Projects, projects and more projects...

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I was chatting with a friend this morning and she said that she enjoyed reading our blog. Then I realized that it had been a while since the last time I updated, so I figured it was about time. Thanks for the reminder, Tiara!

There have been three major projects going on here at Camp Jabez... so far, only one of them has been completely finished, but the other two are in progress.

Project #1, a wind generator

[the wind generator is secured by wires in three different places that have been attatched to some cemented rebar]

Project #2, the fish pond

We decided to make the pond out of cement and concrete blocks instead of using plastic lining. There were so many more 'pros' to doing it this way. After everything is in place, it will be water proofed.

Project #3, the cow barn/shed

Right now [like literally, as I type], Jake and the boys are working on cementing the part of the floor where the cows will stand.

I'll have to take some more photos when they're done, after it cures. They've been offered a reward if they finish today: nyama choma [= "roasted meat" in Swahili]... a special treat for working hard! I can hear them from where I am in the house, yelling and chanting on encouragement to each other as they mix the hardcore [rocks], cement, sand and water together.

I'm sure by now you know which of the three projects has been completed and which two are still in progress. :)

More bread baking has been on my list of things "to do..." I really enjoy doing it, and we all enjoy the 'end result.' It sure doesn't last long around here when it's freshly baked!!

Pregnancy wise, things are still going really well. I just passed the 2nd trimester mark... well, at least, I think I did. I never was able to get a straight answer from any resource about when the 2nd trimester started... and I heard a million different answers! Some said at the beginning of 13 weeks, some said at 13w3d, some said at the end of 14 weeks... so I just picked the middle response and went with that. I'm now at 13w4d... baby is the size of a peach and continuing to grow! I still feel fantastic... I still haven't had really any nausea; just the tiredness. The "emotional fog" definitely lifted, for which I am very thankful... that was a rough couple of weeks!

This photo was taken at 12w3d, but even now at 13w4d there is still no 'bump.' The layers I'm wearing look funky, but baby still hasn't made an obvious "I'M IN HERE!" statement... although I'm told that he/she will, and SOON!

Jake and I are getting more and more excited every day... but I still don't think the realization has fully hit either of us yet. We've been doing some reading and we feel pretty prepared on that front... but we still need to contact our "non-insurance company" and see what policies they have regarding birth coverage.

The students are going on their 2nd term break tomorrow; they get 8 days to spend some time at home. I think they are all very excited! Although we've had a lot of issues this term, I think most of them are growing and learning a lot of things. If you could be in prayer regarding the country of Kenya as a whole next Wednesday; they are voting on a new referendum. They aren't expecting things to get nasty around here, but there are quite a few people that have left their homes 'just in case.' If things do get sketchy, the students will end up having a longer break than we planned, as it might not be the safest to travel. But, God is in control and He will take care of all of us.

Jake and I are going to spend the weekend in Nakuru, hopefully; I am VERY EXCITED to have a REAL shower! Bucket baths get a little old after a while. :] I think we'll just relax most of the time, but we plan to go into town and walk around the market for a little while. 

Then we begin our third [and final!] term on August 9th... I can't believe it's almost at the end already! The time is flying by, especially more so now that I am counting down the weeks for something else :] 

I think that's about all that's been going on here lately... we've been staying busy with lots of little things every day, and there's a few big things here and there, too. But life is good. God is good. Things are going well. Thank you for praying!

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.

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[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]