They Might as Well be Birds!

My title is in reference to the enormous flying bugs that we have in North Kinangop. Picture this: I wake up at 3 am to the sound of wings trying to get out of somewhere, I jump out of bed, scramble to find my light switch and then my glasses and a shoe, and then I swat with my whole body practically all over my bedroom trying to kill a bug that might as well be a bird. Upon succeeding, I realize that the creature is actually a stink bug. I then go back to bed with my head completely under the covers and my earphones in to drown out any more buzzing bugs.

But this has only happened about 3 times, thankfully. =)

In Nairobi, the case was a little worse one night. Lindsey & I woke up about every 20 or 30 minutes because of mosquitoes buzzing in our ears; even the earphones didn’t tune those out. After the night of no sleep & an abundance of mosquitoes, we were able to get a special plug in device with a scented woodchip inside it that actually just kills mosquitoes. So the next night before we turned off the light, we actually watched a mosquito fly around our room, land on the ceiling, and then just drop to the floor. We slept much better that night. =]

It’s true when they say in Blood Diamond, This is Africa. (although I haven’t even seen the movie)

Valentine’s Day
In my previous blog, I mentioned our plans for Valentine’s. It turned out to be SO FUN! We really had a great time. For a reminder, we had a Valentine’s celebration with the teenage girls. We made heart-shaped chapatti and let them spread red plum jam on it, and served it with chai tea and hot chocolate. They loved the bookmarks we made them, and the rest of the evening was full of dancing and taking fun pictures. Africans in Africa dance just as well as Africans in America. So imagine this southern girl trying to dance like a Kenyan. Oh gurl…I won’t be posting those pictures on facebook. Haha! Okay maybe one. =p It blessed us to get to see these girls who are normally the caretakers for the younger ones just having fun being teenagers.

People have been informing me that the economy at home isn’t doing very well…so…If there are any teachers who read my blog and you hear about an opening at your school, send an email my way! =) Since I can’t personally take my resume to school principals this year, I’m emailing my resume and letting them know when I will be back in town. I am certified EC-4 and Special Ed. I plan on getting my Middle School Certification when I get home so I can teach either 5th or 6th grade, too. I’ve applied to Fort Worth & White Settlement, and I plan on applying to Mansfield, Arlington, and probably Eagle Mtn./Saginaw when I go back to Nairobi (March 13-16). =)

The library was making great progress but has some hold ups…we’re still looking for a place to put our bookcase. We thought we had a room, but we’re not sure. So, now my prayer is just that it gets set up somewhere, someday. But, hopefully that will be before I leave!

I have a cold, so as I’m writing this I’m listening to everyone outside cheering at the soccer match. I’m in my bedroom, it’s maybe the windiest day since I’ve been in Kenya and I’ve learned my lesson before regarding wind and a cold. =( But it sounds like everyone’s having so much fun! We have some TALENTED kids here at Tumaini…future soccer stars, all of them. =)

Our water came back on for a consistent 5 days, praise the LORD! It went off again a few days ago, but we developed a little system for getting water from the kitchen. Keep praying for rain! Every time it rains, it fills the pipes again so we can have running water for little bit. It is dry season, and rainy season begins in April, so we will have plenty of water soon, I’m sure.

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.” – Psalm 27:4

It is good to be in the house of the LORD!!!

ps: we're traveling to Nairobi the weekend of March 13, so I should be able to post again then!