Week 1

January 23, 2009
Massai Mara Safari Club/ Fairmont Hotels:
The first 3 days began my adjustment to living at Tenwek. Days 4-5-6 Dan & Suzanne Hayward, their boys- Drew (12), Ethan (10), Wesley (7) and William (7) Hayward, along with Austin Klint and Dr. Matthew Conner and I took a 2 hr. van ride (bumpy & dusty!) to Massai Mara for a safari. Our welcome was fit for a king to this grand “5 star” hotel. Our tents were grand-2 queen beds, toilet, shower, sink, African décor made the tents fancy and comfortable. All the tents lined the river (home to 60 or so hippos) for a great view, but the hippos loud noises when leaving for their nightly vegetation trips and coming home awoke many of us. Will, Wes and I shared a tent, and I fell asleep to great stories of how Suzanne is a “fun mom” because she “gives us yummy food and lots of treats!” (Mom, take note- a direct quote from Will & Wes ☺). It has been sweet to be part of the Hayward family interactions, and much laughter has come from interacting with their boys! Food was delicious and beautifully served.
Two safari jeeps transported us on 4 trips in early morning and afternoon (9-10 hours worth total) where we saw the “Big Five” African animals: Elephants, Rhinos, Lions & lioness’, Cape buffalo and Leopards. We also saw giraffe, zebra, cheetahs, warthogs, topi (antelope), ostrich, gazelle (Thomson’s), dikdik (mini looking deer), hippos, butt monkeys (aka baboons ☺), wildebeast (introduced to us as the last animal to be created because they have the tail of a horse, hide of a buffalo & face of a grasshopper), heartbeast, Eland (Africa’s largest antelope), impalas, goats, hyenas and vultures. This was a super fun experience with the variety of ages. The twins- “oh LOOK! He’s pooping!” of all the animals seen doing so). Lol.
One of our Safari’s took us to a Massai Mara village (one of the tribes here in Kenya). This felt a bit touristy, but it was fun to have the Massai kids get so excited to give us high fives! Bartering in their dukas (shops) for some trinket gifts is not my personality, but I hope to become better barterer soon--yikes!
January 19-23, 2009
BIG GOD SIGHTING! Her name is Christie Meedema. I met her a few days before school began. Her husband is serving as an urologist at Tenwek for almost the same duration that I am! Before becoming a mom, she was an elementary education teacher, and has spent 5 years serving in Haiti as missionaries over the course of their marriage. Christie has been at school with me every day this week, always bringing a devotional to share and praying for/with me before school begins every morning! She has also been somewhat of a mentor in my endeavors of teaching children ranging in grade levels from preschool to sixth grades.
19th School Begins 9am. A “fun day” spent getting to know each other, playing games, teaching classroom expectations, structure and routine for our learning community.
Oh-and my luggage came today!!! It was like Christmas after going a week with 1 skirt, borrowed shirts and washing socks and undies in the sink. ☺
The week continued with my focus being school from 7a-5p, spending most nights at the guest-house figuring out curriculum and what the next days plans would be. Not my favorite feeling, but pretty good for the first week.

Guest House
Some of you know well how nervous I was when the plan was for me to live alone, and the story of how God provided the opportunity for me to live in the guest house, a building made up of apartments and single rooms with a common kitchen/dining area. I have my own single room (#3) with its own toilet, shower and sink right off the common area. Three other single rooms are currently occupied by Kelly & Kim from Lousiville, KY, Tommy Sweet, and Tim Love. There is a lot of coming and going among the guest-house residents, but the people who I currently live with are amazing! Many medical students or residents (near my age) interested in mission work, and doctors and their wives here for a month or two--all with great stories, friendly and encouraging. (As I write this the electricity keeps going on and off; our electricity is powered by the turbines at the waterfall/dam/river and I guess when we don’t have a lot of rain this is more common; the thing that’s confusing to me is we’ve been getting rain every day around 3:00pm and also throughout the nights….).
21st- Had Bible study tonite in the Roberts peaceful top level screened in porch with a view of mountains and a fireplace, and also met a few of the new Kenyan residents who work at the hospital—very cool!
23rd- Our school day ended with a scavenger hunt during which the 2 teams were sent all throughout Tenwek to accomplish various activities and get signatures (thanks Collin for the idea-taken from our Halloween activities!) Before dinner I got to take my first walk to Tenwek’s beautiful river & waterfalls. I wish I could share with you this magnificent place I’ll call home for the next months!