Happy New Year

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

Putting It All Together

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.

Home and Back Again

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

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

St. Patrick's Day

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.