Kim in Gatab (Update 3 & 4)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

We attended morning devotions. Then it was a school day. Jon and the older girls then did some manual labor. Jon and some of the men are working on rebuilding a girls' dorm building for Haven Home. So, the girls were busy painting around the house workshop and then helped tear down another building and helped with some other manual labor. Life in Gatab is not for the weak.

Life is not simple. Meals are made from scratch. The garden has been invaded by a baboon. So Kayla (8) and David (6) were digging a hole in the event that the baboon was caught. Because of the drought, the baboons are eating up the garden produce. (The donkeys are too coming into people's "yards". There is a donkey jail for donkeys that are not kept up with by their owners. - Seriously!)

Becky and I attended the weekly Women's Ministry Meeting. The ladies meet for Bible study and fellowship.

The missionaries also meet weekly for prayer meeting and fellowship. I think we startled them when they walked in on us playing a game of Babble. The missionaries are using a DVD study by Focus on the Family called "The Truth Project." The children sit in on the lecture DVD and prayer time as well. Last night we were joined by another American family, a German missionary and her houseguest.

Thusday, July 16, 2009

We attended morning devotions. They have been going through Romans 2 all week, taking a few verses each day. The children did school again. Because of days when they have to go into Nairobi and other days when they need to take breaks, they have chosen to basically school all year round. This allows them to have a more relaxed schedule that works for them.

The girls continued to paint. They are looking a little blue - like Smurfettes!!

After lunch we were invited to visit in traditional home, called a minyata (sp?). Ruth and her family invited us to see her home. The people traditional migrate as their animals need more food. Some will stay because there is more of a community here. But we will see, now that there is talk that there is very little grass left in there area.

The minyata is made of cow "poop" and mud packed together. The roof is sticks and thatched together. They take old motor oil and brush it on the roof inside to prevent termites. They also use pieces of carboard that are available. There are bamboo piece used inside as poles. There was a kitchen area and bedroom areas.

We also had tutoring today. We had about 19 kids in class.

I will fly out with Jon Woodworth (my cousin), two others, and the pilot bright and early in the morning. We will do some errands in Nairobi and then Jon will drop me off at the airport. I will be headed to the states tomorrow night.

Please continue to pray for rain.