Update 5

Hello Friends!
      I apologize that it has been so long since we have updated you all. Our internet has been limited even more than usual and our lives have continued to stay busy! It is one week until we return home to the States, and both Leah and I have mixed feelings. To say that I am not excited to come home would be a lie, but the thought of leaving the girls here without knowing when or if I will return makes my heart just as uneasy.
     This past week Leah and I were able to travel and visit Word of Life Camp Nairobi. We stayed with David Obunde and his wife Elisabet and three children. It was so refreshing to serve alongside David. During the two days we were there we visited three schools and did Bible Clubs in each of them. The children were SO excited to see David and the Mzungus (a polite way of saying white people) he brought along! Leah and I led songs (and I found myself thanking God for a mother who filled my childhood with children's music galore). For those of you who don't know, Word of Life is a camp that my family has attended in New York every year for 30 years. The camp here in Nairobi does a camp during the months where children are out of school and then does about 12 bible clubs a week in local schools. It is one of the most solid ministries I have ever been a part of. Their clear respect for the Word of God and love for Christ is clear in every single employee and the love they show for their community. It was a blessing and an honor to get to serve along side them. Leah and I were both challenged in our own walk after only spending 30 hours with David and his wife. They seek God so clearly each day. To add to the excitement, Elisabet is Argentinian. So, as we sat in Kenya, we were in their home speaking spanish and eating some delicious Argentinian food! They truly made us feel at home.
     After we left Word of Life we met up with Robyn Moore (a family friend that we met in Tenwek 10 years ago) at a Rugby game. Unfortunately we were walking in right as the game ended. We stayed with Robyn for one night and she brought us to Heshima School the next day. "Heshima" means 'Dignity'. This is a school for disabled children in a town outside of Nairobi. Disabled children here are almost always hidden from society. In order to go to school you have to be able to pay, and most people are unable to pay for a child who "can't learn". There is also simply a lack of knowledge of how to help children with special needs. If a couple has a special needs child, they may hide the child completely from society because of shame. Fathers often leave women who bear them a child with a disability, and many women, in an attempt to provide for the child, lock the child in the house all day while they go to work. Many of these children are simply abandoned. Heshima school is a place that attempts to address some of these issues. They have approximately 16 children (almost all of whom have cerebal palsy) and they work with them on motor skills and development. They help keep them clean and fed, and as they get older they teach them life skills such as yard work so that they can get a job in society. My favorite part goes beyond just helping the children though. The school is also the location for "Dignity Designs". Dignity Designs is a jewelry company that employs the mother of every child in the school. The mothers come to work a few days a week and hand make jewelry with beads that come only from Africa. They are paid a salary and their children's school fees are completely covered. It truly is remarkable. The way God is working in this school by showing love to the "least of these" is exactly what God calls us to do.
     We are back at Hekima for the last week of our stay. We were welcomed back warmly by all the girls and staff. Not only have we felt closer to the girls each day, but the men and women who work here as well. We definitely feel like part of the Hekima Family! Leah and I are both overly sore from our hours spent in the shamba(garden) 'slashing' and pulling weeds. It never ceases to amaze me how hard working almost every Kenyan we have met is. They do everything by their own sweat and hard work. It is actually quite inspiring and a little ashamed of all those times I complained about weeding the garden at home (sorry about that mom!). Leah is truly inspiring for me as well! Today she asked me if I wanted to wash my clothes by hand and my first response was "ummmm.. not really"! I am normally excited about things like that, but in the moment the laziness got the better half of me. She took her clothes and buckets and went outside anyway and inspired me to be the un-lazy person I know exists somewhere inside of me! The girls thought it was great that we were doing our laundry by hand like them and all surrounded us to help soap, scrub, rinse, and hang. It was actually quite fun and gave us one more taste of true African culture. Leah and I have found over and over again that God has provided one of us with the motivation we need when the other is tired and worn out. I can't imagine being here without her.
      Let me assure you all again that your prayers are felt here each and every day. There are days when we are tired, or missing home, or even feeling a little under the weather, where we feel a strength that is not our own come alongside us and lift us up to do something. We only have 8 days left and we want to use each and every moment for the Lord. So much can happen in 8 days, and we pray that God will use us in whatever way he sees fit.
     Since we have been in Kenya there have been some nation-wide tragedies such as a bombing in Nairobi and a helecopter crash that killed their Security Minister. Hekima Place is located an hour from the city along the N'gong Hills and the Rift Valley so we have not been near any of the political threats, but we watch as those around us speak so poorly of their own country and feel their own well beaing threatened. Almost every Kenyan we meet talks about how corrupt their country is. It is an interesting combination of extreme pride in their tribal roots and wanting to separate themselves from their national leadership.
     If we are not able to update before we leave please keep us in your prayers next Monday and Tuesday (July 2nd and 3rd) as we travel home. Please pray for energy and motivation as we hope to make each day count before we come home. A wise man (I like to call him Dad) once told me that the biggest lie that Satan feeds us is that there is no power in the Word of God. Please pray that we won't believe that lie and that we will continue to share God's Word in a Powerful way. Sometimes it takes a deliberate effort to not rely on our own strength. The girls may not remember every day we spent with them, the games we play, the songs we sing, or the snacks we give. However, They will remember feelings. They will remember the love and truth of Christ and his Word. Please join us in fervent prayer that we will continue to hold on to that Truth even as our minds and hearts yearn to be home.Thank you all! This trip would not be what it is without all the prayer and support that is surrounding us.
God Bless,
Lizzy (and Leah)

Update 4

     God works in such amazing ways! Over and over these last couple weeks God has orchestrated our trip above what we could have planned. Each day has been a blessing as we continue to meet new people and experience new things! There are now two volunteers staying who are from Oberlin College in Ohio. One of them lived on the same floor as my cousin Bill Townsend. Just goes to show you what a small world we really live in!
     Last week after we returned to Hekima we had the opportunity to be out in the community a little bit as well. The first day we spent doing some manual labor in the Shamba (garden). They have this way of cutting weeds and grass that they call "slashing". It basically consists of a very long machette that is bent at the bottom which you swing back and forth to manually cut the grass. Pete (one of the new volunteers) and I slashed from morning until lunch. It was actually quite fun! Although, I imagine that if I had to do it every day the novelty might wear off. Leah and the other volunteer were pulling the weeds manually where we were not able to slash! It was nice to get down and dirty with a little sunshine!
     Another day during the week Leah and I had our first public transportation experience! We were headed into Nairobi to meet up with Robyn for a HIV Clinic. To hire a cab would have been 30 dollars as opposed to the 5 dollars it costed to take a car, a matatu and a bus! For all of you who are reading this thinking we are crazy, we had our Kenyan university student with us to make sure we got on the correct vehicles! She kindly escorted us to safety. The first car we got in had 3 goats in the back seat accompanying the 6 people. On the way home there were 10 people in the car, but no goats. They know how to use their space wisely!
     The clinic itself was amazing. We were located in one of the slums of Kenya and they were educating the children on their diseases and also giving immunizations. Leah was able to be in the room observing the short check-ups while I kept the kids outside occupied playing hand games and marbles. If anyone ever doubts that God has a sense of humor, let me assure you that he does. There is a couple named the Bells who run an infant rescue center here in Kenya. The day before the Clinic we randomly met them at the local 'mall' where we were having lunch. We spoke for a few minutes and then basically expected to never see them again. Little did we know that they are good friends with Robyn and they happened to be at this clinic as well. And one step further they are from Anderson Indiana which is very close to Indiana Wesleyan. They came to Africa and felt God calling them to start an infant rescue center which is currently running out of their home. They have 2 adult children back in the states and are in the process of adopting 2 Kenyan children right now while they also have 8 infants living with them at home. As a treat for all of the children at the clinic, Robyn, the Bells, Leah and I took the kids out for pizza. So we had a few hours to get to know the Bells and the kids who were at the clinic. It was amazing how polite and thankful these kids were. The second Robyn got out of the car they mobbed her with hugs and hellos. Leah and I are hoping to maybe find time to spend a day or two at the infant rescue center. I just can't resist going to a place filled with adorable bundles of joy!
      Currently Leah and I are at Tenwek hospital! Getting here alone was a God thing because we both had it in our head that we were leaving Monday afternoon, only to recieve a phone call at 2pm on Sunday "checking up" to make sure we were still on for meeting at 4. Keep in mind that we were an hour from where we were meeting these people and dont have a car! So after a few frantic phone calls to our taxi man Sam we jumped in the car and rushed to meet them. We arrived at approximately 3:58pm with enough time to buy a coffee for the road! God is SO good. We drove with two missionary doctors and one kenyan language teacher. It was such a blessing to be in the car with fellow believers as they made us feel right at home and the joy of Christ was so evident in each of them. The one Doctor reminded me pretty heavily of this one really great guy I know in Zanesville whom I like to call Dad. :)  He had the same ornry humor which made me feel even more at home!
     We arrived at Tenwek in the evening and Dr. Row walked us down to where we were staying which is right across from where my family stayed when we were here. Every little thing got me excited! Seeing the yellow tenwek sign, seeing our old apartment; even things like the trees that I remembered. Even the man who sells Kisi stone is in the same spot and is the same man who was here ten years ago! I spoke with him today and he claims to remember our family (although I have my doubts), but Barb confirmed that it is the same man! We are staying right next door to Barb Pinkley who has been amazing to us. We have been eating all of our meals with her and are envious of her cooking skills. I feel a little spoiled to be honest! She arranged for Leah to shadow some orthopedic doctors and Leah has basically had the schedule of a med student since we have been here! She has been able to see multiple surgeries and even got to scrub in for one yesterday! I can't share all the details as well as she could, but she is simply GLOWING. I'm not sure if surgery is what she hopes to do, but I do know that she is loving every minute of seeing first hand the power that God gives to those here. She was able to meet a man who came to know Christ right before his surgery and has been so amazed by the freedom Tenwek doctors have to share Christ with every patient they have. The time, the care and the prayer that the workers here put in is amazing!
      On Tuesday, both Leah and I went out with community health! We got up and had tea with all of the Kenyans who work in the health center (which looks exactly as I remember it from sitting with Jonny counting pills day in and day out!) and then we crammed into the back of a truck and were off on our journey. We were accompanied by 3 nursing students and 2 doctors and we were holding a clinic for mothers and their babies. Leah and I were put in charge of weighing the babies, which basically meant that we got to hold every single baby as they went in the door. I wished so much that I spoke swahili because there was so much to be said to the mothers who smiled at us and shared their children with us. They were all so sweet and thankful for the clinic. None of the babies wore diapers and they were all wrapped up in 5 or 6 layers of clothing with hats and winter coats. They were all SO precious. I could have stayed there all day.
     We leave Tenwek tomorrow, which is too soon. However, we are excited to be back to Hekima and see the girls. We both are feeling so blessed by all of our experiences. There are times where I feel that I am getting so much more than I am giving, which is a humbling thing. I want so badly to be helpful and make a difference in whatever way possible, yet over and over I am being blessed by the people and experiences I have more than I could imagine. We have 2 1/2 weeks left in Kenya and we are both torn between the excitement of going home and the desire to spend more time here. Your prayers have been evident to us. Apart from some allergies and the occassional upset stomach our health has been amazing. Even on the days where we don't get much sleep we somehow have energy to get through the days. God has provided us safety in transportation, and blessed the relationships we have made.
     This past week has been an emotional rollarcoaster as Leah and I both reflect on everything. There is so much that needs to be done, and so little that we can get done in the short time we are here. I often find myself struggling with the insecurity of not being able to do enough. Pray for us in these next 2 weeks that we will both continue to have servents hearts in everything that we do and that we will know Gods plan for us. 'The Joy of the Lord is our Strength."
Thank you for your prayers! We are both excited to come home and share what God is doing!
God Bless
Lizzy (and Leah)

Update 3

Hello Friends!

It has been an adventuresome, amazing week for Leah, Maddy, and I. Since we last wrote we have been on a few different excursions with the girls as well as an adventure of our own!  Let me apologize for no pictures in this post, but it adds an extra hour to get them on here because of the slow internet and I don’t have the time today!

Last weekend some of the girls who have been doing well in school got to go with us into Karen (a town nearby) to see the “Baby Elephant Orphanage” and the “Giraffe Center” The Elephant Orphanage is a project started by Karen Blixen which takes in elephants that are found orphaned for different reasons. Many of the elephants lost their parents to poachers. The organization does not go looking for these elephants, but simply responds to calls from tourists or locals who see baby elephants alone. They only allow humans to see the elephants while they are feeding them in order to allow the elephants to stay wild. They, thus far, have a 100% success rate at integrating the elephants back into the wild with a new family. It was really interesting to see.

After the Elephants we headed over to the Giraffe Center with the girls. Basically, it consists of big porch where the Giraffes are able to come right up to. The workers give out handfuls of food pellets and the giraffes eat them right out of your hands! My family may remember being there, and I have a vivid memory of the Jarrett girls telling us that they would feed the giraffe from their mouth! So, it goes without saying that I was NOT going to leave that place without giving it a try. I marched right up that porch, handed my camera to Leah, and asked the guy worker about it. He so kindly demonstrated, giving me the courage to try it! Yes, I kissed a giraffe; In EVERY sense of the word. It was interesting because there were more white people in these two ‘tourist attractions’ than we have seen the whole time we have been here and I found myself gravitating towards the Africans instead of the tourists. However, we did have some good conversations with other travelers. One lady came up to me and asked me if I would please feed the giraffe from my mouth again so that she could take a picture! So, I went in for round 2. Leah and Maddy, while amused at my determination, were not quite as enthralled with the idea, and stuck to feeding the giraffes with their hands! By time we left a few other young tourists that were in a group were talking about that crazy girl who fed the giraffe with her mouth and they too gave it a try! I feel that we left our mark and started a trend! I believe the Jarrett Girls would have been proud! 

Monday night a group of 10 volunteers arrived to share the guest house with us. They have been traveling in Kenya for about 3 weeks, and leave tonight. Since they were going to be here last week, we decided that it would be the perfect time to go on Safari!

To give you an idea of how much of an amazing experience the safari was, I’ll have you know that I wrote 14 pages in my journal about the trip. Needless to say, I am going to summarize on here: Our driver picked us up at Hekima on Wednesday morning. We loaded up, and started the drive. Our guides name was Peter and then there was another man traveling with us named Godo who is redesigning the website for SpurWing (which is the company that we scheduled our safari through). Peter has worked in tourism for years and was a bottomless pit of knowledge. He used to work in Spanish tourism, so he fluently speaks 4 languages: Spanish, English, Swahili, and Kikuyu (his mother tongue). That in itself was impressive. We stopped at a gift shop at the rift valley which brought back memories again of my previous trip. I don’t know that it was the exact same spot, but I am going to let myself believe that it is just for the sentiment of it all!

For those of you who have ever been on a mission trip, or heard of some of my family’s road-trip adventures overseas you know that if you get from point A to point B with no troubles, it is a MIRACLE. As we were getting closer to the Maasai Mara Safari, we heard a snap and pulled over. Luckily we were right in a small town and so we pulled over at an “Auto Shop” and discovered that one of the fan belts had snapped. There were two adorable little boys standing outside our car smiling at us every time they caught our eye. I just wanted to get out and love on them, but we stayed in the car until it was fixed. About 45 minutes later we were up and running again and back on the road.  About 10 minutes later: SNAP: there goes the other belt. This time we just removed the old belt and kept driving because apparently you only really HAVE to have one. We dubbed the small break downs as an adventure and laughed our way through until we finally arrived at the campsite!

We were approximately 3 hours late for lunch so grabbed something quickly and then headed out on our first game drive. The beauty of the land is indescribable. We had beautiful weather and were driving as the sun began to go down. That first day we saw so many different animals and were consistently amazed by their size and grace. Peter (the guide) kept feeding us information and I couldn’t stop thinking how creative our Creator is. The evening ended with a delicious dinner at the camp site and hours of talking by the campfire. Peter is 28 and married with one boy. We all sat around the fire talking about everything under the sun. I learned so much about the different culture that we are in. Leah and I were literally hanging on every word that the workers shared. We also had the whole camp to ourselves because it is low season and we went in the middle of the week. So we basically had 7 men waiting on us hand and foot. I wasn’t about to complain ;)

Here is where it gets interesting: The next morning we woke up early and headed out for an all day game drive. We drove for a couple hours expecting great things: but what we didn’t know was that the Maasai Mara was out to get us from the start! We were on our way to the hippos to have a picnic lunch by the lake when we got stuck in some mud. This wasn’t the first time we had been temporarily stalled in mud. But on the other occasions, one man drove while the other pushed a little and we were good to go. However, this temporary break turned into 4 hours in a ditch in the middle of the Mara. Any normal person would have been upset , but at the end of the trip it was everyone’s favorite part. We dug out mud by hand, shoved rocks under wheels, pushed, pulled, and prayed. After the first two hours we decided to stop and eat our “picnic lunch” in the van. Then we all got down in the mud some more. 4 and a half hours after we had gotten stuck, we prevailed in getting out! Truthfully, I give all the credit to the prayer. I think I would have made my mom proud with our joyful attitudes. We did everything without “complaining or arguing.” Peter told us of other times when he had been stuck where the people he was driving left with another driver and he had to get out alone. Once he even slept in the car in the mud until morning when a bigger car could come pull him out. We informed him that we would be sticking around and getting out.

The rest of the safari was just as interesting as we saw more animals and more beauty. There are so many more details I could share, but I don’t feel that I could do the experience justice with my words. The third day we went to the Maasai Village in the morning. The children were beautiful, but covered in cow dung and flies. One little girl was afraid of my white skin when I tried to talk to her, while another little boy would have given me high-fives all day long. While it was a bit of culture shock to comprehend that these people truly lived like this every day, I found myself having a respect for their sense of tradition. Some things have changed over the years, but they still live with a respect of their past. More than a respect: they live in the same mud huts, eat the same food (including drinking blood and milk every day), and practice the same marriage traditions. The best part was when the men did their “jumping competition.” Peter joined in the competition, but lost miserably. We were told that whoever would jump the highest would get a girlfriend. Some of them were jumping pretty high!

It was late Friday night when we arrived back at Hekima, and it was bitter sweet to end the adventure. We were all exhausted from the trip, but couldn’t stop talking about all of the wonderful things. In the short three days that we three girls spent with the two men, we went through a lot and felt a sense of family.

The girls welcomed us back to Hekima with open arms, all asking about our trip and telling us about the “Carnival” that the other group of Volunteers had done. We played soccer with the girls and the uncles on Saturday. Leah slipped once and fell on her wrist and hurt it. We are hoping that it is just a small sprain, but please keep her in your prayers as we feel it out the next day or so to see if it improves.

We are excited to be back at Hekima, and are starting to get closer to the girls each day. Some of their stories just break my heart. But they have such love and family here. Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of an older girl who was literally brought to tears by all of the girls wishing her birthday wished. As she addressed everyone she choked out “I am so thankful: I never thought that I would have a family like this” before breaking into tears. I hardly know her and I was crying. It was heartbreaking, but so encouraging to see how God has provided for her and so many others.

Please continue to pray for us as we are about to our half way point. We have four more weeks here and are still going strong. However, we are always grateful for prayers for energy and health.  The second half of the trip is going to include our week in Tenwek, our visit to Word of Life Kenya, and our visit to our World Vision Child. We are so thrilled to see what God has in store for us!

God Bless,

Lizzy (and Leah)