Happy Thanksgiving! and Happy Birthday, Dad!

It's 2am, but I needed to tell you all how grateful I am for all of you who look at my blog. Tomorrow our team is heading back to Kalacha after being away for a month on vacation and attending conferences. I'm ready to get back home. :) As always, Charmyn can give you the details. Ha, ha. Enjoy the photos!



Opening a care package with friends to share in the joy!!! (Thank you, Trinity!!!)




Look closely..."Hi Barb NUM 6:25" :) Personalized M&M's!!! (Yes, everyone was jealous!)




Drip sand castles in Mombasa are fairly difficult to make!




My first hair cut from a stylist other than my sister!



I'm happily 'cast away'! Notice the TWO shores...that's right, the tide is going away and a little island of sand is forming! I LOVED the Coast!




I was so proud of these shoes! They lasted 4 months. (Didn't Forrest Gump have something to say about shoes?!?)

Happy Birthday...let's go get some FIREWOOD!

(This one's for you, Dad!)
I spent my birthday with my Kalacha family and felt right at home watching the sunset over mountains in Africa. *sigh*



My birthday sunset in the Chalbi Desert. *sigh*


The following day...




Getting FIREWOOD with friends. (Robe w/panga) The whole process took about 4 hours.



My first FIREWOOD adventure! It's so BEAUTIFUL in Kalacha!



Look carefully--Dub is up in a tree cutting down branches for us to gather!



Dub came out of the tree to help me carry some sticks!



I'm trying to smooth down the branches b/c they are loaded with 2-inch long thorns. EEK!



Load her up!








I'm 28 and feeling like a SUPERWOMAN!!




Robe, Charmyn, and me. Being Gabra is fun!

Life goes on.

I know, I know. It's been over a month.
But you still love me!
HA!

Enjoy some more images from Kalacha.



Our lunch guests enjoying Mandazi dessert! YUMMY.



A journal morning at Kalacha Goda. *sigh*



Honey, I'll take the camel for a walk this morning!



Our daily visitor who will surely be a Gabra superstar!



The mzungu way of hauling water! :)



A recent trip to Lake Turkana, which is known for its crocodiles. Yes, we took a dip!

My prayer

Maybe it's because I've been more connected through email and phone calls with people back home in July, or because I've been getting more mail, or spending time just reflecting on what's going on in the world, but I am realizing that life is moving forward...and I am not the same.

I am not the same.

I am not the same.

When I see pictures of my nieces and nephews at the beach, riding bikes, swimming, and just GROWING (!) I really miss them. But I know that I am away at such a time as this for some higher purpose. I ache a little bit, but I rest. I rest. Rest. The ache leads me into the arms of Him who loves me and I begin to see. I don't know quite what I see, but I see light. Goodness wrapped up in light. While the Lord is revealing His Goodness to me here in Kalacha, I'm believing He's showing my family back home, too.

I don't need to be there to know He's working there.
I know He is.
Keep at it, Lord!!! :)

Missing Maminka

I was dreaming of my mom last night.
I could hear her voice and see her smile.
It was healing.



Maminka w/ baby Evelynn



My Tata and Maminka


So, I wonder...does anyone want to come out to Kalacha and visit me?!!!
YOU ARE ALL MOST WELCOME!

Kalacha, I miss you!

I've been away for a month doing "Africa Based Orientation" in Machakos, Kenya. I'm having a moment of speedy internet so I'm taking you down memory lane with me as I reflect on my first 2 months in Kalacha. :)



Watching the goats leave for pasture.




The school boys coming home for lunch.




Oh, to sit and watch the children play!




Morning walks with teammates.




Playing "Dutch Blitz" with friends!



How the youth choir spends practice!




A typical scene in Kalacha. Notice the hut being built in the background.




Look! My clothes are swimming! Like my sitting stone?!




With the Kalacha sun and wind, who needs an electric dryer?!




Enjoying solidarity with my 'sun-tanned' crepes!




One of my favorite pastimes=squeezing children! :)

FAQ about the BASICS !

1. CAN I SEND YOU MAIL/PACKAGES IN KENYA?

Yes!
Here's what I learned...
[PLEASE READ ALL]

If you want to send smaller items (CD's/Books/one clothing item, etc.), you can send it to my Kenya address:

Barbara Bandera
c/o IS Kalacha
PO Box 21010
Nairobi 00505, Kenya
--East Africa--


IF you want to send something more expensive, mail it to AIM's headquarters in New York.

For Barbara Bandera
c/o
Africa Inland Mission
PO BOX 178
Pearl River, NY
10965

*YOUR PACKAGE WILL BE OPENED BY THE AIM TRAVEL DEPT. WHEN YOU SEND IT TO NEW YORK. * They advise that you create a 'packing list' of everything in your package (Use vague terms like "toilettries" instead of perfume, etc.) AND to put a yard sale 'value' on each item listed. PUT THIS LIST INSIDE the package.

For me to receive all packages in Kenya, there's a duty fee of $7.50 per kilo. If you include $ in the package, AIM will put it directly into my account with them. It's advised to NOT send a BULK of clothes, as the fee is really high on that.


2. HOW WILL YOU CONTACT PEOPLE WHILE IN KENYA?
- My sister and I are working together to make sure this blog is updated as often as possible. I'm not sure how often I will have internet access. Please be patient with me!


3. AFRICA DETAILS
I will be in Kalacha, KENYA, from April 2008-2010 with Africa Inland Mission's TIMO team. It's in the Northeastern part of Kenya, near a city on a map called Marsabit. I'm close to Ethiopia.


4. PREVIOUS TIME IN KENYA
Back in 2004, I lived in Bungoma, Kenya, as a student teacher through Indiana University. Bungoma is close to Uganda.


5. WHAT DO YOU NEED?
-Your prayers!


6. WHAT DO YOU WANT?!
- snail mail from you!!
- USA stamps!


7. HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?
- COURAGE in getting out and visiting people.
- LEARNING the Gabra language!


8. WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING?
-My family will survive without me! :)
- I will survive without my family! :)
-Every single day belongs to the Lord. HE IS IN CONTROL!


9. HOW IS GOD WORKING?
- Praise God for a wonderful team and roommate!


10. CAN I STILL DONATE EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN KENYA?
Yes.
My family will carry on the same process.

--Write a check out to AFRICA INLAND MISSION
(for tax purposes, DO NOT include my name on the check)
--Mail check to my home @

Barbara Bandera
425 S. Meade St.
South Bend, IN
46619

--AIM (Africa Inland Mission) will contact you with a receipt and options for future donations.