Celebrating Somali Style

Some of the ladies preparing steamy Somali Chai for Friday's celebration with our ESL classes in Eastleigh.

Some of the ladies waiting for the tea to brew and for the party to start.

On Friday, we enjoyed a wonderful party with about sixty women from our ESL classes and Self-Help group at the Eastleigh Community Centre. It was a great chance for the ladies to quite literally "let their hair down" and have some fun together. Many of the ladies dressed to the nines with scarves, flowing dresses, and jewelry.

We've discovered that Somali women love to dance. They played both traditional and contemporary Somalli music, and performed several individual and group dances, tying scarves around their waists as they danced.

They also like to create a tight circle and call one another into the centre where one or two women will show their moves. With great cheering, Erica and Zahra (above) answered the students calls to dance in the circle. It was a lot of fun!!

What's a Somali party without henna? One of our students, Bisharo, brought her henna supplies and decorated several of the women and girls at the party. She uses both black and red henna to create incredibly detailed designs over hands, feet, arms and legs. Some of the women even had henna painted on their necks like a necklace. The dye ussually lasts for several months.

Erica joined our students and had both

of her hands decorated with henna.

Little Mermaid

Emma, our little mermaid!

This year, Emma will be swimming on the Rosslyn Academy swim team. Try-outs were held last week and she found out this Tuesday that she made the team. We are so proud of her! She will practice with the team twice a week and take part in swim meets throughout the year. She has such a great attitude; the team practices for almost two hours after a long day at school; Emma then comes home and does homework with no complaints. This is a huge responsibility for a 7 year old but Emma loves it!

Iftin

The ladies of our ESL classes and women's self-help group have given themselves a name -- Iftin. It is one of several Somali words for "light". The women have chosen it out of a desire to be light for their community.

Presently, we are holding three classes each weekday morning from 9 am to 12:30 pm. The women have shown a dramatic improvement not only with their English, but in their attitudes toward each other and with us. We see English as a critical foundation for the women to improve their lives and the lives of their families. And yet, we see this teaching component as only the entry point of a much more integrated approach to serving the refugee community living within Eastleigh. Along with the classroom learning, we are involved in household visits with our friend Zahra: together we are building deeper relationships and working with the women to assess and mobilize the community to find sustainable ways of overcoming extreme poverty. Through cooperative learning, the ESL classes are strengthening group dynamics among the women and preparing them for future opportunities of working together in community awareness projects, micro-enterprise development and community advocacy. It is an exciting time to be serving with such an inspiring group of women.

Zahra and Aaron with some of the women from our 10 am ESL class.

On September 8th, the ladies of Iftin will be representing the Eastleigh Community Centre at an International Literacy Celebration in Nairobi. They have organized themselves into a choir and two of the women, Bisharo Ilmi and Jamilo Moxamed Yasin, have composed three songs which the choir will preform in a national choral competition that day. We wanted to share with you one of the songs written about our class:

Iftin (Light)

written by Jamilo Moxamed Yasin

(ESL student)

Arday baan ahayoo
We are students
Ubixii wadankaan ahayoo
We are the flowers of the country
Waxan uordayaa uordayaa
We are running running
Iftin uaadnaa
going to Iftin (the light)
Inaan aqoonkarar sadoo
to add knowledge (experience)
Dalkena anfacee
and be useful for the country
Dadaak kii lanimidee
I came here to work hard
alahayow noo gargaar
God may you help us.
aamiin aamiin aamiin
Amen Amen Amen

Erica and Zahra preparing for a new day of

classes with the women of Iftin.

We want to thank the many volunteers who have been helping us in renovating both this classroom and primary classrooms earlier this year -- We could not have done it all without you!!!!! In our ESL room alone, it took many hands to tear out the old rotten ceiling (thank you Andai, Ryan and Jason), construct a new ceiling on very crooked trusses (thank you Andai), and then there was the scrubbing and painting (thank you so much Jean Enns for all your help!). We also owe a BIG THANKS to the White Rock Team who provided the paint for the project.

Yesterday was the first day that the ladies were able to see the newly finished green room, and they love it. We are planning a class party for this Friday to celebrate together!

Girls Night

Makena, Mary, Emma and Lexi

On Friday after school, Emma invited some girlfriends home for a sleepover to celebrate her 7th birthday. There was lots of laughs, dancing, crafts and eating! High School Musical turned out to be the theme of the night; the girls watched the movie AGAIN! They know all the songs and dance moves by heart! Aaron and Tristan left the girls home for a girls night and they enjoyed a guys night out at the movies.

There wasn't much sleeping at the sleepover but the girls had tons of fun!

Andai's Boys

William, Jackson Andai, Wellington, Livingston (Andai's nephew), and Benson

Almost anyone who has been to Kenya with Canadian Baptist Ministries over the past three years has no doubt come to know our friend and colleague, Jackson Andai. We are blessed to serve with such a hardworking and humble man, who embodies the servant heart of our Lord in all that he does. Andai helps with many of the CBM staff and volunteers serving in Nairobi and throughout Kenya; often working behind the scenes, he is an indispensable part of all that we do here together.

This summer, along with his many responsibilities, Andai took a leadership role in coordinating an extensive renovation of the CBM Dadaab compound with a group of volunteers from White Rock, British Columbia. Together with the White Rock team, they transformed the sagging compound into a gleaming jewel within the Dadaab village. Because of their work, a new community meeting shelter has been erected within the compound that has been of great use to the people of Dadaab.

We encourage you to be praying for Andai and his wife Sarah, who is home in the Western town of Kisumu with their daughter. Andai and Sarah are expecting their fifth child this September, but like many families in Kenya, the husband and wife spend much of their time a part: Sarah keeps the small family Shamba running with the children, while Andai works far from home to support them. With only a few short weeks till the due date, Andai has brought his sons to the city to stay with him and give Sarah a rest.

On Thursday evening, we had the joy of hosting Andai and his boys for supper at our apartment. The boys were very quiet and timid at first, but by the end of the visit they were playing with Tristan's Hotwheels toy cars and making lots of their own "engine revving" sounds racing each other throughout the living room -- although none of the boys spoke much English, there are some sounds that transcend languages.

Please pray for Andai and his family:

* For Sarah and the healthy birth of their new baby.

* For the boys to enjoy a restful time of bonding and connected with their dad.

* For the ongoing safety of Andai and his family.

The Martins -- Whonu?

Emma, Heather, Tristan, and Brian

hanging out after school at Rosslyn Academy

One of the great things about being a part of Canadian Baptist Ministries is the care and genuine interest our CBM family takes in not only our work, but in our family. Among the many ways CBM cares for us is in the area of TCKs (Third Culture Kids). Heather Martin serves as CBM's member care coordinator and with a warm and sensitive spirit serves the many CBM children adjusting to life overseas and returning to Canada as TCKs.

This weekend, Heather, and her husband Brian, concluded a vacation Bible school program that they were helping to lead in Kenya with a group of volunteers from Ontario, and, rather than taking a few days holiday with the rest of their group, they came to visit with our children. It was a treat for Tristan, Emma and Ava to have Heather and Brian come to hear their stories, see their bedrooms, visit their classrooms and just play together with them.

Upon their arrival, they presented our family with a new game called "Whonu?" -- Tristan and Emma absolutely loved it! There seemed to be no end to the fun the kids had in this game of guessing every one's favorite and least favorite things. Emma has started to call the game "Woo-hoo!"

Today, the Martins stayed after school to watch Emma try out for her school swim team. She was very proud to have a cheering section in the bleachers and was a little speedboat as she did her laps in the pool.

During their visit, they also shared in our ministry with the Eastleigh Community Centre, including some time with one of our Somali women's ESL classes. It was a blessing to spend time with the Martins and discuss issues of both work and family.

A Chinese Skipping Rope Demonstration

While in Eastleigh, Heather shared a few special gifts with our students including a new style of skipping which she introduced to the Somali women. The ladies fully enjoyed her animated demonstration and soon several of the students volunteered to give it a try. Two feet in, two feet out, now land on the ropes! Phew! -- There was quite a chorus of laughter.

Heather and Brian Martin with Ava

visiting the Nest children's home in Limuru.

They were also able to spend some quality time with our little Ava. On Monday morning, we travelled together up to the chilly town of Limuru to visit the women who first cared for Ava at the Nest. It was a delight to be with many of the children who remembered Ava from when she was only four months old.

It was a true blessing to have the Martins come and share their love and attention with our children.

Seven Years Ago!

Happy Birthday Emma!

On August 16th, we celebrated Emma's seventh birthday with an early morning treasure hunt that lead her to some surprise birthday gifts including her very first bicycle. Emma was very excited to try out her new wheels and spent most of the day circling our parking lot with her purple "baby shark"! At this rate, the training wheels will be off pretty soon. That evening Emma blew out her candles shared birthday cake (Mommy's homemade ice cream cake hmmm) with our friends, the Enns family, who joined us for games and a sleep over. We all had a great time with our birthday princess.

We also had a great birthday lunch out at a local Indian Restaurant with Tim Bannister and a group from the Altadore Baptist Church (Calgary, Aberta). They have been serving with the African Brotherhood Church in a number of water projects and came into the city on Saturday to visit with us and do some shopping. Emma had a great time playing in the sand at the restaurant's playground with her brother and sister. She and Tristan enjoyed a game of human bowling down a slide into a stack of tires.

Back to school

Emma arriving for her first day

in the second grade at Rosslyn Academy

Today was the first day of classes for a new school year at Rosslyn. Emma was very excited to be back and meet the many new children entering her class this year. Many of her classmates from the first grade are no longer in Kenya. This feels like a new beginning for Emma!

The Boys hit fourth grade! Tristan and his buds, Ezra Enns and Bryce Swallow, are moving up to the grade 4 & 5 playground -- the big time. They have been friends since they met in the second grade. Although they will be missing several of their old buddies who have left Kenya with their families, these three will have many more adventures ahead of them. Watch out grade four, there are some serious practical jokers coming your way!!

Both Tristan and Emma have male homeroom teachers for the first time this year. They are both very excited to get to know their new teachers and class mates.

Tristan and Ezra reported after school that they miss their old playground but "Mr. Hravatic is awesome!"

"Mr. Dunning is very nice," said Emma, "We did lots of fun stuff. And we have star bucks money!" We are not sure what that is, but she is very excited about it.

Ava's going to miss her big brother and sister as they head off to school after a fun summer of having them home.

A photo of Tristan and Michael Fredericks, one of the Praxis Students who came to Kenya this past Spring, was featured with an interview about Kenya in the New York Times. The link to the online version is below:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/27/travel/20080803_WHY_slideshow_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Shine like the heavens

On Friday, we had the joy of hosting two groups of teachers and administrators from Rosslyn Academy who came to learn about the ministry we are a part of at the Eastleigh Community Centre. Both groups were very encouraging to us and our colleagues at the centre. Throughout the day, the groups visited the various programs at ECC. Some of the teachers were very interested in connecting their classes with the school. We are also planning another painting day with some of the Rosslyn teachers to come and help spruce up the centre for the kids in Eastleigh. Beyond any physical help the teachers might be able to share with the students at ECC, we are very excited about the transformative power of loving presence as more people are able to come and volunteer, even for a short time, with us in Eastleigh. It was wonderful to see Chuck French, who had served in Eastleigh over 20 years ago with CBM, come as part of the group and greet men that he had impacted over two decades ago. The bright smiles and laughter among them was music in a hurting community.

"Those who impart wisdom will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

Daniel 12:3

Beautiful Changes

We have witnessed some beautiful changes with the women in our ESL classes at the Eastleigh Community Centre. Not only are many of the women removing their face coverings during the classes, but they have become incredibly warm and close to both Erica and Zahra. This last week the ladies began to share many of their dreams and aspirations within the classroom. We were delighted to hear so many young girls looking ahead to some very non-traditional vocations and paths. One very tall woman stood before her class and shared that she wants to become a mechanic and to return to Somalia to start her own garage -- Erica and I looked at each other in shock and joy. One of our big hopes with these groups is that the ESL training will become a starting place to help them learn practical vocational skills and entrepreneurship training that will enable them to support their families.

Some of the ladies who stayed after class to have their photograph taken with Erica and Zahra.

Another purpose behind our work in the ESL program is to build friendships and bonds with vulnerable refugee women and their families. It has been incredible to see the change among the ladies, who only a little over a month ago were coming in off the streets of Eastleigh and meeting us for the first time. We are truly blessed with such bold and courageous woman. Although many are quite young, we also have many other students who are mothers and even grandmothers. We have discovered that many of the mature students are in fact neglected wives who were brought to Kenya by a husband who then abandoned them for other families living abroad or home, in Somalia. Each of these women, young and old alike, have lived through very hard circumstances. It is a privillege be able to serve them, even in a small way. We pray that these bonds of affection, respect, and trust will grow stronger over the years to come.

Erica with one of her ESL students, Oromia

Day at the Beach

Tristan and Emma enjoying a day at the beach as their

summer vacation draws to a close.

Along with regular classes in Eastleigh last week, we met again with our colleagues serving with the Garissa TB ministry. While the ministry faces many challenges, we are trying to go deeper together in improving this ministry to victims of TB. Among the changes being developed at the TB manyatta, our friend Mohammed is trying to get permission from the Hospital authority to use the unutilized land around the feeding project for a kitchen garden that can not only be used to help with feeding program, but could also serve as a teaching component to the ministry by introducing techniques in arid land farming.

This week in Eastleigh, the Women's ESL classes are writing their first revision tests covering the first ten units in their curriculum. The weekly quizzes have proven to be quite a challenge for the women, but they are persevering together.

On Friday, we will be hosting teachers from Rosslyn Academy who will be visiting the ministry at the Eastleigh Community Centre. We are so thankful for several of the teachers and parents from the Rosslyn community who have supported the pottery ministry and even helped with the children's program this past year.