Esther gets a Roof!

Hello All,
We have had a pretty good week here.  It has been raining quite a bit.  We have never seen it rain in February before.  Not sure if that means it will be a really long rainy season or it will rain now and be finished?  The weather is a bit crazy everywhere so I am told.  

I had a good trip to Nairobi this morning with 5 outstanding students!  They have all applied to Princeton and had interviews.  

We had an uneventful trip which was very nice.  Last weekend, the embassy put out warnings for the malls, but this weekend it was quiet.  The interviewer was gracious and I hope they all made a good impression.  Time will tell.

The Bethany Kids wing is moving along.  The "Interior design committee" is at work and we are starting to get to the fun part!  Makes you nervous that it will all come together, but hopefully with some help of some great ladies, we will choose wisely!

I have been working on septic plans this past week.  RVA needs a maintenance plan in place and that is where I have been spending my time.  There is a pit out in the forest where the exhauster truck will take the "stuff."  I went out there to measure it.  I hadn't been there in 2 years, but was able to remember the way!  Here is a picture:

Not very glamorous but someone has to do it!

Our Upendo Village project could use some prayer.  The building is going well, and we are getting the construction committee back together, but there is some tension.  The meeting was cancelled this week, and not sure when the next one will be.  The sisters out there are wonderful and we just need to pray that this will resolve itself.

We found a fundi (expert) to put the roof, doors and windows on Esther's house.  She is the lady we helped put through catering school.  He will get started this coming week and should have it done in a few weeks!  This will be great for them.  The mud hut that they live in now is starting to crumble.  The termites are eating the wooden parts, and it is leaking a bunch.  What we can do will not complete the house - it still will need plaster and electricity and some plumbing, but they should be able to get in and be out of the weather.  

Sallie has been watching short TV shows on her phone!  Not having a TV, she has been amazed at what she can get on youtube.  She has been into Master Chef Jr.  It has young kids competing to make the best, most presentable food.  She made and plated lava cakes with fresh raspberries last week.  They were really good but we think we have to do it again because the "lava" part was a bit too done.  We have been blessed 3 times in the last 2 weeks to be near a raspberry farm that has too many berries!  They package and ship about 1 ton a day to the UK, but when the berries are too red, they don't qualify - so we and I am sure others - get them.  One of the staff goes over there and gets big rubber made buckets full and we all run when he gets back with any kind of container.  My construction partner even used his hard hat the other day!  Wish I had a picture!

But this was very good.  We have been making raspberry lime aid too.  Life is pretty good!

We are making some plans about the summer.  It is really hard to "see" past leaving day (July 22), but it has to be done.  Jim was able to get tickets for us to go to Arizona to visit Mom right after we get home using our sky miles!  We will go for a week and hopefully it will be some rest and we can go visit the canyon, although I think my Mom has quite a few things on her "honey do" list!

I will end here with a few random pictures.  Hope you have a great week.  Jim and I are heading to Nakuru (alone) next week end as a birthday celebration for me.  It is a game park, but we may not even going game driving.  We just want to get away and have some down time!  I will post if I can hook up but we may not have internet.  Pole sana (very sorry)!

The scarves we are buying for the graduating class

Picture from my front yard

Pizza from Friday - Looks good huh?

These are apple mangoes - some of the best!

In His Hands,

Jullie T.

God is not safe - What?

Hello All,
We have had an amazing week - both with the weather and work and school.  Timothy turned 13 a week ago Thurs.  What kid would be happy with Nutella and Olives for a gift?

Timothy with Nutella and Olives!

I also had a birthday this past week.  It was the big "5-0"!  Monday did not feel any different than Tuesday but it sure is weird to say that I am in my 50's.  Jim had a surprise gathering that evening with 6 cakes, 3 tubs of ice cream and lots of friends.  It was so nice to have everybody here and celebrate this momentous occasion with me!

4 of the 6 cakes

Lots of people!

Rose who made the cakes.

I also went to a lady's retreat last week end.  It was great to get away for just a bit and hear the struggles of other missionaries and just be out of the normal routine.  The speaker at one point talked about God's rule book.  We have rules in life, that is a given.  Sometimes these rules weigh you down and are a burden.  Remember back to when you were in High School?  The rules that your parents put on you felt so heavy.  Sometimes we think of the Bible as a rule book.  Some think that God just wants us to follow the rules and is standing there to clunk us on the head when we break them!  Not so.  The Bible is a love letter.  God gives us boundaries because he wants the best for us.  He is our father that catches us in the deep end of the pool when we jump in for the first time.  God is safe?  Not at all.  Here is a quote from C.S. Lewis in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when Susan asks if Aslan is safe.  "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you?  Who said anything about safe?  'Course he isn't safe.  But he's good.  He's the King I tell you.   
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

We live in safe houses, in pretty quiet neighborhoods with good families (for the most part)!  But the world is not safe.  It is made clear when you see evil in the world and you live in a place like this.  In the world there is evil everywhere.  We are in danger.  But, God is with us and He will carry us. 1 Cor 16:14 says, "Everything you do should be done in love."  We can only control ourselves; our response to situations and our own actions.  It is good to know that the God of the universe is with us always and we can show his love in the world filled with evil.

The project at Upendo village is going well.  We have a meeting there next week and we think they are just a bit a head of schedule!  This means that they should finish sometime in May.  Wow!  That would be a first for us - having a project finish before the deadline!

This is the front portico with a mahogany slat ceiling and colored stones

The Bethany Kids project is also going well.  Their new timeline has them finishing up in May.  That is probably going to slip, but maybe June??

Picture of the top floor going in

The TB clinic is finally moving along too.  It is a metal structure.  We don't have much to do with this one now except I had a hand in designing it.  What fun!

Trevor did his Banquet asking this week. This is a big deal here on campus!  All the boys pre-determine who they will ask and then have a few weeks to come up with something unique and totally special for the girl in the way of asking.  Banquet will be on Feb 21st, but he was so glad to have it over and she said "Yes!"  He wrote a jazz score, sang a song and had chocolate, raspberry lime-aid and flowers - How could she not say "Yes?"  I was specifically not invited (hence no pictures), but another teacher said that it was the best he has ever seen!  That means a lot because he has been here a long time.  So proud of that boy!  He has an interview for Princeton next week in Nairobi with 4 other RVA students.  You can pray for that one!

Not sure if I posted this picture, but this is the meat market where I go just before every store to buy chicken.  My friend who came with me says this is a very clean market compared to those in Burundi!

City Market

Jim took this picture of a pretty moth

 Hope you all have a great week.  The weather is amazing here right now.  We got a bit of rain about 2 weeks ago so everything is green and the sun is shining and about 80 every afternoon.  Love you all and for those in the cold places, keep warm and read a good book!

In His Hands,

Jullie T.

Surviving the Winter

I only picked this post title because I was thinking of all our friends and family, throughout the U.S., who are experiencing record breaking colds, snows, cold snaps, and arctic conditions back home and we are praying that the weather lightens up and you all are able to return to some semblance of normalcy.   Certainly the movies that have been made over the last 10-15 years, about Global Warming and Climate Change make one seriously consider if that is happening or not.  I have always been one that pooh poohed the idea but with the dramatic storms and conditions that have come to our ears in the last 5 years alone, I've had a softening of the heart with a realization that maybe I need to listen.  There may be some truths in all what we have heard. At this time we are very thankful to be avoiding it all in the African Summer.  Temperatures have been rising to 85 here where we live (I know I now have a lot of people saying choice words at us with that).

Well, I am not going to write on climate change.  Jullie is off to a women's retreat in Limuru and she asked that I update you on what is happening here.  Things are going well here.  It is only 3 weeks into the new year and Jullie and I have our hands full between the projects and all the activities that RVA keeps the children busy with.  Timothy celebrated his 13th birthday on Thursday.  I took him and a couple friends to Nairobi to swim at a water park. That was a lot of fun.  I took this short video for your listening pleasure.

We are finishing up getting our Kenyan Friends into their schools for the beginning of their school season (which starts in January vice September).  Beth is back to Naivasha Mixed Boarding Academy in Form 3 (Junior).  Patrick is back in his second year of Electronics School.  Esther graduated from her culinary school and now Jullie has enrolled her in private computer classes to be able to learn a few more skills while Esther is looking for a new job or new schooling.  Njoki realizes that the school that Agnes was going to (Kiambogo) really wasn't the best environment for a young woman so she changed her school to one that is in Naivasha (about 40 minutes from here) called Bishop Wambari AIC Girls Secondary School.  That is a mouthful.  Anyway we are getting her into this new school.  Unfortunately she has to repeat Form 2 (sophomore) since they won't let her transfer as a junior.  Yvonne is doing great in standard 3 (third grade).  She is blossoming so well from where she started.  We are very proud of her.  Thanks to all of you for all your support in getting/keeping these wonderful children in school.  When we think of all the bad that is happening in this country, here is a lot of good for the future of Kenya.  GOD Bless You for your support!  It is making a difference.

One final thing.  We ended up having the back window of our car broken (lousy tree branch).  Anyway, we needed to go into Nairobi to have the window replaced.  here is a quick video giving you yet another glimpse of driving in "town".  It is a good thing Jullie drove because I don't have the patience for it.  Also, now I know why they don't allow people in this country to have firearms.  

Please keep the people of the Central African Republic and South Sudan in your prayers.  There is still a lot of bloodshed and persecution going on in those countries. Ceasefires, like the one just signed in South Sudan help, but only if the people obey this ceasefire.  

John 16:33

 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." 

Peace

Jim

By the way, I have updated the Kijabe Project Page.  Please see our updates there on some of the projects.

Sleep is Good!

Hello All,
Health, Buildings, Donuts, Bookings hotels for 82 people, making cakes, shopping for 80 lbs of chicken and 50 lbs of bacon (plus), flooring material, fire and security doors:  These are all things that were on my agenda this past week.   But I have had time to sleep a bit so that was good!

Upendo Village:  I mentioned last week that we had a good meeting except for an overrun on budget.  Well, the contractor has agreed to absorb some of the cost so they are back on target.  That was amazing.  It turns out that the consultants (engineers) designed the building to be taller than 2 stories (which is NOT what the client wanted) and that is what drove up the cost.   Amazing!  The stateside board is a bit upset, understandably so.  Stay tuned to see how that comes out!

Elbow:  My infected elbow is better.  The drugs have done their job and it seems to be much better.  The knot is still there growing near the pin so it may have to be removed - not sure.  Let us play "I Spy"  See the pin?
  

The Bethany Kids wing is going well but they went all the way up to the ring beam with some walls that were only supposed to be half walls!  Looks like the site foreman was unaware and they were working all week on these walls!  But, they caught it on Friday and started tearing down - Oh Vey!  But look - they are working on the top floor now.  It is really taking shape.

The 100 quilts projects is still moving along and quilts are starting to roll in.  We don't have any here yet, but some are coming and some have arrived to collection points in the states.  It will be so great to have these here and be able to decorate the wards with them!  We had a meeting this week to select colors for tile and paint also.  Mardi and I are coordinating that.  What fun!

The Senior Safari is coming up in June.  That is a time where the whole senior class goes to Mombassa for a week to sit on the beach.  We are 82 all together and we are starting to get quotes for hotels and buses.  It will be a blast when it finally gets here, but the coordination effort will be a chore.  

I went to get 80 + lbs of chicken this week like I always do for Senior store.  It is an open market where they sell all kinds of meat products.   Below is a man filleting fish.

It is always an adventure going to the market, but I try not to think about it when we are enjoying the chicken!

Here is our friend Patrick with Jim geeking away.  Patrick headed back up North this week to be with his people, the Masai.  They are nomadic people and he goes to help them learn about Christ.  He is trying to get a pay pal account set up so that he can do a crowd funding effort for a truck.  He really needs a vehicle.  The logistics of getting a pay pal account here are tremendous.  Not sure if and when it will happen but you can pray for that!

This is a picture of the southern cross - look closely (its like a kite)

LP kitty and Eeyore!

Hope you all have a great week.  After the back window on the Prado busted yesterday, mine has to get better!

In His Hands,

Jullie T.

Its about the Relationships not the "Doing"

Hello All,
Are we there yet?  This refers to the end of the term in March!  I guess not but it sure feels like it could be.

We have had the ups and downs with projects this week.
Bethany Kids:  Jim says that things are going well and the contractor has really stepped up and is getting things done.  We have a meeting this coming week to talk about the floors and colors.  It really feels like things are moving along.
Upendo Village:  We had a meeting today (which is why this blog is late) and it went surprisingly well.  We had a lot of trepidation going into it because there are some real issues that have to do with money, but the contractor spoke up and is going to deal with it.  We really like this guy.  He is the one contractor we have that is on time and is going on with the least amount of problems.  Sister Florence is really great to work with!  She is so informed and really ready to speak her mind (and she always has the ladies make the best lunch)!

RVA Arts Center:  This one hit a wall this week!  We had a big meeting on Tuesday and were ready to take some drastic steps when the contractor said that he would remove a lot of work and start over!  This is huge.  He is taking down the structural part of the first floor (beam reinforcement and forms, etc).  He will make the new forms with marine board which will be much straighter.  There were so many issues that in order to do it right we had to tear it down!  We just pray that the rebuilding will bring a better product.

Jenny and Rachel had to leave this past Wednesday. They flew to Uganda to spend some time with her brother.  It was so much fun to have them around and show them part of what our lives are like here.  We went up to Njoki's house on Sunday.  She is the lady we helped build a house for the first year we were here.  She graciously made us tea and told us her story.  She now has anywhere from 9 - 15 people in her house and never knows how she is going to feed them all, but it always seems to come together.

Jenny wrote us a nice note after leaving.  It was a great reminder about how it is all about the relationships.  Sometimes with all the "doing" we forget about the people we are doing it for!  And, they were so eager to jump in and meet people and do what ever that it really made it fun. I think they really got a good picture of the craziness that is a part of our lives here!  

I have had some issues medically this week.  Some of you may remember that when I was pregnant with Sallie (almost 10 years ago) that I broke my elbow and had a pin put in.  Well, it is acting up.  Looks like it is infected.  I am on intravenous antibiotics right now and we hope that will clear it up.  I have very little range of motion, but the best part is that I can not do dishes!  Please pray that the drugs will do their job and get rid of whatever is causing the infection.

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority."
Psalm 8:3-6

Rachel used this verse this week when she posted this picture on FB:

Beautiful!

Here are a few other pictures.  Have a great week and be grateful!

In His Hands,
Jullie T.

PS - We really wanted to thank everyone at Evart Crossroads church for all the goodies.  The hot chocolate is especially a big hit!

New Year Craziness

Hello All,
Well, we have had a pretty crazy week around here!  The Rounds (Jenny and Rachel from Evart) came to visit.  They arrived without event last Sunday.  We have had them on the go ever since!  They have been to 2 orphanages, the hospital to do some face painting and visiting with the kids, a New Years eve party, hiking, a trip to Nakuru Park and a lunch to eat "Dinner" to celebrate Jim's Birthday!  
I don't have much time today as I get to escort about 20 kids back to RVA.  Today is arrival day and we are taking the bus into town to pick up a load of kids.  It will get great to see them all back but that means we are in full force starting on Monday!  
I will post a bunch of pictures here and you can see some of the craziness:

Jim took Sallie, Rachel, Yvonne and others for a tour of the BK Wing

Trevor and Rachel at a HS New Years Eve Party

Gifts Galore from Evart Church (Including chocolate and Skittles!)

Trevor visiting an orphanage in MaiMaihu

Jim visiting with "Dinner"

Sallie's new crazy socks!

"Dinner" and a Fanta

Trevor and Rachel heading to a New Years Eve Party

The cake ministry continues!

Jenny taking pictures

Black Rhino

Crested Eagle

The Crested Cranes

Rachel and a zebra

whoops

Sallie on the overlook

I have to get going, but we wish you all the best for this new year.  It will be bringing some more transitions for us, but we have been there before.  

2 Cor 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we may become the righteousness of God.

In His Hands,

Jullie T.