One week in Kenya

On Saturday, in Nairobi, we had a few hours to do some grocery shopping before heading to Tenwek. I did a whirlwind 1 hour tour of Nakumatt, very similar to a Walmart...but nowhere near as big and with fewer selections. We picked up some meat at a butcher and fresh fruits/vegetables that we can't get at Tenwek. We then made the familiar 3 1/2 hour trek upcountry, through the Great Rift Valley.

The roads have improved in some areas, and have deteriorated in others to the point of not being paved at all. Overall, it was a pleasant trip and the kids handled the bumps well. On our way out, we did see zebra and gazelle grazing along the side of the road, along with hundreds of cattle, sheep and goats with their Maasai shepherds.

We arrived at Tenwek just after 4 pm and got settled in our apartment. We unloaded all the bags and quickly tried to find a place for everything so we could at least get through the first night. We were warmly greeted by several old friends and felt at home again. The kids were a little hesitant at first, but started to explore our "new home". We ate a quick supper of PB & J and cereal but then were given an entire pizza to heat up, so we saved that for Sunday.

We have a nice apartment with two bedrooms, nice sized kitchen and dining/living room area. It is small, by American standards, but oh so easy to keep clean and organized. We are on the ground floor, so the kids can come and go outside as they please. There are lots of kids on the compound - a few the same age as ours. There is a rope swing just outside our door and the perfect tree for climbing.

It is cool in the evenings, but sunny and warm every morning. It usually rains for an hour or so every afternoon and cools off again. The soil is a deep red color, and is nice and moist almost all the time. It's a great place to grow just about anything - corn, lettuce, bananas, avocadoes, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, potatoes, tomatoes, pineapple and other basic garden fare are just a few items that we see regularly for sale around the compound.

We've been here in Kenya for one full week now. It's been a super busy week - more so than I imagined. The kids are adjusting well - it just takes a lot of time. We were greeted so warmly by so many people - other American missionaries and Kenyans. So many familiar faces to see and catch up with. It's amazing how much time it takes just to get from one side of the compound to the other, as you run into 2 or 3 people and have to take the time to shake hands, inquire about their family, and exchange other pleasantries. It's all good!

The kids are making lots of new friends. Our Kenyan neighbors spend a lot of time outside and there are many missionary kids here now to play with, even though most are a little older. It's fun to watch our kids interact with others - younger or older. Nathan is fascinated by the older boys. He watches them and listens to anything they say. With younger kids, he is gentle and friendly. Julia seems to be more shy at the moment, but she is coming around. The second night we were here, some good friends of ours who are studying medicine in Tanzania visited with their two children. Julia and Nathan were both shy at first and wouldn't leave our laps. But by the end of the evening, all four kids were running around the apartment and playing happily with each other. Nathan shared his beloved motorcycles and the two boys drove around every piece of furniture, all around the apartment. Julia finally opened up and shared her artwork and books. They were all jumping on the beds, at one point.

Each day has been a challenge for the kids, as they are still adjusting. Luckily, their sleep patterns have been good - that is one thing we vowed to do - keep their sleep times the same even though everything else around them has changed. They've made comments about going home, or missing our house, missing grandparents. They ask questions about our house and who's watching it, how far Ohio is and when we're going back. But the times they seem homesick are short and they are having fun overall. And of course, they always have each other. They are becoming good friends, even though they can really fight too. They are eating better than ever, which is surprising, as many foods are different here. But with fewer options, I guess they have realized that they need to eat what's available or go hungry. But they're too smart for that sometimes - they know where I keep the stash of goldfish and treats in the cupboard. I did manage to fit a few comfort foods in our suitcases, so we're not suffering too much.

Cooking has become a bit of a challenge. When we lived here last, it was much easier preparing food for two people who like just about anything. Having children here is so different - in terms of food, how time is spent and how we communicate with others. Before we came, I enjoyed collecting recipes and have quite a large selection. Plus, several around here have sent me some good recipes, using local foods. Even though I bought a bunch of staples in Nairobi, I still feel a little unsure of myself in the kitchen. I guess that is my biggest adjustment this time around. I don't mind being at home most of the day with the kids - in fact - I had looked forward to that part of our time here. They do take afternoon naps still, so I am able to catch up on emails and around the house. And I have done some work already for the Visiting Staff Coordinator at the hospital - so this is no vacation by any means.

The missionary families here have really made us feel welcome. We have eaten a few meals around the compound and are enjoying catching up with some, making new acquaintances with others.

We've received some nice letters and emails from many of you. I especially appreciated the birthday wishes today. We're having a simple bday meal, complete with a red velvet bday cake, made and decorated by Eric and the kids. It doesn't get any better than this!

Thanks for all your prayers and support. We feel comfortable after our first week and are excited about what the upcoming weeks will bring. Eric will enter a blog with medical info. - some of you may be more interested than others!

We have internet access...most of the time. It is slower than we're used to, so it takes much longer to catch up on emails and to create this blog. But we have internet and are very thankful. Our blogs may be weekly...not sure how often we'll be able to do this. But we'll try to let you know - or you can visit at any time.

Until we blog again - take care!

Jodi