Around Kitale and river trip

UPDATE ON SE GIRLS 1st WK FEB 09 Hi all! So we have had a long stretch here in Kitale, but it now feels so much like home for most of us in the team! Walking back to the compound seems so natural- that is after shouting "haraka" (however you are ment to spell "faster" in swahili), to race our boda boda drivers up the Millimani hill. We are also now very used to shouts of "how are you"??? coming from multiple directions simultaneously, since it seems to come from every small child who immediately (of course) recognises our pale skin! So we have introduced sugar cane to the girls... some like it and others dont.... we are all enjoying the african food... but Chipati's are now seeming stodgier the more we eat them.... Experimentation to switch up meal time fun now includes ..... Chipatis with sugar.... Chipatis and peanut butter..... Chipatis, peanut butter and Jam and so on in increasing intensity. We have had alot of guest speakers this week and its been great. Marlise from Youth Apart, as well as Pauline who co-leads the ministry, have been imparting great teaching to the gals and have given us all alot to think and pray about. Amid the teaching and quiet times, we have been on the go!!! Last time we told you about our impending river trip!!! A two hour drive into the mountains unveiled a beautiful yet muddy looking spunky river (if a river can be called spunky- aka realtively harmless but with some fiesty fast bits!!). All the girls tried using tyre inners as tubes to sit in down some of the river.... which was great fun. The more adventurous took to jumping off interesting places... and much longer faster routes..... all were fully satisfying their individual desires for adventure that day!!! The coolest thing is seeing speckles of real gold on the water bed - Millie " I swam in GOLD" :D. Ministry wise, we ran a 'kids program ' at THE VOICE..... crowd control was a slight issue... but all seemed to enjoy our enactment of Jesus and the little children as well as David and Goliath- (in the latter Nadia took staring role, with Laura and Becky adding many dramatic elements to come up with a "very fierce" Goliath!!!!!!!!!). The simple messages we had got over to the crowd... or seemed to.... and the prayer was also a highlight. The Voice was an event led by many churches in Kitale coming together to celebrate but also to pray for Gods intervention in Kenya and Kitale specifically. It had a real carnival feel with Dancing Masaii's as the girls favourites.... Gemma was getting instructed by the Masaiis and they seemed to think she was doing a good job :P The Esther home is really moving along- it is happening.... though slowly.... we are trying to paint accomodation tomorrow morning! The girls who visit the ester home were there today, as well as last week. Millie did an amazing talk for the Ester home girls last week on Identity focusing on 3 specific aspects... which she then gave to a group of 30 or so school girls this week to great effect. Today Lauren delivered her talk on Warriors in Christ..... it was a really well recieved, and put together talk- all your girls are amazing!!! The Baby rescue center team - Laura, Gemma and Becky were changing it up this week- The am comprised of running part of a school assembly - the kids loved the OBJECT lession Han and the girls all performed.... much laughing and fun for all involved. Later on, they went to start prepping the Esther home site. We have also been inspired by some amazing women working in Kitale. One that stands out for myself (Kiri) is a lady called Ruth. We went to see her re: waterborn diseases and to get a walk around one of the slum areas to see where help was needed. She is such a servant to her community. As a retired nurse (and she must be about 75) her and a friend have opened up slum located clinics, and with minimal resources (very minimal) they sacraficially offer health care to these communities. We joined her in her rounds and visits one afternoon--- before we were asked to do an impromtu teaching session!!!- Nadia spoke about the book of Ruth and we tied it into other teaching... everyone seemed really encouraged and they were so pleased we had seen them- We were their first ever visiters to their clinics and so it was worth it just to encourage and pray wiht them - but it was also great to open our eyes to some of the challenges people living there face. This next week (Mon-SUN) we are in Turkana.... VERY VERY HOT! Prayer please for the team amid harsher living conditions, for our minsitry there.... and effectiveness, and even for the generator to work--- we really want to show the Jesus film to the people living there- its such an amazing experience and tool, so being able to do that would be a blessing to all involved! One again we thank you all so much for your continued support of our team. >>As an FYI if anyone is having a hard time getting in contact with us on the phone in the house.... this is because one day it stopped giving a dial tone. We are getting people to figure out what is wrong.. hopefully it will be up and working again soon! Love and blessings to all, Kiri, Hannah and all the Soul Edge girls team 2009!!!!