July 15, 2006 Update
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This is the coldest month here in Nyeri, Kenya – just 30 miles south of the equator, at around 6,000 feet, in the shadow of Mt. Kenya – but with lots of new friends and activities we don’t mind the weather. We celebrated the fourth of July with seven female college students and their two supervisors from Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. We all sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” at morning devotions, and we waved our American flag. The visitors played games with the children, and then worked at the site of a home that is being built for the aged. Seven young African students from Daystar University in Nairobi joined their new American and Tumaini friends. Now some of the Tumaini secondary school graduates are hoping to attend Daystar. Last weekend, we went to The Rift Valley, about a two-hour drive west of here – and we spent all Saturday seeing animals and birds. Remember in “Out of Africa” – how Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) flew Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) over Lake Nakuru to see the flamingoes? Well, they are there – thousands of them. This weekend was competition time in Riamukurwe Parish. Children, ranging in age from 4 to 12 years, from all six churches, performed group scripture recitations, solo recitations, African singing dances and drama. And Githenya (with its many Tumaini children) won in all four categories – so they will compete in the Presbytery Finals two weeks from now. So there was much joy. But there was also sadness this weekend, because Brian and Katie Thomas left to return to their home in Healy, Alaska after living and teaching here for the past nine months.
Arizona Visitors
Rhinos
Competition
Farewell