Watch the Walk

So we're moving, Jess and I. After 10 months in this beautiful house, the lack of water* has caused us to seek new accommodations. We've found a house that we both really like and are excited about, but details still need to be sorted through and we've got two months left in our current house. On Sunday afternoon we went to a river in another town to wash laundry. If I lived there, I would totally wash clothes in the river. It's amazing! The water was cool and there was plenty of it. It was a little less than knee-deep in the middle, but it was water! Here are a few pictures from our adventure at the river. *Want the longer water story? Read on:   When we moved in, it was a matter of setting up the system. Because our house is on the second floor, water pressure wouldn't be sufficient to bring water into the house. So a lower cistern was built to collect water from the local pipes, a pump installed, and an upper cistern placed on the roof to collect water pumped...

Walking to the plane After being away for 5 weeks, it's an amazing feeling to be home on Clove Island. After a couple days' travel I finally boarded a 12-seater plane for the short hop home. It was a beautiful flight, full of gorgeous views. Arriving on the island, I had a choice: taxi home or walk? Yes, I live within walking distance of the airport. So I walked. Along the way I greeted several people in the local language. Although I took a back route, I still ran into a couple of acquaintances along the way. The last block before home, I heard my name yelled super loudly. An earlier picture of my friend and I "ABBY!" One of my best friends here was running down the road to meet me. Seriously, it was the best welcome ever. We hugged and laughed, trading greetings without hardly answering the previous one. Then she helped carry my bag to the house and followed me inside. "Oh, it's really dirty in here" she said. "Yep." It was filthy. Dust cover...

On a hike! "Abby, don't be weird," a friend just said to me. Why did she say this? Well, I was exclaiming over something small which can't be taken for granted on my island. While I try to control said "weirdness" it's sometimes helpful to sit down and take stock of all the differences between island life and where I am in Kenya. Urban Kenya isn't Clove Island, that's for sure. Americans often think that "Africa is Africa." In fact, some Americans seem to forget basic geography and think of Africa as one county instead of the actual 53 countries on this glorious continent. But as I was saying, there are a few major differences between life on Clove Island and life in Kenya. Like what? Let's start a list: Change : here in Kenya it seems that having change is to your benefit, as you can often get a better deal if you have exact change. But it's nothing like the island where people will lie through their teeth about not having chan...

I stared out at the parking lot taking it all in. Cars parked in their spaces, street lights keeping it lit up... it was just a large parking lot. But I hadn't seen one in person for over 8 months. It felt so familiar. And so strange. I'm in mainland Africa for a little over a month doing some training and getting a little time for rest and refreshment. After being here for just a day it's still a little strange. I woke up this morning and my nose was cold. But then I got to take a hot shower! There's bacon in the stores here. And ham. And sausage. And American-style cheeses. And options. On my island if you want a thermos you have 1 design option and 2 style options. You might buy it from any number of different stores, but it will be the exact same type of thermos. Today in a store I stood and stared at what felt like 200 different thermos options. After not seeing a French Press in a store anywhere on my island I found myself face to face with 10 different options in...

Men pouring cement Today's a short post as I've been wor king on my summer newsletter and put a lot of the latest stories in that. But here's an account of today! Today wasn't a normal day. I'm actually getting ready to head to mainland Africa for a few wee ks-- my first time being on a continent in over 8 months! So that means pac king and straightening in the house. Oh , and hauling water. The pump for our "lower cistern" bro ke , so if I want water in the house I have to haul it from the neighbors'.  On my way into the house after hauling a couple loads , one of the girls who lives downstairs as ked me to braid her hair. She's as ked me a few times and I've always demurred with the explanation that I don't know the African way of braiding hair. But I've had my hair done enough that this time I figured I could manage their simplest way of braiding. So , after seeing if she was really , really sure I agreed to do her hair. That only to...

Quite the waterfall, eh? The month of fasting has begun here, and every time I go anywhere I face the same question: ARE YOU FASTING? I'm sure it's an area of curiosity for everyone because they're not used to having someone different around to talk with. Everyone, and I mean everyone here, fasts. The other day I started to dread going home because I knew I'd run into a host of people who would all ask me that question. And if I was lucky my answer would spark a continued discussion. Which is a beautiful opportunity, yet sometimes feels more like an inconvenience, especially if you're exhausted and have had that conversation a dozen times already that day. I feel the pressure. Everyone wants me to fast and they don't mind guilt tripping me into doing it. (Oh "You're not able to fast?" "Just do one day!" "You're not strong enough?" "Even the children fast a little.") And I am fasting a few days-- when I'm breaki...

I'm pretty sure that everyone longs for something. People here long for wealth. They long for education. They long to be free from fear. They long for lasting change. Women ma king flower/greenery nec klaces I long for my friends and neighbors here to know the One who has changed my life. I long for them to be changed too. I long for opportunities to share truth with them. And sometimes opportunities create themselves. We're quic kly approaching the month of fasting here on the islands. Everyone's tal king about it. During that month people try to dress more carefully and portray themselves more carefully. One of my language helpers told me that everyone stops listening to pop music and only listens to re1igious music. This is all a reflection of culture and tradition... but it's also a reflection of longing. By fasting and observing the special month very carefully they believe they'll get closer to their goal of escaping "the place of fire" (as it's ...