Living Water

We have had another blessed week here at Mariann! Classes are going well, and we are growing closer to the students and teachers every day. Several of our students have been sick lately. Some are now well, but others have gone home to recover. Please pray that they may be healed soon and return to us.

The system that usually pumps water from the spring to the school is currently broken. As a result, we walk down to the river with the children to fill our water buckets. I have never felt like such a wimp! The students showed us how to place the buckets on our head in order to carry them back. At first, it seems so easy and tolerable. Then, as you walk uphill, the pain starts in your neck and starts to creep down your spine. Some day, maybe I will be as strong as these sweet girls, who always offer to carry our water for us.

This whole experience, even though it has only been a few days, has made us appreciate our water so much more. It has made me reexamine John 4, when Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman about the living water that he gives. Water has been so easy for me to obtain. But for someone who has to fetch water daily, the words of Jesus are so rich!

Top Ten Things About Kenya

10. Eating two huge meals within a period of two hours and drinking chai 4x per day

9. “There is always room for more on a matatu.”

8. Walking everywhere, which gives us a chance to think and take in everything

7. Running with schoolchildren and getting annihilated

6. Looking up into the night sky and seeing EVERY star, just like in “The Lion King”

5. Singing “I’ve Got Peace Like A River” and “Halalalalalalalelujah” on a daily basis

4. Bonding with little children through “chamgeis,” high fives, and giggles

3. Being welcomed into people’s homes and welcoming them into ours

2. Singing words that you don’t understand, but knowing that you are praising God

1. Spending time with the precious Mariann students and members of the Church

New Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Yesterday, we witnessed our first baptism in Kenya! After the worship service, the church walked down to the river where 10 of our Mariann students chose to be united with Jesus through baptism. We rejoice with them and would appreciate your prayers for our new brothers and sisters in Christ:

Naomi
Nelly
Marion
Mercy
Sammy
Elkanah
Nicanor
Maxwell
Laban
Brian

Laura took some great photos that we will try to add soon! We love you all! Praise God for His goodness and faithfulness!

And so it begins...

Well, we have been here for a while, but we have finally started teaching our classes! And boy, we have a full schedule! School here is very different from school in the states. First, the kids are MUCH MORE RESPECTFUL! They also truly value their education. Each family here is responsible for paying tuition for their child's education, even if it they are enrolled in public schools. Families are much larger here as well, which takes a toll on their families' income.

We are also cooking for ourselves now! We are still learning, but each of us has discovered a new passion! We have really enjoyed cooking here! We have to be a lot more creative... especially because the local store is 2 hours away! There is a small shop behind our house, but they don't sell much.

We are taking a trip to western Kenya this weekend with some of our fellow teachers to a small-game park! We are also going to one of our student's homes this Friday night. It is going to be an excellent weekend!

Please continue to pray for us! We can see God's finger-prints everyday, and we KNOW that we were sent here for a reason!

God Bless you and your families!

Love always,

Laura, Katy, and Ashley

First Week at Mariann

Jambo rafiki!
After a long journey across the world, we have finally arrived at Mariann! We were so thankful to have Sarah and Reed Fraser guide us through our first week in Kenya. We would have been lost without them!

When we first arrived at the school, we were very surprised to find that our house has running water, a toilet, a shower (WARM TOO!), and electricity! Praise the Lord! We are just thrilled about that! We have settled into our home quite nicely. We also have been enjoying our roommates, the popo (bats in Swahili).

On our first official day, one of the teachers from Mariann, took us to her home for tea. On the way, one of her neighbors came out to greet us. She brought her small children with her. We were apparently the first mzungus (white people) the children have ever seen. When the smallest child saw us, she fell down onto the ground and started screaming. The two little boys ran away. Welcome to Africa!

Sunday morning worship was quite enjoyable! We were able to have worship service with the children. We sang songs and had several prayers. One of the songs that was sung that morning was “Our God is a Handsome God” instead of “Our God is an Awesome God”. The children also had us sing for them. We sang “Blue Skies and Rainbows”. It was a wonderful morning!

We were finally able to have some bonding time with the girls who live here at Mariann. We decided to go to their dorm before bed to visit with them. We talked with them for a very long time. They were also fascinated by our hair, and really enjoyed playing with it.

Please continue to pray for us! More updates to come!

Love always,

Laura, Katy, and Ashley

Planning Away!

Greetings, friends!

I was so blessed to have Katy, one of my very best friends come and stay with me for the week! We were missing the third member of our trio, but we got a lot accomplished! We had a meeting with Dr. Monte Cox (Missionary for the Church planted in Sangalo) and discussed some of the travel arrangements and other things that we may experience on our trip. We also happened to meet a wonderful young man, Payton Parsons, at church this morning. We believe that God sent him our way... He JUST returned from a trip to the Mariann School two days ago.

We were showered in prayers today. It was such a wonderful experience. Many thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Cox, Sarah and Andrew Fraser, Payton Parsons, and to you all. We know that many prayers have been lifted up on our behalf.

44 days and counting!

Love,

Laura

P.S. Thank you so much Payton! Now we will arrive in Kenya in style!!!!

Tickets!

It's official!! We have finally purchased our airplane tickets for the trip. The three of us will be leaving on January 3rd, 2012 and returning on July 17th, 2012. We are so thrilled to finally have this step behind us, and we have all of you to thank for your amazing support! We love you all.