2 months and 2 weeks to go!

Ok, one of the factors that I don't think about every day but I love to remind those that are waiting for me at home, how much longer...well today it is 2 months and 2 weeks to go.  I knew that the months were going to fly by starting in November, with many things and travels to take place.  I still have exciting times ahead for me, as a trip to Mombasa, and a possible trip back to Mt Longonot, the mountain that conquered me in not feeling so well.

Today I have been told to get a Canadian Flag and be proud that the Canadian women beat out the American's at hockey!  Monday's orders are to have my office look Canadian!  Especially since the Canadian's have the same amount of Gold medals as the USA, we are doing just as good as them!  Talk about extreme patriotism!  Hopefully Canada can come through this weekend in Curling and the men's hockey...I so wish that I was able to watch the games, but atlas the internet news stories are my informational resource!

So...see you all in 2 months 2 weeks...once the winter thaw has commenced!

Highlight

Ok, after the day of everything going wrong, I had a good reminder that in all things big or small give it to God.

After all the fun things I did this past weekend, I forgot what was the highlight for me...I got to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games.  Fortunately I was in the right place at the right time, being at RVA there just seems that everything is that much more special and enjoying it with family, I will always remember where I was when I watched the Olympics.

We even enjoyed some of the commercials, where are rare here, having a good laugh at the Coke commercials, and even enjoy Tom Brokaw's view of Canada.

I also wanted to mention...check out the little surveys along the side I will be sure to write a whole blog on what I miss the most, craving and what I don't take for granted anymore.  I want to hear your views!  And in no way will they affect my votes!

Be Blessed!

Some things...!

Well the excitement of the caterpillar continues, last night I found a rash in a spot that I am not too happy about!  Lets just say, caterpillar must've been on my underwear.  I know almost too much information, but just as the spot on my arm is disappearing and has been itchy all week, welcome to the world of bugs in East Africa.

So this weekend was a blur, I managed to get up to RVA for the first time in a few months, ok since Christmas, and yes I did miss a whole lot of fun things.  RVA has had the worse flu out break the last couple of months, with a stomach virus, cold/flu, and H1N1.  So I smartly avoided the place like the plague!  All is better now, but at the worse point they had over 120 students and staff sick.  The stomach virus, which I wasn't so lucky to avoid started at Christmas, ended up being directly affected by their water, which is usually fresh well water, is now being treated.  Also, one of the teachers (actually Titus' second grade teacher) was diagnosed with a severe case of typhoid, being unable to teach for the last five weeks.  So in my right mind, I didn't...wasn't willing...to expose myself to that!

So this weekend up at RVA was Senior Banquet, this is almost as exciting as Graduation, but all the girls came out in their best dresses, the men in their best suits and the class sponsor all cleaned up well looking spiffy and nice.  It was a great time to experience, the hall was decorated as they were going to Greece, it was spectacular!  With a huge Mt. Olympus in the background and the test of Greek that we knew...I even asked if Hummus counted...not so lucky!

The kids are all changing once again, I walked in and Ella unfortunately had a huge fall in the afternoon and had the littlest fattest lip ever, she was trying to ice her lip and eat at the same time.  Cassidy, was amazed that my hair looked nice (thanks Cassidy) but then noticed that my makeup was done, and I was dressed nice...I told her that happens when I just come from work.  FYI my hair gets drastically shorter up at Kijabe, there is definitely more moisture in the air there.  Titus was intently telling me about the spiders that they found in his old bed, that caused him to get a new bed.  Guess where I was sleeping that night!  Guess who tried not to think of spiders that night!!

Ella, has changed so much since I was out last, she has taken to speaking in full sentences, and pronunciation.  From the little girl that called me Aunt Joe, it is now Aunt Jo-elle, and clear I might add.  She then was excited about going to see the decorations for the banquet, but as we were getting ready she said that she was going to the banquelet, and then quickly corrected herself to say the Banquet, and then proceeded to laugh hysterically at herself for saying it wrong. 

Cassidy and I played with her Polly pockets this weekend as well, and as a 30 something year old...does playing pretend ever get old?  Well I tell you...it gets more fun!  Cassidy was pretending something...but then didn't like it...so she declared she was erasing it and starting over.  I was like...you can erase? I thought you just pretend again!  We laughed, ok I laughed and couldn't stop!

It was a great and relaxing weekend, though quite needed after the ride up there, where I almost got ran off the road at one point and then the same dude decided to park in the lane that I was trying to turn off in.  But I made it there and back unscathed. 

Otherwise the week was quiet, but busy on the work front, I have had my first full week in the office with Alan, and things are going well, I am learning and stretching at the same time.  Figuring out of what I need to do and how to do it, and learning to work more with the Kenyans or the Kenyan way to do it.  Nothing is easy.

Today was one of those days that everything that could go wrong did, I managed to lose a pretty important document, tried to figure out how to order books to end up in Kenya ended up ordering books that would've ended up at mom's house in Canada (thankfully I managed to cancel it)  I was ready to cry at this point.  But as I was able to figure it out, and still unable to find the document, ....ok...as I was typing this...I replayed it going through my hand and found it...it was tucked in a slot between my desk and the drawer...I am happy...two big major issues...all good now!

So as my day has gotten better, I am done...ready to go home!

Have a great day...as you all start yours!

Be Blessed!

Unstability

For those that are interested and for some great prayer warriors, Kenya needs prayer!

This week the nation has been marred by scandals, not all happening this week but there were many things leading up to this.  The latest is the clash between the President and the Prime Minister, most of you remember the violence that over took Kenya in late 2007 after the elections.  Well, these two are back in the spotlight. 

Recently there has been scandals in our education system and in our agriculture system, both have been targets of corruption amidst their leadership.  The Prime Minister had suspended the leaders from parliament, the President revoked the suspensions.

This has sparked protests, so far that have been quiet and we maintained.  But there could be many more to come if the pot keeps boiling.

Beware of...

The cute little black fuzzy caterpillars!

Yes it is true, this seemingly harmless cute creatures are not so cute after all!

I was about to blog about this yesterday, but then I thought I was just freaking out at something small.  Well, last night as I was watching TV, I saw another one...crawling across the floor.  I am convinced that I have an infestation, after only see two!

So, why the freak out you ask?

Well, yesterday morning as I was getting ready for work, I was in the shower and instantly my arm felt like someone pinched it, so I was rubbing my arm, the pain wasn't going away.  I continued on in washing my hair, and as I looked towards my towel, I see this black fuzzy caterpillar, I look back at my arm and the outline of a swollen one inch length line forms...the shape of the caterpillar.  Well I jumped out of the tub, the towel went in...the black fuzzy caterpillar, down the drain, with some panic help by me.  At this point I am dripping wet, sans towel, the one I had was not being used on me.  Meanwhile, the spot on my arm was growing, so I ran and got some antihistamine, and started to wash the affected area.

Well throughout the day, my arm started to look like it was normal, just a glance down it looked like I had a scar.

Well, when I got home from work, I was still a little paranoid, so I washed all the towels again that were with the other one that I pulled out.  Looked around the area, hoping that I didn't find more.

Then a few hours later, there was the one crawling across the floor, I went to pick it up...not with my bare hands... with a caterpillar picker uper contraption...and it fought it...seriously!  But once I got it...I disposed of the ugly creature.

Today my arm is swollen, itchy, and red!  Body is full of antihistamines once again.

So beware of the cute fuzzy caterpillars...they are nasty!

Love is in the Air

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  Jeremiah 31:3

Well, after a whirlwind weekend I am at work today, thankful for the love that God has for each of His children!  My Valentine!

For those that didn't hear me Friday, but did you know that the Olympics started in Canada this weekend???  I know, it is the Winter Olympics and we are in the midst of Summer here!  But, it is so totally exciting as the Olympic venues are all in the area where I grew up.  And I got to visit most of them before coming out here, so I feel a part of the games.  Go Canada Go!

It was a great weekend, with nothing really exciting to report.  I bought myself a dozen roses, after fighting the crowds and paying for over priced flowers, totally kidding, there were flowers at almost every corner and I only paid $3 for them all.  I got a good start on my prayer letter that is now over a month more like over two months overdue...wow...I should not have counted.  It will be out soon...or at least before the ground thaws back home you will get two.

My theme of the week was being invited to people's houses and cooking for them.  Yes, seriously, the first occasion was a test to see if a Canadian could cook Mexican food.  On the menu, Chimichanga's, what they are, is a deep-fried burrito.  The dish is typically prepared by filling a flour tortilla with a wide range of ingredients, most commonly beans, rice, cheese, ground beef, shredded beef, or shredded chicken, and folding it into a rectangular package. It is then deep-fried and can be accompanied with salsa, guacamole, sour cream and/or cheese.  Note to readers, I have never ever heard of these, let alone know what they look like to prepare or make.  

 This is pretty close to what they looked like, we filled them with rice, beans, and chicken and cheese.  I was in charge of shaping the packages, and deep frying...so my art of perfection of the best wrapped taco...paid off in this creation. 

I also was invited over to another families house, where they were having waffles, I ended up the kitchen making the waffles.  They thought it was funny as I don't go to their house much, but this time I came over to make them dinner.

Otherwise, Valentine's Day was really good, I did lots and got lots done.  It was just san chocolate...not a normal V'day for me.