The Gospel and Goat Stew

These are the Fundis (day-laborers) that have been leveling the playing field at West Nairobi School for the past several months, and some office staff. The work was all done by hand with picks, shovels, and wheelbarrows. It was an awesome thing to see the transformation take place. Most of these workers live in the slums of Kibera and Kawangwari. We didn't want them to leave WNS with just there wages so we decided to give them a feast of goat stew and nyama choma, ugali, rice pilau, cabbage and vegetables to show our appreciation for their hard work. Since we're a Christian school we also wanted to give them a gift of eternal significance, so...........
After the feasting was through............
I shared the Gospel with them.
Then we presented them each with a Bible in their native tongue, Swahili, or English. Now the seed has been planted and you can pray that God will apply the Word to their hearts and bring many to repentance and saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Nairobi Homestead

Some of you have asked to see pictures of our apartment (maisonette), so here are just a few. This is, of course, the living room. You can see our handmade Christmas decoration hanging from the window bars. The bars are not decorative.
Dining room with Jocinta and family for Thanksgiving dinner. No turkey here.
Backyard.
Front gate, Abby, and Daisy with Jackson who is one of our guards.

Driveway.
Kitchen. That 5 gallon bucket contraption on the right is our water purifier. Pour the water in the top and it passes slowly through a ceramic filter dripping into the bottom bucket. An absolute necessity here in Nairobi.
Easy Bake oven.
Abby with Jocinta our house helper making Chapatis (Kenyan tortillas).
Outdoor laundry area. Most laundry is washed by hand since the machine is so old it only cleans clothes that aren't dirty. We don't have a drier, very uncommon here, so the clothes are hung on a couple of lines on the opposite side of the laundry area. Behind the boards/doors of the cabinet are 2 propane tanks for the stove. We exchange the empty tanks at a petrol station a few blocks away every couple of months.

Amboseli Safari and Mt. Kilimanjaro

We took Grandma and Jim on a short two day safari (trip) a week after there arrival. The violence and disruption had subsided enough for us to safely get out of Nairobi and travel south towards Tanzania. Many of the roads to the west and North of Nairobi were blocked by tribal gangs who were robbing and burning vehicles. The direction we traveled was unaffected at this time. The Lord blessed us with a safe trip and allowed us to experience many of the wonders of His creation.

There were literally hundreds of these big critters all over the place, up close and personal.

Grandma makes a new friend. She was actually somewhat unnerved by the boldness of this little Vervet but I made her sit still while I took the picture.

Maasai Village in Amboseli

One of the Chief's sons is giving us a little cultural instruction. That's the Chief sitting on my right.

Hangin out with one of the Chief's sons.


Inside a Maasai dung house.
Abby and Lily lovin the Maasai goats.

A Little Maasai Line-Dancing

Grandma and Jim arrive in Nairobi on December 30, 2007

Expecting a pleasant visit with the family the next day they are caught up in the political and social upheaval and violence that will dominate Kenya for the next several weeks. In fact, the next day is when I was trapped in Uchumi while a major gun battle was raging outside between police and demonstrators. Grandma and the family were hiding in the hallway of our house a block away to avoid flying bullets.

First Week of Christmas Vacation at Hell's Gate National Park

Some of the friendly and not so friendly environs.

Exploring the Gorge at Hell's Gate

ANSWERED PRAYER

Thursday 6:30 pm
Major trouble was averted today. The million man rally at Uhuru Park was called off early in the afternoon when it was clear that the police presence was massive and only about 100,000 people came straggling in from different directions. ODM leaders have said the rally will now be held next Tuesday. Raila and Kibaki seem to be cooling off a bit and most people want life to get back to normal, so hopefully this whole thing will settle down in the next few days.

There were some running battles with the police in various locations around Nairobi and in different cities around Kenya but on a much smaller scale than in previous days. There were a number of confrontations in Kibera, with another church being burned, and we were able to hear sporadic gunfire throughout the day. I can still hear chanting from the Kibera area.

We are all fine but getting cabin fever and ready to get out and about again. Thanks for your continuous prayers.

By His Grace
MLAL

GOD IS OUR REFUGE

Thanks for all your prayers and please continue to lift us up before the Throne of Grace, especially Thursday, Jan. 3rd as there promises to be a major confrontation between opposition and government forces.

We continue to be in good spirits and are planning a short excursion this morning to help one of our Kenyan friends at church. We'll do some final grocery shopping then if it looks calm on the street we'll take Grandma to the Giraffe Park, provided it's open, for a quick visit then back by noon.

Psalm 91:

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

We all say AMEN and HALLELUJAH!