We are resting, and it is nice and needed.  With much pomp and circumstance, school ended a week ago, and shortly thereafter the campus became a ghost town.  There is much work to be done during this break of course, but it is quite different than the hustle and bustle of school.

Today was a celebration of culture Sunday at our local Africa Inland Church.  Though tradition has usually dictated a separation and often times hatred between tribes in Kenya, the church has made great strides to remove these barriers.  At least five tribes were present today and each presented a traditional song and dance.  There were Kikuyu, Turkana, Somali, Masai, and Zairian.  I love these times.  To hear people praising God in so many languages is music to my ears.  It is no doubt a small taste of heaven.

Please pray:

1.                   This is a huge time of transition.  Many staff have left on furlough, and many new staff are arriving.  Pray for the coming year of school and all of the new staff members.

2.                   Meredith will be teaching Life Science and Physical Science next year, and David will be the IT manager.  Pray that we will do well in our new duties.

3.                   Continue to pray for increased support.  We continue to be 20% below target.

4.                   There is a constitutional referendum vote coming soon.  Though we anticipate a peaceful vote, please pray for the country during this time.

 

Maasai dancers in church today. These are wonderful people who come from the valley below us. We live just on the border of Masai land.	Kikuyu dancers. We live among the Kikuyu. This is the largest tribe in Kenya, and perhaps the most evangelical.	Turkana dancers. This tribe comes from northern Kenya, but many were displaced in the recent violence associated with the last election. There is a sizable population of displaced Turkana living near us, and our local church has been helping them greatly.	Hiking is a fun pastime when one has time around here. Yesterday David, Elizabeth, and Karissa took a hike to some bluffs overlooking the valley. Meredith was trying to recover from a sinus infection and Abby was testing her baking skills in the kitchen. She is becoming quite the baker, like her mother.

Fauna

I’m sure you all recognize this as a rhinoceros.  At one time prevalent in east Africa, the rhinoceros has been on the verge of extinction for some time thanks to over-hunting and poaching.  There are many stories of early missionaries who avoided a rhino goring by climbing a tree, but those times seem distant now.  Consigned only to game reserves, they seem completely unaffected by the many passing cars and camera laden tourists.