The Eagle Has Landed

Operation Fiance is in effect.
Rob arrived last night, and by the time we got back to the compound it was 10 pm. But he came intact, still with energy (surely from seeing me), and with his luggage. He just spent one whole day in Nairobi, and is now asleep again.
And me, I'm just about to be the same way.
Lala salama. Good night.

So I went to Maasai land

On my community work, I went out to "Maasai Land." I have to tell you, it's a good thing I don't get paid for this or I'd feel guilty. The Maasai are the warriors who kill lions for their initiation. They have the big beaded jewelry, own lots of land, and have claim on one of the game parks for safaris. So we're in a double cab truck and I look outside my window to see the goats running out of our way, when alas, they aren't goats running--they're antelope. So I get happy as can be and cry out, "Antelope!" They (all being Kenyan) laugh and one says, "And you see there--giraffes." So I lunge to the other side of the car, squint as much as possible, and verily there are giraffes jutting out of the horizon. Five, maybe six of them. And I am in awe.
I love my work.

1 Week, 26 Emails, and 11 Days

I have been at Kijabe (kee-jo-bee) for 1 week. I unpacked, taken a self-guided tour of the area and the hospital, ate at 3 people's homes, and became productive in the clinic here. It's hard for me to dive into something. I'm generally outgoing unless I don't feel comfortable. This is definately a case where I don't feel comfortable! I don't know where I am, where I fit, who I can talk to. But I made up my mind to be more outgoing right at the bat. I think that the approach, although out of my comfort zone, has helped me, along with the invaluable help of the Letchfords and Jane at work. They have taught me the workings of the area and the clinic, respectively. God is good, and after one week, I feel comfortable here. Of course, the next two weeks will be more testing while I begin going out into the community. So don't let the prayers stop now!
I told you that I wasn't sure about my internet access. Finally, on Sunday night, I get on. Waiting in my inbox is 26 messages!! I don't know whether to be overwhelmed or encouraged! Please, keep them coming, though I'm not sure how much energy I'll have to get on after my field work starts.
It's funny how I'll still be in training when Rob comes to work with me here. It will be my first week of being outside the clinics and in people's homes. So we'll learn together, which is not how I imagined it would be when he comes out, but God in His infinite humor, made it this way. Imagine, just 11 days until his arrival, and I still have to find him a bed to stay in at Kijabe...
Thanks for all your prayers, and I will try to keep you posted as I learn what my role will be here. No doubt, it will hold new challenges than my work in Kibera. I want to stay strong and persevere in them because I am sure this is where I'm supposed to be.
"Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul."

More Good News

So someone went to Kenya in June last year, right? And that someone was engaged. Well, now that someone's fiance is coming to visit her! I'll give you 10 Kenyan Shillings if you can guess who I'm talking about.
Okay, so this week has been amazing. First, I get a job, and a place to stay at that job. Then, I get to see a booked ticket for Rob Patterson to come to Kenya! He's coming in just a few short weeks. He arrives here the 27th of March and will be here for 10 days. We'll do some tourist stuff and some work (put him to work on his vacation, that's right). And then he'll come home with stories of the great work that's happening in Kenya.
Now I have to run. Today is busy, since I have to get everything together for my move tomorrow. It's weird to see my bedroom's walls so bare. It was covered with letters and cards from everyone back home. Now, it's stripped. What a rotten reminder that I'll be leaving here in three months. Until then, I have a new place to move into, new coworkers and roommates, new work, and if that's not enough to take my mind off things, Rob will.
Thanks, Dad, for help with the good news. And thanks Heavenly Dad, too!

Nina Fanya Kazi!

That's Swahili for "I have work!" After two months of searching for another ministry, I finally have found one. I will be working at Kijabe Hospital, in Kijabe, Kenya. It's a small town an hour from where I'm currently staying. The hospital is a missionary hospital, started by Africa Inland Mission (AIM). They have an AIDS section, where they have a full clinic, pharmacy, and community work. The initiative is "Relief for AIDS." I will be involved in the community work, which looks a lot like what I was doing in Kibera. I have a chance to work in different areas around Kijabe, and visit many clients in their houses. I will give them company, pray with them, read Scripture with them, like before, and as a new aspect, will be helping medically, too, by counting pills to make sure they are on track, and asking about any opportunistic infections (since HIV lowers your immune system, you are more likely to get infections).
I'll be living on hospital grounds, with two Kenyan doctors (women, of course). I will again have my own room, which is cool to have still, and have many of the same amenities I have here (including a washing machine, praise the Lord). I probably won't have easy access to internet like I do here, but I will make it a point to try to get online when I can.
I am really excited about this chance, and about moving to a new set of friends. Not to mention, I'll be involved in a ministry that's connected to the culture again. Plus, since I'm living with Kenyans, I'll brush up on my mad ugali skills (you know, the cake-like staple made of maize flour. You know.)
Now I have to pack up my room to get ready for the move Monday!

Prepositions

Sometimes in Kenya, even the best English speakers confuse prepositions. They would say, "It's in the table" instead of on it, you see. So in church today, during prayer, a Kenyan man was thanking God and said in a list of things, "...great things you do to us..." I laughed a little, and was assured that God knew what he meant, "great things you do for us," not to us. But then I thought about it. "To" works. God does great things for us, yes. Isn't it Jesus who died for us? But God has done great things to us indeed, if we are His children. He has transformed hearts, minds, attitudes, our lives! And that is a work that He did to us. Now I'm not sure what preposition my clergyman intended to use, but after thinking this out, I again prayed, thanking God for the great things that He does to us.
"For He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)
"Mungu aliyeanza kazi hii njema ndani yenu, ataiendeleza mpaka ikamilike katika siku ile ya Kristo Yesu." (Wafilipi 1:6)