Late Nights

We've been out late too many nights in a row. Each time it was for a good reason but it was really nice to stay IN tonight. Our VCR and our DVD player are both in the shop so we just chilled together as a little fam.

Heather was properly tucked in at bedtime this evening and didn't have to fall asleep in her dad's arms. Below find a snap from Tuesday night when she snoozed at our dinner for Wild Hope's adopted soccer team. It's Ramadan right now so the dinner had to be late.

I guess you can't tell from Heather's expression how much we believe in the young men of our team! May they overcome the challenges of their oppressed community and grow into men who transform their worlds!

A Few Words

"The rain made the garden twinkle in rain drops."

Heather wrote this in her language class the other day.
I really like it. It makes me feel good.

I like that words can do that.

How Exercise and Music Saved My Monday

I think God used the nordic track and the ipod to banish my clouds yesterday. Poor Byron asked after a cup of tea (meaning sitting on the porch with me) and I turned him down for some space alone with my sweat. I told him nicely that I thought I better do something about my mood instead.

So, here's a list of the tunes (as far as I can remember) that joined efforts with endorphins and helped chase the clouds away.
You can probably tell by the playlist that I needed something boisterous.

1. "That Thing You Do" (from the Movie)
2. "Do You Love Me (Now that I can dance?)" The Contours (1962)
3. "I'm a Believer" The Monkees
4. "Sleeping In" Postal Service
5. "Can't Stop" Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. "Ride" Rock 'n Roll Worship Circus
7. "Wish List" Pearl Jam
8. "Man of the Hour" Pearl Jam

I would have liked to have heard The Beatles doing Here Comes the Sun and You've Got to Hide Your Love Away but, sadly, my little pod doesn't have those tunes.

It wasn't a long session, but it was an effective one. Hurray for muscles and ear canals!

Clouds on a Sunny Day

There has been a clingy cloud over Colin, Heather and I today as we have tried to launch the new week of school.

It's Monday and we've been having a terrible time of it. We feel half asleep and fully discouraged. I don't know why we're having such a hard time today but I'm telling you, we are some sorry looking home schoolers. The kids did a great week of work last week, but today has landed with a thud and we are total duds.

I know Colin was really struggling with missing his brothers last night. I know I'm really discouraged about finances. I know Heather needs to grow in some of the fruits of the Spirit. (Come to think of it, I do too.) I know we all need to be more disciplined.

Colin only has English to go now and Heather has been let out of science early. Soon all books will be closed for the day.

The reality is that the sky is blue and we are healthy. I need to shift my focus.

Here's are a few things I'm happy about:

1. The air coming through our open door and windows is warm
2. The shade of green on two walls in our living room is really nice
3. Skype works most of the time
4. I have a cute dog
5. We have never run out of food or slept on the street
6. My husband thinks I'm great
7. I think my husband is great
8. Wild Hopes will throw a party for our soccer team tomorrow night
9. Byron is at lunch with our wonderful Tanzanian co-worker, Philemon
10. We get to join hands with good people and see good things go forward here

A Happy Wedding Afternoon

Dancing ladies, a sober and stunning bridal couple, awkwardly white visitors, tin plates piled high with African food, a PA system that was worse than nails on the chalkboard, joy, fun, love and marriage.

This was our Saturday afternoon.

Peter and Tammy, Byron and I went to the wedding of Adam and Lina out in a village called Kiserian. (For those who care, Kiserian means peace, peaceful or peacefully in Maa.)

Sorry to not have any neat photos of the event. I never remember my camera anymore and I’m kind of out of that need-a-photo-of- everything mode.

Anyway, the village is wonderfully simple and filled with the familiar sounds of Maasai voices. It’s not the traditional Maasai setting of little dung huts. Things are FAR more developed than the “neighborhood” we used to live in years ago in Kenya.

The family had made a tarp of tied together sheets etc and rigged up a covered area where all the reception guests gathering in chairs facing forward. We were seated at the front near the bridal couple whose stood facing the crowd.

Let me say that they were both gorgeous, if a little tired from a long wedding day. Now they had to stand while the guests filed past to shake hands and give their gifts. I wished for their sake that they could #1 smile and not look so serious (it’s very African to look serious for events like this) and #2 sit down!

I was struck with the funny collection of western traditions that were all mixed through the event. Mostly, I was thinking of the decorations: plastic flowers on tables, plastic leis around the necks of the bridal pair, sodas in bottles set out in front of the bridal party, tinsel, banners, balloons.

I thought about how we would say they were using things out of place. Like leis belong at Hawaiian themed things, or balloons are for birthdays and tinsel is for Christmas. That’s what westerners might say. But I thought about how weird we are in the west to dictate what can be used when. Why not decorate with whatever you feel like using? Ok, I would avoid plastic flowers but hey, they were pretty darn practical out in that dusty village setting.

Tammy and I noted that a lot of the ladies came in matching outfits. Sisters or girlfriends or whatever would have matching dresses. They also really go for the big clip in hairpieces at these events. Lots of big stuff perched on heads.

The swaying line of dancing women who presented their gifts with enthusiasm inspired Tammy and I. We decided that we’re going to get us some matching duds. Yep, we need matching wedding kits. And we need some good hairpiece things from the States. I’m thinking a beehive clip-one would look really cool on both of us.

I promise you this, if we get this together and go to another wedding, I will NOT forget my camera.

Trevor's Debut

Trevor has started a blog called "I Wish You Could Be Here" so that he can post the nice little videos that he makes. Using a public blog makes them accesible to all. They are all short and sweet in their different ways.

His new one called 'Rock Climbing' is quite lovely...

I like seeing those boys enjoying this new season :-)

Enjoy!

Trader Raza's

The other day as I scanned the shelves of our teeny neighborhood shop (aka "Raza's") hoping for an appetizing local jam, What To My Wondering Eyes Should Appear but a quiet and plump little jar of Trader Joe's Fresh Strawberry Jam.

WHAT ON EARTH? I am 10,000 miles from my local Trader Joe's in Pasadena (the ORIGINAL TJ's, as I have mentioned before.)

Re-wind! We lived in Loita for ten years (1989-1999). We were a hard 4-5 hour drive from the nearest paved road, phone line or post office. It was and is one of the most beautiful locations on earth. As much as I adored living there, there were many challenging things about it. I just wanted a few things that would make it easier and somehow or other I decided that a Trader Joe's was what I needed. I used to tell Byron that I would stay forever if we just had a Trader Joe's.

And so today I have to wonder: what is the meaning of this modest and lovely little jar of jam on my local shop shelf? Is it a sign with mystical and magical intent? Am I to understand that my long ago wish (in a place far away) is coming to fruition in this African town, jar by jar?

Or should I just make some toast and enjoy a dollop of the actually not so expensive imported deliciousness?

I cease and desist from trying to figure it out. I promptly buy another jar upon my next visit to Raza's.

I don't know how TJ's Fresh Strawberry Jam made the passage to East Africa, but I am very happy to enjoy it while supplies last.

Nelly Was Here

Jenelle was here for 3 fine weeks. It was splendid to have her with us and not so splendid to say goodbye. I never like saying goodbye when I don't know when I'll be seeing someone again. There is no plan in place to take one or the other of us across the world to where the other one lives. Big drag.

The Nellster has been making little video logs of her journeys which she has posted on her blog. She also edited some footage together and made a 2 min video about The Wild Hope Artisans, our Maasai lady friends who are using their traditional skills to support their families and build into their communities. You can see it here. Nellers did a fine job with challenging footage and we're thankful!

Thanks, Jenelle, and happy trails, girl.

Tsunamis at Bedtime

We took a road trip to Dar es Salaam so that Nelly could see her friends and so that we could get some visa work done at the Kenya Consulate. We spent two nights down there in a very lovely home that sits about 60 meters from the ocean. There's nothing nicer than the sound of the waves and the feel of the breeze as you climb into bed with big windows open beside you.

Our first night was like that.

Our second was a wee bit more troubled...

"There's a tsunami warning for all of the Indian Ocean," Dyan announced as we began to make our way toward bed. She had just been on the news site and found out about the quakes in Indonesia and the subsequent wave warnings. A few moments after she said this, a blaring public address system (speakers on the back of a truck) drove by shouting the news up and down the road that we should all be ready to leave by 11pm as a tsunami warning was in place.

The kids were already asleep and the five adults in the house wondered what we should do. We looked on-line again and now the warning was saying that a "massive" wave was expected to hit the Kenya coast and that both Kenya and Tanzania had issued warnings to evacuate the beach areas.

Byron had already climbed into bed but I went in to tell him that the word "massive" was being used. We thought about "massive" and we thought about the 60 meters between us and the sea. We tried to get the foggy disbelief to dispel out of our brains so that we could make a plan of action.

The wave was expected at 11:39pm, they said.

Just as we were concluding that we really better move, Dyan came back with more news. She had called a friend at the U.S. embassy. Yes, there had been strong warnings issued but those were now lifted. We didn't have to back up and roll out of there after all.

Ninja Nelly stayed up late supposedly making her video but REALLY standing guard in case we were all wrong to turn in. We appreciate your vigilance, Jenelle! We should always have you with us on road trips.

Go to the site of Mz Nelly and view her darling 3 min video log of our journey. I wish I was as clever as she is!

So This is Why We're Here...

As previously mentioned, last week was a wee bit frustrating with seemingly endless internet woes, meaning that check lists of things to get done via the net were left grumpily un-checked. There's nothing like a to-do list that doesn't bare sassy pencil marks signifying the completion of even one single task to make me grind my teeth.

Friday night's calm reprieve from all that was lovely and the weekend went on into busy this and thats.

Sunday afternoon we piled into the car and bounced down to Unga. Ltd. where our Nyota FC boys were playing in the final game of a local tournament. It was a tournament for the oldest team so Skyler Russell was on the field with the guys.

Wild Hope has adopted this team and you can read more about them here.

All of this is to say that after a kind of crummy week in some regards, Sunday evening was joy. Our team shone, winning a fine 3-0 victory over the neighborhood rivals. They were photogenic in the gorgeous African light and we didn't have any cameras with us! Two cameras were left at home and the one that was brought along was out of batteries!

So let's see... how could I help you see this?

Imagine a sloping field, rutted by rain and littered with garbage that blows off the heaps at the high end. Picture a depressed neighborhood where it's not too safe to be out at night. Picture 22 young men in smart uniforms running around the pitch, avoiding the ankle breaking ditches and holes and playing their hearts out. Picture a young bull wandering away from the dumped garbage to cross the field during the game. Picture a herd of goats doing the same!

Picture crowds of kids cheering and dancing with every goal. Picture them surging onto the pitch the moment the final whistle was blown. Picture our team dancing around with the big trophy over the heads. Picture the pride and healthy self worth in the eyes of every person on that team.

Picture us all crammed into a tiny space that they use as club house. Picture their laughter and revelry as we made plans for a party at end of the week.

We pulled away into the night, leaving them together with their Cup, their joy and their finely won pride.

I'm still smiling today as I remember it all. Honestly, if we only came here for this group of guys, it would be enough for me.

Shedding Frustration is Good for Me

I know I've been complaining about the internet connection from here. Whine, whine, whine This last week was a real doozie. (Doozie! When was the last time I used THAT word??)

The outstanding Jenelle is here for a visit and one of the things she was going to to do is tutor me in a few techie things. But those things are dependant on the net and the net is being a very sluggish creature.

By Friday afternoon there was a distinct grumpiness in the house as three of us who needed good net connection felt unproductive and helpless. (Poor, pitiful us!)

I finally couldn't take it any longer and so I climbed onto my bed, pulled my pretty white Portuguese throw over me and took a little nap. (BTW, I'm a firm believer in little naps, even though I don't live out my allegiance to the same very well.)

The nap gave way to tea time and we sat on our porch drinking and talking and draining the pot.

Later, after the tea things were cleared away and Byron had watered all the flowers and Jenelle had read some lovely essays by our friend Lisa McKay, the stars came out and we took our dinner outside where we could enjoy it by a little camp fire.

Fresh, hot, home-made chapatis, wonderful African beans, guacamole, a fire, the stars, Over The Rhine wafting across the airwaves and conversation. We talked long and deep and raw. That's the best way, I think.

The internet doesn't matter. Sure, I'd like to get some things done, but sharing life is a pretty good alternate plan.

3 Weeks and Counting...

Ok so the boys have been gone three weeks today.

I was not aware that this was the three week mark as I woke up. I just woke up missing them and feeling sad.

I tried skyping out to Trevor's mobile phone but there was no answer. I tried skyping to Jesse's computer. No answer there either. It was only a little after 9pm their time so I didn't really expect them to be in their rooms.

I left them both e-notes just to say that I had tried to call. Then I sat outside on the porch where Byron was reading, my eyes all red and my face all wet.

Gosh, missing them is like having a big cave for a chest.

It's not that I wish they were here. It's just that I wish we could drop by and take them out for a meal... or meet the new roomates... or even just send them a package easily. I wish that coming home for a weekend wasn't actually impossible.

Byron told me later that before I walked out to the porch he had been sitting there thinking about how bad it feels to be so far away. I guess we are just hitting another layer of it all.

Does pain mean we are in the wrong place?

I don't think so.

Jesse skyped me a couple of hours after I had tried to skype him. The connection was lousy so we just used the chat feature to type back and forth. We finally said goodbye when it was well after his midnight.

My chest doesn't feel so hollow now. Still achey, but not so empty.