Life After Wheat

So, ever since Charmyn cut out wheat from her diet, she's been SO much better! Here are some glimpses into the past couple weeks...

Charmyn's brother came and visited us from the Yukon! (He was given the name D'enge=tall, skinny one] It was quite funny to us that on the day he arrived, the super HOT weather also appeared.





But that didn't stop us from enjoying time with friends in Kalacha...



...or going on morning walks with the baboons.



Or just morning walks! "I got a new way to walk, walk, walk." (No kidding--our little sister Jillo walks better in big people sandals than her own!)



And the beginning of our journey to Conference begins! To Kijabe we go!



Even though traveling to southern Kenya has it's dusty disadvantages...



...the side-of-the-road friends seem to erase any memories of dust in the ears and nostrils!



About 8 hours into our journey south, we found ourselves chugging up steep rocky cliffs (I mean, the main road) in first gear in low four-wheel drive! I was in the last Land Rover in our caravan and I think watching the vehicles struggle up the rocky road before my eyes improved my prayer life greatly!



QUIZ: What happened to D'enge?!!!
[ANSWER: Found at bottom of this post]



Bridge crossings have never been so exciting! Who will make it across first, I wonder?



Well, we got a little impatient, and D'enge wanted to make yet another friend!



"Ezra, we're going to visit your older brother, Enock! Let's go quickly--I miss my friend!" (Kaedon) Our teammates' son, Enock, has been down-country for the last 5 months and we've all missed him terribly! Since he's been gone, little Ezra has started walking, grown some teeth, and learned to say a few words.



"Mom, is that the same baby you had before?" --Enock about Ezra



Paul, Salome, Enock, and Ezra--TOGETHER AGAIN...and AT HOME in El Doret area!



Salome LOVES rosemary. (She puts it in her chai.) Look how happy she is to be home!



Passion fruit! I think we've all decided that Paul and Salome have sacrificed the most to come live in Kalacha. Imagine having this kind of food right on your land!



...and animals grazing right outside your house!



The kids had a fun reunion!



That's it--we're all moving our team to El Doret!



I could live among the passion fruit all the days of my life! :)



Say hello to our entire team!



Back on the road to Conference. Yeah, life in Kenya is still full of surprises!



Walmart!



After 2 days on the road, we made it to Conference in Kijabe! "Elizabeth! How could I face your father if you took a fall?!" *BEAUTIFUL!*



As part of the decorations committee, we set the stage for people to feel like they were in Northern Kenya with us!







We really had fun praising the Lord together with instruments that you can't always find up in Kalacha!

"Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You--there is no greater thing!"



[ANSWER: D'enge was sleeping, of course! He discovered the only way to enjoy a nap on the bumpy roads!]

I think she'll live.

Turns out Charmyn is allergic to wheat and dairy. She's been doing LOTS better since cutting out these things and we're thankful for a family here (who has a daughter with the same allergies) who's been teaching us all over how to prepare meals. God is good.

No diagnosis.

For those of you who are curious, Charmyn and I are still down-country and are planning on returning to Kalacha on Tuesday. (That adds up to 24 days away.) The doctors and all the tests have said Charmyn is completely healthy. But alas, she's still not Charmyn. Thanks for your prayers.

My first "Med-Evac"!!

*DISCLAIMER*
(Be not alarmed: Charmyn's alive & well, out of the hospital, sitting next to me, and taking her meds!!!!)


Last Saturday, Sept. 5, God took Charmyn and me on an adventure! Charmyn has had a re-occurring sickness for months, but this time it was a little different. Thank God for all the people that arranged a plane to come and get her in Kalacha (and me as her helper) and take us from Nairobi to Kijabe Hospital (in an AMBULANCE!!!).



Charmyn really enjoyed the pokey needle and blood that accompanied her hospital stay!!



Since this was Charmyn's first hospital stay experience ever, I had to show her that getting salon treatment was all a part of the package! (See the crown?!)



Look, it's us RIGHT NOW! See, we're happy! (Charmyn adds: "...and WELL!")

Jump For My Love!

"Get it, Kinga!" With these 3 simple words, we can enjoy watching our friends' Jack Russell jump around looking for lizards...for HOURS!!!



Traveling to Gatab, a cold mountain heaven 5 hours away from Kalacha.



Beware the travel ninjas!



Once we got to Gatab, we got to see our friend Ponisa at her home...



...and see trees that actually give shade and you can't put your arms around them!



Walking up 'mountains' together is something we're constantly doing in TIMO!!!



Paul practically ran up the hill he was so giddy! Baby Ezra was the only one not enjoying the windy coldness. :)



Oh, Ezra, we'll be back in hot Kalacha soon enough!



The refreshed version of Charmyn and me!


We even let our hair down!!! HA!




On the road again to Kalacha...



I tawt I taw a putty tat. No, it's just another herd of camels looking for an oasis.




Meet the traveling zombie me! Don't mess with me or I'll throw dust at you!




Back in Kalacha, just in time for the busy bustle of August weddings. I think I'll stop and rest a while. Tea, anyone?


Hey, I want to say thank you to everyone who's been writing me lately and encouraging me. I'm doing better and getting along. Thanks for your prayers. I'm speechless at how wonderful the love of God is. It's definitely worth jumping for!

Livin' la vida YO-YO

Babaro! We're all back in Kalacha (after a wonderful month of vacation) and life continues on. Charmyn's parents are here with us for most of this July month and it has been a blast and a blessing to have a mom & dad here with me during this time. Some of you know that my gramma died this month and along with that, I found myself wanting to go home and be with my family. Of course, it's more complicated than that, but for now that's all I'm saying here. (Blog shy, remember?)

Anyway, it's been a crazy few weeks, I'm truckin' along, and enjoying the 'cold' season of Kalacha. Since Charmyn is holding her photos hostage (!), here are the only ones I have to share with you! (Charmyn's blog link is to the right.)



My new parents!




Storytime with my Abbo diqa




We stuck Charmyn's dad outside!




(Monique, Guchi likes your grass!)




I always feel like somebody's watchin' me.
(My Kalacha theme song)




Just another day at home.




My shady place. He, he, he.

Maybe I'm ready to say something...

...then again maybe not!


I know, I know, I don't say much here. I get blog shy. Please be patient as I try to stutter through this... So much has gone on in the last month, I don't know where to begin. For now, I'm in Nairobi starting a month of vacation. Our whole team is scattered around, enjoying a time away and (hopefully) a time of rest. Before I go on, take a look into my Kalacha world. :)

Atho (my language helper) and her little sister whose nickname means "likes sweet things." :)



Ah, someone to play with my hair!



We busted out the watercolors!



The nice people at Olla Boji who gave Charmyn her puppy, Guchi!



Playing Duck Duck MOOSE!



Hampton boys enjoying the Photo Booth feature on the Mac!



On Easter, it rained! It was a miracle. Please pray, though, because the big rain never came and we're in the midst of a drought. The next big rain comes in October. Everyone is affected.



Numbers 6:24-26
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace.”


Many of you have been with me through this year and have encouraged me, prayed for me, written to me, skyped me, sent me care packages, had your FRIENDS (!) write to me, supported me financially, and found such creative ways to show me you care for both me and the Gabra. I KNOW I could not have survived this long long long long long long long long long year without you. I pray this Numbers 6 blessing over YOU.

Yes, it's been a long year for me.
A very long year for me.

My friends and family have gotten engaged, married, had babies, been baptized, celebrated birthdays, gone through 4 seasons, graduated to the next level in school, had reunions, and had a Bandera sister weekend!

(My beautiful sisters)



( [Some of] my beautiful family)



It's been awesome to live with the Gabra and be in Kenya...but I never realized how empty 'awesome' experiences can seem without the ones you know and love nearby. If I stand back and take myself out of the picture of this last year, it's been a very rich year of blessing and seeing the faithfulness of God. But as soon as I look at myself, I'm a complete mess. I never knew how wimpy, weak, frail, and wavering I was until now. I've been put under the fire and over and over I feel I've failed the test.

There have been more good days than bad, but when the homesickness, fears, doubts, guilt, loneliness, and sadness hit, they hit hard. On those days, the desire to fly away on that flashing airplane in the night sky becomes acute. I really miss my family.

Anyway, I wanted you all to know that I'm not a superwoman.
I'm not always doing so well.
I'm pretty broken.

This is me.
Hi.

Another thing...
I love music. You know that. Music speaks to me. All kinds of all genres. I'm going to share two songs with you that probably will never be sung in church, but they're God songs to me. I won't interpret them for you, but those of you who know these songs will get it.


"Fall Back Down"
by: Rancid

Don't worry about me, I'm gonna make it alright
Got my enemies crossed out in my sight
I take a bad situation gonna make it right
In the shadows of darkness I stand in the light

You see it's our style to keep it true
I had a bad year, a lot I've gone through
I've been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She's not the one coming back for you
She's not the one coming back for you

If I fall back down, you're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you're gonna be my friend

It takes disaster to learn a lesson
You're gonna make it through the darkest night
Some people betray one and cause treason
We're gonna make everything alright

Well the worst of times, now, they don't phase me
Even if I look and act really crazy
I went way down, she betrayed me
Now my vision is no longer hazy

I'm very lucky to have my crew
They stood by me when she flew
I've been knocked out, beat down, black and blue
She's not the one coming back for you
She's not the one coming back for you

If I fall back down, you're gonna help me back up again
If I fall back down, you're gonna be my friend



"ROLL TO ME"
by: Del Amitri

Look around your world, pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it'd be?
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me.

Look into your heart, pretty baby
Is it aching with some nameless need?
Is there something wrong and you can't put your finger on it?
Right then, roll to me.

And I don't think I have ever seen a soul so in despair
So if you want to talk the night through
Guess who will be there?

So don't try to deny it, pretty baby,
You've been down so long you can hardly see.
When the engine's stalled and it won't stop raining
It's the right time to roll to me.