Spring 2011 Adventures in Africa

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

Monkeying Around

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

Wood pile

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.

Puppies

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.

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

R & R

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)

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!

Acacia Camp

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.

House Guest

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.