A Bit of November

 Thanksgiving in Africa was a lovely relaxing day. There were a number of visitors from the states and 2 families from out-lying areas joined us. I believe there were around 60 people in all. A large tent was set up in Joseph and Becky's yard. The youth girls did an amazing job decorating an we felt very blessed with all the supplies brought from the states, including paper plates and cups and ham!!
 We also had local steak, mashed potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower salad, cranberry salad, rolls, and delight. mmm such a treat. We played a few games, relaxed, visited, enjoyed a yummy supper, sang, and visited some more. It did rain a short bit in the afternoon, but mostly it was a warm breezy beautiful day.

  The prior Friday we had gone to Mark Beachy's overnight. They live a little over an hour away. We had a very relaxing time with them. For part of our breakfast Saturday morning we walked over to the neighbor lady for some mandazis and watched her a little as she was making them. After lunch we went to the grave- sight of my niece Hadassah Faith Weaver. She would've been 2 if she had lived.  On the way home we crossed the equator again and this time stopped for some pics. Further on we stopped at Willis' duka (our Sunday school teacher) and seemed to delight him by buying some mandazis. I guess he was out of everything else. Or didn't have money to buy what was needed to make the chips he sells sometimes. (Chips are actually like our french-fries.)

Mandazies coming right up!

Joey..center of attention...center of the earth.

little spectators when we stopped at the equator

   On Tuesday my mom flew back to the states. The next day the new "compound maid"Stacy Byler arrived to take Rachel Miller's place.  She will be helping with sewing classes, cleaning, or just helping out where needed in the compound. Each of the single girls here are assigned a family which they join for Sundays. I'm ever so grateful that Stacy will be joining us. Jacob begins his roll as full time minister this coming Sunday. Dean Miller will still have bishop oversight but otherwise Jacob is the only one in the ministry there. Please keep him in your prayers.
 And just a couple of random pictures yet...

My boys watching their Daddy mow lawn.

Kenyan seatbelt 

And that's just a bit of our November. Have a lovely December :)

Bits of Our Lives In Pictures

Josephine making ugali. In the foreground is RoseMary are next teacher

  One day we quit language class an hour or so early and Josephine took over in the kitchen and showed us how to make ugali and skuma. The ugali was simply dumping a bit of water into a pan and bringing to a boil before adding a bit of white cornmeal.( She laughed at us "amerikans" wanting to know measurements.) Then you stir and stir till it sticks together well and there are no lumps. Place on a plate and pat into a nice half -ball. Cover till ready to serve.
The skuma (kale) was fried in oil with onions, tomatoes, and seasoning. You eat them together as finger food. Yum. Inexpensive and healthy. The ugali, especially is a real staple with the natives. We prefer it with some seasonings.

 This next picture is my view from the clinic where I went for a maternity check-up. I was sitting just inside the door. The building you see is a separate hospital and the chicken later got up and wandered into the open door marked "kitchen" and back out again in a bit.>>>

When I came out to see what these 3 wanted, they started singing "Happy Birthday" This was to be my cake :)

  One day Rachel Miller, Mom, Jake, Joshua and I went to the "Animal Market". No, they were not selling animals and I don't know why it is called that. This was a very interesting adventure. The people really wanted to bargain with you. One fellow "trapped" mom in an aisle trying to convince her to buy some sandles. Rachel went to her rescue and I don't think he was to happy about that. How long later we were already up by the road headed back to our vanhe came after her again with the sandals all wrapped up at one more attempt to sell them to her. We did get some good deals but

Little spectator at the market.

it will sure take a bit for me to get used to this bargaining thing!!!!!
This vendor was carving a picture into one of the many beautiful plates that were for sale .

One Friday evening the women had a "foot washing service"...er, "Foot Spa Night". I was just getting over a bout of the flu and was pretty tired but it was a great evening. It's pretty hard on the feet around here and they quickly become (more) stained and callused. We soaked them while enjoying some yummy treats and drinks and then worked on each others feet. Ah, Bliss !! :) 

We are now getting into the rainy season. The other evening there was this beautiful brilliant rainbow arching right over our house. After admiring it abit and watching it get even brighter we noticed a second one over the first. I was not feeling well that day either and this was a special touch and reminder, "His banner over me is love."

Today was the end of our first week of language school with our second teacher. She's not professional like the first and some of it seems abit redundant but it's good review. We often spend the last  part of class with our song books. She translates a song for us and then we sing it. She has some interesting stories sometimes. Like when we had the word "snake", she told how her children found a huge snake in a bush and killed it. Here it was a neighbor man's "pet" (used in witch craft) and how he nearly went out of his mind and had to be hospitalized. I think he kept saying "They killed Me! They killed me!" 

Well, I need to close. Pray for us as we endeavor to learn how to reach those around us. 

~Jan

Tonight I'm trying my hand at Hawaian BBQ chicken pizza. The 2 school teachers plan to join us.

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since we have arrived in Kenya. It seems much longer; not because the time is dragging but rather because so much has been crammed into our days, so much info stuffed into our brains. People's names to memorize, both those at the compound and the natives from church. Names of places, stores, and so much more. It feels like 100s of words a day are supposed to be added to our vocabulary.
  New sights have assailed us. Some are lovely, some fascinating, and some heart wrenching. Gorgeous plants, colorful birds, dirty mud shacks, piki-pikis, friendly faces, and  scarred beggers.
  This weeks focus has been the beginning of language classes. The first day, it seemed the teacher was trying to cram us, testing us, or something. But maybe it was just her way of learning to know us and figuring out our style of learning. Since then she has seemed much more relaxed and tho she might still get a little exasperated at us once in awhile, we are comfortable and frequently laugh together.
 Monday we were learning the numerous different greetings. The morning greeting, general greeting, and evening greeting. Also questions and answers such as, "Where are you from?" "My children's names are..."
 A few sentences from day two :  An japuonjre. (I'm a student.)....Wahero dak Kisumu. (We like to live in Kisumu.).....Jacob en fundi bao. (Jacob is a carpenter.)
 Wednesday was fun learning (or trying to !!!) 35 or so different drink and food names plus many other words to use them with. "Ahero madho chae mar chak gi skari." = " I like to drink tea with milk and sugar."
 Wednesday afternoon Jacob and Mahlon went along to bible study. It is becoming highlight for Jacob, as this gets him into native homes, helps him build relationships with the people, and I'm sure it helps build his vocabulary. It seems he's quicker at picking up on what the teacher is saying than I am.
 Today is my Mom's 65th birthday. The school children came over and sang Happy birthday and some gave cards. One of the lady's brought a plate of cookies down for her. Two others gave her gifts earlier in the week. One of the youth girls had offered to help me with baking or whatever so Sunday I asked her if she'd bake a cake for Mom's birthday. Well, yesterday Mom baked a cake saying that she figured I'd try to do one for her and this would save me the work..haha..so we have 2 cakes coming up. We invited a few people over for a snack/ party for after prayer meeting tonight. So we won't be eating all the cake ourselves:)
 Today in class we were learning kinds of fruit, parts of the day, and a number of verbs, their different forms, ( chulo..to pay. Asechulo...I have paid. Pok gichulo.... They have not paid.) And MANY more.
And now we have some new ideas for the next baby's middle name. We got off on a funny little bunny trail about how Kenyans give their babies middle names. If it's a boy the name will begin with "O" and for a girl, "A" followed by something to do with when or where they were born. So Joey's middle name could've been "Owino" because that means a boy born with the cord around his neck!
 A girl born on the way to the hospital might be "Ayoo". "yoo" meaning on the way :)
Jacob asked what Hannah's would've been since she was born while it was snowing. This was pretty funny because there isn't a Kenyan word for snow. We'd have to go with whatever the word is for "in a time of cold".
 Jacob just got back from running to town. I think he was able to find most of what was on my list except "cream of tarter". Not sure if he didn't know what to look for or if it's a foreign thing.
 Our crazy gas stove has no markings for degrees so we usually just guess for where to set it to bake. Sunday the chicken we stuck in was still partially frozen but till we got home from church it was quite crisp and the veggies were burnt. Mom baked bread yesterday and that turned out pretty good.
 Jacob had lemongrass tea in the one home he was in and wondered about making it. We were informed we have some growing in our back yard. Sure enough. Jake cut some up and used the garden tea recipe we had. Mmmm. Delicious ! I want to make another batch this afternoon for tonight's party.
 One of the most heart wrenching experiences so far was when we were in town last Sat. and a begger came to the window and I didn't have anything to give him. He looked old in a way yet I'm guessing he was a young teen. He had scars on his face and stitches in his head. He was on crutches and the whites of his eyes appeared a diseased brown. "please mama..please mama...please mama" he pleaded with such woeful pleading eyes. The other night when I was awake. I lay there thinking of him again. What could I do ? He haunts me in my memory and I pray someday I can see him again and at least give him a bite to eat. He makes my heart so sad.
 On the same block as the compound (I think. I still don't have directions all figured out.) Is this dirty dingy looking place. For awhile I thought it was a home and maybe it is. How unfair life is that I live on this side of the fence in all our wealth while just down the road are these dirty poor ragged people. Often tho I would see a bunch of extra people eating out there. So I asked someone and discovered this is a "hotel" ( a small restaurant)...hmm, next time we feel like eating out...:)
 Actually tonight I'm hoping to go down the road to another place. Heard we just need to take our own kettle and plate to the roadside stand for a cheap supper of beans and chapat.
 Well, I'd better close. God bless you each in where He has called you!
Well here I am am again...a few days after writing the first part of this epistle. I was waiting to send it until I could add pics but since I'm not used to transfering pictures from the new camera, and hubby is too busy, I will send this without. Sorry.
 Continue to pray for us as we struggle to balance language, family, and everything else going on. This afternoon Jacob is learning more of the business end of things since he will be taking over as compound secretary. There's a lot more to that than what he was expecting. It seems he is studying non-stop.
  May God bless you where He has called you also.  Oriti (good-by) Oh, here are just a few Jake may have shared on facebook....

sunset over Lake Victoria

Jacob doing visitation. The little guy was ok till Jacob picked him up, then he thought he was getting a shot and started crying.

 ~ Jan for the Gingerichs

Africa, Arguments, and (skip the Apes :) Part 2

  .....Well, we prayed, we talked, we prayed, we questioned. God shot down all my arguments. We talked to others. Some were encouraging. Some. Not so much." So what's your gut feeling?" I was asked. I understand the question. I've had strong gut feelings before when facing big decisions but this time.." I know it's weird for something this huge but I really do not have a gut feeling one way or another." I confessed. "So I will especially pray that my husband has clear direction."
  Long story short...we've consented to go. In retrospect maybe I did have a gut feeling but was denying it. My husband and I were/ are on the same page.
   I had a real sense of peace about it. Still do. But today I'm praying and listening to hymns trying to keep fears at bay. The threats and dangers there are very real but something happened the other week that was a good reminder that even in the U.S. our lives are in God's hands and calamities can come as well here as in Kenya.
 My husband was driving somewhere not too far from here when he heard gun shots. Later he discovered 2 bullet holes in his trailer. I hate to think how much worse it could've been if the shots would've come a few seconds earlier.
  Old hymns take on new meaning. "Where He leads me, I will follow. I will go with Him all the way."
 " I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain or plain or sea ."
"My body is yours for anything, Lord.."
Yes, our prayer is that God would grow us more into His image through this "adventure" that our faith would be strengthened, that He could use us for His glory. But, please, God, don't let it hurt. Let it be a fun and easy journey. (sorry, that was FLESH speaking) .
 We need the prayers of those we love. It looks big. Some days it's exciting. Some days it's scary. But we want to press on. Pray that the paper work would go through quickly, as they would like us there as soon as the beginning of July. Pray that God's peace would continue to fill us and for God's hand to guide us. Pray for the children in the many travels and adjustments ahead. Pray.
Thank you.
Have a Blessed Easter. Jesus is risen indeed !And in Him, we too shall live. And if we die, still we shall live ! Below is a picture of a church where my brother's family passed out Bibles and had a service.
 

Africa, Arguments,and Apes Part 1

                                    Africa, Arguments, and Apes  Part 1

  So it's a Saturday. I'm sitting morosely rocking my son. One is sick. Another is grumpy. I'm feeling that way myself. Not much getting done but rocking one. And rocking another. I'm not feeling very energetic about life. My husband comes up from the basement where he had been on the phone.
  He walks into the room and announces, " That was Ray Stutzman."
  Blank stare. "Who's that and what did they want?"
 "Well, they are from the Agape Mission Board and would we consider taking (my brother) Marlin's place in Kenya, Africa?" (Their term is up this fall).
 "Huh?" Is this for real?
  Then come the flood of arguments. One of the first and biggest is the thought. "We could never replace Marlins.They are so far beyond us..in years, maturity, their journey with God...It'd be easier to go somewhere else than to go where they had been and try to fit into their shoes.
 We have so far to go yet. It feels we are still so close to the beginning of our journey...in life, with God, in our marriage, in parenting. There are so many, thousands probably that would be far better suited for the job! What if we aren't capable of being all we need to be for the mission?"
 But God whispers, "What if I want this to be part of your journey? What if this is what I want to use to mold you more into My image? Maybe it's not just what you can do for the mission but what I can do for you?"
  But God, I'm so incapable. I'm not that scared of going to another land. It's my own inadequacies, our own ineptitude that I fear. It's not the natives that scare me, it's the other missionaries. (sigh,  I know that's crazy but that's really how I feel.)
 And then there's the language barrier. They want us to take 2 months of studying the Luo language when we'd first arrive. But even then they say, people can be there for 6 years and still not have a good grip on the language....
 It's another morning. I'm working in my kitchen. "Africa" looms big in my mind. I head for the recliner and my devotional time. My heart pleads, "Please God, speak to me ! Show me Something !" I open my devotional book. Today it's on Psalm 34:18. One sentence especially jumps out at me. "God's ability to use broken bread to bless thousands exemplifies His great power with broken things."It was like God was whispering. "You don't have to be perfect to work in my kingdom, to be a missionary."
 The next morning my devotions was on how God uses each part of the Body. "God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked..." Thanks for the encouragement God, I'd most definitely be one of those lacking parts !"
  to be continued....