To the equator with friends...

Dear Friends,

 

   Following is an e-mail that I started on our last flight to Nairobi that some of you received before it was completed by accident.  I have put the part you received in a different color to save you the pain of rereading it…

 

   We are very blessed to have had a very smooth journey so far. We are now on the last flight for Nairobi. It has turned out to be a good thing that our layovers are so short because Tiffany has been sleeping a lot of the trip.

   She was tired when we got on the first plane at 5 PM yesterday because she didn't have much of a nap that day.  This short flight to Atlanta was mostly fun for her. Soon after we took flight, she said, "Done now," in the tone of voice she uses when she thinks a ride is fun, but a little scary at the same time. Soon the ride became smooth and more boring, and she found entertainment in the people around her, such as making faces and playing peekaboo with any stranger in the mood.

   We had less than an hour to reach our gate for our connecting flight in Atlanta. I was glad I submitted to Joe's idea about wheelchair assistance after all, even though I felt stupid being wheeled around in perfect health. It was our only hope of getting to our gate on time before boarding. I was worn out from the stress of leaving, so it did feel good. Tiffany cried though because she didn't like seeing me in a wheelchair. We got to our gate when they were ready to make the final boarding call. The plane was already so full of people and their belongings that Joe had an awful time finding a place for our overstuffed carry-on luggage. He had to walk all over the plane looking for space. By the time he was able to sit down, he was soaked with sweat.

 

   Five days later…

   The rest of our flight was uneventful except for one time when I had just dozed off and I felt my purse being yanked from under my feet. I was instantly wide awake and discovered an older gentleman had caught the strap with his foot and my purse was having a wild ride down the aisle a ways before the man bent down and untangled his foot. I was glad to have my purse back, but it appears the Melatonin pills that someone kindly gave us to help with jet lag never returned with the purse. We feel very blessed though that all our checked in totes came through and in good condition!

 

   Stacy Byler, the social worker for the Kisumu mission joined us on our last flight, and she was a huge help through customs, etc. We had a very happy reunion with Wayne’s family in Nairobi! Their help this past week is greatly appreciated, and I hope we can repay them!

 

   When we arrived at Hampton House on Wednesday night to rest our weary selves after the long flight across the great waters, it didn’t take long for us to discover we were in a foreign land away from the comforts of home. Joe went to take a shower, and from the grunts and groans coming from the bathroom, I knew he was experiencing a cold shower. Soon I heard him singing, “If we ever Needed the Lord Before, We Sure do Need Him Now.” I had to laugh. What an appropriate song!

 

   We heard the next day that Hampton House usually has hot water, but it just so happened that night, they didn’t. We have enjoyed hot showers since then. We have hot water at our shower, but nowhere else in the house. I am learning that dishes can be washed in cold water. I still often heat water for washing certain dishes though.

 

I had the honor of handing my niece, Clarissa, her new camera that her classmates and youth group sent for her birthday. I wish you could have seen her face. She actually turned pale. She is showing signs of becoming a good photographer and to say she is happy with her gift is an understatement.

 

   After a wild Kenyan ride and meeting Tony’s, Glen’s, Kore, and Joe Fisher for lunch at Java House in Nukuru, we finally arrived in Kisumu safely and in good time Thursday evening. I was very pleasantly surprised at how nice and welcoming our new Kenyan home is!!! I will post pictures later this week hopefully, when I get our blog figured out.

 

   Jet lag is affecting us. Tiffany woke up a little before 2:00 AM on Thursday, and didn’t sleep for hours. She wasn’t mad or unhappy which helped a lot. She just couldn’t sleep, so I laid on the bed in her room and let her play with her old and new toys. She played and played with a trunk Margi left that has a chalkboard top. Since then, she has spent hours writing on that trunk, then cleaning it to perfection and writing some more. I am often awake until close to midnight, then sleep well until dawn when the birds start their lively chorus.

 

  I love those birds and the landscaping around the compound.  We haven’t closed any windows since we are here, and we basically live outside in the fresh, wonderfully warm air. Joe thinks we have moved to a resort. It reminds us of Jamaica, where we spent our honeymoon.

 

   Sickness has dampened my spirits a bit at times, and made me a bit homesick. I blame the sickness on the fact that I haven’t been sleeping as much, and with our busy schedule the last months, I haven’t been eating the right things too often. Joe and Tiffany’s health has not been greatly affected, for which I am most grateful! My stomach felt at rest today most of the day and it felt wonderful again. Thanks to those of you who have been praying that I would feel better. Joe’s family blessed us with a water purifier before we left, and since we have that set up, and I am drinking that water, I can tell a difference that it is easier for my weakened stomach to digest!

 

   Yesterday, our experience at church was wonderfully unique. We got a real taste of Kenya. It has been sixteen years since I visited, and although I have read much on this culture, to experience it is another story. The floor of the church is crushed gravel and sheep droppings. I was trying to figure out where to put my bag, so I could hold Tiffany. Finally, I said, “No,” to my reeling OCD, and set my purse on the floor. During the service, Tiffany scooted away and started scooping the stuff in her hands as though it were sand. I gave her a good scrubbing. Thank God for Clorox wipes and Germ X from the states. A little boy suddenly soaked his mother’s lap and the ground around them. The mother never flinched and no ne acted like something out of the ordinary had taken place. During prayer, I peeked at just the right time to see two girls throwing those sheep droppings at each other. I wondered if I would need to shake their hands after church, and guess what, that is exactly what happened! I stood smiling beside Joe, Wayne, and Clara, and shook hands with all those little and big hands. The ladies pressed their sweaty cheeks against mine on both sides, and guess what! “Even though I don’t like the germs, I realized God has already given me a love for the person behind those germs.” I know I will love them more though in the days to come when I really learn to know them. We already saw yesterday that these people have more than just germs to worry about. The one lady doesn’t feel ready for communion next Sunday because she is struggling to forgive someone taking advantage of her. Another lady just cannot get along with another member. In Sunday School, the ladies talked openly about how to respond when your husband beats you. The responsibility of helping these people with our limited understanding of their language and culture, looks like a huge mountain right now, and we are so glad we are not alone. We are happy to let Wayne take care of the Lela church for as long as he can, and while he is there, we want to learn as much as we can.

 

   Today was the first feared day of language study. With our prayer support back home, we enjoyed the day. We love being able to take the class with Gerold and Becky’s family and Stacy Byler. I think the other missionaries are jealous that we get to study with others. I don’t feel worthy of having it so nice. We turned it into a party and had some good laughs over our faltering tongues. Tiffany doesn’t like language class very much though, so you can pray that she will not suffer too much trauma through this time. I also feel quite fatigued in class at times, so I would appreciate prayers for an alert mind. I have a great desire to learn to communicate well with these people.

 

   I must get to bed if I want to learn more tomorrow. Blessings to each of you!! –Glenda for this Yoder family