Just-Landed!

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.

Women in Focus

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!

Welcome Nelius!

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!

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

Moroto

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.

Midland Arrives!

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

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

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.

Visitors from Cornwall

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.

Thomson's Falls

Thomson's Falls, one of Kenya's most impressive waterfalls, is formed by the waters of the Narok River in Kenya's central highlands. It plummets over 72 meters into a densely forested ravine on the outskirts of the town of Nyahururu.

Together with some local Kikuyu people

dressed in traditional regalia at Thomson's Falls.

After a busy week of ministry in Eastleigh, the Hepburns joined us for a drive north out of Nairobi and along the sweeping farm land and pastures of the Rift Valley and through the steep slopes of the Sukukia Valleys toward Nyahururu. Along the way, we stopped for a short stroll along the still waters of Lake Elmenteita that is home to thousands of pink flamingos. On our drive we crossed back and forth over the equator several times as we drove East toward the Falls. At each of these points along the road, there is often an entrepreneuring Kenyan ready to demonstrate the impact of Northern and Southern hemisphere on spinning water -- yes toilets do flow counter clockwise south of the equator. We were surprised to discover today that even the direction of the hair on the crown of our heads is affected by the hemisphere in which we are born.

It was a great day to relax. We enjoyed a picnic on the lawn of the Thomson's Falls lodge, and had a front row view of many wedding parties as they arrived to have photographs taken by the falls. It was a big day of driving but worth every km!

Coming up this week!

Although the development course will continue in Limuru, we will be spending most of the week in Eastleigh with the ladies of Iftin, the Eastleigh Community Centre's Closing Ceremonies, and a series of professional development workshops with the teachers at the centre. Please pray for the ongoing ministry of the centre.

Also, we are very excited for our court date for Ava's adoption this Friday. We are praying that everyone who needs to be present at the hearing will be there, and that everything will fall into place for the adoption!

Volunteering in Kenya

Over the past two years, we have had the pleasure of hosting several short term missions (STMs) in Eastleigh and Northeastern Province. From one day exposure visits to stays that lasted several months. If you were ever interested about the experience of a short term volunteer,you might want to check out the Hepburn's blog as they write about their experiences of Somali minstry in Eastleigh.

http://kenyahepburns.blogspot.com

Cooperation

Joy and Don Hepburn getting to know

some of the Somali Women of Iftin.

With exams complete, the Somali women of Iftin have finished their first English module at the Eastleigh Community Centre. Before we begin the second part of their ESL course (which officially starts in January 2009), we are working together on building trust and team work among the ladies. This is of foundational importance as we strive to form self-help groups and micro-Enterprise initiatives among these women in the coming years. We are so thankful for the Hepburns who have joined us in this work. Please pray for them as they introduce cooperative learning methods and strategies to the teachers and students of the Community Centre.

There are numerous barriers to cooperation that overshadow much of the Somali refugee community: clanism, mistrust, unforgiveness, a spirit of independence, and a fierce survival instinct are but a few of the factors. For many people living in exile, overcoming these sources of disunity is key to experiencing a fuller life.

Working together --

One small step in the right direction!

Today in our ESL classes, we had the women form groups of three and compete in a scavenger hunt of sorts around the community centre and neighbourhood. The ladies gave their team various names, like: "Fresh flowers", "Lion Girls", and "Stars" (The flower theme was by far the most popular among the names chosen). It was wonderful to see the ladies pulling together, translating their clues, and figuring out the puzzling challenges. It soon became apparent that the teams that worked best together, were the ones that were moving ahead!

Erica with the scavenger hunt winners -- "Team Stars!"

In the end, it was a narrow victory by team "Stars" who not only finished first in time, but were able to complete all but one of the fifteen challenges.

We are all winners!

It was a great day and a fantastic way to kick off of month of cooperative learning. We are very excited for what God has in store for these special women!

Hepburns

Don and Joy Hepburn

ready for an adventure in Somali Ministry

The Hepburns arrived on a rainy Friday evening to join us for about a month in Eastleigh. They will be serving at the Eastleigh Community Centre with the Somali women's ESL project and assisting with the primary school. One of their main focuses will be in encouraging the teaching staff at the community centre, and providing a series of professional development workshops for the teachers.

Today we took part in a time of orientation with two other STM groups, who have also just arrived in Kenya. The orientation took place at Acacia Camp near the home of our team mates, Tim & Diane Bannister. Despite a late night and jet lag, the Hepburns were up early enough for us to take a short drive and walk with some of the local giraffe and wildebeest. We are thankful for a great day and the Hepburns' safe arrival. Please join us as we pray for their next month in Eastleigh.

Don and Tristan hiking out into the Swara plains

for a close encounter with the giraffe.

All is Well

We wanted to let you know that the BWA youth team is all doing very well and enjoying their time serving in Mombassa. They will be completing their project there this weekend and then returning to the city. Everyone is doing fine!

The renovations in Eastleigh continued today and the classroom is looking better and better. We had many little visitors as children from the school took every chance they had to come and see us working the noisy skill saw that was echoing throughout the centre. It was a surprise to see every little scrap of leftover lumber and chipboard being snatched up by the kids who started playing with the bits of wood. It was certainly and easy project to clean up.

Summer vacation is soon drawing to a close for Tristan and Emma, we actually did a little back-to-school shopping yesterday. Rosslyn Academy returns for a new school year on August 12. Both Tristan and Emma are very excited to meet their new teachers. It will be great for them to get back into the school day rythym.

Wondering Where the Lions Are.

Tristan and Erica out for a hike with Sprite,

the resident tour guide at Acacia Camp

We were humming Bruce Cockburn's "Wondering Where the Lions Are" on Sunday morning at Acacia Camp as we enjoyed some long walks under the yellow acacia trees and through the sun burnt plains. A lone male lion has been roaming throughout the private reserve where our friends and colleagues Tim and Diane Bannister live. Fortunately, our paths never crossed with the lion who isn't typically active during the day (It is at night that Tim and Diane usually hear him).

We stayed out at Acacia for the weekend with the White Rock Short-term Mission (STM) team that have been serving with us in Eastleigh this past week. They were a big help getting classrooms prepared for the primary children at the centre. We will miss you Glen, Debbie, Dave and Dianne! Tristan and Emma had such a fun time battling in games of 99 and competing in Canadian trivia. We will all keep trying to win bonus points! And yes Dave, we'll do our best to "keep between the lines". The White Rock team flies out tonight.

While enjoying the beauty of Kenyan wildlife at Acacia, the team took part in debriefing sessions with the Bannisters who are responsible for all Canadian Baptist STMs in Kenya. Tim and Diane have had a busy summer hosting several teams including one which arrived today.

A troop of vervet monkeys gathered to form a welcoming party

for the latest STM arriving early this morning.

The Bannisters will be leading an STM of youth who are participating in the 2008 Baptist World Alliance youth gathering in Leipzig, Germany. About 220 youth from across Canada have journeyed around the world to serve in STMs in places like Germany, France, Rwanda and Kenya before converging in Leipzig for the world gathering. The team, who arrived bright and early for breakfast at Acacia, will spend the next week on the Indian Ocean near the port city of Mombasa where they will be working with an Africa Brotherhood Church in the construction of a water project. The team is made up of youth from both a church from Whitby, Ontario and another near Calgary, Alberta. We pray that their time in Kenya is transformational!

Tim Bannister officially welcoming members of the

Baptist World Alliance Youth STM to Kenya

before setting out on long days journey to Kibwazi.