(Mark trying to catch a zebra, man they're fast!)
Mark and I have been in Kenya for six days now without Mark’s bag! The airline lost it and we made it back to Nairobi today to pick it up! This was an act of the Lord because all matatus (people-crammed ’94 Nissan vans) going back to Nairobi went on strike! In Thika, we found one in a desolate part of town, made it here to Nairobi and finally got Mark’s bag! Praise God!

So many things are different here, even than Thailand. The first night Mark and I stayed at John Gichane’s, a God-fearing, Kenyan man who drills water wells. When we arrived at his house late Thursday evening, a tall man with broad shoulders, wearing a trench coat and carrying a large wooden club, met us just outside the dark green, dented, metal gate and shouted something in Swahili to our taxi driver. When Mark stated we were friends with Bwana (Mr.) Gichane and that we were to stay the night, he let us in.

The Gichane’s were very good to us and quite hospitable. From their house in Nairobi, Mama (not sure what her real name is) John’s wife and their son David drove Mark and I to another town called Niavasha. There, we stayed with Jason and Lesa Hovingh who are fellow Mzungu (white people). They took us to a field about one mile away where we saw zebras, gazelles, water buck, water buffalo, warthogs, and caribou! No lions yet they say they’re near!

After two nights with the Hovinghs, another Kenyan man named Joel, who is also running an orphanage in Niavasha, took us to Gatanga, which is the actual name of the very small village we are staying. Two days before, two men were murdered due to a hi-jacking on the very same road we took! The police stopped us and seemed quite disappointed to find nothing wrong or illegal with Joel, Mark, or me.

(John is the man standing)
Upon arriving at AMCC, John Muhika and five older Kenyans welcomed us. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so honored. They had so many encouraging and thankful things to say in their Mother Tongue, Kikuyu, which John translated for us. They prayed for us and fed us goat meat with rice. We ate on wooden tables and benches in a room with no light but that which came through a plastic covered hole in the ceiling.

(Yumm!)

It was soon after our meal when we discovered that we were staying in the same room with John, which is an 8’x12’ studio. John sleeps on the floor because he insists it is better for his back and Mark sleeps under the bed where he can’t roll over because he also insists that it’s better for his back. My back is fine so I get the bed! Not sure how that worked out. We also discovered that we have no electricity! How fun is that? ;)

Since then we have met four prominent Kenyans involved in the government who have assured our safety. However, we were advised not to tell anyone that we are from America. Hmm? We are to tell anyone who asks, that we are from AMCC. One of the men, the Minister of Parliament for Kenya!! evidently has the power to “sac” or fire anyone in the police department by a simple phone call. He gave us his personal phone number and told us to call him if we had any trouble. I’m not sure if his telling us this information was more or less comforting.

(AMCC is is the building on the far left)

Even so, I have no fear. I’m sure plenty of really bad things could have happened to us already that have not and only because of the grace and goodness of God. It seems He has given us favor with the government though! He is so good to us and there are so many needs here, but we will take things slowly and surely. Love you all! Please remember to pray for us and for God’s direction and instruction. I hope to be writing another update in about a week, Lord willing! Till then…

(Mark and the kids at the well)