Welcome to the Galat House

This is our house.  It was built in the 1940's and to me looks like a midwestern style home.  It has a wealth of history attached to it.  At first it was only one level, and then later a 2nd story was added to to accomodate more nurses and other staff.

A tradition at Tenwek is to decorate the windows of the house to welcome returning or new families. This is a picture of Claire with her friends Lydia Bemm and Ashley Chupp. 

The back yard of our house.  The Stanfield's (former missionaries who lived in this house) left us a huge and flourishing garden which we are already enjoying.

One of our first visitors was a stray milking cow. I didn't mind because our lawn needed to be mowed anyway. (our van is in the background)

This is Regina and Shiela.  These are the Kipsigis women that are helping me with all the cooking and cleaning.  It is amazing to me how they can walk for miles carrying loads on their heads.

Last picture with Jeremiah before we said good-bye to him at boarding school.  We are standing in front of his dorm.  It was a sad day with lots of tears between us all.  It was so healing to grieve together, and embrace the pain that often comes when God is leading us and not ourselves. 

Experience Nairobi!

                                          Avacodo's are one of my favorite things to eat! This
                                          one was really pricey....20 cents!
                                        

                                          We stayed at Hampton House (one of the many guest-
                                           houses in Nairobi). Our apartment was right there on
                                           the second floor.

                                          Enjoying our favorite sodas! They are made with real
                                          sugar which to us tastes so much better.

                                          Nakumatt:  The Kenyan equivalent of "Walmart" where
                                          we shop for all our supplies and groceries.

                                          The kids helped us shop. It actually was a positive
                                          experience, thank the Lord, because that isn't always
                                          the case.  They were really tired at the end though.

                                          Jeremiah and Emma are exhausted, but actually it was
                                          ok, because we didn't have to deal with calming any of
                                          the usual hyperness.  Their muscle and size helped
                                          tremendously with the transportation and loading of
                                          the stuff.

We're here!

                                          Worldwide beverage...Coca-Cola! This is one of the
                                          many signs found at the baggage claim in the Nairobi
                                          Airport.

                                         I'm thankful for "big kids!"  Jeremiah and Emma
                                         were a huge help to Dan while the younger two and
                                         I guarded the bags.

                                        We were the stereotypical Americans with all our "stuff." 

                                        What was even more "classic American" was the way

                                        Levi expressed his fatigue by talking really loud! 

                                        When Dan or I would tell him to be quiet he would just

                                        say, "I can't help it!"

On our way!

It was a sad and happy morning...we will miss all our dear family and friends in the U.S.  Thanks for your prayers!

Welcome to our blog!  We want to share with you about our life in Africa, with all the highs and lows and everything in between.  In just a few days, we leave to return to Kenya after being on furlough in the U.S. for a year.  We are excited and sad at the same time because there are so many treasured memories and tears on both sides of the ocean.  (This picture collage was taken by Heather Kinkel (sister-in-law) and is the most decent, recent photo of us all.)