall, it is printed on 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper.

Quick update

2009-05-28T02:46:00.002+03:00

I've been in the US for two weeks now. I'm definately still adjusting to say the least. I've ignored many of my emails, it's just too much right now. I keep up with facebook because overall those are fairly shallow conversations and responses. Anything too deep and I'm out for the moment.

I drove down to MI from Ontario today. I think I was grilled as much at the border as I have been in some African countries, and I'm a US citizen! For Pete's sake.

I am here the next few days and then back to KS to go through all of my earthly belongings and sale/give/pack things away. Good times.

That's about it for now, much to accomplish still on the 'to do' list.

First thing -- FIND my 'to do' list. I can't remember where I stashed it.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Two weeks/Three weeks

2009-04-22T12:12:00.001+03:00

I cannot believe it but I leave Kenya, possibly for good, two weeks from tonight. I'll spend a week in London with friends and then land in Liberal three weeks from tonight.

Where does time go?

For my schedule over the next two months, please check out my other blog.

UMMM . . .

2009-04-01T13:02:00.001+03:00

Yup, I admit it. I really want one of these burgers. Maybe it's because I'm hungry and currently waiting for my lunch. Maybe a part is that I don't get a really satisfying burger here in Nairobi. Maybe I'm just a glutton for punishment. Seriously, I'm going to die anyway, I plan on going down eating what I want.

Don't you want one now, too?

Minnesota jobs

2009-03-24T16:09:00.000+03:00

Anyone have a good site or two for looking for jobs in the Cities?

long time

2009-03-23T11:53:00.002+03:00

I've had problems accessing blogger for some reason, thus my absence. Pole sana, my friends! I hope to be a bit more present in the future.

I am doing well. I’m terribly busy with work and trying to prepare to move back to the US. I do not have a job waiting for me so I’m working on looking and applying for jobs all over the USA. If you hear of anything, please let me know. I know that this is a difficult time right now around the world.

Right now I can tell you the following for my calendar.

Here’s the short version –
MAY
6 – leave Kenya
7-13 – London with friends
13 – arrive in Wichita KS and drive on into Liberal with the fam
16 – sister Angie’s graduation from UTD in Dallas
17 – cousin Kara’s graduation from LHS in Liberal
19 – fly to Grand Rapids
23 – drive to Burlington, Ontario (will be assisting with orientation among other things)

JUNE
Dates are up in the air but I will be in Colorado, Minnesota and Liberal for sure.

June is really flexible right now, I’m hoping to know more soon but I’d love to visit with each of you as time allows. I also hope that I’ll be able to be doing some job interviews during that time as well. God only knows.

A Message from a Christian farmer in Mali to the churches in the United States

2009-03-23T11:29:00.004+03:00

Stephen Traore is a cotton farmer in the Fana district of Mali. He works hard to feed his family of 15 children and grandchildren. He also takes the time to serve as a lay leader in his local Evangelical congregation and the local district of over 23 churches. When CRWRC staff visited Stephen’s farm, he asked us to translate and transmit this message to the church in the US:

“I greet American people, I thank American people. I am very happy that you are asking about our difficulties in Africa. You can help us improve the price of cotton, so that we and the American people can be neighbors, so that we can send our children to school. Today, there are many difficulties in Africa, because of the low price of cotton, especially in my village. It’s been two years and now and we still have not gotten the money we are supposed to get for the cotton. We are very happy for your visit. Please take our message to your people in America. That is all. In the name of God, we thank you.”

Let us explain why Stephen is concerned. He and other hard working farmers like him in the cotton growing areas of Mali are negatively affected by globalization, and in particular US farm policy. They grow grain which they eat, plus cotton to sell for cash so they can buy fish, meat and vegetables, clothing and shoes, and pay school fees. The depressed price of cotton means their families are hungrier, and provisions are scarcer.

This is how US policy has impact across the ocean: the US government pays US corporate cotton growers for their cotton regardless of the demand. Ostensibly, these subsidies exist to protect American farmers from competitive markets, but in reality the top 10% of cotton-subsidy recipients (large agro-businesses) receive almost 80% of the money. Subsidies encourage growers to grow as much cotton as possible, much more than the US market can use. The surplus cotton gets dumped onto world markets, which drive prices down everywhere—including West Africa.

As he showed CRWRC staff his farm, Stephen said, “Yes, I have heard of the politics of cotton in Mali, Burkina Faso, China, and USA. The village was told by the company that buys the cotton to only have small or medium cotton fields since the price is low and not all may be bought. In the past I have had 12 or more acres of cotton planted but am down to 9 acres this year. Others have also reduced or have stopped growing cotton altogether.” We asked, “If the cotton prices were better, what would be the first thing that you would do or buy?” Stephen’s answer was immediate and simple. “Food. Meat.”

Both Democrat and Republicans leaders have supported ending cotton subsidies, and President Obama’s proposed budget sets new limits on direct payments to cotton producers. But the National Cotton Council of America (NCC) is lobbying hard to maintain the subsidies. The NCC succeeded in getting cotton subsidies restored in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The time could not be better for you to act and make a difference. Write or email your US Senate and House Representatives and tell them you support the limits on payments to cotton producers. Encourage them to push for legislation that is fair for everyone. Our tax support of American agro-business should not do harm to Africans struggling to feed their families.

Recent news from my life in Kenya

2008-10-30T09:44:00.009+03:00

This was just sent out this week to my network of supporters on email. If you would like to be added to that list (I send something about once every other month or so) please let me know in a comment, along with your email.

OK, so this e-news is about much more than safari like you think of safari at home. However, ‘safari’ means ‘journey’ and I am on quite the journey! I’m traveling all over the country and learning so much. Hopefully I’m teaching a bit as well.

I hope to have a newsletter out by the end of the month with more specific work here. If you are not on the snail mail list and would like to be please let me know what your snail mail address is and I’ll get you on the list.

Much thanks and many blessings to each of you.

Godspeed, Amy Achieng Mwende (my two most used Kenyan names)

----------------------------------

Figure 1: Amy and Alice trying to dance with Maasai women from the boma we visited at the Maasai Mara in September.

Greetings from Maasailand!

I haven’t sent out an email since my return to Kenya in July. It has been crazy-busy and great, but that is no excuse for not updating you on the work and my life here in Kenya. Please allow me a few minutes to try and do so. I should also have a newsletter coming out this month for more information (and there’s always my blog at www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com! Don’t forget to leave me a note, too.)

I have had several visitors and volunteers since my return. Last month there was a volunteer here working on writing stories for the Embrace AIDS campaign. Watch for stories coming from East Africa written by Kristen Nowicki. She’s had some great experiences and will have a variety of things to share. You can read her blog at www.kristennowicki.blogspot.com. At the same time one of my colleagues, Alice, from the Burlington, Ontario, office was here so we headed out to the Maasai Mara for a quick safari. If you get a chance to come, please plan for a bare minimum of two nights and a week if you can afford it. AMAZING!

Figure 2: A Maasai woman bargaining with me for a fair price on these bracelets for the Southlawn third graders. The table is made from manure, just like their homes.

Figure 3: Within the first thirty minutes of our plane landing on the Mara we saw our first lion pride. This cub just ignored us, and I was OK with that.

Figure 4: The Wildebeest Migration is one of the Eight Wonders of the New World. We were on the Mara during the migration but not the right side of the reserve (which is huge), so this giant train of zebras was really as close as we got to see the great migration.

Figure 5: It was amazing to see God's creatures so close to us and we prayed that they didn't get hungry.

Figure 6: The Maasai are known for their nomadic life, following the grazing land for their cattle; for keeping many of their traditions, including their clothing whether they are in the boma or downtown Nairobi; and for the men's awesome standing vertical jump.

Figure 7: Many people in African countries that are born with a disability are ignored and shunned by their culture. I was encouraged and blessed to see this young man on the far left openly welcomed and encouraged to be an active part of the daily life that we saw during our visit.

Figure 8: Kenyan and American friends playing Kumiliki on my floor. I lost big-time, but learned where several areas of Nairobi are located and what they are called.

I finally broke down and bought a game I’ve had my eye on for the last six months. I realized it was never going to go on sale and the people that would most appreciate and enjoy it are living here with me. It’s called Kumiliki and is a Nairobi version of Monopoly. It is great fun! I’ve played it several times. This past week I even played with a friend and her eleven-year-old. It’s a cultural lesson as you realize not everyone knows what it means to ‘roll the dice.’ It’s ‘toss’ or ‘throw’ the dice. It’s not ‘minus’ but ‘take-away’ when you are subtracting for change with a child.

Figure 9: Many areas outside of Nairobi are considered malaria-zone. My policy is if there is a net provided I sleep under it. It can get warm, but it's better to have a restless night than malaria.

Before Alice, Kristen and I headed to the Mara we were in Western Region visiting one of our partners. It was a good trip but also quite difficult. I have a posting on my blog regarding the difficulties and encourage you to read it – “They’re Out.” The morning of our departure we drove straight into a riot in Kisumu town. We were fine but it was definitely unnerving. It was strange to have made it through the post-election violence and then be involved in a riot eight months later. Please, check my blog and feel free to ask any questions you may have. I want to thank Andy Ryskamp, the US CRWRC Director, who God placed in Kenya at the same time as this event. Andy debriefed the three of us and was a blessing to each of us. Just another example of how God provides. I am ever-humbled by His provision for me.

The trip was so much more than just that riot though. God showed us some awesome things about our work, culture and agriculture – amaranth, honey and sugar cane.

Figure 10: A trailer filled with sugar cane on its way to the factory. Much is lost along the way and the farmer is paid by weight that is measured only once the trailer arrives at the factory.

Figure 11: One of the communities that we visited was utilizing the reeds growing nearby as an IGA (Income Generating Activity). This man is making a table that our partner staff purchased for his home.

Figure 12: These pins are made by many of our partners. Everywhere you travel in Kenya you will find people who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. This is a reminder to break the stigma and embrace with love and help all of God's children.

Figure 13: This woman was eager to share her story of how CRWRC, through our partner, was helping not only her, but her children and community. It’s humbling to hear such stories. You can read her story on my blog under “Sex vs. Agriculture.”

Figure 14: Chai, or tea, is an important part of Kenyan culture and you are often offered chai wherever you go. It is part milk and part water boiled and steeped with tea. Sugar is added, one or two spoons, to the steaming hot mixture and then everyone enjoys time together in fellowship.

Figure 15: This Muslim man was the only man present in one of our meetings. As the women talked of the men's behaviors he sat quietly until we asked him to respond. He agreed and talked of the pressures that are prevalent in the culture for men.

Figure 16: Recycling hits a high point. This purse is made from recycled bottle tops and wire. Kevin makes all sorts of great things while trying to protect the earth and recycling. The purses are common but he added the fabric so that they are easier to use without losing things through the holes. He has also taken old newspapers and made them into awesome gift bags of all sizes.

September brought the annual EAMT (East Africa Ministry Team) meeting. Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya staff gathered for a couple of days of meetings. We were then joined for the latter part of the week for some great environmental training, lead by a local NGO, one of our consultants from CRWRC – Tanzania and a staff member from the Burlington office. If you are interested in some of the things we discussed, I encourage you to talk with any of the staff in this region that you may know. You can also look up Care of Creation Kenya that led part of our training. One of the consultants led a discussion of what Scripture says about stewardship of the land God has given to us. It was awesome and such a blessing!

Some of us were so excited and talking about all of the ways that we can individually help our offices and partners make improvements, and we started talking about all sorts of IGAs. Our conversation continued as we walked into a mall on our way home and into a fair trade shop. That’s where we saw these awesome gift bags made from old newspapers and where I started a relationship with Kevin, the creator. It’s amazing how God brings people and ideas together.

This is only a small look into my work and life here in Kenya since July. I will try and keep in better touch.

I’d love to hear from all of you. Have a great fall!

Rejoice in the Lord, Amy in Africa

www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com

PO BOX 66490
Westlands
00800 Nairobi
Kenya

blog updates

2008-10-24T17:34:00.002+03:00

I try to go through here periodically and shake things up a bit. You know, check to make sure all the links are still working, etc. So I've moved things around, added a slide show and other such funness. (funness?)

Have a great day my friends! I bought four Kenyan films today and that's instore for this weekend. WE'll see. this weekend is actually the third annual KIFF - Kenyan International Film Festival. This is how I may celebrate since I can't find a schedule anywhere. bummer.

SHOPPING!

2008-10-23T13:48:00.000+03:00

As the holidays are approaching I wanted to share two of my fave places to shop.

The first is my sis, RubesDesigns. She makes everything herself and rocks the planet. She even has some fun jewelry made from beads that I have sent her from Kenya. Look under the Kitengela section for most of those. Fun, huh!

The second is my friend, Jackie, and her Gifts on a Mission. She lives in Atlanta and travels to Kenya to get to know artisans and pay them a fair wage for their product. She then gives a portion of her profits to a children’s home in Lodwar, which is in northern Kenya. She has beautiful things and I’ve also met some of her vendors.

I really encourage you to check out each of these sites and make some purchases. Look for something unique to give this holiday – you, and those you give to, will not be disappointed, I promise.

Hunger videos

2008-10-17T12:19:00.000+03:00

This is a great project to get the idea of hunger into the broader population. I encourage you to take 5-10 minutes to check out this website and watch the videos. Then choose your faves and add them to your blog, your myspace, your facebook. Share the news. Hunger is real. Real people CAN and ARE helping. Please join the fight.

death and illness

2008-10-17T11:35:00.002+03:00

I have been on the road and away from the internet for most of the past two weeks. Upon my return I read some sad and heartbreaking emails.

Cancer, test results pending, cancer, more test results pending, typhoid, malaria, still no new job, cousin passed away, great aunt passed away, kidney transplant.

It's a bit overwhelming to say the least. I'm not even sure which to respond to first. Some of these folks I haven't seen in two or three years but it still hurts.

I am currently awaiting my own test results to see if and which tropical disease I may have. Damn, I feel old, how can all of this happen? Where does it come from? How much can we bear?

Now to be fair, I did receive some good emails and the pending joy of my nephew turning 2 this weekend and everyone getting to be there (except me). Oh, but the partying we'll do when I return.

So, now as I sort through all the hundreds of emails and facebook and blogs and such, I am praying for only good news today.

Bear with me as I catch my breath.

long time silence

2008-09-25T10:18:00.002+03:00

Hello, my friends.

I'm going to try and keep up better here. My main blog is still over at wordpress as mentioned before. All my photos are posted on picasa at http://picasaweb.google.com/rubyslipperwarrior.

Anyway, I don't have much to say this morning. It's been a good week thus far. Put out a fire and averted PR crisis, getting what I hope will be a super fun skirt made, making plans to go to South Africa for Christmas with a friend. All in all - good times.

Better get some things done. Getting ready to head out to go get my Alien Card today. yea!

music

2008-07-23T15:16:00.002+03:00

It's been a wee bit too long, I'd say.

Just wanna say I'm really enjoying Jason Boland. Just a little note while I finish up my lunch sorta.

WANTED: Dir. of Alumni

2008-04-11T10:41:00.002+03:00

Anyone looking for a job in rural Kansas?

My awesome Alma Mater is looking for a new Dir. of Alumni as Tarah is moving to China to teach English.

If you are interested or know of anyone, check out school. Job isn't posted yet but you could email the alumni office.

I'm famous!

2008-04-10T16:18:00.002+03:00

I know, I'm already famous to you, but seriously I am famous now.

I'm in a movie.

A coworker called me up two nights ago and was asking me questions about Bloomington, MN and MOA - Mall of America. He brought the documentary about some pretty creative politial activism into the office yesterday and sure enough - there I am!

Shari and I are standing there clear as day at MOA. So fun!

While I'm only there briefly, I am clearly there.

I am not making comments on the film but to say it's worth it for my fame and the creativity of it all if nothing else. I am not sure agree with their tactics but it was interesting and they certainly had a good point. How's that for not commenting?

Anyway, here's the link so you, too, can enjoy my fame.

Let me hear a big Yee-Haw!

2008-04-09T14:49:00.000+03:00

I'm so excited I could just spit!

27 days until I follow that yellow brick road that leads me home!

I have final confirmation on my flight home. I am still working on the other details but stay tuned and I will post my calendar. I can hardly wait to see as many of you as possible because as my dear friend, Dawn, just wrote in an email, "It's been a long time and there is lots to catch up on!"

I fly out of Nairobi at 11:50pm on May 6 arriving at London Heathrow at 6am on May 7.

I fly out of London at 1140am on May 7 and arrive at Chicago O'Hare at 1:55pm that afternoon.

I finally fly out of O'Hare at 4:40pm and land in Wichita that evening at 6:35 and can hardly wait!

YEE_HAW

Interview

2008-04-07T12:26:00.002+03:00

This is from my friend, Kim. She was my RD in college back at SC and we went to Japan together when I was a student. Then later I traveled back to Japan where she was living (and remains) to help with some orientation of summer teams. It was awesome. I miss her, haven't seen her in years and thought I'd introduce you all to her here. THese are questions that she asked me.

1. You love holidays! Why? (Why not? isn't an
answer!)

I love to celebrate. Life is sucky sometimes and why dwell on that when you can dwell on the joy of holidays? People come together and they can be so festive! So grab something and someone and party-on! The next holiday here in Kenya is Labor Day on May 1. Random Thursday off. Sounds like a good holiday to me. I will be in the US for Mother's Day, Memorial Day, FAther's Day and I think maybe Independence Day - hooray!

2. Why did you choose to go to Sterling College?

I wanted a small, Chirstian college. I naively thought that the 'bad' things that happen at big schools wouldn't happen there. However, if I recall the whole soccer team was suspended the year before I arrived for drinking. SC has it's faults like any other school but I loved the people, the faith, the challenges and opportunities that were provided to me through it. I wouldn't change having chosen SC for anything.

3. What do you cook besides pancakes?

I just had everyone over for cake and ice cream for a friend's birthday (see Q1) and last week I also had folks over for chili. I like soups and things that take few dishes. But I really like desserts. yummy!

4. How is your fair complexion and the sun in Africa making out?

I have a tan unlike anything I've ever had. I don't know if you can tell without me showing you the farmer tan lines though and it's really just on my face, arms and neckline. It's fun though. I've only had two serious burns since arriving in Africa - ouch!

5. How is your sweet nephew doing?????

He is too cute for words. I recently received the Easter pictures and he was enjoying dying eggs on his papa's lap. Too, too cute. I can hardly wait to see him. I called Ang the other day and tried to talk to him. All I got, repeatedly, was HI! It was great!

Now it's your turn. If you want to be interviewed, leave me a comment including the words "Interview me."
I will respond by emailing you five questions. I will pick the questions. If you don't have a valid email address on your blog, please provide one. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

family history

2008-04-04T15:10:00.002+03:00

When I moved to MN I found that many of my freinds were very aware of thier heritage. I am not. I grew up knowing my Gran was German. We ate bierocks and lebkuken (which I spelled wrong), neither of which was a fave with me.
However, I have found out some news on my Dad's side I thought I would share with you, because I know how interested you all are.

This is from my Aunt Sue.

YOUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER PARCEL CAME FROM CANADA IN A COVERED WAGON. HER FAMILY WAS FROM ENGLAND. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT GGD PARCEL. THE THOMPSON SIDE--GREAT GRANDAD WAS FROM IRELAND. AND GGM WAS FROM CHECHOSLAVAKIA

She almost always emails in all caps.

So, what's your history? Think we're related?

sunburn vs. suntan

2008-03-17T17:50:00.003+03:00

Friday while we were getting ready to go out into the field, one of my coworkers and I were being sure to put sunscreen on our chests to protect ourselves from the sun where our v-neck exposed it. Nothing revealing, but you have to be careful of that equatorial sun.

Later that day, on our way to the site we passed at least two women who were working hard in their fields - without shirts on at all.

It made me laugh to think of our difference in modesty and how worried I had been about getting a little burn.

oh the irony of it all

Eldoret story

2008-03-06T13:48:00.001+03:00

I encourage you to stop by Ben's website to read an unforgetable story from our trip to Eldoret a few weeks ago.

good cause and good fun

2008-02-28T10:46:00.001+03:00

This is from my sister, feel free to join in!

Nothing like a family filled with people working in the non-profit sector.

Hello my friends and family! I know it seems like it was just yesterday, but it is that time of year again....BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE time. For those that don't know what this is, it is Big Brothers Big Sisters main fundraising event of the year: a time for our matches to have fun and interact with others from the community, and a time for the community to get involved and learn more about our program and the services we provide.

As usual, I am doing my part for my own BBBS here in Goodland. We are quite honestly struggling financially right now, and this is the best opportunity we have throughout the year to get ahead. I'm asking that each of you take the time to think about our program and try to budget a donation into whatever you set aside for yearly donations. I can tell you that currently our program has 44 matches, with about 35 more children on the waiting list!! The funds raised from this event help us to continue recruitment of volunteers, expansion efforts, provide more training opportunities for our volunteers and more group activities for our matches and children on the waiting list, and carry insurance for each match we have! Trust me, it adds up quickly and we want to be able to continue serving the children in our counties for years to come!

So, if you feel so inclined to bless us with your contribution, you can make a pledge or donation by clicking one of the links next to the picture on my page, which is at http://www.kansasbigs.org/bfks/bowlerview.aspx?id=SarahT. This site allows you to actually make a donation online via debit or credit card OR you can make a pledge and select to be BILLED after the event (which is in April). My own personal goal of dollars I hope to raise is $2500 this year! It's a big challenge, but I hope I can reach it...shatter it actually!

Thanks very much for your support, it truly means a lot. Both Big Brothers Big Sisters and I thank you in advance for any support you can give.

Best Wishes,

Sarah

busy,busy,busy

2008-02-28T09:25:00.001+03:00

I apologize upfront for being so long in talking with you all. Life is crazy and can be a bit uncertain in Kenya these days. I want to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and kind words. I have shared many of them with my coworkers and they are also encouraged and thank you.

Kenyan Presidential elections were held Dec. 27 and Dec. 30th President Kibaki was sworn in for his second five-year term, amidst cries of rigging. There has been turmoil ever since and even leading up to the elections. I am safe and have never felt in danger, perhaps a little fear in moments of uncertainty, but never danger. I do have colleagues however, that have been in danger and had to move from their home. This is to me, a sad situation in Kenya where people no longer trust the neighbors they have had for twenty years. People are hurting and are very angry. Please pray for a great healing in this nation.

At the end of January, I decided to take a mental and emotional break and I went to Tanzania for 6 days. It was such a blessing to be with friends, old and new, and see something different. I was refreshed and renewed and a new person when I returned with fresh roasted coffee and toasted cashews for the office. Part of that refreshment came from ‘talking’ with all of my friends at Calvary CRC back in the Twin Cities. We did a planned skype interview during worship for the kick-off of Missions Emphasis Week. I wish I could have been there. I heard nothing but wonderful things from people I talked with afterwards. I then was able to spend some time on skype calling some family and friends direct to their phones and it was so heart warming to talk instead of email. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly thank God for the blessing of email and such, but there’s nothing quite like hearing the voice of someone you really miss that warms your soul. I was staying somewhere where the wireless was strong enough to be able to make those calls and I can hardly wait for that to happen again.

I have just returned from a week upcountry in Eldoret, one of the hardest hit areas. My job is to work with visitors and volunteers and as CRC was not allowing anyone to come to Kenya for awhile, I was loaned, if you will, to the Relief team.

I went on this trip at the suggestion of my Team Leader/Country Consultant, Davis Omanyo for two reasons: 1. to help relief and 2. so that I could provide a better picture for you of what is happening in Kenya. I am grateful for that encouragement and the welcome I received from the Relief Team of Ben and Chris. I asked many questions because I have no relief experience and they were both gracious and patient in their answers. I have learned so much about relief, the Eldoret region, politics, our partner the Reformed Church of East Africa - RCEA, and hope. I pray that I can adequately share what I have learned with you so that you may see things differently and be changed and encouraged to help in some way the hurting people in Kenya.

I have decided that perhaps the best way to fill you in is just with pictures. I hope that these will provide you a sense of urgency, fear and yet hope that is running throughout the country. If you would like more places to get information here are several news websites and blogs that offer a variety of views.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/default.stm
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4D0C325C-2170-4E0B-BB34-AEAEACF6DE64.htm

some blogs
One
Two
Three
Four - Alida

I have been having problems with my computer for a month so please forgive me if I have not responded to your emails. I hope to catch up shortly but the next three weeks are very full. Please keep writing though, I love hearing from each of you. I also want to thank everyone for the letters and care packages, they are wonderful! I am listening to a little Michael Bublé as I write.

As you look through these photos, the websites and my other pictures online, please pray for Kenya. Pray for the people you see in the photos. I also encourage you to ask me questions and I will post them on my blog with the answers. If one of you has a question, I am sure that several of you do. I want to help you, and me, understand as best as I can.

If you would like to contribute to the work of the Relief Team in the Eldoret Region, I encourage you to do so. I realize that many people don’t like to give to areas in conflict thinking that people got themselves into this mess they can get themselves out. There is a little truth in that, however, many of the people in the pictures were living their lives on land their family paid for and has had for generations. They were living and working with neighbors they had known for years. They were targeted in the violence due to their tribe. It was not so long ago that was happening on a grand scale in the US and while it was awful and painful, there were great people that stood up to the injustice and showed mercy to those around them, preaching love and peace. Without people like you to stand alongside the many Kenyans doing the same to help spread the word in deed of God’s love, justice and mercy, how can these brothers and sisters find peace?

You donations can be made in the following ways:
To donate to the Kenya relief response, mark donations "Kenya Conflict" and mail to CRWRC, 3475 Mainway, PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8 or to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI, 49560. Donate online at www.crwrc.org. In Canada, call 1-800-730-3490. In the U.S., call 616-241-1691 or 1-800-55-CRWRC. Email: crwrc@crcna.org.
For more stories, please keep checking my other blog at www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com. I hope to have pictures online shortly, but I have misplaced one memory card that has many pictures from the assessment as well as my trip to Tanzania.

Figure 1: Help is coming from all over. As we were leaving one camp on my first assessment trip in Limuru, staff from Cadbury pulled up. These are some cans of drinking chocolate that they were delivering.
Figure 2: People of every age are affected by the post-election violence. Many have had to desert the only home they have ever known, while some will remember death and fear as some of their first memories.
Figure 3: After visiting with the Red Cross chairman in charge, we were given a tour of the camp in Limuru. This is a shot of some of the clothing lines set up next to the water tank. Sanitation is an issue at all camps, some with more concern than others. The rainy season will begin in a month or two and the sanitation and health concerns will only rise. There is concern of malaria, typhoid and cholera without proper facilities and mosquito nets.
Figure 4: At the Limuru camp this child is able to go to school. However, many of the teachers are university students that are unable to return to class because the universities haven't opened. When the universities open these students will lose many of their teachers and they return to their own studies. The local schools cannot always absorb them and many teachers are themselves displaced. There are school fees to be paid, uniforms to be purchased and sometimes even desks to be found or purchased since area schools are already full.
Figure 5: Alida is holding a three-month old at Bishop Muge camp. The Red Cross mobile clinic was there offering immunizations when we were there visiting. Bishop Muge camp is located at a school campus and at about 9000 feet above sea level. Note all the clothes both Alida and the baby are wearing. It was cold and we felt some freezing rain prior to our departure. Not all of Kenya is hot.
Figure 6: The showground in Eldoret is a huge camp that at one time housed 19,000 people. Many of these children are coming from villages and haven't seen a lot of 'wazungu,' or 'white people.' They followed me like I was Piped Piper, holding my hand, rubbing my skin, gently pulling my arm hair and stroking my hair. “It’s white!” was a comment I heard when they were looking at my hair. I am hoping they were talking about my scalp and not that I have a patch of white hair up there that I cannot see in the mirror. We walked, we marched, we counted in English and Swahili and sang songs. They sang “If you’re happy and you know it” for me and I taught them “Where is Thumbkin.” I was trying to think of an easy song with actions. They seemed to like it. I believe that there is some video footage of that out there somewhere. Watch for me and the kids on the Grammy’s next year!

Figure 7: The Kenya Red Cross has taken the lead for most camps. I believe that there are over 55 camps for IDPs right now. IDP is Internally Displaced People. Estimates of numbers of IDP from the post-election violence range from 300,000 - 600,000. Whenever we arrived at a camp, our first stop was to visit the Red Cross office and those in charge. Before we ever visited a camp, we met with the Red Cross Director at the Red Cross office in Eldoret.
Figure 8: These are photos of the Bishop Muge camp. The camp is quite organized with drainage ditches and orderly lined up camps. People have their cooking areas set up throughout to cook the maize and peas that they receive from Red Cross. Chai is a key part of Kenyan culture. Whenever you visit someone’s home or office, you are offered chai. People drink it several times a day. When I was living with my host family the last thing we did before leaving for work was have chai. The first thing we did when we came home in the evening was have chai and the last thing we did before we went to bed was have chai. That doesn’t include tea time at the office at 10, and sometimes again in the afternoon. Lives are shared around chai, people are equal around chai, love is shared around chai and the community is one around chai. Now, this key part of Kenyan’s diet is missing. Tea, milk and sugar are not part of most relief distributions. So if people do not have money, they cannot have chai that warms the body and the soul.
Figure 9: This is a row of pit latrines under construction. This camp had quite nice facilities and when they are finished they will have doors and roofs, not all do. Here we were seeing how difficult it can be for children to use these pre-fab latrines. You put your feet on the pre-fab feet to balance yourself so you do not trip and fall into the 20-foot hole. Alida and I used ones at a previous camp (with each other serving as guard) so that we could experience a bit of what it might be like to be living at the camp.
Figure 10: This is maize getting prepared to be distributed at the show grounds. Families get only so much maize, yellow peas (from Canada), and cooking oil (sometimes), blankets, mosquito nets, Jeri cans per family. Not every camp gets the same items and no one gets enough of anything. One of the biggest needs is for blankets. These areas are chilly at best at night and will only get colder as the rainy season nears. Blankets are also the most expensive item that we provide.
Figure 11: This is a map of the show grounds camp. (The show grounds are like the State Fair Grounds.) There are five camps within the show grounds and it is housing 13,000 plus people. There is a weekly census taken and there are local committees to help the Red Cross stay on top of who is there and who has left. The camps are set up by when people arrived. Those in Camp A were among the first to arrive at the camp as early as Dec. 30 (the elections were Dec. 27). Camp A is also the lowest part of the show grounds and there will be a lot of issues when rainy season arrives if the people are not moved to higher ground. You will note Red Cross office space on the left and spots for toilets and bathrooms around the perimeter. There are many people in every camp doing nothing. There are some that are close enough to their ‘shamba’ or ‘farm’ that they are able to go to everyday to work their harvest of cabbage and ground nuts. Others have been able to go to town to buy fruits, veggies and sweets to bring back to the camp and sell at a small stand. I bought some mangos from one woman who had mangos of four different sizes and prices, a few avocados, green onions and one or two other fresh foods. The mangos I purchased were about 8 cents each.

My calendar for the next month:

Mar 3-5: Road trip to Kitui area with coworkers, Stephan and Oscar, to visit HIV/AIDS programs with our partners.

Mar 10-12: Visitor from US for work

Mar. 14-15: Road trip to the Mombasa area (coast) with coworkers Stephan and Alida to visit some partner work there.

Mar. 17-20: East Africa Ministry Team meeting and spiritual retreat in Malindi (coast). I pray there is a hammock with my name on it!

Mar. 21: My contract for a second year is due

Mar. 21-24: Easter break – He is Risen, He is Risen INDEED!

Thank you all for your letters and emails filled with prayers and encouragement. It is only the grace of God that gives me people such as you and I thank Him regularly for each of you.

The best way to keep up with me is on my blog but I admit that I am also on myspace and facebook if you want to see me there. I only know how to do the basics and refer people back to my blog for details, but I have been able to keep up mostly with those sites. So if you are there, look me up.

I cannot say it enough. Thank you.

I also cannot offer you the opportunity to support the Kenyan people through our relief work. If you can and are so moved, please help us provide hope and love through things such as blankets and children’s sweaters.

You donations can be made in the following ways:
To donate to the Kenya relief response, mark donations "Kenya Conflict" and mail to CRWRC, 3475 Mainway, PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8 or to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, Grand Rapids, MI, 49560. Donate online at www.crwrc.org. In Canada, call 1-800-730-3490. In the U.S., call 616-241-1691 or 1-800-55-CRWRC. Email: crwrc@crcna.org.
For more stories, please keep checking my blog at www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com.

new looks

2008-01-31T12:51:00.000+03:00

I have finally figured out a few thigns about blogger. Good grief, I'm probably the last, but we're good now. I deleted all of my sidebar last week and so have added it back with some changes (forgive me if I forgot you, please remind me).

Enjoy.

Kenyan blogs

2008-01-29T11:32:00.001+03:00

Here are some blogs that are written mainly by Kenyans for a different perspective on current events than mine. I’ve only been in Kenya since mid-September and that is very different than what you will read on these blogs.

One
Two
Three

latest update from Kenya

2008-01-29T11:25:00.000+03:00

Happy New Year!

What a month it has been. Most of you received word from me at the beginning of the month about all the post-election turmoil going on in Kenya. We all thank you for your thoughts and prayers and are blessed to have you praying for us. Thank you.

Things remain tense, but on Thursday Jan. 24, Pres. Kibaki, opposition leader Raila Odinga and African Union representative, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan emerged from a meeting with everyone saying they were open to dialogue. We praise God for that and pray that it is true and hearts, minds and eyes will be open to what lies ahead.

I have not been out of Westlands since returning home from Christmas holiday. Westlands is the area of Nairobi where I live and work and things have remained fairly ‘normal’ here. I have linked on my blog to several other blogs of friends and strangers who are more ‘in the trenches’ than I am if you would like to see and read more. Please be aware that there are a lot of resentments and fears and hurts and not everything you read is balanced or even entirely true. These links are in posts and others are on the ‘Resources’ page.

These are snapshots taken by Alida as we waited in line two hours to purchase groceries during the early post-election crisis. Many of the food shelves were sparse or bare, like this shot of the veggie area.

While current events in Kenya have changed all of our lives and the way we work (all visitors with CRC have been postponed or cancelled until further notice), life still goes on.

Christmas was good, different but good. I called the family that evening for me, morning for them, and got to talk to everyone except that somehow I missed Aunt Janet. As I was talking to my cousin, Steve, I looked up and saw a crocodile in the lake not 30 feet from me. Merry Christmas?! The Lake Baringo Club, where we stayed, had entertainment for the holiday complete with native dances. The men in the photo are Maasai dancers and the woman with the necklaces is Turkana. The day after Christmas we took a boat tour of the lake and came a little too close to some hippos. They can be quite vicious as well as fast so we quickly moved to give them way and got a few good pictures in the process.

We had a lot of time on our hands while we were away and it was quite warm at Baringo with no AC anywhere to be had. We did take some time on one day and drove over to Lake Bogoria nearby to see the flamingos and hot springs. You can see more pictures of my Christmas holiday here.

After returning to Nairobi we just stayed in our homes for the next week. Venturing to the nearest grocery, the office, each other’s apartments and the Mennonite Guest House, all within a 25-minute or less walk, although we did have the office car the whole week which was really nice.

Alida and I were going stir-crazy in my apartment and so we stayed with Amanda for a couple of days to ‘shake things up.’ Our friend, George who is Kenyan, was also staying there. I think he stayed to comfort us as his home area was safe. It was such a blessing to have him with us to help us understand the political implications of everything. We had a TV, radio and bought the papers most days to help us stay informed, but as newbies we had a lot of questions.

I have been keeping up with my blog and trying not to post too many things on any one day. I do know that you are visiting and I believe that I have set it up so that you do not have to use a password to leave a comment anymore, so please do so.

Finally I would like to share with you something I think is very exciting. The following is from Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Edina, Minnesota, where I attended church the four years before moving to Kenya. They are a tremendous support to me in everyway. If you are anywhere near the Twin Cities the next two weeks, I encourage you to stop by for the fun. Copies of the DVD that will be used on Feb. 10 are also being sent to Beth and Marty Christians in the Osbourn, Kansas area, Laura Hitt in Longview, Texas, the Grand Rapids Home Office in Michigan, Sterling United Presbyterian Church in Sterling, Kansas and my parents in Liberal, Kansas. If you would like to see it (it is nothing close to being professional so be prepared) and are near any of those folks, just give them a call or contact Pastor Todd at Calvary in the Twin Cities. (If you need any of those contacts, please let me know.)

MISSION EMPHASIS WEEK
Mission's Emphasis Week Kick Off begins next Sunday, February 3 with an extended worship service (aprox. 90 minutes). We will talk with Amy Thompson live, via the Internet, and will be blessed by the music of the Minnesota Teen Challenge Choir. We welcome Pastor Bob Pollema as guest preacher and Andy Ryskamp, the executive director of CRWRC. There will be an all-church lunch after worship. During lunch Andy Ryskamp, the executive director of CRWRC, will share what the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee is doing to further the Gospel around the world.

Come and join us for this wonderful celebration of God's missionary heart.

I close with a verse that my dear friend, Chris, sent to me recently, along with this photo taken of a dessert rose up at Lake Baringo. May your lives be filled with the Joy of Christ, dear friends. I praise God for each of you and think of you often and pray that we may all know that in the midst of trials, we are never alone. Praise be to God!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

hello friends

2008-01-29T11:24:00.001+03:00

Hello, friends!

The weather here is just beautiful today. I walked to work yesterday and it was the low 60’s and not too sunny so it was a nice walk. There is a lovely breeze and I really wish I had on a sweatshirt and was swinging in a hammock with a good book. However, I am at work instead, which is also good.

We have devotions every Monday morning and I am also blessed. Yesterday morning we had half the staff since several are at training for most of the week.

I have started collecting African music and am enjoying that a lot. I’m listening to some from Senegal as I write this to you.

A big thank you to all of you who have emailed, called, SMS’d (short message system, it’s like a text message), sent letters, cards and packages. They are wonderful! I have a lot of fun sharing what you send with my friends and coworkers. As soon as I get more bulletin boards in my office, more pictures will go up. Whatever you send I put in my office to remind me of how blessed I am.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the big International Pancake Day celebration coming up Feb. 5. I will be introducing the joys of Pancake Day to Kenya this year. I hope they are ready.

Things in Kenya have not settled yet so please continue to pray for a release of pain, poverty and violence.

Thank you all! You are a treasure to me and I thank God for each of you.

sandals

2008-01-29T11:22:00.000+03:00

I wore a new pair of sandals today. I walked to the PO then to work. They hurt one of my toes (next to last on the left, to be specific) and when I took off my shoes this evening when I got home there was a huge blister. It is so bizarre to look at. Have no fear – there are no pictures.

I hadn’t blogged in too long here and thought I’d drop you a note. Aren’t you excited.

missing links

2008-01-25T09:24:00.000+03:00

I am so frustrated, argh!

I tried to change the template here and lost all my sidebar links. I have a friend who also uses blogger and hers is so much easer to edit the template so that's what I was going for. Instead I lost all those fabo links. Let me say again ARGH!

other blog

2008-01-25T09:18:00.000+03:00

my other blog is updated with more to come and there is a new look. I've also changed it so you don't have to have a password to comment (I think). So come on over!

I hope to post a few things here in the next week as well. We'll see.

other blog

2008-01-11T20:16:00.000+03:00

OK, just checked and some of them are up now. yea!

at home on a Friday

2008-01-11T20:10:00.001+03:00

I’m currently sitting on my loveseat (alone, so sad) and watching the only thing in English on TV right now. It’s newstime on the other channels and the 7pm news is in Swahili. The 9 pm news is English.

Right now I’m watching some show about the catwalk. That’s all it is. The catwalk. Runway show after runway show. Tonight it’s mostly men and they are dressed horribly, with bad music. The designers are then coming out and they fumble and stumble and carry themselves poorly. It’s just so odd to see that after a bunch of skinny, unsmiling, make-up covered, slick-haired guys.

I need movies. I only brought two and one is just atrocious. I mean, I’m embarrassed I have it it is so bad. The other is Cinema Paradiso which is stellar and one of my faves but I can’t watch it too often, it’s too much. I need to get more. It’s difficult to find legit movies here but you can by pirated movies everywhere. So if you want to send me a carepkg, movies it is. I have several TV series and trust me. I watch them all the time.

I’ve written at least five posts for my other blog this week that have yet to be posted. It’s so frustrating. It really is you know. Argh. I did just post one about being on tv that will be rebroadcast live online tomorrow (Sat). I hope I remember and go to the office to watch. Seriously though, the odds of that happening are slim. I’m just hoping that the folks will get me a copy of it.

I am however, getting a massage tomorrow morning. Oh my, I can hardly wait! I’m so sore and have been carrying way too much stuff in my bag this week. I thought I might lose my arm last night. I’ve got to stop that. I actually saw an article on yahoo about how women are carrying too much in their bags. I didn’t read it but I’ve known it for years anyway, I just don’t’ do anything about it.

I gotta see whatelse is on. Ooooo, celebrity news. Argentine Albums chart. What is that? They are all US artists that I know. Hmmm

Have a good weekend, friends!

updates

2008-01-10T15:56:00.000+03:00

I've made a few changes that are probably mostly unnoticed as they are in the sidebar. I added a link to my Africa photos and deleted a friend's shop that was no longer running.

Nothing exciting, just letting you know.

I almost got to go to Kibera slum today, one of the most famous slums of Africa but it was decided that it was not safe enough yet for me to go. I was going to go with a coworker to take photos for our relief work, but not yet.

Safe

2008-01-02T08:04:00.000+03:00

I am safe in Westlands, Nairobi. Thank you for checking with me. I have a meeting at my office this morning for those of us able to get there safely. I am not far from the office and have an office vehicle so I think I'll be fine. My area is calm and safer. I will let you know how the meeting goes.

Please pray for justice and peace in KEnya and safety for all of us living here.

Africa pictures!

2007-12-13T11:33:00.000+03:00

I have posted four more albums online and hope to get another two up by the end of the week, wait, that's tomorrow! We'll see.

This will take you to one of the small albums and then you can see the rest from there.

Enjoy! Be sure to check out the other blog for more stories of my African adventures and don't forget to leave me comments!

I cannot stress enough how much I love the comments! yea!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

2007-12-05T16:11:00.000+03:00

That's right, today is the anniversary of my birth 34 years ago on Dec. 5, 1973. Wow!

You know, that in Kenya I am still considered youth and that someone in the office thought that I was 28. I love this country!

Anyway, a country song came out several years ago, I mean, it was awhile back because I think I was maybe living in Tennessee at the time. Anyway, it finally truly does fit me.

She'll turn 34 this weekend,
Go out with her girlfriends
Drink some margheritas
cut up and carry on

There'll be guys and they'll be come-ons
She'll probably get hit on
But she thinks all the good ones are gone.

Her momma called this morning,
said, I'm worried about my baby,

I can't remember the rest except for the 'other words' that Rubes and I used to sing, which I'm not going to share since I think my mom might read this. (it's not really that bad, but now you really want to know, don't you.)

Well, Mom called this afternoon (early morning there) and sang happy birthday. Then she started singing this one.

I am 34 and unmarried but I am not alone. I am living in Africa and will eating Japanese for my birthday tonight with 7 friends, 1 Canadian, 2 Americans and 4 Kenyans. That's amazing to me and I absolutely LOVE it!

Not to mention that Texas Laura called me this morning to wish me birthday cheer and I skyped with Rubes and my mom. I have eaten chocolate chip cookies I made and shared tea with my office and guards at my apt. I have had tons of emails and singing and even got a beautiful necklace and earrings from a coworker. Not to mention the freakin' awesome birthday card and gift from Rubes (the first three seasons of Facts of Life, man I love that show!).

So as I go out tongiht and this weekend (there's a place across the street from me that has live music and I have friends in town so we're going out, we figure across the street should be fairly safe anyway.) I don't know if I'll be able to get a rita or if I'll get hit on or not but I don't care. I'm going to have a great time, beacause I'm 34, I'm sexy, and I'm glad to be alive! (trust me if you've never ridden a matatu, this is a big accomplishment here)

I want to add though that the other day I was walking to Amanda's and some guy drove by, leaned out his window and hollered, "Hey, Baby! Nice ass!" It made me smile. I probaby should've been offended, but I wasn't, I admit it.

As Pheobe says in a Season 2 Friends episode (it's all I've been watching for the last two weeks is season 2), "Officially I'm offended, but that's so sweet!"

"She'll turn 34 this weekend . . ."

BUY! BUY! BUY!

2007-12-04T13:58:00.000+03:00

My sister, Rubes, has started a little fun business on the side of her already packed life. She makes this amazing jewelry and has a website. I highly recommend her, regardless of my bias. I think that you should all support her by buying at least 4 items each. In a way you are supporting my work here in Africa, too. Each time she sells something it helps her pay to ship a little treasure to me. (It's expensive to mail stuff from the States to Africa!)

Anyway, here's the link and I'll put in on the sidebar as well. ENJOY and shop to your heart's content!

Thanks!

RubesDesigns

Christmas at the office

2007-12-04T13:49:00.000+03:00

I'm in Kenya, as you know, and it's in the 70's and 80's and just glorious weather. However, it's very different from all Christmas's I've known so it's taking awhile to get into the spirit. Now, I'm listening to Christmas music never you worry. I'm looking for a poinsettia today to take home and it's going to be great. However, they put a tree in my office today and it's the saddest thing I've ever seen. It really is. I'm not sure if I try to fix it if it will hurt someone's feelings or not but seriously, this is SAD.

Quote of the week

2007-12-04T12:31:00.000+03:00

"If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gass will be produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb."

The Standard Nov. 26, 2007

October 2007 report

2007-10-24T15:11:00.000+03:00

Habari yako, rafiki! (How are you, friends!)

That’s right, watch out I’m dangerous. I know just enough Swahili to get me into trouble now. My Kikuyu is even worse, I only know about three things in that tribal language. Kikuyu are the largest tribe in Kenya. The current Kenyan President, His Excellency Kibaki, is Kikuyu and my host family, Rose and Moses Mbugua, are Kikuyu. I have sat through church in both Swahili and Kikuyu and don’t really have a clue with either one, but praise God for His Holy Spirit that allows all tribes and tongues to worship the same, one and true God together. Amen? Amen!

Figure 1-3: Within the first twenty-four hours Alida and I walked to the nearest Java House where I had my new favorite beverage, a Malindi Chai Latte.
I made it to Nairobi, Kenya, with no major problems. I switched airlines at the London/Heathrow airport and had to go through customs to get my luggage and get to the new airline. That was a hassle, but I survived and arrived with all of my luggage, praise the Lord. I also now have an England stamp on my passport. London is really tight on security and luggage allotments, just be forewarned.

Alida met me at the airport with the taxi driver and it was so good to hear her voice. God is good. He knows what we need and provides. I needed a familiar face and there was Alida, broken hand and all. I was dropped off at my guest house where I stayed for the weekend. I made it to my room about 10:30 pm or so and just stood there crying, “I’m here. I’m here. I’m here. I’m really, finally here.” It was overwhelming to finally have made it to my destination. My orientation had all been valuable but it was long and it was so good to be in Kenya.

These are my host parents. I moved into their home the following Monday and stayed for a week. I’ve been living there off and on since my arrival depending on my work schedule. May I introduce Rose and Moses Mbugua. They are Kikuyu and live in a village outside of Nairobi on a farm, unlike those back home. They are business people and have three grown children. I have met their oldest daughter, Joyce, and her daughter who only speaks Swahili and calls me her friend. Below are photos of our house and things from the farm or nearby. Rose raises about 100 chickens as layers. They also have four cattle, with one that is producing milk and they have a small herd of sheep. Moses also decided to plant about 300 birds of paradise because he thinks that they are beautiful and they sell well. The below flower is one that is just in the front yard.

Figure 2: This is a fruit growing in the front yard and is called a tree tomato. I don't know if we have these in the States or not. I hadn't had one. It has a tangy-bitter taste and the seeds, which are what you eat, look like tomato seeds.
Figure 3: These are coffee beans from a nearby farm. They are picked when they are red and then shelled. They are then dried and shelled again. The bean that's inside is what is roasted and ground for coffee.

I’ve only been with my family for two Sundays. The first Sunday we went to both the English and Kikuyu services. It’s not uncommon for visitors to stand and introduce themselves, so Moses taught me to greet the congregation in Kikuyu and they all applauded and giggled. It was fun. The two highlights of attending the church there (it’s ACK – Anglican Church of Kenya, a large denomination here similar to Episcopal) were the dear retired teacher that translated during the Kikuyu service and a member of the youth (youth here is differently defined). The following Saturday I was in downtown Nairobi and just sitting down at a coffeeshop to wait for Alida. A young woman stopped to shake my hand and I had no idea why. When she started talking she told me she was from church. I recognized her at that point and it was such a blessing to me! I thanked her for stopping to greet me and that I really appreciated it. I was about to burst with the excitement of it all. I hadn’t been in the country for three weeks yet and had already run into someone I “knew” in downtown. Thank you, Jesus!

The other Sunday, Moses and I went to a different church for a special fundraiser that they call a harambe. The top photo is of me in a tea field because we were in the Limuru area which is known for its tea. I hope to take more time in that area someday and really take a tour – some of you know my tea addiction. This may not be a good idea, but I’m going anyway!

Figure 4: This is Moses holding a hand of dried rice that is ready to be hulled. Part of the area that we traveled through has marvelous rice and we pulled over to look and purchase. It really is good. That is the rice drying on a tarp below Moses's hand.
Figure 5: On our way back we stopped at the Del Monte shop near the hectares and hectares of Del Monte pineapples. We bought pure juice and fresh pineapples. This is Mary and I with the best pineapple I've ever eaten.

I moved with my family on Monday and on Tuesday took a road trip to Embu for a partner meeting that my host father is a part of. It was he and Mary, a neighbor and friend who is a pastor in the ACK. The meeting, praise God, was in English, but I am not always good with this new accent so I didn’t understand everything.

The next week Moses dropped me off at a different guest house where I would stay for two weeks and take Swahili lessons. Alida and I shared a room for a week before she left for Eldoret, northwest of Nairobi, where she is working at a hospital with community health. The next photos are all from our adventures while living near downtown Nairobi.
Figure 6: Nearby was the “safest street in Nairobi” right in front of the Israeli Embassy. We snuck some photos from down the street.
Figure 7: It's almost election time here in Kenya and this is a rally for the incumbent, Kibaki. The banner reads “Vijana kwa Kibaki” or Youth for Kibaki. However, I discovered the “youth” means anyone 40 or so and younger. Hooray! I'm a youth!?
Figure 8: This was a big day. We went to the Village Market which was not what we expected but an upscale mall full of ex-patriots. The best part of the day was that I bought my first Dr. Pepper since the day I left Kansas in July. IT WAS TASTEY!
Figure 9: This is where I took my language lessons. Ruth was the mwalimu (teacher) and Sister Svetha was the other student in my class. We had our lessons each morning in the hut behind Sister. Right near downtown, we had class in a hut.

This is from an email that I sent to a friend while I was in language school. It really says where I’ve been and sometime still am now. “I'm getting used to being here slowly but surely. It's so different when you're in another country and/or culture longer than a few weeks. I still occasionally am amazed that I am here particularly when I'm sitting in my room and then breakfast which is fairly western. Then I walk outside into my language class which even though we are a stone's throw from downtown Nairobi, is in a hut. Sitting there with my classmate, a Catholic Sister from India, learning Swahili from a Kenyan I realize, ‘Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore.’”

Figure 10: Family is important here and families get together on average once a month as an entire extended family. This is the home of one of Moses' brothers. The women were making that much tea because there were so many people there.
Figure 11: It may be a rural area but there are apartments going up everywhere. Nairobi is expensive and so people live outside of town and commute. Sound familiar?

There is much more to say and not enough room to share it all with you. I encourage you to check out my blog at http://www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com/. There are links to more photos and a lot of other great information like shopping, language and resources. I try to keep it pretty updated.

I have my own office now and have started decorating with pictures and postcards from home, my books and some Kenyan treasures, and of course, a map of Kansas (thanks to the Lazy T!). I’m getting settled in even more next week when I move into my own apartment. I don’t have any furniture really yet, but that will come. Someone is loaning me a mattress until I can find a bed. I’m hoping that Moses will help me buy some great furniture and then that we’ll be able to find a way to carry it to the fourth floor. The apt. is close enough to walk to the office and I’m close to a couple of grocery stores, at least three shopping areas, several restaurants and a couple of churches. Since I will not have a vehicle here those are great things. We’re guessing it will take 30 minutes to walk to work. Guess I need to start getting up earlier.

Earlier this month we had an HIV/AIDS Learning Tour here from North America. There were six participants and we all learned so much. I will be much more involved in the future but since this was three weeks after my arrival, I really was learning right alongside the participants. It was tremendous. We traveled, visited, ate, learned, and shopped with villagers where CRWRC is working in amazing ways. God is alive and well here. There is poverty, there is disease, but there is a mighty, mighty God that we all serve and He is above all of that and the hope that we saw will not be easily forgotten by any of us who were there.

I am blessed to be here and am reminded of each of you often and that you make it possible for me to be here. I have heard from many of you that you pray for me often and I thank you and I thank God for those prayers often. I know that they have pulled me through on more than one occasion. I want you to know that I thank God for you and pray for each of you often as well. I miss you. I really do and I value every personal email and letter and postcard that I receive from you. They are saved in a special mailbox in my email or posted in my office.

My US supervisor, Ruth, was here from Grand Rapids this past month and I have validated that the current plan is for me to be in the States in June 2008. Beyond that there are not details but I plan to be in Minnesota and all over Kansas and I look forward to hearing about you. However, there’s no need to wait that long, drop me a line now and let me know what’s going on in your life. Share with me the everyday and the amazing. I want to hear all about how God is working in your life just as I am sharing how he is working in mine.

I cannot thank you enough for all of your support and I will leave you with my mailing address here in Nairobi, my blog and email addresses and photos of the HIV/AIDS Learning Tour.
May each of you be blessed. Godspeed,

CRWRC
PO Box 66490, Westlands
00800, Nairobi, Kenya

Blog: http://www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com/

Figure 12: These girls are in sewing class to become tailors. It is a two-year program. The 'trousers' hanging are sewn on paper because it's cheaper than material.
Figure 13: Stephan, me and Nema sit in the clinic waiting room while one of the tour participants has an HIV/AIDS test done. Stephan is a program consultant and Nema is the HIV/AIDS Coord. for East and South Africa in the CRWRC.
Figure 14: This is an HIV/AIDS test. The person's blood is on the end and it takes only 15 minutes for the results. One of things that this community asked us to share was that you need to know your status. Don't be afraid to be tested.
Figure 15: This how we often wash our hands prior to eating. Someone pours the water and you often don't have soap. You sometimes get a napkin to dry your hands.
Figure 16: We didn't speak the same language but the children loved to have their photo taken and then see it on the screen of my digital camera. When we arrived they were working on their alphabets by writing them in mud. That's way more fun than paper!

Figure 17: In each village we met the mamas (grannies) who were raising their grandchildren and other children in the community whose parents had died of AIDS. Here they are singing a song for us and then showing us baskets and purses they make to sell.

Figure 18: What would a good Dutch CRC trip be without a picture of a little Dutch girl in front of a windmill? This is a CRWRC board member who is indeed Dutch from NW Iowa. We all shared Wilhelmina's in the van.

Figure 19: We met several people who were HIV + or who were caring for those who were. These people have hope and joy and in turn gave us that hope as well. Knowing someone's status is a personal decision to tell. I cannot offer that information to you.

September 2007 report

2007-10-24T15:10:00.000+03:00

Again, why aren't the photos copying, I wonder.

Hello sisters and brothers!

It has been many miles (or kilometers) since last I wrote to you. I have much to share with you and have tried to keep it succinct, but be warned that this is a long update. It should be an easy read though since there are lots of pictures. Be sure to check my blog for more stories, thoughts and photos.

Figure 1 Travel is done in three main ways in Senegal: walking, donkeys and vehicles. These men are taking onions to market. There is a large area near the ocean where they do market gardening and grow onions.
Figure 2
The last time I wrote to you Chinyere and I were preparing to leave for a long weekend with one of our partners in Linguere, Senegal. It was a long hot weekend, but it was such a learning experience. I was fortunate that this was my first trip. We were in rural Senegal on a farm, talking about cattle and milk production and agriculture. While I did not grow up on a farm, I have family that were/are farmers and ranchers and quite a lot of this conversation was familiar to me. On our way back to Dakar we came into a dust storm (figure 2) the likes of the US Dust Bowl days. This was an amazing storm to watch unfold as the sands from the Sahara Desert blew from the north down upon us.

Figure 4 Jatu works for CRWRC Senegal and took the three of us out to Goree Island for a day. It rained the whole time.
Figure 5 This is one of the beaches that we went to while we were in Senegal. We paid to be at a less crowded beach. This particular one was near a hotel.
Figure 6 We did not have a washing machine and most people do their laundry by hand. We paid a woman to do our laundry but did a few things on our own at the apartment as needed.

Our time in Senegal wrapped up just in time. We had said farewell to Melissa, a CRWRC intern, a few weeks earlier as she went on to Sierra Leone and Chichi and I were getting very anxious to get to our final destinations as well. I learned so much about development from Wyva as well as how to work at helping my volunteers debrief. The last week we were in Dakar really brought everything to a sense of “ah-ha!” The dots were finally connected for me as I began to see the grander picture of development and all its intricacies. Looking back, it was such a blessing to have spent five weeks there. *To clarify: Chinyere is the same person as Chichi and she is the new Bridger for West Africa going through training with me. Wyva is the Country Consultant for Senegal/Sierra Leone.

Figure 7 Winston and Sarah took us on our tour of Bamako to orient us to the area and CRWRC Mali’s work. Winston is a Country Consultant for Mali and Sarah is a HNGR intern from Wheaton in Mali for six months. She’s doing research on excision. We really were looking at ideas for how we might be able to run our own orientations and incorporate aspects of training into areas within the city where we will be working.
Figure 8 Life is lived differently in West Africa. This is a picture of one of the markets. You can buy things in stores, but most things can be and are purchased at the market. It really is quite similar to the State Fair. Lots of venders trying to get you to buy their products. It’s colorful in every sense of the word and everyone is trying to get a bargain.
Figure 9 This is part of the new government complex being built in Mali by the Niger River. It is being financed partially by the Libyan government. Libya is very involved with Mali financially. Please pray about where that relationship may lead.
Figure 10 The younger folks from the office went out to see the night life of Bamako. Unfortunately it rained and we could find none of the live music that we had heard so much about but we had a good time anyway. Two of those pictured are short term interns and one is staff and then me and Chichi (in the center). It was the first time that the weather had cooled down nicely. It was gorgeous! We came home and I thought it was perfect. The house guard was wearing a jacket with the hood up! I guess it’s all relative, no?
We arrived in Mali on time and with all of our luggage. We spent a nice weekend with Scott and Mary Crickmore, CRWRC staff, in their home just relaxing, watching movies and enjoying one another. We’ve stayed with them our entire stay and eaten like queens. Mary is a good cook and has been teaching us how to cook using the foods available. We’ve focused on making “comfort” foods for our volunteers for when they need a break from more traditional foods. We have talked about a little of everything with Mary. She is the West Africa Ministry Team Leader and has been in Mali with CRWRC for 22 years. She is one of the people who helped create our position so we are in good hands.

We discussed medical issues to look out for with our volunteers, how to pack a non-refrigerated picnic, how to shop, where to go and what to look for. We’ve discussed how to help people debrief as well as how to orient them to their surrounding culture. We’ve also looked at changing a tire and how to plan your work day in a job with no local supervisors (which at this point, neither one of us have). Mary has had us reading a lot but we stop when the work day is over and spend time enjoying a card game, Dutch Bliss (of course), and lots of movies. We’ve had opportunities to worship in English and get to know others serving in Mali with CRWRC as well as Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM). And, what would the trip be if I didn’t get to play Dutch Bingo! That’s right, I’ve found two connections to folks back home. Lynda, new to CRWRC, went to Dordt College with Marty C. and Dawn and Gene have stayed at Beth K.’s parents’ house in Downs! BINGO! Let me just say one thing, “OF COURSE!”

Figure 12 pots for collecting water for various needs
We spent our time doing a variety of things as noted above. Two other things that I would like to mention include visiting two different villages. It is the rainy season here so we didn’t do anything but day trips since many roads are impassable. We spent an afternoon with two women who have to use a boat for part of their trip to and from the village and Bamako when they need to travel during the rainy season.

One of our visits was a “first contact” to a village just past Fana. Through a series of events, Mary had found out about a group of Fulani women that were interested in literacy classes. We went there to see what level their interest was at and make sure that they understood what our level of involvement would be if something were to happen. The meeting happened in French, Bambara and Fulbe with a little English thrown in for our sake. There will be a follow-up visit shortly to see if they are still serious and discuss how to begin the process.

The second village visit was to meet and interview a Christian cotton farmer. Part of my job is to encourage people to engage in advocacy on all levels. This takes many forms and Mary is working on a video about the US Farm Bill’s cotton subsidies that are adversely affecting the lives of cotton farmers here in Mali. Chichi and I will be starting work on an article that came from our interview. The man was well-informed and taught us a lot. He is a man of God who until recently was the president of his church district for 19 years. If you are interested in learning more about the US Farm Bill and its effects on Mali cotton farmers, please contact me. I encourage you to learn more and contact your US Senators soon, as they are scheduled to vote on the farm bill this month.
Figure 13 Our interpreter with Etienne, the cotton farmer, talking with Mary and Chichi outside Etienne’s home. We connected with Etienne through a CRWRC partner.
Figure 14 This women is the wife of Etienne’s oldest son. She is standing next to a large pestle in the yard. The pestle is used to pound millet and leaves into edible forms. This size is one that many women would work in at the same time.
Figure 15 This is how food is cooked in many villages, over an open flame.

After 2 ½ weeks in Mali, six people from CRWRC traveled to Niger for the West Africa Ministries Team biannual meeting. Here we had leaders from Senegal/Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger and Nigeria. We did a site visit, took a leisurely boat ride up and down the Niger River, worshiped, exercised, ate, slept and prayed together as we learned from one another and our various ministries.
Figure 16 The Mali Team: Chichi, Sarah Callicutt with Wheaton College’s HNGR program, me, Mary Crickmore, Lynda Dykstra and Winston Bosch wearing our matching outfits. It’s typical for groups to match for special events so we decided we should follow tradition for our meeting. Each person chose their own style and we’re all different. It was fun!
Figure 18 The site visit that I mentioned previously was to a Muslim village where one of the Niger partners is working. We met with many involved in the micro-credit/savings groups. Mary had been there in April and taken some video and it was so different since it is the rainy season right now. This is one of the villagers standing next to her hut.
Figure 19 We had all just settled down for the gathering and it started to rain so we moved into someone’s hut. We, the visitors, were all in and then the men came in and they said that we needed to wait until the women came into the hut as well. Most people take off their shoes when entering a house and certainly before sitting on a mat. It began to rain quite hard while we were in there and the area outside of the doorway was semi-flooded but the rain had stopped and the water receded by the time we moved to another spot for a bit of lunch.
The idea of the work of CRWRC is community transformation. We heard a lot of things that were outward signs of that transformation but discussed later if true transformation was occurring. Just because a husband allows his wife to be a part of a micro-credit group, does it mean that he is thinking about women and his wife in a more just way? Or is he just happy to have her earning money to contribute to the family? How are we to judge that and who are we do so? Sometimes work and learning don’t provide answers, only more questions in which we must struggle to see what God desires in His Word.
Figure 21 This woman and I share the same name but they referred to me as “old Amy” since I am older. While she looks older, she already has 12 children. I told them that I have none and the husband said that he would pray that I would get married in the next year, God willing. This is a totally Muslim community. In the West African culture it is very important for women to be married and having children. You have less value as a woman. Your value is even less if you are unmarried and/or barren.

Figure 22 The rainy season comes with many blessings and difficulties. The blessings include that crops can finally be planted and harvested and it’s a bit cooler. However, travel is more difficult during the rainy season. One of our vehicles got caught in the middle and had to be lifted out of the flooded road.
Figure 23 This is Sarah, Lynda, myself and Chichi on the boat ride up and down the Niger River. It was a cool and relaxing ride and we saw a hippo! Add that to my wildlife list: camel, monkeys, lizards and bugs galore, hippo!

It was a really beneficial week and I was welcomed wholeheartedly as a part of the team, even though I will be a part of the East Africa Ministry Team in less than a week. I praise God for all of the learning that I have done over the past two months. I feel better prepared for the task ahead, but I understand that there is much more learning to do. Thank you for all of your prayers. I hope that you can see how you have blessed me, how God is answering your prayers. I have remained healthy minus a cold and a serious mosquito attack and I praise God for all of the traveling mercies I have been granted.

Forgive me for the length of this update. I hope that you made it through it all. I have cut it several times and deleted several photos. This has been a tremendously busy time and I really wanted to share it with each of you. The next month will be crazier still perhaps as I transition to Nairobi. I fly out of Mali on the 14th, arriving in Nairobi the night of the 15th. I have my first Discovery Tour of six visitors arriving about three weeks later. There is much to do between now and then to say the least, but I hope to keep in touch and send another update before it gets to be five pages long! I promise that there will be wildlife photos in the next update as well.

Thank you, brothers and sisters! I praise God for each of you and long to hear how you are doing.

July 2007 report

2007-10-24T15:07:00.000+03:00

I thought I'd give you a little light reading. This, and what follows, are the enews pieces that I send out to people every month or so. So if you haven't seen them or really want to read them again - have at it! ARGH! None of the photos copied so it's just the text. Sigh.

Hello friends and neighbors,

Praise the Lord, I have made it to Dakar, Senegal! My luggage arrived the next night, not having made the plane in Houston. I’m getting used to the time and the weather. I am 5 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. The weather is hot and humid, at 10pm last night we had almost 80% humidity.

Let’s catch up . . .

Thus far, all of my training has been beneficial (you never know). I had a great time in Canada. Mission Prep in Toronto was amazing. I built some strong relationships, as you can see.
Figure 1 - CRWRC interns: Melissa Dilworth, RN - Sierra Leone; Chinyere Nwachukwu - Nigeria & Mali; Amy Thompson - Kenya; Alida Fernhout, RN (good Dutch CRC gal) - Eldoret, Kenya
Figure 2 - The Nigerian and one of the Americans celebrating Canada Day on July 2
Figure 3- The Mission Prep team in Toronto at Tyndale University
Figure 4 - Niagra Falls (US side viewed from the Canadian side)
Figure 5 - Joe(5), Amy and Chinyere on the Maid of the Mist

It was wonderful learning from people who had spent large portions of their lives overseas in ministry as well as being surrounded by such a great diversity as is offered by Toronto. We went to a mosque and spoke with the Imam. We learned about Hinduism and visited Little India. We ate in Chinatown and shopped in the Kinsington neighborhood. Not to mention our twice daily walks to the local neighborhood Second Cup. They knew us well and I am sure are sad that we are gone. We watched a movie from Bollywood and one of my favorite movies and a true classic (given to me by some good friends before I left) Cinema Paradiso.

When our two weeks of training was finished we had some free time and took in the sights of downtown Toronto including the harbor and the CN Tower as well as heading to Niagra Falls. It was great, really.

Finishing training I headed back home for 6 days where I enjoyed time with the family. It was awesome. We all cried as we parted ways but I have been in touch with everyone since my arrival. The folks were the first ones I called with Skype and we’re all very proud that mom figured it all out.

The journey to Senegal took about 34 hours, a car ride, four planes, several tasty airplane meals, a few in-flight movies and little sleep (none of it comfortable). My blog talks about what we’ve done thus far and I hope to be adding more pictures shortly. Here are a few to whet your appetite though.

Figure 6 - This type of tile flooring is in a lot of homes and businesses as well as on sidewalks. It's cheap and prettier than concert and enough so that you don't need to carpet.
Figure 7 - Mangos growing in a yard just outside of my balcony.
Figure 8 - Mosque on the Atlantic Ocean

I hope to send an email once every month or two but encourage you to check out my blog at www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com for more details and photos on a more regular basis. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have and I will work on getting back to you. I hope to be posting some solid information on HIV/AIDS soon. I am leaving for a work trip to a small town to visit a partner, so I will be offline until sometime next week and will typically only have internet while I’m at the office and not involved in other meetings and assigments. I have started my work now and have much to do! It’s fun, scarey and exciting! I’m enjoying all that I’m learning but looking forward to being finally settled in Kenya. I’m so encouraged by all of your emails and blog comments, please keep them coming!

The good Dr.

2007-10-01T15:03:00.000+03:00

Alida is my roomie here this week. We’ve been through various stages of training for our time in Africa. We’re with the same org. but she’ll be working on community health in a town 6-9 hours away (depending on the roads).

Anyway, she just told me that I have a special gift. I am finishing off my first Dr. Pepper since I left Kansas on July 17. Today is Sept. 29. That’s a long time to go without the good Dr. I’m a bit excited and drinking it perhaps too quickly and it’s making me burp, ok, so I’m belching. It’s not attractive. I know it. But it’s just the two of us in our room.

It’s not pretty but it’s a part of me. Love me or leave me.

BTW: My most beautiful Dr. cost me 120 shillings (which is about $2 USD). I had a glass of wine for supper and it cost the same amount as my Dr. Pepper. WHAT?! That’s the cheapest wine I’ve ever purchased and it wasn’t bad. It’s about the most expensive Dr. Pepper I’ve ever purchased, but dang! It was worth it! They’re hard to find and worth every penny I tell you! Every penny!

Alright, I’m OK now. At least I’ll be OK until I’m finished and then I might mourn. Just a bit.

finally here

2007-09-19T14:12:00.000+03:00

That's right.

I am finally in Nairobi. I'm pooped. But it is soooo good.

I'm living with a family right now which is wonderful and yet I do not want to live there. I am anxious to be on my own and have my own space and quit living out of a suitcase. It's something that I need to let go of and get over, but I'm struggling right now. I move into a guest house for two weeks to take Swahili lessons but then back to the family. It's good. I know it's best and I will learn so much culture etc. But still. I want to be on my own.

It comes down to control. I don't have a lot in my life right now and I WANT IT!

I'll survive.

Just a quick note. I'm needing some information but it's in someone's office where there is a closed-door meeting. I supposed to have a meeting with all of those people today, in fact, 16 minutes ago was the sceduled start time. I wonder if they'll break for lunch or anything. Then I'd have someone to go ot lunch with anyway.

I ate the best darned pineapple ever yesterday. We bought it from the DelMonte fields. YUMMY! supper was soooo good with that as the dessert.

8 oddities about me

2007-08-23T19:10:00.000+03:00

Rubes tagged me from her myspace, so here are 8 oddities about Amy.

1. I won a cowchip throwing contest when I was in grade school.
2. I hate to sweat.
3. When there is no music playing for too long, I almost always start singing "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and have no idea why.
4. Ruby's germ fear, I am concerned have rubbed off on me a bit.
5. I had 8 fillings redone over the past 6 months.
6. I know most of the lines to one of the best movies ever, When Harry Met Sally and I don't care that SOME people think it's a chick flick.
7. I'm hair challenged and had my best friend do my hair before school until I was like a junior in high school.
8. I hate going jean shopping. I would rather shop for a swimming suit.

If you feel so inclined as to make your own list, let me know.

Farewell Senegal!

2007-08-17T13:52:00.000+03:00

That's right, I fly out of Dakar this afternoon to land in Bamako, Mali. I'm looking forward to this because it means I'm one step closer to Kenya - yea! I know that I will learn a ton with the people that I will be working with as well. I'm trying to enjoy these moments where my brain isn't stuffed while I can.

I have added another B&B on the sidebar and want to mention it here, too. Some friends of mine (actually, it's Carrie the Adventurer's parents) live up in Alaska and have a beautiful B&B that I highly recommend. It's just beautiful, the food is fabulous and the hosts are a delight! Not to mention that the address is on EASY STREET! How great is that!

My time in Senegal has been mostly good. I'm not very happy with the fact that there are lizards IN MY SUITCASE and in my home, but God and I are working on that one right now. We're starting with tiny lizards. I get the creeps just talking about them though.

Here's a picture of the one I shooed out of my suitcase last week. I thought I was going to die.

Anyway, many blessings to each of you. I've got just enough time to add the picture and shut the computer down before we head to the apt to get our stuff and drive the airport. yippee!

Africa pictures!

2007-08-06T20:31:00.000+03:00

Hello my friends! If you are interested I have posted two albums of Africa pictures. They are the same ones if you have been on my other blog. If not, enjoy!

I've limited webtime and hope to post a thing or two latter but there's some good stuff on the other 'business' blog if you get a chance.

Senegal
the farm

hey there

2007-07-03T00:25:00.000+03:00

What's going on folks? It's been awhile. I'm up in Canada, eh, for some training before I head out to Africa. Yup, two weeks from today I move to Africa for at least a year. Craziness!

I'm currently on the phone with my sister, so I can't focus. Gotta myspace her now because she's disappointed no one has 'myspaced' her yet.

Be sure to check me out at my other blog at www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com.

Africa blog

2007-05-16T00:11:00.000+03:00

I've written several posts for the Amy in Africa blog but they have yet to be posted. Sorry about that, I know that you are all dying to read it all.

It is a moderated blog. They apparently had someone that wrote something that almost got him kicked out of the country, so they now edit blogs. I hope that the speed picks up, though. This is just another step in my continuing patience education.

My favorite!

2007-05-15T01:05:00.000+03:00

While Stuey's favorite is me, his Aunt Amy, his Aunt Sarah-Ruby loves him, too. My mission from her was to take a picture of the new teeth he was cutting when she visited 2-3 weeks before I went down south.

Mission accomplished.

More Stuey

2007-05-15T01:04:00.000+03:00

Stuey and his folks

2007-05-15T01:03:00.000+03:00

Stuey!

2007-05-15T01:00:00.000+03:00

I went to Dallas to see my baby last weekend. My nephew, Adam Stuart, loving referred to as THE baby or Stuey is 6 months and has two teeth. He's so darned cute I can hardly stand it. I am a maniac with the camera so here ya go. Enjoy the show!

The movers

2007-05-15T00:34:00.000+03:00

I just had to show off some of the big move from a few weeks ago.
(Can you tell that I finally got around to taking care of my photos?)

I wanted to show off my fabo chairs! My friend, Jeff, refinished them for me in only 13 months! Pretty amazing, huh. OK, so I'm being a bit silly, but they really are amazing. He literally brough them over just in time to pack them into the trailor. Now he has my table since I won't be needing it for awhile.

This is Aunt Sue, who came up with Dad to make the journey. The pimp hat looks good on her doesn't it? I have no idea where it ended up. As you can see, she loved it a lot so she may have swiped it. hmmmm.

Most fabulous!

2007-05-15T00:17:00.000+03:00

This is a picture of us ready to dig into the best dessert EVER. Seriously, I cried the first time I ate it and it's amazing. It's from an Italian resturant at the Mall of America and rocks the planet! It is chocolate with chocolate ganache, hazelnut and a hot fudge sauce, all served warm. Unbelievable! We bought the whole things for P Morty's going away. Rumor has it that there will be one at my going away this Saturday. I can hardly wait!

Festival of Nations

2007-05-15T00:15:00.000+03:00

St Paul has this great tradition of the Festival of Nations. We went. We ate. We shopped. We watched awesome traditional dancing and costumes. We had a blast!

weekend update

2007-05-04T20:43:00.000+03:00

I'm going to the Festival of Nations tonight and I can hardly wait! Lots of treasures from all over the world to buy and foods to eat and music and dancing and wines from around the world!

Yippee!

I know that you are jealous. Admit it. You wish you were me.

I'm also flying out to Dallas tomorrow to see Ang and TX Laura. yippee! Coming back Sunday night so it's a quick trip.

have I mentioned "Yippee!" yet. Yah, I'm excited.

Talk to you next week and don't worry. There will be PICTURES galore of the baby and his favorite aunt - ME!

Give your best

2007-04-20T19:52:00.000+03:00

This is a great outlook, I hope that I live more like this each day.

Africa blog

2007-04-20T00:32:00.000+03:00

Yup, I have a new blog about my journey to Africa.

There's not much on it yet . . .

Open to suggestions. What do you wanna see?

Iowa-bound

2007-04-13T20:58:00.000+03:00

That's right. I'm heading to IOWA this weekend. I know you're all jealous. I'm going to NW IA for a friend's nephew's baptism. We're going to visit Karissa and see her new place and office and we get to head to Sioux Falls, SD to go to the new (and now closest to the Twin Cities) SONIC! I can hardly wait! I love that place! Route 44 here I come!

Lynnae's brother, Brian, is getting married this fall and I'm going to miss it, being in Africa and all. So I'm taking down the gifts this weekend. I'm just going to give them to Shannon, even though Brian will appreciate them, I am sure. However, today is his birthday and I don't want him to die of embarassment on his birthday, ya know. But it's so much fun to give lingerie!

Have a great weekend, my friends!

VIBE

2007-04-12T20:07:00.000+03:00

Have any of you ever taken this stuff? It's a liquid vitamin/mineral supplement. It tastes like vitamins, but seems to be good. I guess I can't really talk much yet. I tried out two different flavors last week and then opted to go with one and started it yesterday so I need more time.

I'll keep you posted.

(I do have a friend who sells it though if you're interested.)

reading and theft

2007-04-12T19:58:00.000+03:00

I'm trying to read a book suggested by a dear friend. It's about an outpost/mission built in Kenya way back in the day. I want to read it, I really do. I'm just having a hard time getting into it. I'm not thirty pages in and it seems to take a long time to get anywhere. I guess I'll take it to Iowa with me this weekend, maybe that will help, some solid time reading uninterrupted.

I work with volunteers one a large scale now and we have one in particular that is a dear old lady, she steals. She takes books and such by the bag. Now, we got them donated to us, but still, they are for the patients. I put a big sign on the door, we'll see if that helps. I think she might be taking an extra meal voucher each day, too. Not certain on that one. My understanding is that she has money, this must be why. She keeps taking things from us so that she doesn't have to buy them.

Does that make me mean? Does it mean that I have an oversensitive sense of justice? hmmm, need to work on those things. I am judgemental and am becoming more aware of it when I'm doing it or after I've done it and try to correct it. I'm not everyone's mother. I'd like to rule the world - my ideas truly are brilliant and my ways are sure. Maybe I can work out something with San Nakji and we can rule together? He and his wife can be Mr. & Mrs. President and I'll be the Queen.

Maybe that idea needs some work.

Open House

2007-04-10T20:45:00.000+03:00

I'm having an open house tonight to hopefully sell a bunch of my stuff. I have a lot of Creative Memories stock as well as furniture etc, that I really do not want to have to pack.

packing is icky

Should be fun, but as usual, I'm not totally prepared and need to get my butt outta work early so that I can finish it all up. Not to mention that I was up late last night preparing for a couple of presentations EARLY (for me) this morning. They went really well though, so that's alrighty, I guess.

I can tell that my morning is going to be the far more productive part of the day for my brain.

I miss you all! 2-3 days a week I have access to a computer at lunch. I need to get back into this!

Have a great day to you all!

AFrica update

2007-04-07T01:13:00.000+03:00

I have an appt. at the International clinic in a few weeks.

Should have the finalized orientation schedule by 4-10 (I hope) and will know much more then.

Crazy!

Working on getting everything together for my work permit to go through.

That's what I know for now.

Happy Easter

2007-04-07T01:04:00.000+03:00

It's been awhile and I'm still at work today, but here's wishing you all a wonderful Easter. For a great read, jump on over and visit the Friar.

I've struggled lately with what to say. What to say here, to people in live-time and on other blogs. I'm enjoying listening and reading, but am having a hard time focusing enough to comment. Hard to develop rational, thoughtful words that seem to matter, or sometimes words that make sense.

Occassionally I feel like I'm floating through some cloud-like haze. hmmm, maybe I need a nap?

I'm decorating eggs with some firends tonight who have never done that before (where have they been?!) and tomorrow brings tea with a bunch of friends at two different times throughout the day. There's little better than a good cuppa with friends and sharing new things and old things and thoughts of all inbetween. (the first tea is a friend's new place and the second is at a great tea shop that my friends have yet to visit)

Sunday brings Easter. What a glorious day! To remember so vividly the joy of my life. THat my Jesus loves me so much that not only did he take all of my sins upon him and die a horribly humiliating and painful death that I cannot imagine, but he has the power to RISE AGAIN!

Praise the Lord, He is Risen, He is Risen INDEED!

Really, what can I say after that. Love and joy to each of you.

The move

2007-03-15T18:41:00.000+03:00

Well, the move is bigger than anticipated. I will not be moving into this great apt closer to all of my life. Instead, I, ummm, well, I uh, I am moving to . . .

Africa.

Yup, found out yesterday. I don't have all the answers by any stretch and will fill you in as I get more info but this is what I know, my FAQ if you will (thanks for that idea, Carrie!).

Amy's Africa FAQ

1. WHAT?!!?
I know, I've said this numerous times myself. I've always had a part of my heart desiring to serve God in ministry overseas, I just never expected that it would be in Africa. I don't know anything about Africa really. Serious. Nothing.

2. Um, then why are you going?
Valid question that I have asked myself more than once. Two main reasons. Amazing position and more importantly, God said to Go.

3. So what's this 'amazing position' of which you speak?
Thanks for asking, friends and neighbors. I will be working with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - CRWRC - (from my church denomination). I'm going to be what they call a bridger and it couldn't be a more perfect job for me. I will be working with the home office here in the States to help them better prepare the volunteers that will be coming to Kenya. I will work with the partner organizations where the volunteers will be places upon their arrival. I will also work with the volunteers upon their arrival for some final orientation and then follow-up with the partner organizations once the volunteers leave. It's a hope that this hwill help eliminate some cultural problems that have been happening over the last couple of years.

4. You say you're going with your church denomination, does this gig pay or do you have to raise your own financial support?
Funny you should ask. CRWRC is providing a match for what I raise. I will need to raise 10-15k. They are providing fabo training (3 months prior to arrival at my destination along with housing me with a local family until I figure things out there) and other things. If you would like to be a part of my support team, just let me know and I'll get you the details.

5. You keep saying Africa but you can't honestly be going to live everywhere, it's a big continent, not like, oh, say Austrailia.
You are right. I will be based out of Nairobi, Kenya and should arrive there around September.

6. When do you leave then?
I will leave in late June or early July to start three weeks of training at Echo ( I think this is the correct site) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I then head to Senegal and Mali before heading over to Kenya. It is a 12-month assignment from the time I leave for training.

5. Are you excited or scared?
I want to jump for joy and throw up all at the same time. It's awesome in so many different ways but terrifying, too. It's a long way from everything and everyone that I know and love and yet, what I believe I'm supposed to do now.

6. Where will you lay your pretty little head to sleep until you desert us all?
I have confirmed that I can stay in my current apt. until the end of April when my lease ends. After that I have at least one friend who will let me dwell in her basement for a wee bit. The place I was going to move into will refund most of my deposit if they can rent the place out by the end of the month. Yea! (They are showing it tonight!)

7. Didn't you just start a new job? What about that?
I have been in my current position almost three weeks as of today. I took this job for a few reasons: like the people, the job and there's the large factor that no other job had been offered to me in my year-and-a-half of searching. The Africa conversation began in Nov. and just didn't seem to me to be solidifying at all. When I accepted this position I made no commitment, verbal or written, as to how long I would stay.

8. Wait a minute. Are you an addict? What are you going to do about all that fabo scrapbooking stuff that you sell?
You are right. I love to scrapbook and I hope to get a whole lot done prior to my departure. I will also be trying to sell my stock and will make one final huge order. I will be ordering several digital packages for the Storybook for myself to do while I'm in Africa. That will be the easiest way to make those albums. I may need to make one upon my return for the memorabilia, we'll see.

9. What will we do without your amazing, although lately quite spotty, blog entries?
Never fear, I will have regular acess and a digital camera.

I know that there are more questions and more things to tell, but I'm at work and really must do some work now.

Sometimes I just have to say to myself, "Africa? Really, God? Wow. OK."

quickly

2007-03-08T02:21:00.000+03:00

I am still alive.

New job going well.

Moving in 2.5 weeks to better, bigger apt.

Have to leave now to pick up dry cleaning and hit bank before they close and I run into Bible study late.

Hugs to all (well, at least to some of you that is)

seriously

2007-03-03T02:06:00.000+03:00

http://www.rubyrockstheplanet.blogspot.com/ You have got to go here for the best darned poetry around.

WE WON!

2007-02-20T21:14:00.000+03:00

That's right, ladies and gents. Liberal won in the race against Olney.

The winner was Jessica Lash (whose mother works with mine) with a time of 63.16 against Olney's 73.5.

We won! We won! I ate so many pacakes I might explode!

Ahh, but I'll be hungry again by supper! IHOP here I come!

PANCAKE DAY!

2007-02-20T18:33:00.000+03:00

This is my mom in getting ready for Pancake Day parade. That's my Dad's retirement present to himself there that electric street-legal golf cart. I was bummed it was in the shop while I was there for Christmas.

I've already made pancakes for the staff this morning, will finish off the batter at lunch and then head to IHOP for supper. Remember, the race starts at 11:55 this morning (CST).

You get all the scoop (doesn't seem to be updated yet) right here.

I'll keep you posted on the winner!

Pass the syrup!

It's Pancake Time again!

2007-02-14T19:24:00.000+03:00

You are all waiting, I know, so here's the first installment of the Pancake Day celebration.

Some of you know that my dad retired last summer. He now spends his time serving on the Pancake Day Board and as the official tour guide of the Pancake Day Hall of Fame Museum. (I am SO jealous! Almost makes me wanna move back to Liberal - not really.)

This is the new Pancake Day website, so be sure you check it out. There are no family members running this year, but we decided collectively to give others a chance this year.

Prepare yourselves. Pancake Day aka Fat Tuesday aka Shrove Tuesday is fast approaching - NEXT WEEK FEB. 20.

You can even get a free short stack at all IHOPs.

That's the quick of it for now. Enjoy the excitement of the anticipation of it all!

Job update

2007-02-08T19:12:00.000+03:00

OK, well, here it is.

The news you have all been eagerly anticipating.

I have a new job. I start Feb. 26 in the Volunteer (I'm not one, I get paid more than I do now!) Dept. here at the same hospital on the 2nd floor instead of where I am on the 6th floor.

It's not my dream job, but it will be a great job and it won't be the one I have now. There are parts that are great, I'll be interviewing, training and placing new volunteers and planning their parties (love that) and fun stuff.

I'm looking at new places to live right now in a different area of town so that I'll be closer to my church and most of my friends since I spend so much time on that side of town anyway.

Not giving up on Africa, though. Who knows where I'll be next year?

Get married anywhere!

2007-02-08T18:27:00.001+03:00

THIS is crazy and I kinda like it. Who knew? Not that I'd really go this way, but who knows? When I actually get to this point, I may not care where, because really, isn't the who much more important.

It's fun though, huh.

giving

2007-02-07T21:45:00.001+03:00

We all have gifts that can, and in my opinion should, be shared. Here's one way to make that happen.

http://www.davescarservice.com/

I love thinking outside the box and how can I help others with what I've got? Lately, I've had several new friends over to make cards. I had a ton of paper that I wanted to use up so we've had a ball making cards like maniacs. OK, so really, I'm the only maniac, but we're having such a great time! It's a way that I can give to my friends. I'm also going to a women's transitional housing residence in March and May to share a craft with them to teach them fun things and provide them with something small that they created.

When you create something yourself, it's an awesome thing. You hold something in your hands that you made. That you created. That's a part of you and says something about you and what you care about. Not everyone is good at everything and that's not the point, thank goodness. The point is to learn to think creatively and stretch ourselves. To enjoy what surrounds us and what is simple.

Joy. Giving.

joy in giving.

Touchdown!

2007-02-01T00:44:00.000+03:00

This is about as football as I get, so here ya go.

In a never-ending effort to attract the unchurched, some churches have considered translating their unfamiliar terminology into familiar football phrases. Although these definitions are not the best football and certainly not the best theology, they would help initiate football fans into the complexities of church life.

EXTRA POINT: What you receive when you tell the preacher his sermon was too short.
FACE MASK: Smiling and saying everything is fine when it isn't.
BLOCKING: Talking endlessly to the pastor at the church door and keeping everyone else from exiting.
DRAFT CHOICE: The decision to sit close to an air-conditioning vent.
DRAW PLAY: What restless children do during a long sermon.
END AROUND: Diaper-changing time in the nursery.
END ZONE: The pews.
FORWARD MOTION: The invitation at an evangelistic service.
FULLBACK: What the choir sees while the sermon is delivered.
HALFBACK: What the organist sees.
HASH MARKS: Stains left on the tablecloth after a potluck.
HEAD LINESMAN: The one who changes the overhead projector transparencies.
ILLEGAL USE OF HANDS: Clapping at an inappropriate point in the service.
ILLEGAL MOTION: Leaving before the benediction.
IN THE POCKET: Where some church members keep God's tithe.
INCOMPLETE PASS: A dropped offering plate.
INTERFERENCE: Talking during the prelude.
LINEBACKER: A statistic used by a preacher to support a point just made.
PASSING GAME: The maneuver required of latecomers when the person sitting at the end of the pew won't slide to the middle.
QUARTERBACK: What tightwads want after putting 50 cents in the offering.
RUNNING BACKS: Those who make repeated trips to the rest room.
THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS: Getting things done via the elders or church board.
TOUCHBACK: The laying on of hands.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: The chairman of the board looking at his watch in full view of the preacher.
—William Ellis, Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 3.

From up North

2007-01-31T21:12:00.000+03:00

Ten Commandments, Minnesota Stlye:

1. Der's only one God, ya' know
2. Don't make that fish on yer mantle an idol.
3. Cussin' ain't Minnesota Nice!
4. Go to church even when yer up nort.
5. Honor yer folks
6. Don't kill. Catch and release
7. There is only one Lena for every Ole. No cheatin'
8. If it ain't yer lutefisk, don't take it!
9. Don't be braggin' about how much snow ya' shoveled.
10. Keep yer mind off yer neighbor's hotdish!

Tag from SN - part dos

2007-01-25T01:16:00.000+03:00

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times. When Harry Met Sally or Princess Bride or Moulin Rouge or . . .
2. Name a movie that you’ve seen multiple times in the theater. Another one that's a bit embarassing to admit to but Titanic.
3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie. hmmm?
4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie. Ben Stiller
5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from. When Harry Met Sally or Princess Bride
6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs. too many from which to choose
7. Name a movie that have been known to sing along with. You mean you aren't supposed to sing a long with all of them?
8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see. have to think on this one
9. Name a movie that you own. A Christmas Story - "you'll shoot your eye out, kid"
10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops. Marky Mark
11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? yes.
12. Ever made out in a movie? during at home yes, in the theatre, doubtful.
13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven’t yet gotten around to it. Babel
14. Ever walked out of a movie? yes, just walked into a different one
15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater. all the sad ones
16. Popcorn? for the movies, if someone else buys, but I prefer milk duds - the perfect movie food
17. How often do go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? Not often now. 2-5 times a year, not enough
18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater? I think it was the Devil Wears Prada?
19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie? comedy or drama
20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theater? Annie or Savannah Smiles

Tag from SN - part one

2007-01-25T00:55:00.000+03:00

I, too, will divy up the fun into two posts.

1. What ended your last relationship? friend - ugliness; dating - demands
2. When was the last time you shaved your legs? Christmas? It's winter, good grief, I need all the warmth that I can get
3. What were you doing this morning at 8am? getting ready for work
4. First thought after waking up this morning?My back still doesn't hurt much!
5. Are you any good at math? eh, survivable
6. Your prom night? good times, ending at Denny's
7. Do you have any famous ancestors? more likely infamous
8. Have you ever taken out a loan to pay for school? for both degrees and not at all disappointed that I did
9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace profile? I would hope, but Rubes usually changes everything. I think it's the Love Medley right now, but not certain
10. Last thing received in the mail? Sterling Bulletin, the weekley paper from the last place I lived.
11. How many different beverages have you drank today? 3 chocolate almond cookie hot tea, water, chai
12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machines? why wouldn't you?
13.Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to? umm, bit embarassed - Billy Ray Cyrus, I think
14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach? beach? I grew up in Kansas - no water, no beach
15. What's the most painful dental procedure you've had?All my wisdom teeth removed at the same time. The last tooth I could feel before he added more pain killer
16. What is out your back door? I live in an apartment - no back door.
17. Do you have any plans for tonight? yup, make up and my photo for the church directory
18. Do you like the ocean? eh.
19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorn? yup, don't like them though, if I'm going to recieve popcorn, I prefer it to be kettle or cinnamon - yummy!
20. Have you ever been to a planetarium? If so, it didn't make an impression where I remember it.

21. Let's take a deep breath before we continue.

22. Something you are excited about? SCRAPBOOKING!
23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO? strawberry.
24. Are any of your great-grandparents still alive? Sadly, no, I only remember one.
25. Describe your keys:I have 5 keys - key chains include a pickle from Sechler's Pickles, an orage one from Fleet Farm, an I "heart" NY that Chris gave me upon her return from vaca and I really have no idea what else is on there. That's only the main chain, I have several others.
26. Where do you keep your change? tossed into my purse, maybe my coin purse or the change spot on top of the book shelf in my bedroom for Stuey or the quarter dish in the living room for laundry.
27. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people?Sunday at church
28. What kind of winter coat do you have? a tan peacoat sorta thing and a giant black down monster of a thing.
29. What was the weather like on your graduation? nice, well, it rained the morning of grad school grad, but was nice that evening when I graduate, which really doesn't matter since it was all inside.
30. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed? open or it gets cold, that and my apt. is ghost-free.

updates

2007-01-25T00:04:00.000+03:00

I've thought about posting a couple of times recently but just haven't made it here.

So applied for a job yesterday (and several last week) and interviewed today on the phone. Not close to enough money, less than I make now but still in the Cities. Not going to work.

I'm not super excited about any of these positions but keep applying hoping they will lead to something.

Africa has me frustrated. The orientation I wanted to attend starts tomorrow and my boss wouldn't give me the time off at all. Then, the gal I've been working with in MI didn't get any of my 3 messages saying that I wasn't coming and left me a message today to see when I was coming home and telling me what hotel I was staying at for the weekend. ARGH! Communication with her is a trial to say the least. I'm very frustrated on that front.

I have to get my photo taken for the church directory tongiht. Another frustration. I don't want my photo taken. OK, I don't want my photo taken by myself. There has got to be a better way to do singles in a directory. Besides. I don't need a free 8x10 of me. I guess I'll send mine down to my folks. The directions tell us to dress according to who we are you know casual or formal and that we can bring props. I wanted to wear a feather boa but was told that was inappropriate by Rubes and Lynnae (who is getting her photo tomorrow and doesn't appear bothered by the whole ordeal). So what if I look a bit hookerish (I wouldn't, I would look fun and festive). Jesus loved and hung out with hookers.

Plus, got my hairs cut last night and think I have to get someone new. Really. There's just such a difference after having it done at home at Christmas and then with the new gal. Bit of a bummer, I'd say. Argh.

We have a 5 year old girl for a patient right now and she loves her call light. I've been watching a movie with her (Mary Poppins). She's calling again, I'm off!

My famous dad

2007-01-18T22:40:00.000+03:00

This past summer there was apparently a steam engine traveling the country and it stopped in my hometown for about 30 minutes. My dad happened to be driving by and pulled over to take this photo, making sure to get the town name on the building just above the engine.

He then entered it into a contest and won! This photo will be the photo given to each Chamber of Commerce member for the new year. He's autographed it and it will be haning in businesses all over town. How fun is that! He also got $100.

My dad retired last summer and is finding many ways to fill his time. Today he's driving to Amarillo TX to have an engine fixed and pick up a door and a shower for my cousin. Wish I could just do that sort of thing. Oh, yea, we're in very different seasons of life.

Pretty cool though, huh.

Are you there, Steve?

2007-01-17T23:58:00.001+03:00

God's Many NamesOne day my four-year-old son asked me about God's name. I explained God had many names including Father, Lord, and Jehovah. After listening to my long explanation, my son asked, "Can I just call him Steve?"—Vicki Crooks, Klamath Falls, Oregon. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."

this was too cute not to share

little crazy

2007-01-11T23:43:00.000+03:00

OK, so that's a lot of photos. I have a few more ready to go but thought I would give you a break and post them tomorrow. Enjoy!

NW Kansas

2007-01-11T23:38:00.000+03:00

Mom and I thought this was hilarious, Rubes wasn't quite as amused but thought it pretty funny, too. This is on the hearth at my folks house.

Goodland is where Rubes lives and a giant painting is their claim to fame.

Gma & Gmpa

2007-01-11T23:33:00.000+03:00

We all got to feed little Stuey and then hope he didn't spit it all back up on us. Dad's belly was a great place for a nap, Stuey loves his Grampa!
The dogs weren't really sure what to do with this little creature. They were afraid and yet wanted to be a part of things. They behaved though and didn't jump or lick.

Mom has been waiting for this moment for a long time and is ready to spoil at every turn. Stuey loves his Gramma Butzie!

Cousins

2007-01-11T23:30:00.000+03:00

Kara and Steve are the youngest on this side of the fam, from my mom's younger brother. Kara's 16 and Stevie is at KU getting a double major in journalism and something maybe? I'm sure that Rubes will correct me. They're good buds and typically siblings, as you can see.

duos

2007-01-11T23:10:00.000+03:00

Aunt Janet owns a quilt shop and this is her holding the baby on Christmas.

Gran only wants gifts that she can eat or wear so I took her out to eat a little burger joint the 26th. That is she and I there after we ate and before I got sick with the flu. fun.

Since Angie is a daddy's girl, Stuey will be a gpma's boy, I'm sure. But how freakin' CUTE is this picture!

Nothing like fam at the holidays

2007-01-11T23:01:00.000+03:00

Steve is a sushi lover so we gave him a sushi making kit that included this swell headband. Too bad I can't remember/read what it says. I think it's "bonsai" or "komikazi?"
Kara was our little on until Adam came along, now at 16 she's not a little girl anymore!
Gran and her fabo furry scarf thingy.

The BEST Christmas present

2007-01-11T22:57:00.000+03:00

We all agree, Stuey is the best present this year hands down (although I really do like my luggage with wheels).

Merry Christmas from L-town

2007-01-11T22:45:00.000+03:00

UB and Rubes after church Christmas eve.
Kara and Steve with Stuey.
I just ordered a pillowcase from snapfish.com with this picture on it. How fun is that! I had a gift certificate and had to see how it would turn out. I'm so excited!
Robby-Rob came over to see Stuey. We know that everyone only came over to see the baby, not us. We're OK with that, that's why we all went home, too.

Christmas is tiring!

2007-01-11T22:43:00.000+03:00

Steve and Gran took a nap amidst the Christmas mess. Later, Ang, Stuey, Kara and I all fell asleep on the folks bed. How can you not enjoy a good nap with the fam?

More fam.

2007-01-11T02:04:00.000+03:00

This is UWub and the first great grand (his grandkid). What about that stach!?
Mom and Rubes
UWub and the Pimp Queen

Dad's side of the fam

2007-01-10T01:27:00.000+03:00

Three generations, dang it,wish Dad had been in this one! Ahhh, nothing says Christmas like the traditional Christmas pimp hat!

My Dad grew up in small town America and we always go over there for one day over the Christmas holiday. This year, we celebrated at my Uncle's new bar the Lazy T. We had a good time. My dad is the oldest of 3 and they were all there with 4 of 6 kids. Of those kids all of their kids (2) were there minus one husband. Not huge, but good size. This was the first time anyone there had seen Adam, we had a grand time.

We stopped by Aunt Freda's (like Freida, not Fred - ah) to show off.

My dad's side has celebrated Christmas with pizza for years, at least since I was in jr. high or high school. It started with Grandmother's brother and sister-in-law gave our family gift certificates to the pizza place in town for Christmas each year. yea for pizza! We used to also always have an angel food cake with a candle and sing "happy birthday" to Jesus. This is the first year that we didn't read the Christmas Story from the Bible before we opened presents. We were out of our element and it threw us off, I think.

enough?

2007-01-10T00:20:00.000+03:00

Now that I've got the photo thing working, I'm getting busy here.

I haven't even started with any of the good family (aka BABY) pictures, but I'll leave those for tomorrow. I know, you're all waiting with baited breath.

Have a glorious evening, dear friends! I'm off to celebrate a birthday with a classmate!

extras

2007-01-10T00:15:00.000+03:00

This was just a super fun photo from a farewell last year.

This was just after Thanksgiving. Ang, Chris and I went to the Ordway to see White Christmas, which was, of course wonderful. It was actually on Angie's birthday (this is not my sister, incase you are confused) we decided to dress up. What says Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday like feathers, glitter and plunging bright red dresses? Too bad you can't see the fabulous shoes I was wearing!

Sterling Christmas

2007-01-09T23:49:00.000+03:00

I love to go visit my friends in Sterling whenever I get to Kansas if it's possible. I was able visit campus, the bookstore (bought some treats for me and others), and get some serious visiting done to get the real scoop of what's going on these days. Then I was able to dine at Paddy's. Ahhh, Paddy's. It's under new ownership, which is sad and they don't have any idea how to make Paddy Cakes, but the company more than made up for it all. When I lived there they had breakfast night every Thursday and many of us would go so it was a mini-reunion. After supper, Joe2 and I went to Debbie and Andy's (aka Joe4) and then on to Hutch for drinks. It was so good to be back with part of the FABO VACA bunch. Dang we had fun back in the day.

HO! HO!

2007-01-09T23:47:00.000+03:00

How fun are we!?! I know, this makes you all jealous and wish you could hang out with us. Regardless of how cold it is outside - we're awfully warm-hearted.

I know, gag.

I'm back and in rare form, don't you think?