photo of the week

this kid is the funniest 1 1/2 year old i've ever met.

and i love him.

"now THAT is Kenya"

Having been here for 2 weeks I really do think that I am beginning to get over some of the original culture shock that comes with living in Africa…but there are always things that “get me”…which make me stop and realize that I REALLY am. IN. Africa.

A few stories for you at home:

1. 1. Animals: being stopped in the middle of the road by flocks of sheep, herds of cows, many conversations revolving around our goats, or today, when I realized that chickens had wandered into the living room of the baby house. Really?!

2. 2. Driving: it’s insane. I am blessed to have a car that I can use while I am here, and thanks to a small fee and a few stamps from AAA I am a legal international driver. I have been starting slowly, getting used to the other side of the road, people walking in the streets, no speed limits nor any stop signs/stop lights or any road markings. Today I got to the point where I felt comfortable driving by myself to and from the knitting shop, especially after realizing the guardsman Kennedy was going to be with me for the ride….little did I know what was in front of me: Kennedy had me drive a different way home that was “no problem” so that we could pick up some materials for the women that were needed…I soon found myself in the middle of a street market with people all around me and a huge road blockage…causing me to need to drive BACKWARDS, maneuvering through other cars, tuk tuks (small taxis), bikes, piki pikis (motorbikes), and the market stands that are very close to the road. I was a muzungu (white person) FREAKING out, driving backwards through the streets, shouting out the cracked window to Kennedy who was trying to direct me (in his second language using phrases like “nevermind” which to me means: “forget what I just said” but to him means “don’t worry”)..God is faithful and protecting and I got home, much later than planned, but safe and sound!

I am now VERY confident that I can drive the basic streets back and forth to the shop…no more market driving for me please.

comfortable with silence (aka: learning kiswahili)

Want to shout out to the degree in social work that has trained me to be “comfortable with silence”…it has been helpful when sitting with those around me these last few weeks…NOT that its ever really silent here, but the lack of English words at times makes it feel that way!

I have learned a litttttle bit of Kiswahili and am starting to be able to pick up on the flow of the conversations…otherwise I rely mostly on watching facial expressions, tones of voices and asking the person next to me “what are they saying??!”

Today I realized that though these times are hard, they are some I am definitely cherishing:

I love that no matter where you are, if you get a group of women together there is bound to be loud talk and lots of laughter. In the morning, before the babies wake up, drinking tea with the women of the baby house is fantastic. I am always greeted with a “HELLOOO SUZIE!” (especially from Eunice, the housekeeper who speaks very little English but loves to try to say what she can…aka: that phrase…another sidenote: I believe this is the ONLY time and place in my life that I have ever accepted and not minded being called suzie…friends at home: don’t get any ideas, you still can’t call me that) and then I sit down watch and laugh and try to figure out what they are talking about (usually talking about their husbands, trying to find a husband, or telling funny stories of the past..again: typical)

Then when sitting in the shop with the knitting group I often am trying to keep up which ends in lots of laughter. This group of ladies is SO animated: no volume control, hand motions everywhere and laughs that are very contagious. (today much of the laughter was towards me trying to speak Kiswahili…I have a ways to go.)

The Joy these women have is unhindered by many things that often get in our way in the Western world and being able to sit, unhindered by time, simply soaking in their Joy that the Lord has given them is very refreshing.

It is my prayer that I continue to recognize the beauty of their Joy and that I might reflect that same Fruit of the Spirit to others.

yarn-head

style is very different here. matching is never really an option, BRIGHT colors are "cool" (we're talking neon) and neutrals (aka: every one of my favorite colors) are very boring. hair is a whole different story:

hair is sold in every general store you could think of (yes, that nasty hair you see in sally beauty salons at home) and people will have long braids one day and short curly hair the next (sidenote: this makes it very difficult to recognize people, especially since we identify people instinctively by their hair: short, long, curly, straight, color etc.)

it is said here that in order for hair to grow on babies it should be braided. this does not make sense to me at all since i would think that the way they braid it would almost harm the hair..but i didn't attend cosmetology school so who knows..

now to the hair-experience of the day:

this was little Hopey yesterday, cutie little girl with little tufts of hair.

THIS is Hope today. WHAT?!

crying at her poor hair. i agree little girl, i agree. apparently it also causes a headache and she's unable to sleep the first night...poor poor child.

a woman came to the home to braid her hair (so it would grow) and when Trena and I saw what had happened to this poor child we were SPEECHLESS. not only does she look totally different and much older it is YARN. yes, black yarn all over her head. this round will apparently last for a few weeks-1month and then it will have to be re-done (we are already thinking of a reason for them NOT to re-do it in this fashion.)

the worst part? they LOOOOVEEE it (we can't read hope's true feelings, she has been very fussy, which is unusual, but that is probably from the constant headache and inability to sleep). all of the aunties cannot stop talking about how cute she is and how "smart" she looks (saying "you look smart" = saying "wow, you look great!") when they ask me what i think i just look into this poor girl's eyes and just pet her yarn-head.

poor poor Hopey.

peace, love and yarn,

sus

baby pictures

Maggie loving her boy Joseph. Joseph sporting the women's first knitting project :)

freaking adorable. Miah was LOVING that hat.

Miah with his big boy cup.

Joseph

Eli sporting a new fashion. and loving it.

Tracy loving her boy David :)

Eli

ready for food!

Eli

Hopey

Julia and Miah playing bubbles

little david

determined little boy

next i promise to post pictures with ME with these precious children.

grace and peace,

auntie suzy :)

keeping busy

One of the projects that i am working on starting while I am here is a "business" (we're in the process of naming it) of teaching women knitting and sewing. Our hope is to meet with them 3x a week and working with them, getting to know them, discipling them and walking with the Lord together.They will be making baby items: hats, sweaters, booties, blankets etc. hopefully selling them here throughout Kenya, and in the future exporting them to America. The profits will go directly towards the women's salaries, funds to keep the business running and extra will return to the baby home.

These women are living meal to meal, struggling to feed their children and themselves, some living in the slums and they are a beautiful part of God's Kingdom. This is a great opportunity I am so excited to be a part of this ministry.God is already BLESSING this ministry. the first day we were expecting to teach them the simple steps of knitting thinking that the first few weeks will be teaching...we were VERY mistaken. booties, hats and sweaters were started on the first day!

we then found a wonderful shop which we are renting and furnishing for these women to work in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. God confirmed our work by allowing us to find a reasonable price in the ideal location (close enough to the homes of the women)

This upcoming Tuesday we will be officially moved into our shop and I will be spending half the day with these women working alongside them and fellowshipping them them.

May the Lord continue to bless this ministry.

May we Love the world's "least" RELENTLESSLY.

oreos vs. whole minnows

overall i like to think that i'd eat what is in front of me...

typical meal prepared in the house:

-ugali: served with everything. literally just flower boiled in water. looks similar to mashed potatoes, has absolutely no taste. served with everything (they use it as their "fork")

- greens: cooked. not bad.

- beans: typical.

- chapati: YUM. similar to deep fried tortillas. like elephant ears minus all sugar.

- cabbage: also something i will eat (mom you would be proud of me)

tonight was a whole different situation...

i know my limits. and fish? is beyond my limits. even in the States I usually pass on fish and in the states it does not LOOK like a fish.

tonights dinner=minnows (i have photos but my temp internet is going painfully slow. pics will be uploaded when it is reliable later this week)

they eat many small dried minnows whole with the above foods all together. prepared with onions and tomatoes

vomit much? to quote the office: yuckyuckyuck.

they say it's sweet, and you can't taste it. maybe it was because the food was looking at me (good rule of thumb: if your food is looking at you, don't eat it) but i could taste it, and it was NOT sweet.

tonight i will choose (after 1 bite since i promised the women i would take) to eat mangos, granola bars and my oreo stash.

thank you usa.

other news: the knitting ministry has soared. God is guiding our path in great ways and a different post will come on that as well.

now? sleep.

grace peace and minnows to all of you at home

babies!

here they are!

please meet:

Julia: Trena's adorable bright daughter :)

William: last-born baby boy :)

Joseph: adorable little baby boy. dimples that melt your heart.

Lizzie (lou-lou): sneaky little girl with a great laugh. (recently shaved. its an understatement to say i was surprised when she came back from the backyard with no hair!)
Eli: one of the funniest little boys i've ever met.

Hopey: beautiful, sweet baby girl. seriously look at those eyes.

MIAH MIAH! (jeremiah) fabulous, screaming, ball of beautiful joy:

love to all,

sus

p.s. please excuse small photos...first time uploading took longer than expected so tried to do it fast with slow internet :)

african life 101

the first 48 hours have indeed been a whirlwind but have been a great start! a few notes on "african life" from what I have seen so far:

- driving=unlike any american driving ever. opposite side, people everywhere, honking and passing on a regular basis.

- babies= fabulous. don't think i'll be getting sick of the smiles, giggles, and cuddles anytime soon. (the songs? maybe at some point...not yet) we took one from the baby house to town today and he stared absorbing it all with wide eyes and mouth open

- women= in love with the babies and wonderful. i've been absorbing their routines etc. and it has been a time of adjustment but overall it has been great and they are loving and welcoming me with open arms :)

- animals= goats, chickens etc. in the back yard, cows etc. wandering in the streets. helloooo africa.

- language= must learn Swahili words soon, great language.

- time= most flexible/non-existent as expected. never get your mind set on something because you never do know...good and bad in the lack of structure. very different than anything american.

God has been incredible faithful (luggage was lost initially sidenote: trying to communicate that i need my bags shipped etc. right when i get off the plane threw me right into it but now it is HERE!) and is giving me courage and strength every step of the way.

excited to see what the next 4 months brings..

will write more soon! :)

love, grace and peace,

sus

Your Love is everywhere

"Your Love is everywhere,

Your Love is everywhere

open me open me

Your Love is everywhere

Your Love is everywhere

won't You let it flow through me

won't You let it flow through me."

as i am down to the point in this "pre-journey" where i can count the number of hours until i go to africa, this song (sung in church today) couldn't have spoken more clearly to my heart. (so much that shaking and tears occured...)

God's Love is so big. so so beyond big. it is in every corner of His earth, to Nakuru and back again. Its comforting in the midst of the 58902 goodbyes that have been said and it speaks to my heart that God will be loving on and speaking to each person I hold close to my heart while we are an ocean apart and will be loving on those precious babies I will be holding in 3 days.

for those wondering what a "schedule" might be here are some rough estimates (i have learned in traveling to never set plans for they are sure to change and you never but this is at least the plan)

Mondays - market shopping and baby outings w/Jully (baby caretaker) or Angie (manager)

Tuesday-Thursday - knitting group in the mornings, assist w/babies in afternoon

Fridays - shadow/assist Joyce, their social worker. usually out or at another home

Weekends - whatever may be ahead of us for that weekend!

My bags are packed (thanks to becca loney's incredible packing skills) and I am ready and waiting.

God may your Love flow through me.

love to all,

sus

power in weakness

not really sure how to express how i feel at this current time...leaving for an experience that is sure to change my life/living out of the country for 4 months is not quite a normal "everyday" thing..

currently:

- my room is COMPLETELY trashed. packing for 4 months is overwhelming and intimidating so instead i seem to just make piles of things to be packed (rather than actually packing them) and then sit and eat the oreos (that are meant to be packed) while surrounded by said piles.

- i have daily friend/family-dates. which is great. loving the opportunity to see, spend time with and talk with those i love most. leaving the country creates a chance to do that in a short period of time. which leads me to my next point:

- food. hitting up ALL of my favorite GRap restaurants (some twice) in order to make it 4 months without (for example) marie catrib's chicken cranberry sandwhich. mmmmmmm.

- i am a knitting fool. i am bringing bulk yarn and needles with me to teach women a "sustainable" tool. which gets me VERY excited (and a little nervous...must channel my inner-teacher). so now? i am visiting michael's multiple times per day and trying many different patterns. (also knitting gives me something to do while thinking, something i am doing quite a lot of..)

today i had a bit of a panic moment...

who am I to go and spend time with, teach, disciple, and live amongst women, babies, and in a country that has experienced more than i can imagine..

how am i to relate to them...

i am not "rob-bell-esk" with my words (point proven right there)...how will they ever learn from me...

but then i realized that it is not going to be me. God is the one who has brought me to this place in my life, he has clearly brought this opportunity before me and shaped it in a way that is fit just for me. and He tells me that "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." (2 cor 12:9) and then i was able to breathe easy once again.

i am weak, He is strong.

i need grace, His grace is sufficient.

i need to be empowered, He will do just that.

i am confident that He will equip me and use me, if i am weak, then he will be strong.

to close, a quote i need to read daily:

"O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire..Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, 'Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me the grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long."- A.W. Tozer

Grace and Peace to you.