four_kennys

Advent 2011

2011-12-21T10:33:00.010+03:00

ADVENT MEMORIES

Some photos from our Advent 2011

we are now blogging at our new site at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Christmas Concerts

Emma as the Bethlehem Star

Mommy, Emma and Daddy

at the Rosslyn Elementary Christmas Concert

The Bethlehem Stars!

Daddy with Ava at her Christmas Concert

Ava's Christmas Concert

Erica and Tristan on the night of his Choir Concert

Tristan singing in the Middle School choir,

during the Rosslyn Academy Christmas Evening

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !!!

Joys! And Prayer Requests

2011-11-10T20:53:00.004+03:00

Ava and Emmanuel

November has been a tumultuous month in Kenya on many fronts, but we are so thankful for the wonderful blessing of friends. One of the surprise blessings in our life is little Emmanuel, who our friend Judy and her daughter Carol have welcomed into their family. Since Judy and Carol live in our home, Ava is convinced that she has finally become a "big sister". After school, she loves to rush off the school bus and look for "Man-well".

In Prayer:

* Please remember our friends in Garissa, who are struggling with fear and forgiveness after last Sunday's grenade attack on a Pentecostal Church that killed two people and injured three others. This is a very tense time in Garissa and throughout Kenya.

* Please pray for our friends in Eastleigh where tension is rising. Pray for safety of the Iftin ladies and the entire community as Kenyan authorities carry out sweeps in their attempt to find members of the Al Shabbab group.

Famine Relief

2011-08-09T09:41:00.003+03:00

Somali Refugees in the the village of Dhobley, Somalia

The Drought in East Africa is affected over 12,000,000 people but nowhere is the effects more visible than in the refugee camps of Dadaab near the Kenya/Somalia border where now close to half a million Somali Refugees have come for help. In the past two weeks, Erica and I have been travelling to Dadaab with our friend Amanda Lindhout to help her Global Enrichment Foundation and several other small NGOs to get food across the border and into Somalia.

You can read more about the first convoy and our experiences in our new blog at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com . Please continue to pray for the people of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya who are suffering from the famine. Pray especially for small children under the age of 5 who are the most vulnerable. We are hearing that in excess of 29,000 children have died from this famine in the past three months.

We appreciate all of the prayers and letters of encouragement!

To learn more of what Canadian Baptists are doing in Kenya and to donate toward the Famine Relief Efforts, please visit the Canadian Baptist Ministries website at www.cbmin.org

Spring 2011 Adventures in Africa

2011-06-23T19:27:00.014+03:00

Spring in Eastleigh

The past few months have been a whirl winds as we've served in Rwanda and Kenya with Guardians of Hope, Eastleigh with the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program, and took part in an international conference on Muslim-Christian relations in Africa, held in Lebanon. We've been blogging on our new site at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com but thought it would be fun to post a few photos here. To read more please check out the fivekennys blog!

Erica and Diane Bannister with Patrick in the

Noor Creations workshop in Eastleigh

Vertical Gardening in Eastleigh with the Bannisters

Tim Bannister teaching on sack gardening in an urban slum

Aaron in Cario at the Giza plateau

on his journey to the Middle East for the Arab

Baptist Theological Seminary's conference on

Muslim-Christian Relations in Africa

Pyramids are much bigger up close

Erica in Eastleigh

Monkeying around on Mt. Kenya

over a weekend wedding with friends

Aaron making a new friend

In May, we took the students from Crandall University

on weekend Safari about 4 hours from our home. In two days

we metthree different prides. One had this male with 16 other

lionesses and cubs -- Impressive!

Zebra on the plains of the Masai Mara

We are so thankful for the diverse beauty of Africa

to follow along with our life and ministry please check out our current blog at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

and to listen to our podcast go to

www.fivekennys.podbean.com

Cloning Not an Option

2011-04-27T12:17:00.002+03:00

Laura Muema: If only cloning was an option!

This was our fifth Easter in Africa, since coming to Kenya with Canadian Baptist Ministries in December 2006. We are so thankful for the privilege of being able to live and minister with such incredible people in such a beautiful part of the world. We are especially grateful to God for the people we serve with as part of CBM's Kenya team. Laura Muema joined us in Eastleigh just over a year ago in the role of project officer for the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program that CBM began in partnership with the Eastleigh Community Centre in 2008. Laura has overcome several obstacles through the past year as she jumped into the many activities and, at times, chaotic community life of Eastleigh.

In Prayer:

Please keep Laura in your prayers as she gives leadership, not only to the women's empowerment projects in the literacy classes, self help groups and community based training cohorts, but also to the children's clubs, youth groups and new peer educator's project. It is a lot of work, at times too much for one person.

Please pray for the refugee program team in Eastleigh as they pull together in their efforts to bring new hope and better lives to their community.

Please pray for the community of Eastleigh and the ever expanding Muslim refugee population within Kenya. According to the latest reports, the influx is steady with camps in Northeastern province bulging at the seems, for instance the Dadaab camps are now at over 320,000 people (more than double the camp population in 2006).

Pray for committed workers like Laura to come up from within the churches of Kenya to reach out to their own community and neighbours.

Mt. Kenya

2011-03-23T07:49:00.003+03:00

Views of the Mt. Kenya peaks

just below them at Shipton's Camp

Erica and Aaron at Old Moses Hut

For more of our life and ministry in Africa

Check out our new blog at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Monkeying Around

2011-02-23T20:26:00.003+03:00

A Colobus Monkey

We met this curious Colobus monkey at Lake Naivasha this past weekend with the Doerksen family visiting us from Willowlake Baptist Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Doerksen family have been volunteering with the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program in Eastleigh.

To read more about what we've been up to this month, please check out our new blog at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

A hippo in Lake Niavasha, Rift Valley, Kenya

Run Ava, Run!

2011-02-04T08:57:00.002+03:00

Ava running in the preschool race

at the annual Rosslyn Academy Sports Day

February has started out with a bang as we are seeing some great progress with the Guardians of Hope program and have the pleasure of hosting the Doerkson family from Manitoba in Eastleigh.

Please continue praying for our family and the outreach projects we are a part of with Canadian Baptists Ministries.

Guardians of Hope, Western Rwanda

2011-01-13T06:24:00.004+03:00

Fisherman returning to shore on Lake Kivu

Western Rwanda

This month we are visiting with the Guardians of Hope in Rwanda and Kenya

to read more please check out our new blog at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Thank you for praying for us!

Adventures in 2011

2011-01-08T22:49:00.002+03:00

Emma in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro

January 4th, 2011

Following the elephants in

Amboseli National Park, Kenya

We invite you to follow us on our journey through 2011 as we live and serve with Canadian Baptist Ministries in Africa.

Check out our new blog at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T20:55:00.001+03:00

Greetings from the five Kennys

On behalf of our family, we wish you a very Merry Christmas

and God's richest blessings throughout this New Year!

Rwanda

2010-11-03T15:47:00.003+03:00

Rwanda -- The Land of a Thousand Hills

Join us at our new blog: www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

as we journey together with our ministry partners in Kenya and Rwanda with the Guardians of Hope, Children of Hope, and Iftin Women's Empowerment Program of Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Erica with six year old Esperance living positively with HIV as a beneficary of the Children of Hope, Rwanda

Fall 2010

2010-09-21T09:31:00.005+03:00

Enjoying Sundown on the Athi Plains at the home

of our team mates, Tim and Diane Bannister.

September has been a full month for our family and the programs that we are leading in Africa with Canadian Baptist Ministries. To catch up on the latest news please check out our new blog at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

We are also podcasting interviews and highlights of our work here at our new audio podcasting site at www.fivekennys.podbean.com or you can subscribe to them for free at the iTunes Store, just search the podcast section for fivekennys

Thank you so much for your interest, prayers and support for our family and the ministries that we are so fortunate to be a part of!

Blessings,

The Kennys

A wary male Masai Ostrich guarding the nest!

Growth Always Brings Change

2010-08-15T22:39:00.004+03:00

Our kitchen garden full of heavy ladened pawpaw trees

We returned to Kenya just over a week ago and are settling back into life and ministry. Tristan and Emma have returned to school at Rosslyn Academy, and we are back to work with our new responsibilities with Guardians of Hope and Somali urban development and outreach.

Last Thursday, we hosted a good Somali friend at our home and during the visit we spent some time in our backyard and little kitchen garden. It was wonderful to see how much had changed in our small patch of fruit trees, tomato plants, and greens. It reminded me of the parable of the farmer who plants the seed and must leave the mystery of growth to God. Matthew tells us that "he knew not how" the tiny seed became the harvest. The transformation was not of his doing nor within his control.

This has also been our experience in Kenya. Growth and change is a mystery. We can tell the stories of a relationships or seeds planted, but who can understand how God draws someone into hope, faith, and compassion. How does the mystery work? Our friend has persevered through much hardship and uncertainty over the past eight months, but we are so encouraged by how God continues to uphold her. She is not the same person we met three years ago. Thank you so much for faithfully praying for the families of Iftin and Guardians of Hope. Please continue to pray for growth and change within their lives.

This young pineapple will take two years to mature to harvest

Sometimes the result of our small efforts bring enormous surprises. Last August, we visited a Luo village in Western Kenya and were given pineapple seedlings by our hosts to bring back to our home. By the end of our four day journey, the tattered plants were pretty beaten up from the tossing and jostling of the journey. I remember taking them out of the back of the Landcruiser and wondering if we should even bother planting. We did. And to our surprise, the forgotten and neglected seedlings have come to life. Young fist-sized pineapples have emerged under the shade of the pawpaw. Amazing. God brings the sun, God brings the rain, and God causes the seed to grow. Without God's loving and powerful hand at work in our world, nothing will grow and nothing will change.

As our friend left that afternoon, she carried an armload of fruit back to her home. She was encouraged by stories of our time in Canada and by the many people praying for her community in Eastleigh. We are thankful for changes that we are seeing not only in her, but within this little patch of the world.

Conversations

2010-07-23T15:41:00.002+03:00

As we prepare for our return to Kenya, we stopped for a short conversation with Andrew Myers, communications manager of the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Church, to discuss our experience on home assignment and our changing roles within Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Family Vacation

2010-07-22T17:58:00.002+03:00

Emma and Ava playing with their cousins at Basin Head, PEI

We are currently enjoying a few weeks of vacation visiting family and friends in Eastern Canada, before our return to Kenya in August. For more pictures and updates, please take a look at our new blog at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Hope you are having a great summer!

Canadian Home Assignment

2010-06-10T15:48:00.002+03:00

Sunset over the Bay of Fundy from the

shore of Margaretsville, Nova Scotia

We are presently travelling through the maritime provinces connecting with family, friends and churches about our work with Canadian Baptist Ministries. For more details on our travels please check out our new blog at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Thank you for your interest and prayers for our family and the ministry of Canadian Baptists in Africa. We will be returning to Kenya in August to begin our new role as Africa coordinators of the Guardians of Hope. We will still be sharing in the work of Iftin at the Eastleigh Community Centre, Niarobi. For more stories and pictures from our first three years with Canadian Baptist Ministries please look back through the archives of this blog.

Canada!

2010-04-28T03:06:00.003+03:00

Ava ready for the road!

We are back in Canada for our first home assignment. To see more over journey check out our new blog at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

About to fly!

2010-04-05T16:34:00.002+03:00

We found this nest in our backyard over the Easter long weekend. Looking forward to seeing a little family of birds appear!

We are very excited to be departing next week for our first home assignment in Canada. To follow along with us on our three month long road trip please check out our latest blog and photos at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Happy Easter!

The Five Kennys

Rain is falling

2010-03-11T16:24:00.002+03:00

March is seeing lots of wonderful rain falling in even the driest parts of the Kenya. No matter the clan or tribal community, rain is always seen as a blessing in Kenya.

To see more pictures or to read about our life and ministry in Kenya, please check out our new blog at www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Thank you for your interest and prayers for our family and the ministry of Canadian Baptists in Africa.

Happy Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-12T18:43:00.005+03:00

Aaron faces his fear of birds...

Erica with the very friendly

Crown (also called Crested) Cranes

at the Lord Errol restaurant in Runda, Nairobi

We want to wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day!

Erica and I celebrated early this year at the peaceful Lord Errol near our home in Nairobi. Among our highlights of the evening was a wonderful visit with the owner Hans and his friendly 200 lb St. Bernard -- what an incredible animal. We also had fun with a pair of flirting cranes before our dinner. It was a wonderful night!

For more about our life and ministry, please take a look at our new blog at

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Happy New Year

2010-01-02T15:43:00.003+03:00

Wishing you a great 2010 from Kenya!

Thank you so much for your interest in our life and ministry here in Kenya. Although we've moved our blog to www.fivekennys.blogspot.com we invite you to look back on our first three years serving with Canadian Baptist Ministries as we journaled here at "fourkennys".

May God be with you and may this new year be filled with His grace and peace!

Love

The five Kennys

Hello

2009-11-06T11:02:00.010+03:00

Hello from Ava

November is a busy month in Kenya as the rains bring new activity and schools prepare for the end of term. You can read more about our family and ministry at our new blog address:

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

We are keeping our pre-adoption blog here as a diary of our first three years serving with Canadian Baptist Ministries.

Thank you for your interest and prayers!

The Five Kennys

The Adventure Continues...

2009-09-10T14:02:00.001+03:00

Since the completion of our adoption last May, we have been blogging at a new address: to see our latest updates please follow this link to www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

Blessings,

The Kennys

New Blog

2009-05-22T20:14:00.004+03:00

We are so excited to announce that Ava's adoption was granted today by the Kenyan High Court. As of today we will be using our new blog address:

www.fivekennys.blogspot.com

We have a few more pictures posted there from today and you can see them by clicking on the link above. Although we won't be posting on this four_kennys blog it will still be online and available for you to look back over our first three years with CBM.

Emma

2009-05-21T07:53:00.003+03:00

Emma's swim team finished up for the year with a final meet at Rosslyn yesterday afternoon. Emma swam in free style, back stroke and breast stroke. She came in first in all three events! She has improved so much over the past year and will move up an age bracket when swim team resumes in August. Thanks to everyone who has been cheering for Emma!

In Prayer:

We are scheduled to go to court tomorrow. We will know for sure whether our name remains on the list later today. Pray especially for Sam Mutisya who is our guardian. He will travel in from Machacos today to be with us for the hearing tomorrow. Pray for his health and safety on the roads.

Brownies and Badges

2009-05-16T09:48:00.006+03:00

Emma showing her new Brownie badges!

On Thursday, Emma took part in her Girl Guides brownie celebration where she was awarded badges and had fun with her friends. With only two weeks left in the school year at Rosslyn Academy, sports and programs are winding down. Emma has enjoyed a busy year of swimming and after school activities. Way to go Emma!

Chegay and Nelius registering Somali refugee

families for child sponsorship case studies

While programs are closing down for the summer break at Rosslyn, the opposite is happening at the Eastleigh Community Centre as classes, vocational training and community programs are filling up with new students. On Friday, we spoke with a group of 25 prospective refugee families about the importance of education and opportunities for child sponsorship.

The mother's identified several obstacles to education for their children: cost, corruption, and access were among the top problems that they face. Thanks to the generous help of individuals, churches and outside donors, the Community Centre is working to scholarship as many as 100 new Somali students for primary education. A prerequisite for scholarship is a case study carried out by the centre's social workers. The social workers access the needs and make up of each family, and along with helping the children attend school, the centre then works to assist the entire family through various support programs.

Wood pile

2009-05-13T17:52:00.003+03:00

Ava helping to pile our firewood this afternoon

just before a big thunder storm rolled in.

It was a wet day here in Nairobi, but still no water inside the Kenny house. Our new plumbers will be making the repairs tomorrow afternoon. Meanwhile, we have been on the notorious River Road bargaining for jewelry supplies. Erica and James are finishing off the last phase of the jewelry training.

Both Henry and Reese took great interest

in this Ibis bird that was poking around the yard.

Although they stalked him, neither was brave enough

yet to move in too close.

Happy Birthday

2009-05-11T21:06:00.005+03:00

Ava was up bright and early singing

"Happy Birthday" to mommy.

Erica's Birthday Brownies with Tristan and Emma

It was fun to share mommy's birthday evening in front of the fireplace. The kids came up with their own birthday song with party horns. It was a great celebration after a hard day.

Unfortunately, our water problems have not gotten any better. After nearly a week without water (because of city rationing), the city water returned on Mother's Day -- Erica spent most of the day catching up on laundry, until the pipes burst again (for the sixth time). We spent most of today working with plumbers to restore the water. Erica was glad to be able to finally finish our last load of wash tonight.

Barbeque!

2009-05-10T09:43:00.005+03:00

We had a great Saturday building the dog house with our friend Peter and visiting with our friends, the Enns family, Kerry and Gigi. Aaron was able to use his birthday present for the first time-- the barbeque!

The Grill King!

Kerry and Gigi

Tristan and Reese trying out the new dog house. Henry prefers to sleep under the dog house and Reese prefers our house, right in front of the fire.

Henry and Reese tuckered out after a long day of playing with the kids. Ava can say Reese's name perfectly but hasn't quite mastered Henry; she calls him "Honking".

Puppies

2009-05-08T19:26:00.004+03:00

Henry and Reese!

Our family just keeps growing: today we welcomed two Bernese Border puppies into our lives. When we moved into our apartment on Brookside Court, two years ago, we were not allowed to bring our dog Maizi. Although we found a wonderful new home for her with our friend Andai and his family, we were very sad to lose her as part of our family. We had promised ourselves that one day when we were blessed with a home with a yard that we'd have a family dog. We never dreamed of two dogs!

Emma cuddling Reese

Last week, in our busyness of moving in, we began to research available breeds and puppies in Nairobi. On Friday, Paul & Kelly Carline introduced us to neighbours of theirs who had a litter of Bernese Mountain dog/Border Colie puppies -- Our search was over! Over our few visits, we fell in love with these gentle giants. The family have had Bernese dogs for about 15 years. We enjoyed not only the puppies but the five beautiful adult dogs. Together with the kids, we decided to name our dogs after candy bars. It was a tough choice, but in the end O'Henry and Reese Peanut Butter Cups won out. Neither are available in Kenya, so we've already had to explain what these chocolate bars are like to friends.

Tristan playing with Henry

until the last rays of the sun went down.

We pray that their first night goes well. Tomorrow we will be building a dog house together for Henry and Reese. We are looking forward to a fun family day with the puppies.

Back2School

2009-05-08T18:02:00.003+03:00

ESL Students return to Iftin after the April break

The Eastleigh Community Centre was a buzz this week with students returning to the nursery, primary school, and adult literacy programs. While the students of these classes had a break, the women of the first jewelry training cohort have been working hard and have almost completed their training. The women were featured this week in a Kenya Television Network (KTN) about the ministry of Eastleigh Pottery and Eastleigh Jewelry project. We are so proud of them!

Settling In

2009-05-07T22:09:00.002+03:00

We have been a week in our house now and it is starting to feel like home. We are starting to figure out when we will have water and when we won't (water is rationed in Nairobi and here in Runda we only get water from the city on Sundays) and we haven't had a pipe burst in a couple of days. We had our first fire tonight in our beautiful fireplace and it was lovely! It is starting to get quite chilly so we'll enjoy the fire over the next couple of months. Thanks for all your prayers as we enjoy the ups and downs of living in a house.

Emma competed in a swim meet today and she did fantastic. She swam in three events. She came first in freestyle and second in both breast and back stroke.

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-03T21:34:00.005+03:00

Our new home on Daisy Road, Nairobi!

This past Wednesday, we moved into our new home on the Northern side of Nairobi close to our children's school and only fifteen minutes from Eastleigh. It was both an exciting and frustrating day. Once we got the electricity sorted out, our greatest challenge was water. The house has three separate plumbing systems and the local fundies (handy men) have been improvising in an attempt to patch them together: We've had several pipes burst in the ceiling over the past few days. Nevertheless, we are thankful for the first showers in our new house today as the many little details are coming together. This is home -- leaking pipes and all!

It has been wonderful to have a yard and a space for Tristan and Emma to ride their bicycles. They have been having a lot of fun playing together with Ava in the garden. Ava has been running barefoot around the house flapping her arms like a bird. The kids have discovered several chamelions in the bushes around the house, and throughout each day we've been blessed with many colourful song birds and even a heron. They have loved being able to play outside over the weekend and explore every inch of their new home.

Our kids making their mark!

Happy Birthday!

2009-04-25T06:28:00.003+03:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Aaron's 34th birthday. The day started with a gift our family has been waiting a long time for... the keys to our house. Well, we didn't get the keys to the actual house but we did get the keys to the gate which is still cause to celebrate! We will get the rest of the keys this morning and then begin our move across town.

Daddy gets lots of birthday hugs from Tristan, Emma and Ava

We met friends for lunch and Aaron was surprised with a yummy cake. After school, we went home and started our game marathon. We love games! We played late into the night (actually in was only 9 pm but we are getting older...) and had a family sleep over in our room.

Daddy and Ava enjoying birthday pie.

Aaron's one request for his birthday was key lime pie.

Laughter

2009-04-22T20:01:00.003+03:00

Never a dull moment!

Ava having a good laugh

Ava has discovered her inner artist, unfortunately she has discovered it through decorating our pillows, furniture, walls, and pretty much everything else she is not suppose to draw on. She likes her "magna doodle", but for some strange reason it just seems so much more fun to sneak a pen out of a drawer or purse and find a new surface to scribble.

She and Emma share a bed room, and over the past month Ava has been waking up extra early and climbing the ladder up into Emma's top bunk. We fear the day when she decides that Emma's forehead will make a good canvas!

Getting ready for bed.

Ava wanted to sleep in her new outfit from India.

Putting It All Together

2009-04-21T19:40:00.004+03:00

Erica working on a few designs for her upcoming

jewelry making class with the women

of the Iftin Jewelry Project.

We spent most of today searching out sources for jewelry supplies in Nairobi for the ceramic jewelry project. Erica and the training group will be working closely together to create designs out of the beads that the women are making. Finding supplies here in Kenya is nothing like dropping into Michael's back home in Canada. We are excited to see how the first line of jewelry turns out!

We also shared some time with a Kenyan pastor and his family who are planting a small church near our new home. David works as a part-time gardener in order to support his ministry. As we make the move into a small rental house, he is helping us tame the wild yard and start a small kitchen garden (we are hoping to plant a pumpkin patch). Our move has been delayed because of a leaking roof, but it is a blessing to have rain and to have discovered the leaks before we moved in. We are planning to shift over to the house next week.

We want to thank everyone who has been praying for our family: Emma's chin is healing well after her Easter weekend cut. The stitches came out last Friday, but she'll have to stay out of the water for the next week. Emma is enjoying school and friends as usual! Ava's next court date seems to be on track for May 22nd. We are praying for the health of Sam Mutisya, her guardian ad litum. Sam has been very ill. Ava has been praying for everyone's health lately (even if we aren't sick) with loud and long "Amens". We would appreciate your prayers for Sam as he sees his doctors this week.

Facing Challenges Together

2009-04-20T18:39:00.006+03:00

Zahra, Nelius and Erica working through some problems today as we plan for the upcoming term with Iftin.

In July, we will be celebrating the first year of Iftin. We are deeply thankful for God's blessing of Zahra and Nelius who have been working with us and the incredible women of Iftin. It hasn't been an easy journey, but we feel that through faith and determination that obstacles can be overcome.

In Prayer:

* We pray for the desperate need of rain throughout Kenya. Although Eastleigh received a good dosing today, the spring rains have come late and much of the country is extremely dry. As a result, livestock are suffering and crops are withering. Food prices have climbed steadily and the urban poor are among the hardest hit as they try to make their few shillings stretch with the doubling of basic food prices. Canadian Baptist Ministries and Canadian Food Grains Bank are preparing for a major food distribution throughout rural parts of Kenya. Included in this will be a relief aid project in Northeast Province among the Somali communities where the Carlines and Gollos are working. We will be working in Eastleigh to address issues of food security with the families of Iftin.

* We are praying for clean water for the families of Eastleigh. With the generous support of Churches and individuals from Canada, we are preparing to distribute water filtration systems to vulnerable Somali and Oromo families living in Eastleigh and Mathare Valley. We pray that these families will adopt the regular habits needed to maintain clean water and good hygiene that are being taught through the distribution project. Poor sanitation and unclean water are leading causes of child mortality in Eastleigh and throughout the developing world.

* We pray for unity and trust within the community. Many of the women of Iftin have suffered criticism and even persecution for their decision to join Iftin. Traditionally negative views against female education, and the presence of women in public life, make it difficult for individuals who want to break the mold. Over the last month, about a dozen members of Iftin have stopped attending literacy classes due to outside pressure. Pray for us as we struggle to build in roads of trust, while challenging people to value the opportunity for women to learn.

New Beads

2009-04-20T17:52:00.007+03:00

Aisha, Hawa, Safio and Erica

taking a close look at the finish of the newest glazes

being used as part of the Eastleigh Ceramic Jewelry Project

A peak into the kiln

Falastin and Aisha forming beads during the morning session of the Eastleigh Pottery training program. The first training cohort will be completing their course in May.

New colours and shapes appearing

The Eastleigh Jewelry Project is the first micro enterprise initiative of Iftin. Thanks to the support of the Eastleigh Community Centre, The Sharing Way/Canadian Baptist Ministries and generous Canadian partners in mission, we are working with the Somali women of Eastleigh to build self help support groups, savings programs, and income generating activities that will enable many of the most vulnerable families to overcome extreme poverty.

The ten women currently training with the ceramic jewelry project have been enthusiastic over the progress and proud of their accomplishments. We are praying that the training and development of the jewelry project will continue to progress and that the marketing and sales of their artwork will generate a sustainable income for these women and their families. Erica and James have been researching opportunities to market the jewelry in Kenya (They were both apart of a large sale this past weekend). We are very thankful for a few friends in Canada who have offered to display and sell the Iftin jewelry. We are praying for other opportunities to export their creations.

The work goes on as Hawa, Aisha, and Safio

laugh together around the central table

in the Eastleigh Pottery workshop.

Just-Landed!

2009-04-15T14:45:00.004+03:00

Greenwood Drive Baptist Church STM

Around the table -- Greg Jones (Regional minister /Region VI), Richard McAleer, Caleb & Tim Bannister (CBM Kenya), Thomas & Catherine Reid, Elizabeth Aikens, Charles Newman, and Malcolm Card (CBM Africa team leader).

We had the pleasure of welcoming the Greenwood Drive volunteers this morning at Java House for coffee and breakfast, after their long journey from New Brunswick. They will be visiting and serving with our partner churches in rural areas around Thika and Machakos over the next two weeks. It was great to see Greg Jones, who had been our regional minister when we served with the Midland Church in New Brunswick.

We pray that they will experience a transformative time serving and learning from our Kenyan brothers and sisters.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T18:03:00.005+03:00

After all the travelling of this last month, it was great to be home together to celebrate Easter. The kids were up early, well before church, to see what the Easter bunny had dropped around our apartment. After mommy's fabulous cinnamon rolls, we worshipped at the International Christian Fellowship and enjoyed Easter dinner with friends.

The Boys

The Girls

Bunny Princess

Tristan and Emma facing the foam

at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi

We had planned on spending the weekend at a local hotel (with a great big pool and a cool waterfall slide), but on our first day there Emma had a nasty fall and caught her chin on a piece of metal. We rushed her to hospital where a plastic surgeon was called in. He was able to patch her chin with nine stitches. She was a very brave girl, and we thank God that her injury was not anymore severe. We pray that she heals well over the next week.

This will be our last Easter in our apartment, as we will be moving at the end of this month into a house close to our children's school and Eastleigh. This will cut our daily commutes by over half. We are excited to have a yard for the kids to play in and a small garden.

Easter Play

2009-04-04T16:37:00.009+03:00

Tristan as "Wooly" the sheep in
Rosslyn Academy's Elementary Spring Musical

"...His Fleece Was White As Snow" by Dan Baker
was the elementary spring musical this year.
The students told the Easter story
through the eyes of the animals

Dinky the Donkey (Michael), Wooly the sheep (Tristan)
and Rooster (Christian) share the amazing news of Jesus'
resurrection from the dead.

Emma sang in the elementary choir
directed by Lynn Charisse Zettlemoyer

Erica directed the play with another parent, Kim Remich
It was a proud night for us aswe cheered Tristan
and the cast on -- fantastic!

The Cast: Benjamin, Sarah, Amani, Tristan, Christian

Caeli, Lydia, Michael, Grace, Alina

Bollywood here we come...

2009-04-04T15:57:00.006+03:00

Tristan and Emma having some fun

dressing up in their presents from India

We were excited to see the kids after nine days of being away. It was a long time to be apart. Ava especially had a hard time dealing with the separation. We are looking forward to sharing some family time together this week as the kids are on their Spring Break.

Tristan -- such a charmer!

Patterns of Promise 1874-2009

2009-04-03T13:00:00.020+03:00

India is the second most populated country in the world (coming after China) with about a billion people. That means that about 1 out of every 6 people living on planet earth are in India.

We just returned last night from Canadian Baptist Ministries' first ever Global Conference "Patterns of Promise". Together with about a hundred Canadian missionaries, national staff, CBM leadership and board members, we traveled to Delhi, the capital city of India, for an intense seven days of workshops and planning around CBM's four strategic drivers. We owe a huge thanks to our friends Mel, Kerry, Judy and Carol who helped watch Tristan, Emma and Ava at home in Nairobi while we were away.

If you've seen the Oscar winning film "Slum Dog Millionaire", you will recognize the shoes left at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the Taj Mahal.

On the Saturday of the conference, we had one day free to tour around the city of Delhi. Many of us took an 18 hour bus drive and tour of the famous city of Agra to see the Taj Mahal. The trip was so long because of accidents and delays on the roads. As much as it was great to see the Taj Mahal, it was wonderful to get out of the conference centre and see more of India.

Carin Guthrie, Suzannah Nacho and Erica

showing off their beautiful foot coverings.

The Taj Mahal

We were glad to be able to spent time together with fellow Canadians serving with CBM, many of whom we had never met before. It was good to discover similar challenges and struggles faced by everyone. As the title of the conference points to, we were looking for patterns. Once you start looking, you find patterns everywhere from the symmetry of a tomb like the Taj Mahal to the ruts and grooves that appear in our lives and ministry. A part of the conference was about getting out of the ruts and into the groove!

Building a god...

We were told that there are an estimated three million gods in India from little shrines to giant statues like the one above that we saw being refurbished on the drive to Agra.

While we believe in one God, it is still a temptation to build little gods out of the stuff of life (the stuff that leaves us always wanting more). Perhaps the most powerful message of the conference, was the call to centre ourselves in who we are as children loved by God. The reality of this relationship is the foundation that all our lives are built upon.

CBM team Africa

Back Row: A. & R. D (Kenya), Aaron & Erica Kenny (Kenya), Tim & Diane Bannister (Kenya), Ana Salomao (Angola), Laura Ward (Kenya), Dorothy Sowden (Angola), Kelly & Paul Carline (Kenya), Bruno Soucy (Rwanda)

Front Row: Jim & Diane McBeth (Angola), John (Rwanda), Malcolm & Patty Card (Kenya), Karen & Colin Godwin (Rwanda), Gato Munyamasoko (Rwanda)

Absent: Kathleen Soucy and Sam Mutisya

Throughout the conference, we heard from many of our colleagues from around the globe. Much of our time was focused around current trends, challenges and best practices within our key drivers of : grassroots leadership development, pioneer outreach, global discipleship and sustainable community development. Erica made a presentation on "Making a Heart Connection" during one of the Pioneer Outreach driver sessions during the conference (she did amazing!). She shared the story of Iftin and some of the lessons that we have been learning in serving cross culturally in Eastleigh. It was a great opportunity to learn from one another and to help shape the course ahead for CBM.

Much of the conference was also given to worship and prayer. Our main speaker, Mark Buchanan, and worship leader, Brian Craig, helped us look to God's patterns of promise for us and the world.

Preparing for Communion as a Present Reality

General Secretary, Gary Nelson, encouraged us and spoke into the process of shaping the direction of Canadian Baptist Ministries. We are so thankful for the leadership and passion of Gary who has been a big part of our own personal journey into cross cultural outreach.

Suzannah Nacho , Erica and Heather Martin

A part of the fun of being in India was the opportunity to share with our national Indian partners. One of our Indian colleagues, Jasmine Jonathan, pulled Erica and a few other women aside so that she could dress them in a traditional Sari. They were beautiful!

Around the table

Standing: Kelly Carline, Erica & Aaron, Paul Carline and Carla Nelson

Sitting: Patty & Malcolm Card, David Sarma, and Gary Nelson

On the last evening, the CBM board organized an outdoor celebration meal where we dressed up in the Indian attire that many of us had found over the week. It was a great time of laughter. Sam Chaise, a representative of the board, encouraged us rather than saying good-bye to say "May the Lord be with you till we meet again!"

Brian Malcolm, Aaron, and David Nacho (No saris for the men)

Holy Cow!

Finally. Although we can't begin to capture the fullness of this past week, we do need to let you know that when travelling in India cows have first priority. They are everywhere: downtown, countryside, crossing the highway, on the sidewalk, in the doorway -- basically where ever they want to go. There are no western fastfood restaurants in Kenya, so we were very excited to see a Mcdonalds in India: I think this is the ONLY place where we didn't see a cow. The Indian Mcdonalds is beef free! McMutton tikka wrap anyone?

Home and Back Again

2009-03-23T21:02:00.003+03:00

Erica returned from Canada late Saturday night into the tight embrace of all of us here! Her journey wasn't without a few complications, but along the way she had wonderful help from our friends Don & Joy Hepburn. In London, Erica was able to catch the super short connection to Nairobi (Her only trouble there was a surprise gift for me that the London airport authority seized and trashed -- so long sweet maple butter!). Despite the long trip, Erica stayed up for hours playing with the kids and catching us up on her mom and all our family.

We want to thank everyone who has been keeping us in prayer.

The Long Way Home

2009-03-20T21:32:00.002+03:00

Dear friends,

A big THANKS to everyone who has been praying for Erica's mom. Mary is doing much better and was even able to see Erica off today at the airport.

Unfortunately, the plane never left the runway. I had a chance to talk with Erica from the Saint John airport as she was preparing to return home to us in Kenya, but I was surprised to hear that her plane was grounded for mechanical problems. Air Canada has provided a taxi service to Moncton where she is now flying on a direct flight to Toronto. This new flight will get her in too late for her original flight to Nairobi via London, but they have found an alternative routing.

Our prayer request is that she will make it back to us safe and sound. The new flights give her only fifty minutes to change planes in London. This is a problem for luggage, but also a stressful race to find her next terminal and gate. I'm praying that when Erica reaches Toronto that British Airways will have a later connecting fight in London that will give Erica a more reasonable amount of time to change planes.

Blessings,

Aaron

Beads

2009-03-18T14:34:00.005+03:00

The training has begun with the Iftin Jewelry Project.

The ladies began their classes today in ceramic bead making. They were very eager, arriving early to meet their instructors and discover more of what they will be doing in the Jewelry project.

Newly glazed beads must air dry in a rack before they can have excess glaze cleaned from the hole with a bead reamer. These beads will become bright blue and rusty brown in colour once they are fired in the kiln.

James Odera sharing with the Jewelry class.

The ladies will continue to study English in the mornings, with the Iftin classes, and join the pottery unit in the afternoons for ceramic bead training. We thank God for how so many little things have come together to make this project possible. Each of these women represent vulnerable households that are in desperate need of a regular and dependable income. We want to thank everyone who has contributed to The Sharing Way toward the "Eastleigh Urban Development projects". Without such generous support, ministries such as this would not be possible!

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T20:15:00.005+03:00

Tristan and Emma enjoying a St. Patrick's Day Treat

(Any guesses at what's in the glass?)

Although St. Patrick's Day is not normally celebrated in Kenya, we are proud of our Irish roots! Along with wearing a wee bit o'green, we added a splash of green food colouring to supper. It was a fun evening guessing the true flavours of our emerald meal.

Seeing more green!

Today was also the official beginning of the Iftin Jewelry Project with the first cohort. Three women from class 2 and seven from class 3 were selected for training scholarships out of about twenty applicants. The women will be learning the art of designing and creating ceramic beads and jewelry. It was a very exciting day as the classes arrived early to read the official posted results and the trainees proudly wore their new dust coats.

ESL teacher Nelius with the class 3

students who will be leading the way as

Somali Women artisans for their community.

In Prayer:

* Erica's mom returned to hospital again today to see the specialist in Moncton. We pray for some good news. Please also keep Erica in your prayers as it will be difficult for her to return to Kenya this Friday with her mom's situation still so unsettled.

Nuts and Bolts

2009-03-12T19:49:00.010+03:00

Introducing the first Iftin beads!

Hot from the kiln... we just completed our first experimental batch of ceramic beads with the Eastleigh Jewelry project. While we wait for our first shipment of imported glazes, the pottery team has been working with locally available glazes. The results have been good. Tomorrow we will be interviewing about twenty candidates from the Iftin group to make up the first group of ten participants in the ceramic bead training program -- from this group we will begin the jewelry enterprise.

hammering things out...

Most of the components and tools that we are using in the project are being made in-house. From the fine tools and measuring instruments, to the drying racks and firing bricks. Today we cut high temperature element wire and hammered it into shape to form the pins used for hanging the beads within the kiln. It is a labour intensive job.

Eastleigh made!

Even the components used within the water filtration project are produced on site. From the metal taps and attachments to the filters and housing, each part of the water filters have been designed and made by members of the community centre.

Our friend Nicholas Kamau (the second guy in wearing the blue lab coat) is an instructor with the metal work and construction sections of the Vocational Training Centre (VTC) at the Eastleigh Community Centre. He and his students were working on the metal lathe today used for producing components for the water filtration project. Each of the nine vocational training centres are focused on empowering youth with practical skills in order to help them provide a living and a future for their families. It is amazing to witness the ingenuity and spirit of optimism that people like Nick and his students share.

Back in the pottery section, more experimental glazes.

In Prayer:

* We praise the Lord for the spirit of cooperation and trust growing within the community centre between such a diverse group of people. God is not hindered by ethnic and tribal difference!

* We pray for the on going self help group meetings and for the Somali women who are being pushed further out of their comfort zones as they participate in a system of rotational leadership.

* We pray for wisdom and discernment as the first cohort is selected for the ceramic jewelry training.

* We thank God that even in the midst of our concern for Erica's mom, that it has become an opportunity for the Somali women to come around us in prayer. It has been wonderful to experience the support and empathy of our Somali friends through this time. One of the classes even made a short video to send back to Erica with love and prayers. God is good.

Prayer Update

2009-03-11T18:14:00.007+03:00

Thanks so much for everyone who has been keeping us in prayer.

Erica just called from the hospital. Mary was taken off life support yesterday and started breathing on her own. She came out of the coma and, although extremely disoriented, she is stable. They are planning to move her out of ICU later today. Praise the Lord!

The kids and I are well. Ava keeps asking where mommy is and for some odd reason keeps saying that "Mommy has owies". I keep reassuring her that mommy is fine and that she'll be home in a little while. Tristan and Emma have been a great help!

We are hoping that Mary will be well enough to be moved to the Moncton hospital closer to her home and Mary Jane & Lori, who live in Riverview with their families.

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you."

-- Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth

Self Help Groups

2009-03-10T15:54:00.005+03:00

Pharis Nyaga with the Somali women of Iftin

Today was the first in a series of workshops for the women of Iftin on building self help groups. Pharis Nyaga is the operations manager for the Eastleigh Community Centre's self help group and community based training programs. He is presently working with over sixty women's self help groups throughout the Eastlands region of Nairobi.

Our hope is that the women of Iftin will pave the way for other Somali women of Eastleigh to become part of a movement that has traditionally empowered women of various Kenyan ethnic groups. Self help groups, like The Sharing Way's "Guardians of Hope", empower women socially, economically, and politically to overcome extreme poverty and to bless their communities -- whether it be helping orphans and vulnerable children or people struggling with disabilities or disease.

Over the next few weeks, Iftin will continue to learn about Self Help Groups and have the opportunity to form groups together that will provide support, training opportunities, a financial savings program, and micro enterprise development support.

Today's gathering was very positive as about 30 women participated in the training and indicated high interest in continuing with the program and inviting friends to join.

In Prayer:

* We pray that the women of Iftin will be protected from forces in their community that would seek to discourage and hinder their full participation in the women's empowerment initiatives of the centre.

* We pray for emerging leaders within the group. May they grow in faith and integrity as they influence other Somali women living in Eastleigh.

* Please continue to uphold Erica and her mom in your prayers. Erica is currently somewhere over the Atlantic ocean en route to Toronto for a connecting flight to Saint John.

Answered Prayer

2009-03-09T21:28:00.002+03:00

We want to thank everyone who has been keeping Erica's mom and our family in prayer. We were able to find tickets for Erica to return to New Brunswick: She departs Nairobi at 11:25 pm this evening. As God would have it, she is on a plane loaded with over thirty Somali refugees enroute to London. Erica will be arriving in Saint John early Wednesday morning. We pray for her safe journey and for the time together with her mom and sisters. We continue to uphold Mary before God that He might give her strength and healing, and that His grace and peace would be upon her.

Once again, we deeply appreciate your prayers.

Faith never knows where it is being led,

But it knows and loves the One who is leading.

-- Oswald Chambers

Prayer Request

2009-03-08T19:12:00.003+03:00

We received a call at about 11:30 last night from Erica's sister Mary Jane: Erica's mom, Mary, was admitted to the Saint John Regional Hospital with severe pneumonia. She was put on life support and is now in a coma. She is at a high risk of congestive heart failure. It was a long night. But we were thankful for the ability to keep in contact with Erica's sisters through mobile phones.

Mary's condition worsened today, and her doctor feels that Erica should come back. We are praying that we will be able to find a ticket for Erica to return to New Brunswick tomorrow so that she can be with her mom and sisters.

Please keep Mary in your prayers. We know that God is a mighty healer and that He holds her in his hand. Please remember Erica, Lana, Mary Jane and Lori as they stand by their mom during this sad time.

Bronze!!

2009-03-07T14:57:00.002+03:00

Emma showing her bronze medal

Today, Emma competed in Rosslyn Academy's first at home swim meet. She swam free style and back stroke. She was awarded the bronze medal in free style. We are so proud of our Emma!

Al Shabaab

2009-03-04T17:44:00.005+03:00

Since the primary school re-opened in the New Year, we have noticed the absence of some of the adolescent boys with whom we had come to know. In particular, we began to miss Jamaal*, a fourteen year old boy whom we had spent some time with last fall. We were shocked to learn that he had been taken back to Somalia to train as a soldier. This does not surprise our Somali friends. "All over Eastleigh young boys are going to Jihad camp" our friend Abdi* tells us. "They are looking for boys to fight and free Somalia. They promise them heaven but all they are giving them is war."

The "they" our friend refers to is "Al Shabaab" a hard line militant youth movement of Somalia. "Al-Shabaab" literally means "The Youth". Since the overthrow of Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has been without a stable government. It is believed that Al-Shabaab developed out of the fall of the Islamic Courts Union in the Autumn of 2006 as an opposition to the Transitional Federal Government and its backers (primarily the Ethiopian Military). While the origins of Al-Shabaab in Somalia are not clear, the roots certainly go back to extreme Islamists in 2004. They have been actively recruiting jihadists to wage war against the "enemies of Islam".

Since we arrived in Kenya in 2006, the Ethiopian forces have kept Al Shabaab back from the Somali capital of Mogadishu. Now after two years of setbacks and losses, Ethiopia announced its withdraw late last year. Reports from Somalia tell us that their abandoned military outposts were almost immediately seized by Al Shabaab.

Somalia's new president Sheik Aharif Sheikh Ahmed has tried to dissuade the advance of Al-Shabaab, even this week agreeing to institute a lenient form of Sharia law to appease them. Despite this, they vow to continue fighting.

In Prayer:

* Please pray for our young friend, Jamaal, and for hundreds of youth like him who are being enticed to join a so-called "Holy War" against their fellow countrymen. Hatred is a powerful evil. We pray that God's peace would over come the deep distrust and spiritual conflict within Somalia. We pray for vulnerable youth like Jamaal that they will have eyes to see through the lies and hatred that will never free Somalia from war and death.

* Please keep our friend Moxamuud and his group Somali Youth for Peace in your prayers. Together they are working to promote peaceful conflict resolution among the Eastleigh Community.

Economist Story on Al Shabaab
http://www.economist.com/world/mideast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12815670&CFID=37713077&CFTOKEN=44056901

* Names changed.

Unity Football Club

2009-03-03T21:38:00.003+03:00

Aisha, Samiya and Khadija

members of the Friday Unity Football Club

A huge thank you to all the churches who have sent money into The Sharing Way to help support clubs like this one. We thank you and the girls of Iftin thank you! This is the first time that most of the girls have played an organized sport. Your donation for sports equipment is making a huge impact in the lives of many Somali women and children.

Let's Talk...

2009-03-02T18:18:00.002+03:00

Today, our team mate, Diane Bannister, came to class with us to talk to the women of Iftin about HIV/ AIDS and TB. Diane explained to the girls how the disease can be transmitted and the importance of being tested. Many girls responded that they would like to be tested but there is too much shame attached to the test. They said that if they tested positive it would automatically be assumed that they had contracted the disease through sin and they would then be alienated from their family and community. Please pray for these women as they are very vulnerable to sexual assault and live under with much fear and shame.

First Graduation

2009-03-01T18:36:00.010+03:00

Iftin's first graduating class!

Back Row: Leila, Hawa, Samiya, Faiza, Zahra, Safiya and Falastin.

Front Row: Khadija and Aisha.

The teacher's tent!

Erica, Zahra and Nelius at the graduation ceremony held in the Eastleigh Community Centre's vocational training square on Friday morning, February 27th. This was a very special day for us as we were so proud of our students. They have come so far over such short period of time. It was a special honour to have our advanced class receive their certificates as part of the VTC ceremony.

Safiya receiving her level one certificate from Dr. L.O. Lumuba

the honorary guest for the graduation ceremony.

E.C.C. director, Mr. Ehud Gachugu, addressing the

2009 graduating class of the Vocational Training Centre.

The director took the opportunity to challenge the graduates to use the skills, knowledge and experiences of their training to better their lives and to become a part of bettering Kenya. Throughout the ceremony faith and hope were central themes repeated in drama, music, and a challenge given by Rev. Shem Githingi, the pastor of the Eastleigh P.C.E.A. parish church. It was a theme echoed in the words of the Iftin song calling on the Somali women to become light to their nation.

Aaron sharing some words of encouragement to the VTC class, the graduates and the members of Iftin: Reminding them that God is calling each one of us forward towards Himself. As we study and work hard, we not only help ourselves but also our community, our neighbours and our families to move forward. Our prayer is that God will give each of us the sensitivity to hear His call upon our lives and the courage to step into it.

One of the great highlights of the ceremony was a presentation made by the Iftin choir.

Sad News

2009-02-26T19:35:00.002+03:00

God answers prayer, but not always as we would like.

We want to thank everyone who has been praying with us for Ava's adoption. For nearly two years we have been blessed with the gift of Ava and our hopes of returning to Canada to introduce her to all of her great big family and friends, but the frustration of the Kenyan adoption system and all its inefficiencies has been a great struggle. The saga continued today at about 5 pm with news from our lawyer that we have been bumped, with a large number of other families, from tomorrow's high court proceedings. The news only got worse as he told us that the back log in the family court (which only meets on Fridays) pushes us at the earliest to the end of April. Given the reality that the subsequent hearing would be a month later and followed by another two week wait for the adoption certificate, we won't be able to begin the work of obtaining travel documents for Ava until the middle of June at the earliest. This has been a terrible disappointment.

Given our frustrating situation with the courts, returning to Canada is no longer an option for us in 2009. This has been a sad decision to make for all of us. Please continue to hold us in prayer.

Totally Spies

2009-02-26T19:00:00.003+03:00

Emma and Tristan all dressed for

Rosslyn Academy's Spiritual Emphasis Week

Better and better!

2009-02-25T20:12:00.007+03:00

A group of young girls from the Eastleigh Community Centre's primary school dropping in for a drink of water at the Eastleigh Pottery ministry this morning.

Throughout the morning, we enjoyed seeing several children slip into the pottery ministry for peek at what we were up to and for a drink of water. Along with the traditional pottery and new ceramic beading project, Eastleigh Pottery has been very busy with producing and distributing ceramic water filters to families within Eastleigh and greater Nairobi. Throughout March, the women of Iftin will be learning about the importance of proper hygiene and clean drinking water as a first defence against common water born illnesses that are especially killing young children in places like Eastleigh and Mathare Valley. We are deeply thankful to the many churches and individuals who are contributing toward the purchase of water filter systems through The Sharing Way. Your gifts are providing clean drinking water to hundreds of people in Eastleigh! Every member of the Iftin self help groups will receive a water filtration system and be trained on how to properly use and maintain their filters over the next two months. Coming from Canada, water seems like such a common thing. But for most of the world, clean drinking water is a rare and highly valued commodity. We want to thank everyone who is making these filters a reality in Eastleigh!

Better beads!

Meanwhile the Eastleigh Jewelry enterprise continues to move ahead with Erica and the pottery crew improving their bead making day by day. We will soon be ready to move into the glazing and finishing steps of the bead production phase. Once we have the complete process ironed out, the Somali women will begin their five week training with Erica and the pottery staff.

Erica and James working on finding the best glazes.

So far all of the raw materials for the beading project have come from Kenya. The one component that we are lacking is the glaze. Kenya produces materials that create a wonderful grey and brown glaze (in fact the pottery ministry has produced some beautiful glazes of its own), but this does not satisfy the range and pallet of colour needed for jewelry. We will be experimenting with glazes that we must import from England. While we await the arrival of these glazes, we will be using some of the Eastleigh Pottery's supply.

In Prayer:

* Please keep our family in prayer as we return to the High Court in Nairobi this Friday for Ava's adoption. We are praying that everyone who needs to be there will make it and that we are not bumped from the list.

Spiritual Emphasis Week 2009

2009-02-24T21:02:00.008+03:00

It is Spiritual Emphasis Week at Rosslyn Academy: Each afternoon the Elementary School is taking part in a program of "Spies in Space" as they have fun learning about what it means to follow God.

Emma is in the Spiritual Emphasis Worship Team this year and she is having fun leading the songs and teaching the actions to her fellow students.

Erica and I are volunteering each afternoon as leaders of an activity station. The children are decorating T-shirts with us to help them to remember that "The Bible helps us to know what God wants us to do to follow God's path." Through the week Erica is teaching twelve different groups about what it means to "Follow God" and to follow the steps of painting their shirts.

"Obey me and I will be your God

and you will be my people. Walk

in all the ways I command you

that it may go well with you."

Jeremiah 7:23

Some of the freshly painted T-shirts drying in the sun

If you give a kid a paint brush, you never really know what to expect. Here are just a couple of cases in point! (They are two works of art that just put a smile on our faces this afternoon -- enjoy)

"Follow God ... fool"

"Follow Gob"

We are blessed to be able to be apart of this week with our children and the students at Rosslyn Academy!

New directions!

2009-02-24T19:35:00.003+03:00

Mr. Ehud Gachugu, director of the Eastleigh Community Centre, speaking with over forty of the women from the Iftin ESL program at today's vocational skills training seminar.

It was only nine months ago that we first met with young Somali women and mothers at the Eastleigh Community Centre to explore their perceptions and experiences of struggling to survive in Eastleigh. Among the many challenges that they identified that June morning, the ladies emphasized two of highiest priority, namely: a lack of English or Kiswahili (necessary for life in Kenya) and a need to provide a reliable income to support their hungry families living in poverty.

We had the pleasure today of announcing that the first IFTIN class to be receiving a "level one English certificate" will be taking part in the Vocational Training Centre's graduation ceremonies this Friday! As part of the celebration, the Iftin choir will be performing their own song. It will be a very proud day indeed.

We also had the joy of facilitating a vocational skills training seminar with about forty of our most advanced English students. The ECC director, Mr. Ehud Gachugu, spoke passionately about the importance of taking responsibility for one's destiny and of the opportunity for many of the Iftin women to be scholarshipped for practical vocational training through the VTC. Although the unemployment rate is high in Kenya, over 80% of the graduates of the VTC programs consistently find jobs or begin successful businesses. "It does not matter from where you have begun," said the director, "it matters where you end!"

Zahra introducing the program officer of the Eastleigh Community Centre's Vocational Training Centre (VTC), Mr. Joe Karithi.

The women heard first hand stories of the opportunities they have before them to improve their lives and become financially self reliant. "You can become a provider!" cheered Joe as he told the women about ways the VTC seeks to empower individuals to work together to overcome poverty and dependency.

Aaron also reminded the women how far they had come in such a short time. There are many voices of discouragement that each of these women are subject to day after day after day: None of them are free from either criticism or abuse. But despite many obstacles, they have shown their courage -- entering a "Christian" community centre; becoming a student; sticking with their studies; inviting non-Somalis into their homes; becoming friends with women of other clans and tribes; playing sports; talking about difficult issues; and now considering some very non-traditional trades and vocational paths.

Looking Ahead!

Among the responses shared by the women today, about twenty want to enter the ceramic bead training with Erica and the pottery ministry (Many of the women have already completed their scholarship applications and are excited to begin the training in mid March). Another fifteen of the women told us that they were interested in the fashion & design, hair & beauty, catering, and computer technology programs offered at the centre. To our great delight, four of the women shared a desire to enter non-traditional fields of metal work, automotive and electrical trade programs offered at the VTC -- amazing!!!

Please hold the women of Iftin in your prayers as they step forward into a future unlike any their families and community had ever imagined.

Women in Focus

2009-02-20T19:53:00.007+03:00

Erica speaking with Tim Bannister and about half of the members of the "Women in Focus" group today at the Eastleigh Community Centre.

The women trying their hand at bead formation
during a short visit to Eastleigh Pottery

It was a great day with some new friends, as we introduced six members of the Canadian "Women in Focus" group to the ladies of Iftin and the ministries of the Eastleigh Community Centre. We were very interested in their observations of current trends in jewelry and ladies fashion back in Canada (Erica and I are a little out of touch). They made some helpful design suggests as we spent some time in the pottery workshop and gave them a chance to shape a few beads. Large beads in bright colours was their recommendation in a nut shell. We are excited to see the completion of our first jewelry line with the women of Iftin. We are very interested in any design suggestions that you might have as well. Please post a comment if you have any recommendations!

Our main focus with Iftin today was exercise: the Women in Focus participated with several of the Somali women in a discussion over the importance and the benefits of regular exercise. It was fun not only to hear the opinions and experiences of all the women, but to get active together -- singing, dancing, playing football, and yes... more dancing!

Two of the Canadian women
joining in on the football game.

Saying good-bye after a wonderful

morning together!

hand made

2009-02-19T20:52:00.007+03:00

With our first batch of clay ready,

it was time to get rolling...

Erica and I shared the morning with our friends at Eastleigh Pottery perfecting our bead forming skills and selecting bead designs for our first production with the women of Iftin. The ladies will begin their turn at training in March as we begin the true production phase of the project.

How do they get that hole in the bead?

Knitting needles,.. of course!

The English Literacy program is also doing well; the second class has advanced quickly through their studies and will be writing exams early inorder to move into the new core curriculum with class three. We are very proud of the students and all their hard work!

Last Friday, we briefly met the "Women in Focus" STM upon their arrival from Canada. Part of the group will be joining us in Eastleigh in the morning as we talk about women and sports with the Iftin group. We are excited for the opportunity for the women to come together and share their perspectives on the importance and joy of physical recreation.

On Sunday, we are looking forward to meeting with Carmin MacMillan, the director of Short Term Missions (STM) for Canadian Baptist Ministries. We will be discussing opportunities for future volunteers to join the Somali outreach projects with us in Eastleigh. We are praying for people who will come and share their gifts and talents, and most importantly their love with the women and children of the Eastleigh Community Centre.

IN PRAYER:

* Please continue to uphold our family as February 27th draws near. This will be our third attempt at going before the high court for Ava's adoption. We pray that we will NOT be bumped from the list again.

* Please keep the Iftin women in your prayers. They are, in many respects, breaking the rigid mold of expectations placed upon them by tradition, wagging fingers and scornful eyes. Already some of the girls have been criticized for their involvement in everything from school to the Friday football club. We anticipate further criticism as the women gather this coming Tuesday for a vocational skills training expo that we are having with the Vocational Training Centre (VTC). Many of the women have expressed interest in extremely non-traditional jobs for a Somali women, including automotive and journalism. We pray that God will protect these women as they step forward and in many ways step out before their community.

It only takes a little...

2009-02-13T14:19:00.010+03:00

IFTIN's firstever FOOTBALL team

GO IFTEAM!

The English Literacy classes of Iftin run each week from Monday to Thursday at the Eastleigh Community Centre. On Fridays, the women are free to stay home or take part in any number of things from field trips to workshops. Zahra and Nelius came up with a great idea that builds on our current focus on nutrition. Each woman was asked to come with "Only ONE healthy thing" for a stew (or they cold bring a few shillings to contribute). Together the women brought vegetables, meat, and rice to make a huge Somali stew for the days lunch. The also contributed the jiko stove, the charcoal, the pots, bowls and stirring spoon. They worked together to clean, cut and prepare the meal. "It only takes a little!" smiled Nelius.

Zahra challenging the ECC girls varsity

team to a match with our Iftin girls.

We lost ... but we had fun.

Zahra giving the girls a pep talk

Way to go Iftin!!!!

A few boys running the football pitch for PE class.

Step by Step

2009-02-13T13:48:00.004+03:00

James Odera, manager of Eastleigh Pottery,

tests the consistency of the new clay body recipe

for making ceramic beads.

The ceramic bead and jewelry production project is moving forward step by step. Today we completed the first batch of our new clay body after nearly six months of research and planning. The pottery staff gathered together at 7:00 am to begin the long days work of mixing, sieving, and preparing the clay for use.

Some of the pottery staff pouring the clay into mess bags. Rather than waiting several weeks for the clay to thicken in the sun, the pottery team are experimenting with hanging the clay in heavy cloth bags where it will shed water much faster than sitting in the usual drying boxes.

A bag of freshly made clay hanging to dry next to a pile of 7 tons of raw clay that our team purchased from Nyeri, near Mt. Kenya.

The project's objective is to provide skills training and employment to vulnerable Somali women in Eastleigh. We hope to begin the training phase of the project with ten women by the middle of March. Until then, we will be taking training ourselves with the pottery staff from a local ceramic beading expert. We are excited to see this enterprise reduce the number of Somali women living in extreme poverty.

New Uniforms

2009-02-10T10:55:00.006+03:00

Our Somali friend Nesteho

and her classmates in the preschool class

at the Eastleigh Community Centre

One of the costs that parents face in getting their children to school in Kenya are uniforms. For many of the children at the Eastleigh Community Centre, their school uniform is the best outfit they own. They do their best to keep it clean and in good repair. They are very proud of their uniform!

Thanks to special gifts from friends like Don & Joy Hepburn, and Pastor Nancy and the kids at Brunswick Street Baptist Church (Fredericton, New Brunswick) as well as other donations also given through The Sharing Way, many Somali kids have been sponsored for school uniforms this semester at the Community Centre.

On behalf of these kids, we share our deep appreciation for the contributions that people have made to "The Sharing Way" for Somali Ministry in Eastleigh. Your generous gifts have made the projects and ministry that we are a part of possible!

Erica with Zahra's sister Najmo

proudly wearing her new school uniform

The Sharing Way

2009-02-07T16:50:00.003+03:00

Erica, Aaron, Yattani, Salomi, and Brian in the Eastleigh Community Centre's Assembly Hall

On Friday, we spent the day in strategic meetings with our Somali ministry colleagues the Carlines and the Gollos, along with Malcolm Card and our Sharing Way colleagues Sam Mutisya and Brian Malcolm.

Today, we brought the Gollos and Brian into Eastleigh for them to see the community centre and some of the ministry we are involved in there. The Gollos will be returning to Garissa where they are setting up there home. We pray for them as they establish themselves in Garissa and begin the important ground work for building new ministries in the capital of Northeastern Province. They are beginning a new chapter in a long legacy of Somali outreach in NEP.

Brian has been a great encouragement to us as we begin the jewelry enterprise with the Somali women and work to strengthen the development initiatives among the vulnerable Somali community of Eastleigh. Brian leaves for Rwanda tomorrow where he will be working with the Cards in other Sharing Way programs. With the help of The Sharing Way, we are working to help the most vulnerabe Somali households in Eastleigh to overcome extreme poverty, injustice and enjoy the visible signs of God’s kingdom through a participatory, integrated approach to sustainable long-term community development.

Kuja pamoja!

2009-02-05T15:24:00.007+03:00

Kuja Pamoja means "coming together" in Kiswahili

and today was a time for the children of Rosslyn Academy to

come together with children of the Eastleigh Community Centre

The two first grade classes of Rosslyn Academy loaded into two buses and followed Erica and I into work this morning to join the primary classes at the community centre for a time of reading and learning together. As part of their visit, the first grade students from RA each brought a favorite book to read to a younger primary student.

A group of Rosslyn and Eastleigh students quite interested in the fiery red "spider ants" -- some things are just universal!

The elementary science teacher, who organized the visit with Erica, also had the students visit the pottery ministry where they are having their own little pots fired in the kiln. James, the director of Eastleigh Pottery, showed the children the process of making pottery and introduced them to the water filter project. After the official visit, many of the Rosslyn students had a chance to play with some of the Eastleigh kids.

Tutaonana!

"See you again!"

Welcome Nelius!

2009-02-04T09:54:00.002+03:00

Mike Arnold and Michael Waddel sharing with some of the women of Iftin (Michael's presence certainly set Tunis, one of our friends, giggling)

On Monday, the Midland team joined us in Eastleigh for one of the English literacy classes with Iftin and a tour of the ministries we are a part of within the Eastleigh Community Centre. During the class time, the guys had a chance to hear about the difficulties facing Somali women living in Eastleigh. The ladies enjoyed getting to know our Canadian friends!

On Tuesday, we returned to Eastleigh with Michael Waddel for another ESL class and to go on a home visit with one of the mature students. It was a good opportunity to walk the dusty streets of Eastleigh and to enter into a more intimate setting. The woman we visited lives with her five children, a cousin and her mother in a small two room apartment within one of the many bee hive structures that fill Eastleigh. It was difficult to hear the woman's struggle with deep bitterness and anger over her situation as she struggles to hold on to hope. We pray for tangible ways to encourage her and her family as they face issues of poor health, unemployment and lack of education. We believe that God is in the business of restoring lost hope!

This is also the first week for our new teacher, Nelius! She will be helping us in our growing English Literacy program as we expand to more classes and community development projects with the Iftin group. We are so thankful for God's gift of Nelius as she will bring a new set of skills and her sincere love for vulnerable women into Iftin.

Late Tuesday afternoon, we joined the Carline family for a good-bye pizza picnic at Rosslyn Academy to say farewell to Alden, Bryden, Michael and Mike. It was a time to be thankful. The Midland team had a full and diverse time of ministry, but they all seemed tired and excited to return to see their wives and families. We pray for their safe arrival in Halifax tonight as they will be coming home to a snow storm. Please join us in pray for their journey!

hip hip hippo!

2009-02-03T20:48:00.007+03:00

A hippo yawning at us in Lake Naivasha

Michael with us on Cresent Island

On Sunday after worship at the International Christian Fellowship, we took Michael on a hippo safari on Lake Naivasha, about an hour north of the city. It has been a great few days of catching up with Michael (and staying up way too late!). The kids have enjoyed playing games with Michael and teaching him some of their favorites.

Tristan and Michael bravely walking amongst
a herd of zebra, wildebeest, and waterbuck

Flamingos on the fringe of the lake

R & R

2009-02-01T00:30:00.009+03:00

On Friday, we enjoyed some down time with our friends Michael and Mike at the Acacia Camp. We were blessed with a second encounter with the lone male lion on the reserve.

As we were driving along a trail, we spotted him sitting in the open. After a few minutes of watch each other, the lion stood and moved in for a closer look. We weren't sure what he was going to do, but it was a relief when he stopped about 20 ft away from us and went on his way.

Around the camp fire, catching up with Michael and Mike on their experiences in Uganda.

Diane Bannister with Connie Smith

(Connie was visiting from the Congo for a little R&R)

On Saturday, we left Acacia and went with Michael to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi. Along with the orphaned elephants, we were thrilled to meet a three and a half week old black rhino.

The rhino was very affectionate! Both Erica and Tristan were covered in mud from cuddling with him. He was basically in Erica's lap... What an experience!

Michael making a new friend!

A highlight of the day was a visit to the Giraffe Centre where Michael fed and hugged the giraffe -- but wouldn't kiss them (You've got a faithful man there Melanie!).

He also had a chance to experience a Kenyan market. We walked the narrow rows full of people bartering for a deal amongst the hundreds of shops.

Emma inspecting the tilapia

(fried fish that look at you while your eating them)

Moroto

2009-02-01T00:07:00.005+03:00

The Midland team had a great trip to Uganda and back for the dedication service of the church plant in Moroto. The journey took over forty hours and brought them through some beautiful countryside where they were able to meet many fascinating people. They had deacon Maluki and canon Dnzinkali (spelling?) from the ABC church accompany them for the "safari".

The ABC Macadara choir brought incredible song and dance to the celebration. Worship with the choir was a great highlight of the trip.

Rev. Alden Crain preaching at

the Moroto ABC Church, Uganda.

The team presented the congregation with a set of conga drums and percussion instruments on behalf of the Midland Baptist Church.

Eastleigh

2009-01-29T18:51:00.005+03:00

We have had a full week in Eastleigh not only with the ESL classes but with several new projects with Iftin. Our two most advanced classes are currently learning about the importance of nutrition and a balanced diet. As part of their class work, they have been investigating the availability of affordable produce and other local foods to diversify the diet of their households. One of the most interesting parts of the project is the collection of Somali recipes that the women of Iftin are sharing with one another. Erica is working with the ladies to bring their recipes together to form a Somali cookbook. We would love to take some back with us to Canada and make them available for anyone interested in Somali cusine to buy as a way of supporting the ladies here in Eastleigh.

Erica has also been working closely with the staff of Eastleigh Pottery in the development of ceramic bead production as a training and job creation project for the Somali women's self help groups. Please keep this ministry in your prayers as we work together over the next few months to perfect the process with the Pottery guys and the Somali participants. We know that there will be many hurdles to over come before this can be a success.

Next Week: We are excited to welcome "Nelly" to Iftin. She will be joining us as a new English teacher to help us and Zahra with the growing classes. Please pray for Nelly as she seeks to build relationships among the Somali community.

Update:

Tristan won the chess championship game yesterday. He is now the 4A chess champ! With his victory he won a cold bottle of Coke.

Yesterday during swim practice, Emma swam 50 meter freestyle. Up to this point, she has been swimming 25 m lengths. Way to go Emma!!

Tristan

2009-01-29T06:47:00.005+03:00

Tristan is enjoying a great year in the fourth grade at Rosslyn Academy. Throughout January, his class has been learning how to play chess. Tristan loves games! He is now competing in a class tournament and has made it to the finals. Today he will play again his classmate Christian Park for the championship.

Tristan having some fun doing his homework!

This Friday is "Sports Day" at Rosslyn Academy, but Tristan and Emma will miss it as we travel together as a family with our friends from Midland Baptist (The team lead by Alden Crain returned from Uganda on Tuesday and are now spending time with pastors from the Africa Brotherhood Church). Tristan has had fun after school playing with his friends as they try out the different track and field equipment, while Emma has been in swim team practice.

Hanging out with the boys -- up top Michael

Ezra and Tristan as the base

Can't win'em all TK!

Swim Meet

2009-01-24T14:52:00.003+03:00

This morning, Emma swam in a meet held at the Aga Khan High School. She swam in the 7 and under 25 metre backstroke. She did fantastic! Tomorrow she will swim in the 7 and under 25 metre free style.

Before the race waiting with the other girls in her heat.

Emma does a mean backstroke!

The water was pretty cold so Emma bundled up quickly in her hooded towel. We are so proud of her!

Flat Stanley

2009-01-24T08:33:00.009+03:00

Flat Stanley dropped in on our campfire last night.

(He was sure not to get too close ...)

Emma is star student this week in Mr. Dunning's second grade class and along with the job goes the honour of hosting Flat Stanley.

Today was suppose to be our second chance at going before the judge in the Nairobi High Court for Ava's adoption, but sadly all of the judges decided to cancel their hearings (We are told that they've taken a retreat to the coast). It is very disappointing. The back log is getting heavy and our next chance won't be until February 27th (But that isn't a sure thing either). We are holding out hope that everything will come together by Easter. At this point, all we can do is wait and pray,... and pray some more!

To cheer us up, our friends Kerry and Mel had us over for a campfire and hot dog roast. We are so thankful for all of our friends and family who have been encouraging us through these long labour pains of the adoption.

Erica with baby Gigi

Tristan was a regular boy scout tending the fire,
gathering twigs, sending smoke signals...

Our kids cooking out with auntie Kerry
... pass the ketchup!

Midland Arrives!

2009-01-22T19:40:00.008+03:00

Aaron, Diane, Erica, Mike, Alden, and Michael

(Bryden sleeping in the hut behind us)

As the sun rose over Nairobi, our friends Alden and Bryden Crain, Michael Waddell, and Mike Arnold landed in Kenya. Together with three representatives of the Africa Brotherhood Church, Alden's team will be traveling to Northern Uganda to celebrate the opening of an ABC Church plant this Sunday. It was a joy to meet them at the airport and spend some time catching up in the beautiful setting of Acacia Camp.

Alden and Bryden playing with the nice kitty

We came across this cheetah in the wild stalking a herd of impala.
It was amazing to see this big cat on the hunt!

Alden and Michael trying out the Land Cruiser

for the long drive to Uganda tomorrow

Michael can sniff out a window anywhere he goes!

Missional Church Consultation

2009-01-22T18:14:00.002+03:00

Understanding our times.

Canada is changing. Kenya is changing. The world is changing.

Is the Church changing?

Dr. Rob Patterson challenged the gathering of Canadian and Kenyan Christian leaders at the beginning of Tuesday's discussions: "The men of Issachar (I Chronicles 12:32) were passionate and hardworking -- "men who understood their times" -- Are you?

Throughout the past two weeks, this group of Canadian pastors has been exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the church in Canada, England and Kenya with other key Christian leaders struggling with these same questions. Together their experiences and considerations has been shaping a fuller understanding of what it means to be the "missional church".

Bishop Ndambuki of the Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC) with Dr. Rev. Karanje of the African Christian Church & Schools (ACC&S) during the "Canadian Baptist Ministries Missional Church Consultation" held in Limuru, Kenya.

Participants of the consultation gathering for a photograph on the steps of the Jumuia Conference Centre. The main body of the consultation was made up of twelve Canadian Baptist pastors and twelve Kenyan pastors. As part of the week, the Kenyan pastors hosted their Canadian counterparts in their homes and churches. On behalf of our Kenyan contingent, I want to thank Cal, Rob, Laurie, Jim, Mark, Ross, David, Don, Jonathan, Paul, Randy, and Joyce for the encouragement and insight that you've shared with us.

Some highlights from our time: Watching the pastors having fun with the Somali women of Iftin; One on one times with the Kenyan pastors; Witnessing twelve pastors actually keep within their allotted speaking times (12 presentation in under an hour -- astonishing!); great conversations around a coffee pot (thanks Laurie); Crowding around a small television to watch the inaugaration of president Obama; bartering in the duka jungle; and of course Malcolm's 65th birthday party! We'll miss you all!

Missional Church STM

2009-01-21T20:45:00.006+03:00

On Monday, a group of twelve Canadian Baptist pastors joined us in Eastleigh for a visit with the women of Iftin and a tour of an internally displaced people's group in Mathare Valley. It was great to see many of the ladies able to share about their unique struggles and journeys. As the morning drew to a close, it was evident that a bond of trust and appreciation had already begun to form within our time of laughter and sharing.

Dr. Rob Patterson getting to know one of the mechanics

in the centre's vocational school automotive program.

Pastors Mark and Jim playing leap frog

with children in the centre's preschool ministry.

Friends

2009-01-17T18:41:00.005+03:00

Aaron, Erica, Jean, Wes, Kyle and Jessica

We enjoyed a relaxing Saturday with our friends Jean & Wes Enns and Jessica & Kyle Davis at the Davis' home in Tigoni. It was a cold wet day here and we were thankful for a crackling fire as we hung out and our kids played together.

Ezra, Isaiah, Tristan, Julia, Lexi, Emma, Ava and Beckett

Our families became good friends nearly two years ago when we met at Rosslyn Academy where our children attend school. One of the things our kids love most are sleep overs and usually get togethers like this result in a sleep over. Tonight Lexi is staying over with us and Tristan is bunking with the Enns boys.

Julia and Ava are about a year apart and they are best buddies.

In Prayer:

Please pray for our colleagues the Carlines, as Paul's father Peter died yesterday. Paul leaves for New Brunswick tonight. Please keep him in your prayers as he travels with a middle ear infection that has struck him with vertigo over the last twenty-four hours.

Seven Things

2009-01-16T18:00:00.005+03:00

Our friend Dennis, aka Buddy, just tagged us through his blog http://www.speakergeek.com/ and we thought it would be fun to take up his challenge. There are only four rules...

The rules:
1. Link to your original tagger and list these rules in your post.
2. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.

Ok,...here it goes.

Seven Facts About Our Family

1. We were almost trampled by a hippopotamus. During our first year in Kenya, we spent a night on the shores of Lake Naivasha, home to a herd of hippos. After supper we were walking back to our cabin when a night watchman offered to show us a nearby hippo. We couldn't see anything until his flashlight hit upon the purple grey mound moving slowly before us. We were amazed by the gigantic four ton monster munching grass and moving almost silently between our cabin and the parking lot. We watched for several minutes when all of the sudden there was a crash behind us and a second hippo came barreling up from the lake past our cabin. We dashed up onto our steps pulling our children up into our arms. The watchman bravely stepped forward, his light trained on the galloping beast, when from behind him emerged a third hippo charging after his mate. The poor guard jumped aside narrowly escaping the hippos path. We all stayed safely on the step and didn't venture out again.

2. Erica's first job was as a Dicky Dee ice cream girl. Yes, she had the bicycle with the ice cream cooler attached that she pedaled all over Riverview and Moncton. One summer was enough!

3. Aaron wants to be a pirate. Well, he loves reading the nautical adventures of Wilbur Smith and dreams of sailing tropical waters. During our first six months with CBM we traveled throughout the maritime provinces in our car periodically stopping at a rest stop to beat reach other with sponge swords..not making this up. Since coming to Kenya Tristan has acquired a basket of well beaten wooden swords and shields that serve the purpose. One big thrill of living near the Indian Ocean is that Aaron has been able to find fisherman willing to take their ancient smelly dhows out to choral reefs where he and Tristan and snorkel with beautiful and sometimes poisonous fish. Shells are the biggest treasure our pirate has found.

4. Emma loves having tea parties. Each year she hosts a tea party for the girls in her class. Everyone comes in princess dresses and they spend the day making jewelry,playing games, eating cakes and drinking tea.

5. Tristan rocks! There are few moments in our home when we don't hear him tapping away on his knee or waling on his practice pad. He's always loved music, but this past year he's started drum lessons and he's great. Maybe he got the rhythm from Erica's tambourine tapping days at UPEI (he surely didn't get it from me (Aaron)). The great challenge is encouraging him not to play his jambe when he wakes up at 6:30 am.

6. Erica is a master house painter. She has covered the walls of all of our homes over the years with every hue from burnt toast (our current bedroom) to super hero blue (Tristan's current bedroom). The greatest challenge was Spiderman red that took about eight coats in Tristan's Kiersteadville bedroom. Her next project will be Emma and Ava's bedroom...

7. It is a miracle that we are all alive. Klutz may be a little strong... but it is not far off the mark. The Kennys are a little accident prone. From minor to the major we have our share of embarrassing bumps and bruises. From falling up stairs, walking into doors, falling off chairs, the list goes on. Aaron takes the lead though... at this moment he has torn almost every shirt he owns on the door knobs of our apartment. Given Ava's knack for climbing into precarious places, we'd say she is definitely living up to the family tradition.

Tagging:
http://adamivy.blogspot.com/
Adam and Ivy Kenny who live in Calgary, Alberta.

http://autumntremer.blogspot.com
Autumn and Corey Tremer who live on Prince Edward Island.

http://www.rhyminggame.blogspot.com/
Our friend Carolyn Ward who is a youth pastor in the prairies.

enns.humanclay.ca
Our friends Wes and Jean Enns who live and work at Rosslyn Academy, Kenya.

http://thewolvertons.blogspot.com/
Our friends from language acquisition training in Toronto, Tag and Susan are missionaries in Amsterdam.

http://www.mjolijournals.com/
Our friends Kyle and Jessica Davis who live as missionaries in what must be the coldest part of Kenya.

http://www.theropers.ca/
Our friends Chris and Janice Roper who now live and work in India.

New Beginnings

2009-01-15T19:31:00.008+03:00

The newest cohort within Iftin began this Tuesday with twenty-four new students joining the English as a Second Language program.

For most of the Somali women in this class, it is the first time they have ever been to school. Education had simply never been an option for them before. It is both an exciting and daunting challenge they face: Each woman will need to acquire the most basic of learning skills from reading and printing the alphabet to discovering a whole new way of thinking. One of our students from last summer described her experience of entering the classes as "having my mind scrubbed" and having "new channels opened up inside of me". She told us that, as her teachers, we were turning dials in her head like a radio so that she could hear new music that was previously beyond her reach. We've been amazed at the poetic way that our students think and speak. As an oral culture, Somalis have relied on story, poetry, and proverbs to pass along tradition and national identity for over a millennia. Naturally, Somali is a language and culture full of metaphor and rich idioms. We thank God for the new and beautiful wonders we encounter among these women.

First day of school for the newest members of Iftin.
In Prayer:

Please hold our colleagues Tim and Diane Bannister in prayer, as Tim has returned to Canada for the funeral of his father who died suddenly this past week.

We also continue to pray for the Carline family as Paul's father is in the last stages of his battle with cancer.

We are looking forward to sharing time next week with a group of twelve Canadian pastors who are in Kenya on a tour focused on "The Missional Church". We will be taking the group to see the Eastleigh Community Centre on Monday and we'll be walking with them in Mathare Valley to visit a project there with our team mate A. Aaron will continue on with them for the final two nights of their stay for a brief conference in Limuru. Please pray for the safety of this group as they travel throughout Kenya.

We are also thrilled to have some friends from Midland Baptist Church, New Brunswick, coming later next week. Rev. Alden Crain, pastor of Midland Baptist, had served in Kenya prior to his call to New Brunswick. He is returning with our friend Micheal Waddell (as well as another friend of Alden's from New Brunswick) for the official opening of an African Brotherhood Church in Uganda that Alden had helped to establish. They will also be involved in a teaching time with ABC pastors. We pray for their safe journey and for this joyful time within the African Brotherhood Church.

Visitors from Cornwall

2009-01-09T22:25:00.009+03:00

Members of our 10 am ESL class with

guests from Cornwall Baptist Church, Ontario

It was a great week in Eastleigh as the new semester began with the Iftin women at the Eastleigh Community Centre. Students also returned for both the preschool and primary school programs (the vocational schools will be in full force next week).

On Friday, we had the pleasure of hosting four men representing the Cornwall Baptist Church: Pastor Randy, Bob, Ted and John. The guys shared in a time of interviews with the Somali women, providing a chance for the ladies to practice their English conversation skills. Several of the students also stepped up and bravely took on the challenge of public speaking before the class and our special guests.

Tristan and Emma enjoyed having the last week off as Christmas break drew to an end. On Thursday, Erica and I took the day off from Eastleigh to go to the water slides here in Nairobi with our kids. To our surprise, we were the only people there and had the slides to ourselves for over an hour before a few teenagers trickled in. It was a lot of fun and great exercise as we ran up the steps over and over again trying to keep up with Tristan!

In prayer:

Please pray for our team mates, the Carline family, as Paul's father is struggling with cancer. The reports from Canada are not good. We pray that God's peace and strength will surround all the family especially Peter and Anita.

Please pray for the health of our friends within Iftin. Throughout this week, we've noticed the absence of several faithful members who are ill. We've also encountered many women struggling with minor injuries. Most people in this community can not afford to visit a hospital, and commonly self diagnose their ailments and purchase drugs from local chemists and shops. One of the ladies, Mama Halwa, has a ten year old daughter that is recovering from multiple injuries and head trauma resulting from a bombing in Mogadishu. Mama Halwa came to Kenya several months ago for medical help for her child.

We also continue to pray for Ava's adoption. We won't know until January 22nd if we will have a spot of the January 23rd hearing (Given the huge backlog in the adoption court, we may very well be bumped again). We pray especially for Sam Mutisya, our guardian ad litum, who is currently recovering at home from surgery. We pray that he will be able to be present at which ever date the judge is finally able to hear our case.

Spic and Span

2009-01-05T17:20:00.009+03:00

Today was clean up time in Eastleigh, as the Eastleigh Community Centre prepared for the re-opening of the kindergarten, primary school, and community programs for 2009. Unlike the North American education system which straddles two calendar years, the Kenyan school year beginnings in January and is completed in November. Rather than a summer vacation, the Kenyan system has a month long break over every fourth month (Schools are closed for April, August and December).

Having closed down our ESL program nearly a month ago, we returned to find our classroom under a thick brown coat of dust and grime.

Emma and Tristan were a great help as we cleaned every inch of the class right down to each book on the shelves!

Zahra and Erica a little tired after a big day of cleaning.

We are very excited to welcome back the women of Iftin tomorrow! There is much in store for this ministry as we begin 2009. We will be sure to keep you all posted.

Please keep Somali Ministry in your prayers.

* We pray for the return of the refugee women who have been a part of the English language program and for the new families that God will bring into the centre this year. We pray especially for a spirit of peace and cooperation to grow and develop among this community of women.

* We lift these women up before the Lord that they will grow in confidence and hope for their future and the future of their children. We pray especially for women of integrity to emerge as leadership among this community.

* We pray for the health and wellness of the people of Eastleigh. Just this morning, as we snaked through traffic, we caught a glimpse of a young mother staggering along the road with a glue bottle in her hand and a baby slung on her back. Addiction to solvents is a common way for people to deal with physical hunger and emotional pain. We pray for this woman, her child and others like her suffering in despair.

* We thank God for our team mate Yattani Gollo and his wife Salomi, they were just recently married. They leave Nairobi tomorrow morning to establish their first home together in Garissa. Yattani and Salomi will be responsible for much of the Somali Ministry in Garissa for CBM.

Acacia Camp

2009-01-05T09:15:00.013+03:00

For our first weekend of 2009, we had a getaway with some of our friends at Acacia Camp on the game reserve where our team mates Tim & Diane Bannister live. We enjoyed two beautiful days of walks and exploring wild places.

Erica and Ava hanging out with our friends Melanie & Kerry

in their little boma.

Ava making new friends with some vervet monkeys.

Erica taking Ava for a drive to the Bannister's house.

Erica, Emma and Tristan getting a bird's eye
view during our game drive.

Acacia is surrounded by miles of rolling grassland

and thorny Acacias. Over the last two years, we've had

the joy of sharing this beautiful place with many

short term volunteers during either the orientation or

the debriefing portions of their visits.

A pair of hornbills perched just behind our

boma. These interesting birds are a regular

part of our visits to Northeastern Province.

They are common throughout semi arid

regions of Kenya.

Tristan and Emma setting out to explore on their own.

Fortunately, we happened upon this juvenile male lion a good distance from where we were walking and the kids were cycling.

Even monkeys need to clean under their nails!

Hartabeast at a dry watering hole.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T09:24:00.007+03:00

We wanted to share some photos of Christmas morning at our house. We woke up bright and early and made our way to the livingroom where Santa had visited the night before. What a sight! Tristan, Emma and Ava were so excited!

Tristan and his new bike! This is Tristan's first bike; he is a natural! We went to Rosslyn on Boxing Day to try out the new wheels and he just took off!
Emma loves Bratz and was very excited to find this Bratz doll under the tree. Twins!

Ava was very serious with her new laptop and has not left home without it since Christmas Day.

We celebrated New Year's Eve with Patty and Malcolm. We didn't think that any of us would make it until midnight so we set our party poppers off around 8:00 pm. It was midnight somewhere in the world!

Tristan's cactus were sprinkled with confetti. Next year we think we might just set party poppers off into our Christmas tree!

Happy New Year!

House Guest

2008-12-31T13:03:00.006+03:00

Meet Milkshake

Christmas guests are always a fun part of this time of year and we've enjoyed some great time with our friends and colleagues here in Kenya over the last week. We've also had a surprise guest arrive at our home last evening. Over the Christmas holiday, Emma and her classmate Daniel agreed to take turns caring for their science teacher's pet hamster -- Milkshake (Neither Emma nor Daniel's parents knew about this offer). So far so good. Our little guest has been no fuss at all. Ava calls him an "Oggy" and doesn't understand why he hides so much in his paper tube. Mom and dad are quite happy with Milkshake keeping to himself. There might be some commotion in the Kenny home if he ever decided to break free!

Milkshake will be returning to his home at Rosslyn Academy on January 12th, when the kids go back to school. Until then, we will be enjoying this cute addition to our family.

Ho Ho Ho

2008-12-24T16:21:00.003+03:00

Ho Ho Ho

Our children were thrilled to meet Santa Claus. Ava took an instant liking to Santa. She is now the first to spot him on the giant Coke billboards throughout the city (Tristan is convinced that there is something different about these Kenyan Santas "Their just not like Santa at home"). Poor Ava had to do a double take when she confronted a white robotic dancing Santa in a store front, while she chased after the black Santa in the flesh. "Ho Ho?" she asked us in bewilderment.

It is Christmas Eve here, and we are getting ready for a candle lit service at home. We wish you all a joyful Christmas!

Love the Kennys

Ostrich Riding

2008-12-24T07:45:00.017+03:00

To kick off our Christmas vacation we went on a little off-road trip with our friends Melanie McKee and Kerry Jividen to Kitengela Glass and the Masai Ostrich Farm, in the open plains Southeast of Nairobi. Since the dirt track required a four-wheel drive, we requested the loan of our CBM field vehicle for the trip -- Santa was our driver!

Kitengela glass was worth the long bumpy drive (though we were more than a little awed over how they can transport their fragile creations over such terrible roads without damage). Erica loved the beading section and found a few treasures to add to her beading supplies. Aaron was very impressed over the incredible stained glass.

But the real highlight of the visit was watching the glass blowers at work. The creation of one serving dish was like watching a dance -- It was amazing!

But the fun was only beginning... after Kitengela, we headed out across the plain for an adventurous trek to the Masai Ostrich Farm. Without any signs, land marks or much in the way of a road we were not guaranteed to even find our intended destination.

That wasn't such a bad outcome as far as Aaron (the bird phobic) was concerned. But despite Aaron's best efforts to get us lost, he found the Ostriches without a hitch!

This little three week old fella wanted a kiss...peck on the cheek?

Ava getting a "birds eye view" from Daddy's shoulders.

Kerry, Mel, Erica, baby Gigi and Emma

at the Masai Ostrich Farm

Erica with Ava, our little Ostrich hunter. Several of the giant birds had escaped their fence and were taking a close interest in us. Our Masai guide took a long stick and drove a hissing female away from us, only to be joined by the Kenny kids waving sticks on the next wave of the attack. Ava was fearless. We had to restrain her from chasing the fleeing ostrich back under the fence where she would have taken one out. Seriously, she is a warrior!

The big thrill was Ostrich riding which was only for the bravest of among us: Emma, Tristan, Melanie and Kerry each went for a ride on an male Somali Ostrich. (The simple way to distinguish between a Masai Ostrich and a Somali Ostrich is the flesh colouring -- Masai have bright pink or red necks and the Somali have blue/grey necks). We were blown away over how fast these birds could run. Even with two farm hands trying to hold him back, this Ostrich took Emma on a sprint that had our hearts in our throats. Emma held on tight and wanted to go for another ride.

Tristan was also a great rider and held tight to his canvas saddle for a great ride. Who needs reindeer when you have Ostriches?

We all had a great day!

Perspectives of Eastleigh

2008-12-16T17:57:00.004+03:00

It is another hot and sticky day amidst the grime and dust of Eastleigh. Looking across the community from the upper storey of a Sixth Street cinder block apartment building, we are

confronted by an all too common sight. The garbage and sewage below us are sadly a repeated scene throughout the neighbourhood. Although the city of Nairobi makes periodic assaults on the rising mounds of trash, we continue to see the unpaved streets fill with the reek and mess. Poor sanitation and unclean drinking water go hand in hand in much of the impoverished world. As part of our work with The Sharing Way (TSW) and the Eastleigh Community Centre (ECC) we are accessing the current health and wellness among the families of Iftin. These assessments will form a baseline of information that we will use, together with TSW and ECC, to measure the effectiveness of the projects and interventions of the next few years. While there are many priorities emerging from our field surveys, water tops the list. One immediate intervention, intended to begin in 2009, is the distribution of ceramic water filters and training on hygiene and clean water issues among about 120 vulnerable families. Through the generosity of many Canadian Churches and individuals, we will be providing Somali households clean drinking water. The filters are being made out of local materials by Eastleigh Pottery and have been certified by the Kenyan Health Authority. It is a simple but life saving intervention, especially for young children who are the most susceptible to water born diseases.

Beyond the task of assessment surveys and interviews, a great part of our work in Eastleigh is the privilege of spending time in the homes of our students. They are such gracious and welcoming hosts. We are often able to meet the elderly Mzees and Mamas; play with the young children who are both excited and terrified at the appearance of strange visitors; and hear the harrowing stories of their escapes from war and conflict that brought them to Kenya and eventually Eastleigh. Today was our last set of home visits in Eastleigh for 2008, and we had the joy of dropping in on several different families. One of the questions we always ask is this: "What gives you hope?" One of the mothers today looked back at us, as she thought over the question, and then to her three teenage daughters sitting next to her on the floor of their tiny apartment: "I would never have thought it possible," She said to us in Somali, "That my daughters would be in school. God is good. That is my hope!"

12 days till Christmas!

2008-12-13T08:56:00.004+03:00

Christmas-OrBust!

The count down has begun in the Kenny household as Tristan and Emma anticipate the quickly approaching Christmas break and festivities. Ava is also getting in on the fun which includes making our own wrapping paper: each night after supper we sit together and draw/colour Christmas pictures and designs on big sheets of flip chart paper -- It is a very relaxing family activity. I think we'll have to make it a new advent tradition!

Looking back on the week, which was unfortunately gripped with cold and flu for me (Aaron), we had several highlights. The Christmas concert was the big one. We had a great evening at Rosslyn with a recorder recital from Tristan's class (I remember using my third grade recorder more as a kazoo than an instrument, but Tristan is amazing he certainly didn't get this talent from me), and then the Bethlehem Treasure pageant! Afterward, Emma's friend Mary slept over and we stayed up eating popcorn and watching a dvd of old Christmas specials.

On Wednesday, we had the fun of hosting Carla Nelson and Seth Crowell along with Malcolm & Patty Card for supper. Carla and Seth are in Kenya with the ABC teacher's program. We enjoyed lots of laughter as we heard bits and pieces of the work they are involved with.

We were also glad to hear back from Don & Joy Hepburn who've safely returned to Canada. Since being back, they have added some great new photos to their blog. For anyone interested in what an STM to Kenya might look like, I would highly recommend taking a peek at the Hepburn's blog as they chronicled their time here.

Looking ahead to next week. We are in Eastleigh sharing in home visits among the Somali women of Iftin. As part of our time in the community, we have been working together with Zahra to complete a baseline survey for upcoming Sharing Way programs in Eastleigh. We have been climbing a steep learning curve in sustainable community development, but our training and study of Integral Mission has wonderfully shaped our efforts in urban ministry. We will continue working in Eastleigh up until December 19th when the kids get out of school for Christmas break.

Thank you all so much for keeping our family and Somali ministry in your prayers.

Christmas Concert 2008

2008-12-11T22:14:00.008+03:00

Tonight was the annual Rosslyn Academy Elementary Christmas Concert: The children from kindergarten to the fifth grade had a marvelous performance. We were so proud of Tristan, Emma and all their classmates.
This year's concert was titled "Bethlehem Treasure" and featured a dramatic narrative presented by the fifth grade class. Erica and her friend Kim Remich directed the play and costumes. This picture was taken immediately after the concert with Erica, Kim and the fantastic cast!

Each year the Christmas concert is also the high point of a month long fundraiser for a local ministry by the children and families of the school. This year's Christmas project is raising funds to support Jacaranda Creations, a sewing ministry for widows and vulnerable mothers in Kibera slum, Nairobi, and Tent of Refuge, a ministry that intercedes for children living and struggling to survive in the garbage mounds of Dunholm, Nairobi.

Emma and Ava in their new Christmas dresses
(an early Christmas present from Grampy & Grammie)

Emma had the pre-concert giggles!

There must have been mistletoe in that tree!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Soundtrack

2008-12-07T20:40:00.004+03:00

Our friend Carolyn Ward just inspired us to add a bit of a soundtrack to our blog. We are experimenting with playlist.com and hope you like it. Please let us know if this addition to our blog causes you any grief or frustration with connecting to our posts -- This is new to us! We hope that you will enjoy some of the music that is playing in our IPods.

In other news:

The Hepburns return to Canada tomorrow night after a great month of ministry in Eastleigh. Please keep Don & Joy in prayer as they fly home. We have deeply appreciated their encouragement and the passion they have brought into their time with the students and teachers of the Eastleigh Community Centre.

On Thursday, Erica is co directing the Rosslyn Academy Elementary Christmas Concert. Please pray for the kids who will be performing: Especially the fifth grade actors who've been rehearsing for several months now for the BIG night!