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]

Showers: something to not be taken for granted...

It's our "turn" to be at the house in Nakuru for a break. After a Missionary Fellowship dinner at someone's house last night, the four of us spent the night at the house. Then, after dropping Jake and I off in the middle of town, they headed back to Gilgil. We're staying here until tomorrow or Saturday; we haven't decided yet. 

So, we walked around Nakuru. We tried to find some sandals for me, since mine are full of thorn holes and are very thin... but we have yet to find sandals that are 'larger.' I don't know why people are prejudiced against women with large feet... we need to wear shoes, too!! [/rant]

It's very different getting used to being the 'minority' somewhere! There are so many times when we just want to blend in and be like everyone else... so that people won't stare at us constantly, kids won't beg for money from us, and vendors won't try to sell us everything that they have. No matter where we go, we stick out like a sore thumb... and that's not going to change. So, it's something for us to get used to... and that's okay. It can be kind of frustrating, though, when we are followed tirelessly... today was no exception. We went into a park to sit down and relax... and the vendor who had been following us already for 10 minutes, sat down with us under the tree and would not take "no" for an answer!! Finally we just decided that we would leave and hope he wouldn't continue to follow us. He didn't. We went to a less busy part of town and hid behind a tree. :]

We went to lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant. The owners are Christians [and happened to be at the MF last night]... a really nice couple. Jake and I had a really good conversation... mostly about our marriage; what we need to work on to be a better 'team' and how we can better encourage each other. I can't believe it will be two years for us on Monday! Crazy. I still love him more than ever and am SO happy to be married to him. Marriage really does get better with time :]

After lunch, we walked back to the house. It took us about an hour [it's typically a 35 minute walk], but we weren't in a hurry. We hung out at the house for a bit, and then walked to Tusky's, the local super market. We bought yogurt, pickles, juice, Pepsi [for Jake], and corn flakes [not typical ones; I was kind of disappointed, but not surprised]... just a few random things that we were craving. And to be totally honest, I'm sitting here with my jar of pickles as I type... and I'm debating about finishing them off. They are SO good.

My major highlight of the day: taking a REAL shower. A real shower that didn't involve getting the water, heating it on the stove, and bathing in a bucket. Today, all I had to do was turn a knob... and wa-la, hot water. All I had to do was stand there and let the water work it's magic. Amazing. It felt so good.

Bucket bathing isn't that bad. You get wet and clean... that's the point of bathing in general, right? It's just so much more relaxing to not have to DO anything.

Not much else is planned for tonight. We have a 'chat date' with my mom at 9pm. Then I think we'll head to bed and enjoy sleeping in. If we head back to Gilgil tomorrow, we'll be taking a matatu [public transportation/small van]... definitely not the safest way to travel [driving here is like playing a game with death], but it's our only option. If we wait until Saturday, Eric and Juli will be back in Nakuru and we'll catch a ride with them.

I promise some photos of Jake and I soon... possibly tomorrow ;] Goodnight, all!

It's actually a tan this time... not just dirt...!

I hate having to come up with titles. I'm not a good title-thinker-of-er. But, it's true: the last time I thought I was actually getting tan, I was, to my disappointment, only dirty. A quick scrub in the tub changed that. But today I had to go one step further and get sunburned while riding my bike into town and back. My face, forearms, hands, and the back of my neck... whoooooeee. I'm toasty :] And tired. And I have a headache. Allll thanks to the sunburn, I believe...

Eric and Juli are spending the weekend at their house in Nakuru for some time to rest. It's kind of weird being the only ones here in the house on the farm [granted, all the students and leaders are still here]... but it's a chance for us to rest this weekend, too, so it's okay. Jake is busy playing Monopoly with the students... or at least, trying to teach them how to play.

Jake rolled his ankle for the second time some time last week. He bought a wrap and has been pretty good about wearing it and being careful. Hopefully he won't have any more problems!

I don't really have much to say, as you can tell... but apparently an update has been requested... :] If I were to update more often, they would probably be like, "Today... has been... like... every other... day..." ;] How boring. I really thought I had more to say tonight... I can't think of anything else... boo.

So, on that note... I think I will end with, "happy birthday tomorrow, mom!!" :] Here's a couple photos to make up for the lack of a super cool blog entry...

 

[see the double rainbow?]

 

[part of our town]

 [on the road from nakuru to gilgil]

 

[railroad leading to gilgil]