Saturday, April 3, 2010

Easter Weekend

On Wednesday, Jake and I went to Nakuru for some time away. It was really fun this time! We kind of know our way around by now, so it's nice. We did a little shopping for second hand items... Jake was able to find some work boots, jeans to work in and a couple t-shirts. We both thought we brought a lot of clothes... now it doesn't seem like so much!

It was a nice couple of days. It rained a lot; we got caught out in it once and were soaked by the time we made it back to the house. We rode a 'tuk-tuk' for the first time:



...pretty sure they are my favorite 'mode of transportation' around here. The drivers are just as crazy as any other, but it feels safer than a boda-boda [bicycle] or picky-picky [motor bike].

Anyways, we made it back to the farm safely... the house lady waxed our floor while we were gone, and we decided to rearrange the furniture to make it feel a little more 'home-y' for us.

[our shelf... with lots of cards from friends and family!!]

A couple weeks ago, Eric and Juli brought home a few more "friends" from Nairobi... 4 female guinea pigs [now we can start breeding], 4 geese, and two "pets..." a puppy and kitten. The puppy is Juli's... she named him Bauer [after Jack Bauer on the tv show "24."], and the kitten is Eric's... her name is Missy.



 ---

[a not so friendly face... gross. This slug is about 4-5 inches long.]


As for building projects, we finished the turkey cage:


Right now we're working on a pig pen/cage and next will be a goat pen/shed and cow shed.

We are finally starting Swahili lessons this month! We came with the intention of being started with lessons right away... but the teacher was not available at that time. So now he is coming on April 12th, and will stay here at the farm for 6-8 weeks. We will then start lessons for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. I already know a lot of the basics...

hujambo =  hello
asante [sana] = thank you [very much]
karibu = you're welcome
hakuna matata = no worries [yes, it's a real phrase and not something just made up for the Lion King!]
hakuna shida: no problem
we we [pronounced 'way way'] =  you
toka = get out
enda = go
tuenda = let's go
habari za asubuhi? = what's the news of the morning? [aka, how are you?]
nzuri = good
poa = cool
maliza = finish
hakuna = there is not
kuja = come
mzee = old man
rafiki = friend
du-du= any sort of bug
ku-ku = chicken
baridi = cold
tafadhali = please
hapana = no
sawa = okay
pole = sorry
wapi = where
nini = what
hapa = here
hapo = there
gani = which
sasa = now
kwa nini = for what
jina lako nani = what is your name
jina lango ni = my name is
unatoka wapi = you come from where
kidogo = a little
today = leo
tomorrow = kesho
hodi = anyone there [when knocking on a door]
pole pole = slowly

Not that any of you care to read that... but it helps me remember to read/write them!!

This weekend should be a huge reminder for us, concerning the price that was paid for us and how BIG of a God we have, as we walk as Christians. Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified for our sins... and Easter Sunday, the day He rose again. It's different here [at least where we are] than in the States; there's no "Easter Bunny," colored eggs, Easter baskets filled with all sorts of goodies to make your teeth rot... I haven't even seen Easter 'products' advertised in stores. I'm sure it's here... it's just not nearly as commercialized as I see it in the States. I'm looking forward to celebrating Christ's resurrection without any distractions. I'm excited to fellowship with the believers here in this little community, Camp Jabez... and remember with them the price that was paid for US and how amazing our God is... [although I'm not going to lie, I'm a little disappointed I don't have any Cadbury Eggs or peanut butter filled chocolate eggs... haha].

The battery is about to die, so I should end this... here's one more photo!!

[Jake and his favorite dog, Simba]

No comments: