Settling In

Sorry no picture as we have been having a little trouble with the internet.

We are slowly getting things unpacked and settling in at the apartment. Today was a day of firsts; first load of laundry in the most complicated washing machine I have ever used!, Aaron bought our first transformer after I blew up my hairdryer!, we had our first official gathering with the Kenya team as we celebrated Diane Bannister's birthday, and Aaron drove the Nairobi roads for the first time navigating the pedestrians, potholes, bicycles all in the pouring rain (he did amazing!).

We are all starting to get used to the new time zone. The dizzy spells are passing and our taste buds are beginning to adjust. We are planning a day at home tomorrow to just play.

God Bless,
Aaron and Erica

We're Here!

After a couple of long days (and nights!) we arrived in Nairobi this morning at 8:00 am, with only one bag missing. We were met by Paul and Kelly Carline, Tim and Diane Bannister, Andy and Devita Deroches and Ron and Joan Ward. It was so great to see all their faces. With their help we loaded all of our stuff and headed to our new home. As we left the airport, we passed a field full of giraffes. Sorry Amanda, no pictures! We arrived at our apartment and Emma started unpacking right away. She and Tristan were delighted to find some treats waiting for them, including a birdcage and some shillings to go towards the purchase of our new family member. The Carline kids have already lined up some potential budgies. Aaron and I are now doing a bit of unpacking while Tristan and Emma have gone to the Carlines home to play. As much as we would love to get everything unpacked, the bed is calling our names louder and louder!

Toronto

On Christmas Day, we landed in Toronto at 9:00 am and had to claim all of our cases. This is us waiting for someone to help us get from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3. God is so amazing. Of all the people to help us, God sent us a man from Somalia. We spent over an hour with him as he talked about his life, Somalia, and coming to Canada. Thanks for your prayers.

In the air!

We are on the move! Thank you all so much for keeping us in your prayers.

On Christmas Day, we said farewell to my parents and siblings on PEI and boarded an Air Canada Jazz flight to Toronto via Montreal. We had a bit of a worry of our cases as the stickers (tags) but they stayed on and we got them in TO.

We are off from Haethrow now

Love A&E

First Baptist Charlottetown

Erica, Aaron, Chris, Marie and Sharon

On Sunday morning, we had the special privilege to be commissioned by Aaron's mom, Pastor Marie Kenny, at Aaron's home church in Charlottetown. We have been so encouraged by the congregation at First Baptist who have been praying for us throughout our journey.

Longing for Snow

Tristan and Emma wake every morning and head for the window hoping to see some snow. Getting a little bit frustrated, they decided to make some snow of their own! It would be great to have a huge snow fall before we go. Emma really wants to make a snowman with her "twin" Ezabella!

Christmas Tree Fun

On Thursday we had great fun decorating the Christmas tree. The evening was filled with lots of laughs and some great dancing! The cousins (Tristan, Emma, Ezabella, Penelope and Cecily) have been having soooo much fun together. Emma and Ezabella have decided that they are twins; they have made up some twins cheers and have been dressing the same all week.

Grammie and Grampy have been all smiles to have a house full of grandchildren (we miss you very much Liam).

The tree was decorated by the kids; it is the best looking tree ever!

True Love

Yesterday, my baby sister Lori and her fiance, Jason, were married in my mom's living room in front of a rolling fire. Aaron officiated the intimate ceremony (we were able to squeeze 30 people into the small room).

- Four sisters from youngest to oldest-

Lori, Mary Jane, Erica and Lana

A very proud mom with her girls!

It's Beginning to Look ALOT Like Christmas

On Monday, we said farewell to Nova Scotia as the first snow storm of the season came crashing into the maritimes. The three hour drive back to Riverview became a six hour drive as we crept along icy snow-covered roads, but by Tuesday morning it was beautiful. Tristan and Emma were desperate to get out and make snow angels and snow balls.

A BIG THANKS to David Clark, Erica's cousin,
for a relaxing weekend at the Lord Nelson

Africam -- Come vist the watering hole

We do not usually advertise, but we discovered a very cool website that has been a great source of fun for our family -- africam.com

We recommend the "Nkorho stream", where they have set up a live video & audio feed over looking a South African watering hole in a private game reserve. Their time is six hours ahead of ours in Atlantic Canada so if you check it out in the evening it will be in black and white night vision, but at around 10:30 pm (Atlantic Time) the sun is rising in South africa and a game officer arrives to remove the night vision filter. Often he or she (we never see the face) will pan around and zoom in on the watering hole visitors.

Tristan and Emma had a real treat this morning watching a family of Giraffe at breakfast. Erica and I enjoy listening to the sounds of the birds at night. Let us know if you spot any wild visitors at the watering hole yourself.

Sunday, December 3

We finished our time of speaking in the maritimes this weekend with one last visit in Nova Scotia. It was a delight to worship with friends in both New Minas and Halifax where we first began our ministry together (oh so long ago). A big thanks to Rev. Bobby Knowles, senior pastor of the New Minas Baptist Church, for welcoming our family on Sunday morning. In 1999, Erica and I both served with the New Minas Youth Centre -- Tristan did alot of crawling around this place! It was a treat to come back and meet with the kids in "The Orchard" and Sunday school classes (Thanks so much to pastor John Dixon for inviting us). During the worship services, we shared about our call to serve in Kenya and Sterling Gosman shared an inspiring message of the JOY of following Christ. (The pictures below are a few taken by our friend, the Rev. John Beers)

Family Life Pastor Mark, New Minas Baptist Church

It was sad to say good-bye to our survivor buddy Luwana Fagan

(and David & Serena too)

Rev. John Beers (thank you for your prayers!)

On Sunday evening, I shared our story at a gathering at the West End Baptist Church. This was the first church we served after we were married in 1998. It was such a treat to be able to return to West End and see so many familiar faces -- thank you all so much for the encouragement you have poured over us. A huge thanks to David and Florence Watt for the work it took to pull this evening together. Not only was David my missions instructor at Acadia, but I came to learn that he and I shared the same office when we each served at West End (it is now the newly renovated library). Among the folks present was Jake French, it was very cool to hear his story of when he and his sister first went to Kenya as missionary kids at age 7 and 5 (just like our children). Thanks so much Jake!

God Bless!

Far reaching flood

The United Nations Intergrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) has recently given a larger report on the effects of the flooding in Nort East Kenya. According to red cross workers 730,000 people have been displaced by the flooding. You can read the full "IRIN REPORT" by checking out the this site.

Praying for Flood Victims

Dear Friends,

We want to thank you all for praying for our family as we prepare to depart for Kenya. We recieved an email from pastor Andy Crowell from First Baptist Truro, today, concerning a news report he saw last night about the flooding in Somalia and North Eastern Kenya. We want to share with you all what we've been hearing so that you can join us in prayer.

We wrote about the flooding in North East province breifly a few weeks ago in our blog and posted a link to a CNN report where red cross workers were quoted as having responded to 23 deaths. Included in these fatalities was an expectant mother in the village of Dadaab where we will be working. Aproximately 80,000 people have been displaced as a result of the flash flooding. Our collegues Ron and Joan Ward live in the village of Garissa (where Erica and I will be visiting this February and plan to live during Tristan and Emma's summer break from May to July). According to Ron, the flood waters are receding, but they are leaving an incredible "gut-revolting stench" from the animal carcasses and human and other refuse. Flies, mosquitos and all manner of insects are everywhere.

Please pray for the people of North East Province as they rebuild. Pray for medical workers and our CBM partners as we respond to the increase of water born diseases. In Garissa, we work with a women's clinic named SIMAHO (Sister's Maternity Hospital) and with the TB Clinic that was built with help from the Sharing Way and continues to serve Somalis through a partnership with the Gates Foundation and CARE International. Please pray for our ACC&S partner churches as they continue to serve children in both the communities of Garrissa and Dadaab.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

In Christ's Love,

Aaron & Erica Kenny