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....

Joshua Shawn Gingerich

            We Welcome : Joshua Shawn Gingerich !!

 

 Sunday, August 3, 2014, was a week after my due date. Jacob had been asked to preach at Grace church. Not knowing when baby would be making his arrival, he turned that down but had a sermon started. Since nothing was happening by Sunday morning, and they hadn't gotten anyone else to preach, he let them know he could do it after all.
 We had a restful afternoon and in the evening we joined dads and their company for supper. During the evening I had a few contractions but when we went to bed I told Jacob that I still wasn't sure if it was the real thing or not. A few nights before I'd been up four hours or so with false labor and didn't want to get too excited if that was what was happening again. I slept maybe an hour or so. Around 11:15 I woke up and my contractions were about 7 minutes apart and that was the end of sleeping for the night. Sometime in there, Jake woke enough for me to tell him what was going on, and then he went back to sleep.
  I had been praying that the baby would come in God's timing (preferably before my 12:30 Dr. appointment on Monday when she said we'd discuss inducing. I'd been induced twice before and had about vowed I'd never do that again! ) According to my past "laborings" I figured by the looks of things maybe I'd be having the baby about the time of that Dr's appointment and I smiled at God's timing. 
 Well, over the next couple of hours my contractions were mostly 3-7 minutes apart. I had been taking "Gentle Birth Formula" and wasn't sure how that would affect this birth and I prayed that I'd know when it was time to head to the hospital since I wanted to let everyone else sleep as long as possible (hubby,mil, photographer, and Dr.) but didn't want to have it on the way to the hospital either. 
 I woke Jacob up at 3:00 AM and told him I didn't think the baby was coming quite yet but I think I'd be more comfortable waiting it out the rest of the time at the hospital. He called his mom so she could finish the night out up here. I think once he saw how long and hard the contractions were he started hurrying a little more. He got stuff out to the van and I called Heather (friend and photographer) and got the Dr. out of bed. 
  We left home at 3:30 and in about 20 minutes (just a guess) I was in the birthing bed and the Dr. said I was at 8 cms. Usually when I hit 7 cm, it goes fast if she has "broken my water". The nurse told the Dr. not to do that yet because she wasn't done checking me into the hospital. I was not too happy about that as that was taking her just too long in my opinion! I was sure the baby would've arrived a bit sooner if not for that. But finally the Dr. could do her thing, I had a couple hard long contractions, pushed twice and..ta-da ! There he was! :)

  Joshua was born at 4:22 AM a little more than a half hour after getting in there.  He weighed 7lbs. and 1.7 oz. and was 20 " long. My lightest baby yet. He definitely belongs to us with his round face, dark eyes, and black hair !

                                              He had such good color and was so alert !
                               The children came in around 9 AM. They all just Loved their new little brother ! Joey didn't want to share him and tried to take him right out of my arms. Hannah was so motherly and in love, Heidi was quietly happy, Mahlon sweetly informed me that, "You are still fat, Mommy!" :)

 

Joshua wasn't too happy with his bath .

    He's been a pretty good  baby so far but I'm eager to get him on a better eating schedule rather than his frequent snack attacks !

  

 Wow, Joshua ! We just love you soooo much !

Simple Joys In June

Little Laundry helpers

The children were supposedly taking care of sea animals.

Rolling down the grassy slope..

and running back up again.....My lovely girls, Hanah-6 and Heidi-4

Joey-19 mo.
Mahlon- 3 yrs

9th St...Country Road Take me Home !

Tea Party time for girls and their dolls

Ahhh, the joys of Spring!
Take time today to enjoy life's beauty and blessings !

(Mostly) Good Times

As I go about my daily tasks, I write blog posts in my head. Before I know it, that's old news and I'm mulling over another.  So here are some bits and pieces.
  One of the things I enjoy about rainy cold weather ; somehow work just seems less pressing. I find it easier to make time to enjoy things with the children.

The girls loved this little project the other week:

Really they were very simple. We took some clean baby food jars, slapped on some Mod Podge, covered it with ripped up pieces of tissue paper, and topped it off with some fun glitter and a ribbon. Drop in a flicker tealight candle and the girls had their own safe candle, they had made themselves. Of course the idea came from pintrest. Except, of course, those were cuter, done in Christmasy colors. I just bought more tissue paper and maybe we'll be making some of these for simple gifts from the girls. 

******* 

This :

is the week I was hoping to get some good fall photos of the littles...by the end of the week I was able to but it was still chilly.

                                                                 *********************
And then there was That Tuesday evening. Madam had been to a Ladies Night.  Gifts, Laughter, and Dainty foods. Friends. A Lovely Time. But Madam was beginning to get a tad worried. Baby was sure to be good n ready for his mommy. She sped thru the murky darkness, rain shining under the glare of head-lights. A CD played and Madam prayed. "Lord, please keep me safe and don't let me hit any deer !"
  And then suddenly, a large black mass of fur, and two beady eyes staring at her. Three smaller bundles of fur strung out behind Mama Bear. A foot on the break, a prayer gasped out, and then an aweful bumping, thudding, going on under the car. In a daze, Madam pulled to the side of the road and retrieved her cell phone from the floor. After pulling her jumbled thoughts together, she carefully put the car in gear once more. Would it still drive fine?  A few more thuds came from below and then all was fine.
  Poor Mama Bear is likely still grieving the loss of one or two of her cubs. Madam was able to drive on home despite internal tremblings, a lost license plate, dented up radiator (in the shape of a small animal), and a few other issues of that sort. Nearing home, her mind suddenly registered the words coming from the CD : "Jesus travels with me !!" Gratitude to her Father, weld within. She didn't loose control of the car on the wet roads, she didn't hit the hunkin' mama, the car was still drivable with neither head-light being broken out !  
The car has been replaced though. With 250,000 miles on it and needing new tires any way, it was no big loss.
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 The next day was one of the most fun I had in awhile. I loaded up my little crew and left around 8 AM. Picked up my MIL n SIL. Christina had a doctor appointment in Eau Claire..about 2 hours south of here, so we made a shopping day out of it. We got to lots of fun stores..Once Upon A Child, Hancocks, JoAnnes, Tuesday Morning,the Mall...The children got tired but did very well. They had fun in the play area at McDonalds and another one at the mall. Hannah's delight was picking out fabric for a school dress for next fall. Hancocks had some awesome sales. I got one piece that was originally around $20, marked down to $3.89 or so. At JCPennies, I got a pair of jeans for approx. $42 off the original price :)
  It was a weary crew that got home around 6pm that evening.
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  I started telling someone that life has slowed down some since summer but then I realized how wrong I was. Revivals begin this week. Tonight is a birthday party for Jacob's dear grandma Laura. Friday my baby will be a year old already. I look forward to getting down to the Women's Seminar at Bethany this Saturday. Thanksgiving and hunting loom on the horizon before the rush into December. 
                                      
 

Monday Morning in October

It's Monday morning. The sun is shining. Three little people chatter and squish their play-dough into crocodiles and ice cream cones and roads. Baby plays with a lone Sunday shoe and tastes a cast-off hair band, before screeching his desire for Mommy's lap.
  Laundry flaps in the cool breeze. Another load tumbles in suds, ridding itself of Last week's grime. The floors and counter tops are littered, the bed is stripped. "Move beds, use up zucchini, wash curtains, clean windows, work in flower beds.." are part of my week's to-do list. Not written down except in my head are "7:30 dentist appointment tomorrow morning, shop, and make chili for sewing-circle on Thursday.."
  After having company for a week, followed by a busy weekend, I'm delighting in this "day-of no-demands-except -that -which-my -family-or I-demand upon -myself."

                                                             Playing McDonalds

                                  Pontoon ride on Grindstone Lake with Jessie and Andrea Heatwole

                                                    My Birthday Girl- Heidi Jo~ 4 years !

                                                             Her Candyland Cake

                                         With 2 siblings, 2cousins, n two 2nd cousins to celebrate

Redoing Great-Grandpa Mahlon's Roof