I love my new ring tone

I have a cell phone that you can call from anywhere in the world. If you call me it’s free for me! Of course it’s the latest Nokia model about the size of a credit card with a camera and fm radio, so I haven’t really figured out how to use it. But feel free* to call. All the instructions were printed in English and Swahili!

From the US you have to dial international access code, then the country code, and finally the area code and phone number. It will be more expensive for you to call a cell phone than a landline, but I may never have a landline here. We’ll see.

To call dial: 011-254-738-42-4026. * Please remember the time difference to here. We are 9 hours ahead of Minnesota in winter, 8 hours in summer. You can always check the time difference on worldclock.com.

My Town

I had a friend once who used to refer to whatever town I was living in as your town. I was at school then as Seattle was my town. But from back when I lived here before I would have to say Nairobi is my town. Once I described it as a “dirty smelly city I love”. I am certain there are very few people that share my appreciation for Nairobi. Most missionaries don’t like it. It’s just a place to get errands done. Kenyans only live here for work; somewhere else is considered home, somewhere up-country. It is dusty, full of exhaust, crammed with people.

I came from Brackenhurst (which is the edge of the countryside) yesterday afternoon. Tracy brought me down and helped me buy a cell phone (I’ll post the number separately). I’m staying with an old friend, Jane (Jaynie) Kilonzo. She lives in the area I lived in when I was here before. So today I’ll be running around my old haunts doing a little shopping, etc.

I wanted to be able to show you what it looks like here. There are many contrasts in this land. I took a few photos of Craig and Tracy’s house and their extraordinary garden (yard). I took some of Jaynie’s place. I will try to get them up on the Drop Shots website, link at the right here.

I’m sending this from a coffee shop internet café in the neighborhood. Something we didn’t have when I lived here before. Some things are always changing. Tomorrow I head off the Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. When I arrive in the airport, I’ll take a taxi to the AIM flat (apartment) and stay the night. From there I will go to Morogoro for language school at ELTC Language School about 3 hours straight west of Dar.

I have no idea what kind of internet availability there is in the town of Morogoro. So I cannot guarantee you’ll hear from me very soon. If you are inclined to pray, I still have a persistent cough, although I am sleeping better now. I will need travel mercies for getting to the school. There will be many unknowns ahead. Those who know me well know I do better with more information and less unknowns. Thanks for carrying me along in your prayers and I will do my best to keep you updated.

Out to Africa

I’m in Africa. I arrived yesterday evening at about 10:30 and didn’t get to bed until around midnight. And of course I am nine hours ahead of Minnesota. That is called GMT+3 (Greenwich Mean Time). In summer I am only 8 hours ahead.

I’m here! I love it. The potholes in the road and the singing cicadas. I was so exhausted but could only sleep for about 6 hours. The morning was filled with the sounds so familiar to the Kenya I know: the gardeners and guards greeting in their low muffled voices, song birds answering each other. I couldn’t fall asleep again. So I helped myself to a bowl of African brand flakes, somehow heartier that my Post Raisin Brand. I found a little “finger” banana, the sweet, short ones to slice on the top.

When I laid down for a nap at 10:30 I didn't wake up again until 3:30. I guess I'm caught up again now. I still have a congested chest and cough. I hope to somehow get over before I leave for Tanzania on Tuesday.

Thank you to all who have prayed me here and for your continuing prayers. They are such a blessing. I still think that is hasn't all hit me that I am here, but I remember thinking last night -
I'm here! I made it!

PS - I changed the time on the blog to reflect this time zone. It changed all my past posts as well.

24 Hours of Travel

Dear Friends -

Thank you so much for all your prayers carrying me along these days. Please continue. I hope to post a good story for yesterday about God's great grace to me in a small way (maybe I can post while waiting in an airport.)

For today: Please pray for rest on the plane. I only got about 1 hour of sleep last night due to my nagging cough. I don't generally sleep on planes, but I just might be tired enough and sitting up might cause less coughing. I don't relish an air trip in this condition. But I am trusting in more of that undeserved amazing grace.

Please also pray for all my luggage to arrive with me in Nairobi. I am checking two extra bags for a total of 4 bags. One for the Sorleys. I'm toting a very full carry-on bag (against my personal rules for international travel - "travel light"). I have a lot to keep track of.

I have about 4 hours in the Amsterdam airport before going on to Nairobi. Both legs of the trip are about 8 hours long. I arrive in Kenya about 8:30 pm on Friday, but keep in mind that is 9 hours ahead of Central Standard Time.

I will try to post again this weekend from Kenya. But I don't know what kind of Internet connections I will have.

Thanks to all of you for all your encouragements and prayers.

I love to 'hear' your comments. You can post here anonymously, but please sign them.

Today's Good News

Well, amidst feeling lousy from this cold, I got an very encouraging email this morning. Turns out the little 'cottage' I looked at two years ago when I was last in Kenya is going to be available for rent again in April! The view from the verandah is pretty much that banner photo on my blog. It's nestled in the tea fields near Brackenhurst. I'll post more photos when I finally settle there after language school in May. The rent is an amazing price. Praise God for His provision!

And a little discouraged...

I only have a few days left until Thursday when I leave the country. Unfortunately, I have been plagued with a bad cold most of this week. My hairdresser (everyone knows they have the best advice) and a doctor friend both recommended lots of rest. Only trouble, I have a lot left to do! I know it's my own fault for dilly-dallying earlier. But at this point I would really appreciate your prayers for good rest and getting completely over this cold before I get on the plane. I feel best in the evenings, but that is when I should be getting to bed early because I can never seem to sleep in very well.

Thank you.

Tons of Encouragements - - -

Dear Friends,
Many came to my open house last night and left me with notes of encouragement. Some brought them along, others wrote notes there. (My cleaver Barnabas Support Team thought of prompting folks to write and providing tools to do so.) I was given a number of scripture verses to hold on to, and lots of other kind and loving words. All this blessed my socks off, as an old friend used to say.

However, I think the best advice came from an eleven year old friend:

Dear Aunty Jan. When you are in Kenya you might feel like you got to Please evryone but remeber that even if it might make other peopol mad God is the most importint one to Please. I love you. Christina Mew.