It’s OK! Ok! Alright!
You know when you have screwed up on something, the positive reassurance that it will be ok pops into your head, its ok!
Well this weekend, it was quite the adventure in baking a birthday cake for our friend Tianne. Every step of the cake, has a story, ending with, its ok!
Kate and I started our day with a trip to Amani ya Juu (http://www.amaniafrica.org/about.php), we had planned to go there for lunch, and check out the goods in their store. It was amazing there, check out their link for what they do, and what they are all about. It was the great escape from the busy month that we have had here. So from there, we thought that we would bake a cake for Tianne’s birthday, so we headed to the store, bought a few ingredients and headed to Kate’s place.
Well once we got to Kate’s place we started to look for a recipe, Kate could not find one in her place so we went down to her friend’s house, Ruth. Apparently Ruth is an amazing baker, so we grabbed a chocolately goodness, eggless recipe for a splendid chocolate cake. The plan was to make a layered cake.
While we were there, one of the boys from the compound had to show us the baby bird that was there, so we went down to see it, it was so very cute. Caleb was excited to take pictures of it, and then I asked if he had named the bird, he was like no we can’t name him. But then he decided that we would make a storybook about the bird to take back to the States with him.
Well, by then we needed to get the cake started, so we made our way back to Kate’s house and started on the cake, Caleb, tested the batter, and said that it tasted dusty, but that his fingers were dusty, so he washed up, and came back to lick the bowl out! Caleb ended up with cake batter all over his face, shirt, and sleeves. I hope his mother was ok with us giving him sugar!
We then moved on to the icing…well the icing…was a little more of a process, poor Kate could not get the right consistency, it was turning out like fudge. So, we made our way back down to Ruth’s house, the icing saver, who rescued us. Much to the entertainment of the three ladies we passed on the way there, laughing at the two single ladies with an icing emergency!
So, by then the cakes came out of the oven, we waited for them to cool and popped them out of the pans.
Everything was going well, up until the popping.
The popping process…was not as easy as it sounded. The popping sort of came like a process of freeing a trapped cake inside the pan, it was firmly planted in the pan protesting its removal. Once it did come out…it rather resembled a crumble. With more crumble then cake formation. It was beyond trying to piece together and look pretty! So then we started on cake number two, to see if we had better luck on the second one. No such luck, it was unbelievable. Ok, perhaps it was believable, well I then went into crisis mode, wondering what we could do with two crumbled cakes. I thought of a trifle, but we didn’t have whipping cream or pudding. Then we thought of an upside down cake, with the icing on the bottom and the broken cake on top.
Then…the Garden Birthday Cake idea was formed.
This is how you make a Garden Birthday Cake:
Step 1: Place icing on cake, as normal, no worries if it doesn't look perfect.
Step 2: Chop cake up into many pieces, and naturally let it crumbled.
Step 3: Pour crumbled cake into a fancy bowl
Step 4: Decorated it, with flowers and candles.
Step 5: Serve to birthday girl, acting like all is normal and that you and you are really creative friends that formed a brilliant creation, that we named it the Garden Birthday Cake.
It was truly unique!
Tianne loved it, and it tasted great, it was a great afternoon of laughter, worried that the cake was ruined and a fun evening celebrating Tianne’s birthday.
It was a great weekend overall, it was great to see Kev as he passed through on his way home to Canada. Yes, I got to make fun of him like good ole time’s, I think he secretly enjoys it. Then he had to share his “last night I had the strangest dream”, which then I had to share mine, Kev why oh why did you have to share that??? Just kidding! It was great, even the "walking in the dark" experience, I looked the next morning when I was walking down and seriously, there were no street lights, so me falling in a ravine would’ve been quite possible, thanks for keeping me safe. I also got to see all the obstacles that I nearly killed myself on, funny in the daylight…they were all extremely smaller than they were in the dark. Thanks for the fun adventure, to top it off my taxi forgot about me, or thought that I wanted to be picked up the next morning, so I got to visit with the gate guard while I waited for him.
I also, may have accidentally found a ministry. Yeah, bizarre, but when I was telling Kev, he wasn’t surprised. So anyways, last week I had thought that the singles at church something was missing, a gathering or a ministry of sorts. So I emailed a guy at the church that has been around there for a while, OK, his dad is the Pastor, so I said that we need to plan something for the singles, not knowing the logistics of what works, the needs of the church, or if something similar had been done and didn’t work I looked to him for feedback, I gave a him a few ideas that might work. I was appointed on to the Singles planning committee, I was like I didn’t know such planning committee existed, he had just formed it. Sunday, he planned a meeting with the singles, there were a dozen of us, to announce that I was on the planning committee, and that we are going to come with our ideas next week over lunch. Funny thing is that he mentioned a retreat, yes a retreat…you know who got a little too excited!
Anyways, that was my weekend, it was a little fun, a little adventurous and great all in one, last night I attempted to make bagels again, and just amazed at how easy they are.
Here is to another fun week!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
1...2...3...4
Sort of reminds me of the Sesame Street song, 1-2-3-4-5, 6-7-8, 9-10, 11-12 dododo. Ok...yeah weird moment for me! Ha!
Anyways, as life here continues to return to normal, Kenya had Census day yesterday, to be counted or not was determined to be the mystery, as far as I know, I wasn't counted. But our dear President of this fine land, granted a public holiday, random I know, as it was just announced on Monday. But they count everyone here every 10 years I learned, but as a Westerner looking in I was left to wonder a few things, and see that they can improve the system.
For being here in Nairobi, the population here is just under 3 million, recently, I learnt that just in the Kibera Slum alone, there is over one million people, now if you were to look at the area of Kibera (2.5 square Kilometers or the size of New York's Central Park)...it is hard to imagine, living here it still amazes me.
So a little more of an update from me this month.
Well, my two roommates have left, to return to the States and back to school. Things in the house are much quieter but I still have a dog and 2 cats to entertain me. Lindsay has returned to Rocky Mountain College in Montana, and Sammi is at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
I just learnt how to make bagels, yes, homemade bagels...mmm good. I keep trying new things in the kitchen, the other night I made a meal for dinner and just amazed that was so good, mind you, the kitchen looks like my sister was in there cooking after I was done, but if anything...the food was still good. Yesterday I tried a smoothie of mango, banana's and avocado's with yoghurt, delicious!
Time with the family has been precious this past month. This month I had the opportunity of having a sleep over with the kids, Cassidy, Titus, and Ella came into town, while mom and dad got a rare but much needed weekend alone to celebrate their wedding anniversary, their 13th wedding anniversary. So as we spent the day, playing with play dough, going to the market, watching movies, baking cookies, playing Uno and Whoonu, and making pizza's it was much fun. This was the day of our tragic accident, so in the midst of it all, I got another girl to babysit during the day. The kids all had fun and then we all made it to church in the morning, Titus was sure that I was going to make them ride the Matatu, but I opted for the taxi, which is usually an experience with me in the vehicle, but this time it was pretty safe.
I also just went up to see them a couple weekends ago, this time I became the big kid, we laughed until we couldn't laugh no more, with tears in our eyes at Ella who was doing a little jig for entertainment. Cassidy tried to have a waffle eating contest, only she had already won once it was declared. Ella insists that I am Aunt Jo, or just Jo. We built forts in Cassidy's room, had church, played games, and just cherished the time that we had with everyone.
I still am being "hit on" when I am out and about, yesterday I was surprised that no one followed me home. I am trying to work on getting a vehicle here, I really am feeling vulnerable and that I have to stay close to home at times when I am by myself. I have had a couple of scary experiences that I rather not get stuck in again. (Sorry, no marriage proposals)
Work is going well, I have been gradually getting more busier. I am assisting in the accident information gathering. The real director was here for a few days, and that kept me busy as well, he came very close to asking me to iron a shirt for him, I know that as a personal assistant somethings should not surprise me, but it was asked in such a way that I knew that he wanted to ask me but he just gave it to me and said find someone to take care of this. He knew that was just one of those things. But we had fun, he thought I was out to make fun of him, but you all know that I wouldn't make fun of my own boss. I just offered to assist in his disabilities, trying to be nice!
Power rationing is happening here in Nairobi, as well as water rations. We have power outages three days a week of scheduled times and randomly as they feel fit the other days. It is usually out from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm Tuesday and Thursdays, and then 8 am - 2 pm Saturdays. Lets just say that there is lots of laundry being done by hand. It is sad though to hear of the livestock being unable to eat/drink and things are really dry here. They don't expect rains until October or November, the next rainy season.
Anyways, as life here continues to return to normal, Kenya had Census day yesterday, to be counted or not was determined to be the mystery, as far as I know, I wasn't counted. But our dear President of this fine land, granted a public holiday, random I know, as it was just announced on Monday. But they count everyone here every 10 years I learned, but as a Westerner looking in I was left to wonder a few things, and see that they can improve the system.
For being here in Nairobi, the population here is just under 3 million, recently, I learnt that just in the Kibera Slum alone, there is over one million people, now if you were to look at the area of Kibera (2.5 square Kilometers or the size of New York's Central Park)...it is hard to imagine, living here it still amazes me.
So a little more of an update from me this month.
Well, my two roommates have left, to return to the States and back to school. Things in the house are much quieter but I still have a dog and 2 cats to entertain me. Lindsay has returned to Rocky Mountain College in Montana, and Sammi is at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
I just learnt how to make bagels, yes, homemade bagels...mmm good. I keep trying new things in the kitchen, the other night I made a meal for dinner and just amazed that was so good, mind you, the kitchen looks like my sister was in there cooking after I was done, but if anything...the food was still good. Yesterday I tried a smoothie of mango, banana's and avocado's with yoghurt, delicious!
Time with the family has been precious this past month. This month I had the opportunity of having a sleep over with the kids, Cassidy, Titus, and Ella came into town, while mom and dad got a rare but much needed weekend alone to celebrate their wedding anniversary, their 13th wedding anniversary. So as we spent the day, playing with play dough, going to the market, watching movies, baking cookies, playing Uno and Whoonu, and making pizza's it was much fun. This was the day of our tragic accident, so in the midst of it all, I got another girl to babysit during the day. The kids all had fun and then we all made it to church in the morning, Titus was sure that I was going to make them ride the Matatu, but I opted for the taxi, which is usually an experience with me in the vehicle, but this time it was pretty safe.
I also just went up to see them a couple weekends ago, this time I became the big kid, we laughed until we couldn't laugh no more, with tears in our eyes at Ella who was doing a little jig for entertainment. Cassidy tried to have a waffle eating contest, only she had already won once it was declared. Ella insists that I am Aunt Jo, or just Jo. We built forts in Cassidy's room, had church, played games, and just cherished the time that we had with everyone.
I still am being "hit on" when I am out and about, yesterday I was surprised that no one followed me home. I am trying to work on getting a vehicle here, I really am feeling vulnerable and that I have to stay close to home at times when I am by myself. I have had a couple of scary experiences that I rather not get stuck in again. (Sorry, no marriage proposals)
Work is going well, I have been gradually getting more busier. I am assisting in the accident information gathering. The real director was here for a few days, and that kept me busy as well, he came very close to asking me to iron a shirt for him, I know that as a personal assistant somethings should not surprise me, but it was asked in such a way that I knew that he wanted to ask me but he just gave it to me and said find someone to take care of this. He knew that was just one of those things. But we had fun, he thought I was out to make fun of him, but you all know that I wouldn't make fun of my own boss. I just offered to assist in his disabilities, trying to be nice!
Power rationing is happening here in Nairobi, as well as water rations. We have power outages three days a week of scheduled times and randomly as they feel fit the other days. It is usually out from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm Tuesday and Thursdays, and then 8 am - 2 pm Saturdays. Lets just say that there is lots of laundry being done by hand. It is sad though to hear of the livestock being unable to eat/drink and things are really dry here. They don't expect rains until October or November, the next rainy season.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Promotion to Glory
Dear Friends
This week has been a hard week for our staff and missionaries here in Nairobi, we have had two of our missionaries go home to be with our Lord.
Last Saturday we were hit with the news of a tragic place crash here in the city, news came that our pilot Frank Toews died in the accident, our aircraft mechanic Ryan Williams that was along for the ride was severely injured, broken hip and severe burns. Two passengers amazingly made it through with mild injuries and are doing well.
All week we have come together to support these two families, the Toews and the Williams, we have been blessed with a community here that is strong and has come together in this time of need.
Today we received word that Ryan Williams succumbed to his injuries and went home to be with our Lord as well. It is a hard day, Ryan was a good man, that loved his service for the Lord and had a young family, a deacon in the church here...and a crazy singing voice! He will be missed tremendously. Even from this short time getting to know him, and being around the hangar, it will be changed.
I write today and ask for prayer, for all our Kenyan staff, for our missionaries, for the Williams family and continued prayers for the Toews family, they each have four children. There is a memorial service on Tuesday for Frank, possible Thursday will be Ryan's. The extended family for their travels here, some have made it already some on are their way this weekend. Pray for all the friends and the ministries that these guys were a part of and how they will be missed.
Continue to pray for the passengers that were injured in the crash, that they will be able to see God in this, for their story www.giveadamndoc.com, that their lives will be changed. Rob, who is an unbeliever is going home to St. Louis today. The other passenger is still in hospital, should be released soon. They have and will continue to be blessed by God in their journey.
I ask for prayer, I have joined the crisis team, my capacity sees everything, including testimonies of the investigation, it is a hard time to process two deaths and learn how, I ask that I will be the one that is supportive as well to those that were really close to these guys, that God will grant me strength.
Praise God that these men gave their hearts to God, and their lives, a true meaning of laying your life down for God. These men are now in rejoicing in glory, oh what a glorious day it is!
Thank you all for your prayers!
For more information....check it out! http://aimair.org/ there is a link at the bottom of the page.
Check out this link for a video of AIM Air Pilots it truly is touching and a great story of what these guys are called to do. The link is on the side of the page.
This week has been a hard week for our staff and missionaries here in Nairobi, we have had two of our missionaries go home to be with our Lord.
Last Saturday we were hit with the news of a tragic place crash here in the city, news came that our pilot Frank Toews died in the accident, our aircraft mechanic Ryan Williams that was along for the ride was severely injured, broken hip and severe burns. Two passengers amazingly made it through with mild injuries and are doing well.
All week we have come together to support these two families, the Toews and the Williams, we have been blessed with a community here that is strong and has come together in this time of need.
Today we received word that Ryan Williams succumbed to his injuries and went home to be with our Lord as well. It is a hard day, Ryan was a good man, that loved his service for the Lord and had a young family, a deacon in the church here...and a crazy singing voice! He will be missed tremendously. Even from this short time getting to know him, and being around the hangar, it will be changed.
I write today and ask for prayer, for all our Kenyan staff, for our missionaries, for the Williams family and continued prayers for the Toews family, they each have four children. There is a memorial service on Tuesday for Frank, possible Thursday will be Ryan's. The extended family for their travels here, some have made it already some on are their way this weekend. Pray for all the friends and the ministries that these guys were a part of and how they will be missed.
Continue to pray for the passengers that were injured in the crash, that they will be able to see God in this, for their story www.giveadamndoc.com, that their lives will be changed. Rob, who is an unbeliever is going home to St. Louis today. The other passenger is still in hospital, should be released soon. They have and will continue to be blessed by God in their journey.
I ask for prayer, I have joined the crisis team, my capacity sees everything, including testimonies of the investigation, it is a hard time to process two deaths and learn how, I ask that I will be the one that is supportive as well to those that were really close to these guys, that God will grant me strength.
Praise God that these men gave their hearts to God, and their lives, a true meaning of laying your life down for God. These men are now in rejoicing in glory, oh what a glorious day it is!
Thank you all for your prayers!
For more information....check it out! http://aimair.org/ there is a link at the bottom of the page.
Check out this link for a video of AIM Air Pilots it truly is touching and a great story of what these guys are called to do. The link is on the side of the page.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Prayer Update
Check it out for further updates!
http://www.aimair.org/
Thank you all for your prayers!
Well it has been several days since the aircraft accident here in Nairobi. It is just so much to take in at the moment, our whole operations of AIM Air has been voluntary grounded and waiting on further investigations to take place and compiling the evidence.
Please pray for Ryan, he is the mechanic that was aboard the flight, he is being transferred to South Africa this morning for burn treatment, he was severely burned in the accident and they are trying to find the best possible treatment, they are also concerned with the timing and hope that infection does not set in. Pray for his family, and the kids.
Please continue prayer for Franks family, has left behind four children between the ages of 4-14, there is plenty support for them here but his parents and his wife's parents are flying in later this week for the memorial service.
Further updates are located here http://www.aimair.org/page21/page21.html there is also a link to the families website.
Thank you so much for your prayers at this time, this tragic event has affected so many more missionaries then those in the immediate area, the missionaries that are serving in countries around Africa have been touched in one way or more through these guys, and through our ministry.
I also got an opportunity of meeting the friends of the two passengers that were injured in this flight, this all adds to their story. They are here in Africa doing a documentary on poverty. They have a seriously interesting story, there is two Christians on the team, and Agnostic and a former youth pastor that is definitely against religion in all ways. The two passengers injured, were the former youth pastor, and a Christian. God has a bigger plan for these guys, please pray for Dan and Robb. The Agnostic, Tim, is a professional aerial photographer, there was no reason that he should not of been on that flight. There is a bigger story here of God at work, pray that these guys will see God in everything.
thank you for praying with us here!
Joelle
http://www.aimair.org/
Thank you all for your prayers!
Well it has been several days since the aircraft accident here in Nairobi. It is just so much to take in at the moment, our whole operations of AIM Air has been voluntary grounded and waiting on further investigations to take place and compiling the evidence.
Please pray for Ryan, he is the mechanic that was aboard the flight, he is being transferred to South Africa this morning for burn treatment, he was severely burned in the accident and they are trying to find the best possible treatment, they are also concerned with the timing and hope that infection does not set in. Pray for his family, and the kids.
Please continue prayer for Franks family, has left behind four children between the ages of 4-14, there is plenty support for them here but his parents and his wife's parents are flying in later this week for the memorial service.
Further updates are located here http://www.aimair.org/page21/page21.html there is also a link to the families website.
Thank you so much for your prayers at this time, this tragic event has affected so many more missionaries then those in the immediate area, the missionaries that are serving in countries around Africa have been touched in one way or more through these guys, and through our ministry.
I also got an opportunity of meeting the friends of the two passengers that were injured in this flight, this all adds to their story. They are here in Africa doing a documentary on poverty. They have a seriously interesting story, there is two Christians on the team, and Agnostic and a former youth pastor that is definitely against religion in all ways. The two passengers injured, were the former youth pastor, and a Christian. God has a bigger plan for these guys, please pray for Dan and Robb. The Agnostic, Tim, is a professional aerial photographer, there was no reason that he should not of been on that flight. There is a bigger story here of God at work, pray that these guys will see God in everything.
thank you for praying with us here!
Joelle
Monday, August 3, 2009
Pray for AIM
Friends, urgent prayer is needed here in Nairobi!
The following is a letter from our AIM Air General Manager, one of our aircrafts went down on Saturday afternoon here in the city.
Please pray for the families affected and our community of missionaries, this time is very sorrowful but all in all, God is our strength.
August 02 2009
An accident occurred on August 1, with an AIM AIM Cessna 206. It occurred around 2:30PM (EAT) near the Nairobi Wilson Airport. There were four people on board; AIM AIR pilot Frank Toews, AIM AIR mechanic Ryan Williams and two Americans. At this time there is still medical evaluation being done but this is what we know: The two passengers have some broken bones, minor burns, cuts and bruises. They are both being kept in the hospital for treatment and further evaluation. Ryan Williams' injuries currently include a fractured pelvis, multiple contusions and some significant burns. However, his prognosis is good and he is receiving good medical attention in Nairobi. Frank Toews, the pilot, did not survive the accident and has gone to be with the Lord and Savior whom he loved dearly and served well.
Please pray with us, specifically for the timely return for health of those who are injured, their families, and particularly for Frank's wife and 4 children as they trust God for strength and comfort during this difficult time.
We are trusting God, with all of you, to show Himself to be good, even beyond our expectations and understanding of what good could mean, in a
situation like this.
The following is a letter from our AIM Air General Manager, one of our aircrafts went down on Saturday afternoon here in the city.
Please pray for the families affected and our community of missionaries, this time is very sorrowful but all in all, God is our strength.
August 02 2009
An accident occurred on August 1, with an AIM AIM Cessna 206. It occurred around 2:30PM (EAT) near the Nairobi Wilson Airport. There were four people on board; AIM AIR pilot Frank Toews, AIM AIR mechanic Ryan Williams and two Americans. At this time there is still medical evaluation being done but this is what we know: The two passengers have some broken bones, minor burns, cuts and bruises. They are both being kept in the hospital for treatment and further evaluation. Ryan Williams' injuries currently include a fractured pelvis, multiple contusions and some significant burns. However, his prognosis is good and he is receiving good medical attention in Nairobi. Frank Toews, the pilot, did not survive the accident and has gone to be with the Lord and Savior whom he loved dearly and served well.
Please pray with us, specifically for the timely return for health of those who are injured, their families, and particularly for Frank's wife and 4 children as they trust God for strength and comfort during this difficult time.
We are trusting God, with all of you, to show Himself to be good, even beyond our expectations and understanding of what good could mean, in a
situation like this.
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