So sad...

From the bus, all we knew was that something was happening in town. Smoke just kept billowing up over and over again...I since found out that the downtown Nakumatt went up in flames from 1pm...this photo was taken around 3:30...the Nakumatt is similar to a Walmart and sells food, household supplies and just about anything else you could want...
Here I am a couple of blocks down the street...you can see many people have gathered to watch the show. In fact too many people were so curious that even the rescue trucks were blocked. The police have their hands full just trying to keep the onlookers safe.
I kept hearing loud explosions...sounding like thunder. After each explosion, fingers of fire shot up and smoke billowed...if you look closely, you can see the fire in this shot...
...the Nakumatt contains containers of cooking gas and other explosive and highly flammable items such as mattresses...
...this Nakumatt is always crowded, is very small and full of merchandise and people.
So far the report is that there are no casualties...all customers and employees were evacuated before anyone was harmed...that is hard to believe but a tremendous blessing!
...even many blocks from the source, the billowing smoke is ever visible...in fact, a strong breeze began to blow smoke, ashes and toxic smells all the way to the GPO which is on the other side of town from the Nakumatt...
...here I shot a helicoptor coming in to help (or maybe shoot pictures?)...several groups of rescue workers including the police, fire department and the military joined efforts to try to bring this fire under control...
...I am watching on TV from home and it is now 6:30pm...the fire is still raging and estimates are that it could take another 2 hours to fully contain it. It is being said that the fire hydrants in the area have been vandalized so the trucks have to leave the area to replenish the water when they run out.

I am watching footage right now of merchandise and store records being pulled out of the building...this is so sad...mattresses line the side of the building and people are distraught...

Chicken Breasts?!?

Okay, don't ask me why, but they really thought it was funny that the menu included chicken breasts! I do have a clue why they snickered, but was genuinely surprised when they really did not know what a chicken breast was!

My co-workers wanted to take me for an "American Meal" for my birthday (which was on Friday the 16th of January)...well, actually they wanted American food...so we went to a place called Steers. It was a pretty typical hamburger/pizza joint and we all thoroughly enjoyed the evening...but, back to the breasts...after the giggles subsided I asked Virginia to name the parts of a chicken and when she arrived at 'ribs' I said "that's it, that's the breast!"...mystery solved!
Paul was a bit embarrassed by the whole ordeal and hid his face behind the menu 'pretending' to read...
...while Henry and Virginia tried to decide what to order...they ordered two-for-one pizzas as the appetizer, plus four large passion juices...me, I ordered a bottle of water as my first course... sorry no pix of the pizzas - my bad!
...okay here I am explaining every item to Jane, who had said she did not really understand the pictures on the menu...
Me and Henry, laughing at something...
...okay, now down to serious business...the main course...what to order...and of course I had to record names next to pictures so that Virginia and I could order at the counter successfully...
...as careful as we were, three of the orders were not quite right, but the food was good anyway! Here is Paul, getting excited about tackling his "Triple Stack Burger" (I guess he was still hungry, even after the pizza!)...
...and Henry inspecting his Beef Macon & Cheese Burger (I am thinking that Macon is really Bacon)...
...here they are all indulging me with one final shot before they descended on their prizes...oh, and we ordered two medium chips (although I explained that if this was American food, they would be called "fries")...by the way, if the burgers look strange, it is because we all chose chicken instead of beef for our 'burgers'...
...then Paul decided he needed to take one with me in it...
...I tried to convince Paul that photos of people eating never turn out (you should have seen the one that got away!)...
...Henry cheering Virginia as she works hard to finish her Vanilla Milkshake...
...Paul wanted this shot of him working on his Sprite....
...and of course Henry had to have his efforts recorded as well!...
A rather fuzzy photo, but at least we are all in it! (see Virginia still working on that shake?)...left to right we are; Jane, me, Henry, Virginia and Paul
Ahhhh....but it was all worth it - this is the picture of bliss!
She and Paul are late for the Kesha, so a friend is calling to check on them...every Friday night many of the churches hold overnight prayer meetings...Paul and Virginia left the party and went to the church for the all-nighter. I told them there are two things I don't miss - a meal and my sleep! Virginia says I lead a mighty comfortable life, and she is right!
Then they TOTALLY surprised me with a gift...I already have it hanging on my wall...it is a sweet birthday greeting and blessing plaque.
Ah! Then I suddenly remembered that I did not turn 55 yesterday, I turned 56! So, Paul had to change what he wrote on the card! I have noticed that I have been numerically challenged lately - not really sure why...
...and here he is presenting the card to me...
Oh, what a wonderful way to end my birthday day...it started with rain and ended with friends, food, fellowship and laughter...then Henry escorted me home since it was after dark.

And - thanks to all of you who sent me Happy Birthday messages...it was awesome to arrive home last night to so many good wishes...

Renewing friendships...

When I was here in 2007 I met Pastor Omondi, his wife Anne and their daughter Favor. Just over a month ago Pastor Omondi contacted me and we met in town to get reacquainted. Then yesterday I accepted Anne's invitation to visit them in their home.

Anne served us tea, a delicious lunch, and then more tea. All the while we all chatted, sharing about what God is doing in our lives, Favor ran in and out of the house. She certainly enjoyed visiting with the Mzungu (that's me) in between playing with her friends in the courtyard of the apartment complex. I certainly enjoyed becoming reacquainted with my friends...
...and especially with Favor, who loved the camera!
She would climb onto the couch to next to me and rub my arms and play with my fingers...then my favorite, she began playing with my hair. She is 3 years old now and the last time I saw her she was not yet 2...my how she has grown!

Fun morning at the Posta...

Yes, I am aware that my title is an oxymoron! But, it was true! Really! I went early this morning to pick a package sent to me by a dear friend in the states. My plan was to arrive early, go through the process (I will talk a bit about that in a moment), get the bank slip and then head to work. Then I would leave work a little early, go by the bank to pay the fee, then pick up the box on my way home. As usual, I make really good plans and they don't work out! Today was like that, but in a good way...

First I climbed the 3 or so flights to the second floor where they store International packages. I made my way to the back counter with my little yellow slip and amazingly someone came right out to help me! He climbed over the pass through, retrieved my box and escorted me to the left a few feet where we chatted while waiting for the customs inspector. I later found out his name is Joel - hmmm...seems I know someone else with that name...one of my favorite people, actually!

Once she arrived we opened the box and guess what! A bunch a grits came flowing out - ah! Both of my 'new' friends looked with puzzled expressions as they asked "what is that?" Imagine trying to explain that one! Conversation became lively as she gingerly pulled each item out, shaking off the lingering grit particles...then they combined their efforts to get as much of the grits back into the bag as possible and Joel taped it up...

I then took my little yellow slip to room 113 where they stamped it and sent me back to my buddies at the customs counter where I found Joel brushing the last of the grits onto the floor - that's when I thought of my camera and how cool it would have been to get a shot of the mound of grits...but he agreed to let me snap this photo of him...he's almost as cute as the other Joel in my life...my son-in-law (did I just say that?!) By the way, by this time I knew there was no fee and I would be carting that box around all day!
Okay...then the girl in the storage room (see the pass-thru right behind Joel?) saw the flash and decided she needed to have her picture taken...that's when it seemed almost like a party at the Posta! They started passing my camera around and I began to think I would be shooting them all!
and here are the 'offending' grits! all taped up...now I just gotta find a good container to put 'em in...and then cookum and eatum...yummmm....by the way - they leaked on the way home!Helpful hint for anyone sending grits...or flour or any other powdery substance...you might want to put the box or bag into a zip loc back first! just in case...

It's here!

What is here that has me all excited, you ask? The NGO recommendation letter, that's what! For all of you that have been praying for this 'hurdle' to be jumped - thanks! And for the rest of you...let us praise the Lord together and then keep praying! In case you are not sure what the significance is, this letter is one of the requirements for my work permit package.

Here you see Paul - my buddy in the Business Development Services Dept where I work at Missions of Hope - he is holding the letter. I think he is as happy as I am...what do you think?
Okay here is a photo of the infamous letter that cost over a month of waiting and Kshs 2,000/ (which is about $25) Our friend Davis at immigration cannot figure out why they charged so much for a one page letter. What I find significant and hopefully you can see it, is the word "recommended" underlined and in bold!
Now for more waiting...(I am learning much patience here!)...Davis had told us that we should bring the letter directly to him so that he can personally handle the process of my work permit. I liked that idea and so did Paul! But - when Paul called Davis to give him the good news, guess what! Davis is on holiday...until the 19th of January (which is a good day since it is my brother's birthday, but still...)

So - now let us pray that when Davis returns and we rush that letter down to his office, that he will jump start the process and all will proceed smoothly and quickly!

Joska

We have six centers with plans to open two more in the next few months. At the heart of each center is a school. Classes start with 'Baby Class' (from age 3) and progress to Standard 4 (equivalent to 4th grade). When the children complete Class 4 they 'graduate' to Joska.

Joska is where our boarding school resides - about an hour out of Nairobi. It is great that the kids at such an impressionable age (from 10 - 12) move away from an environment that can easily seduce them into unwholesome activities. These students will complete Class 8 at Joska then will sit for exams in order to be eligible to enter Secondary School.

This photo was taken on Tuesday this week, and is one of the buses that carried kids to Joska. You can see the Missions of Hope sign in the background and anxious parents and kids in the foreground. Luggage for the kids was packed everywhere including on top of the bus!
One sad note, news I learned today, and a prayer request please! Just yesterday one of the Standard 5 children, a boy who traveled on Monday, died. He was not feeling well and was told to go to bed early. While he was climbing to the top of a 3 decker bed, he fell. We are not sure why he died, but an autopsy will be done.

In the meantime, please pray for the parents of this boy and for Missions of Hope as investigations take place. My co-worker, Jane is feeling keenly the loss that the mother is feeling as she lost a child several years ago. So - please keep the family, fellow students and all of us at Missions of Hope in your prayers!