Westgate Heartache

Last Saturday was our Field Day at the elementary school. I helped to run one of the game stations. The theme was super-heroes. Many of the children came clad in super-hero costume, ready to save the day. My game was called, "Catch the Villain." The children had to roll a hula hoop down the field and toss it over a bucket (with a picture of a villain on it) and then run back to the next person in line. Little did I know that true villains were lurking not far away.

After the field day was over, our family decided on a quick trip into Nairobi. I have not been into "town" yet since we returned, nearly a month ago. I was excited to get some groceries and supplies. We hopped into the car with Ian and Megan (Lyndsey opted to stay and play with a friend here on campus).

Spirits were high as we traveled to Nairobi. We treated the kids to one of their favorite treats that they had been missing all year in the US: Mahindi, or roasted corn.

Then the news came. We were nearly to the outskirts of Nairobi when our friend called to tell us the news that a grenade had gone off at Westgate Mall and were we anywhere near there? No, we told her, we were heading to a different part of town. Our light spirits instantly dropped and we were on high alert. A wail of an ambulance was heard in the distance. We quickly made our way to the our destination and got our supplies as fast we could.  All the while we kept waiting to hear word of the attack. At that point, two families from our school were at the Mall and we prayed for their protection. Several hours later, we heard the good news that those families had escaped unharmed.

Over the next few hours....and then days.....we watched the news, gathered to pray, waited.....  Hushed conversations on the path as we tried to carry on with life, but felt consumed by this tragedy - only a mere hour away from us. Last night, Ian woke up in the night screaming that bad guys were after him. It is hard to say if it was a result of his fever (he has been sick the last few days) or if this is how his little brain is processing the limited information he has been given about the situation. We prayed with him and brought him to sleep near us. 

This morning, Day Four, we hear news that the seige is nearly over - the police have Westgate under control - and we cautiously hope that the end is truly here. But it is hard not to let the fear remain. Fear that our lives are no longer as we know it. We could have been in that shopping mall on Saturday. 

People say that the terrorists win if they instill fear into our every day lives. We certainly do not want to live in fear. We do know that our ultimate security is in the Lord. But the truth is, we are human and this tragedy has shaken us to the core.

Our hearts go out to the many families - across the world - affected by this horrific event. May God comfort each one and give us peace that passes all understanding.

Grateful Reflections

As I sit here writing this blog, it is a quiet Sunday morning. The family has not yet begun to stir (except for my early-bird-oldest-child who is up, but quietly playing). I can hear the early morning sounds of birds chirping and can see the sun starting to make it's way through our windows. And as I sit and reflect on the last two weeks - whirlwind weeks that they were - I am grateful.

So grateful to be back here, after worrying and wondering if it would happen. And here we are! The other night, during family devotions, the kids commented again how God answered our prayers. We are so grateful that God chose to bring us back.

It is really green in Kijabe right now.

So grateful to be interacting with these amazing students again. As I teach my classes and go about my day, the phrase, "the best kids on earth" keeps running through my mind. As the bell rings to signal the end of my Art Class each day, I always hear a "thank you!" as the students leave the room. Last night we had a houseful of kids. This is our monthly group of kids that come over to hang out and we are blessed to have the same group we had before we left for the US - so it was a happy reunion! We were having so much fun I forgot to take pictures!

My lovely Art class

So grateful that my kids are happy here. Technology time gets pushed aside here as the outside world woos my children. Climbing trees, playing spy games outside, collecting chameleons, and building forts. They come in each evening dirty and tired - in a good way!

Our gardener, Stephen, who lovingly helps the kids find chameleons.

One happy kid.

Can you see the chameleon? It is camouflaged.

The chameleon learning how to play the clarinet.

So grateful.

A baby chameleon.

Weakness

One thing that has caught me off guard since we returned has been how out of my comfort zone I have been. I should have seen it coming. After you spend months longing to be back in your familiar surroundings, it shouldn't come as a surprise when things are different than you expected.

Even though some things around RVA will never change.....other things did while we were gone.

There is a new recycling system. I can't figure it out for the life of me. Do the food scraps go in the pink bucket or orange? Do I separate papers from tins? Where are the recycling stations? It may sound simple but it is not familiar to me so it seems super complicated right now!

There were a bunch of new staff that arrived while we were gone. And then more new staff came this year when we returned. We missed our Staff meetings at the beginning of the year since we arrived so late so I keep seeing new faces on campus and I feel out of the loop.

I spent the last 10 years of my life working part time here. My kids were preschool age so I helped as I could, but my identity was pretty wrapped up in my kids' schedules. Now, they are all in school and I am working "full time." I do enjoy it but it is different not to be in the young moms group anymore.

The subject areas I am teaching this term are all brand new to me.  While I enjoy them, I feel out of my comfort zone.

This morning as I was having my quiet time with the Lord, I was reminded again of that familiar verse in 2 Corinthians, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
It is such a comfort to know that in the midst of so many changes, HE is the same. HE is our rock who never changes. And in the midst of my weakness, HE is strong.

New Beginnings

We arrived safely back at RVA late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning. Our good friend, Ryan, picked us up at the airport and everything went very smoothly in the "temporary" arrivals terminal (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport had a fire several weeks ago, so we weren't sure how crazy it would be at the airport). Everyone was so happy to be back in our home and on campus again. The next day, the kids were already off and running to see friends and we set to work unpacking our things from storage and getting settled.

The students started arriving on Friday (new students) and Saturday (returning students) and classes began today (Monday). We have definitely hit the ground running!

Jeff is back in his position of dean of students. This term he is also coaching JV boys football (soccer). My job role changed a bit in the days before we arrived and now I am teaching Art Survey (to 10th and 11th graders) and elementary student support. Even though it was a last minute switch and I was a bit nervous about the change at first, I think it will be a great fit!

We are so thankful for everyone who has partnered with us to get us this far -whether it be prayer support or financial -we are so blessed by each of you!

The kids off to school today!

Lyndsey and her best friend, Torrie

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The "winter" is finally ending here - yeah for a sunny day!

My Art classroom