back to the Great Rift Valley

We first experienced the Great Rift Valley last year, when we spent a week and a half in Nyahururu.

This past weekend, we went up to visit a friend from the US who came with a team to lead a conference at the Rift Valley Academy. This was a much shorter trip, and we took a much longer route to get there. Last year we flew. This year, traveling with another family, we decided to all take the night bus together. The boys had been super excited about going in an airplane before we decided on the bus. Fortunately, they found the bus equally as exciting as a plane.

After an exhausting night on the bus, we arrived in Nairobi early, where a driver was waiting with a touring van (like they use on safaris) to take us to Kijabe. We stopped at the overlook to view the Great Rift Valley at dawn. And there was even coffee! Not good coffee. It was instant. I take what I can get.

The Great Rift Valley is one of my favorite parts of the world. I have yet to see a picture that captures its awe-inspiring magnitude. If you ever come to Kenya, we would love to have you visit us at home. However, we would not be at all sad if you wanted to meet us at the Rift Valley instead.

^click that^ - it looks way more awesome full sized!

Mt Longonot. It is not the other edge of the Rift Valley. It is a volcano which sits in the valley. Hell's Gate is on the other side of Mt Longonot, and was the inspiration for the landscape in The Lion King. 

The weather was beautiful. It was a bit chilly for us. The forecast didn't look that cold, but we are so used to being hot, I wished I'd packed more long sleeves...

There was much playing outside. It's nice to be able to enjoy the sunshine instead of feeling like it's melting you!

We spent one morning at a park nearby. It has no playground, just a volleyball court and soccer field.

The boys all showed off their athleticism: racing, doing push-ups and pull-ups, sliding down fire poles. Nate isn't nearly as fast as his new friend Don (who is 5½ years old), but he has some kind of stamina! We kept losing Don, then finding him hiding under a tree resting. Meanwhile, Nate was still going, back and forth, up and down the soccer field.

Ben got frustrated when everyone else got to the end of the field before him. He would stop running and start crying for someone to come get him. But when we started cheering for him, he perked up and finished strong!

Of course we had to do silly faces. They were both pretending to be "cross." You can tell, right?

I didn't manage to get any pictures of the Americans, but they were there. The boys got A&M T-shirts and Goldfish (the snack, not the pet), which made a big impression, as I expected. Nate prayed last night for "my friend Laura who gave me Goldfish."

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 6

www.maishakamili.org

Japhet is the eldest of 4 orphan boys who live with their grandmother. He is such a good student that he received a scholarship from his school, but he needed help getting his uniform and school supplies, and his brothers needed help with school fees. He contacted us to help his brothers, but we consider him an MKK, too!

Pray 

For Japhet as he ventures from high school into adulthood. Pray that he will seek God for guidance.

Read 

John 1:1-5 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 5

www.maishakamili.org

Moses is Beatrice’s and John’s youngest brother. He is starting Standard 8 in January, where he will largely focus on getting ready for the primary school exit exam. His score on this exam will determine whether or not he can get into high school, and what quality of high school will accept him.

Pray 

That Moses will work hard at his studies, and pray also for his elder siblings who are raising him to do so with grace and care.

Read 

Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 4

www.maishakamili.org

John is one of Beatrice’s brothers. He will start his last year of high school in January. He stays with an older sister and her family and goes to a high school near their home.

Pray 

That John will make the most of his time in high school, finishing strong, which will give him better opportunities for his future.

Read 

Isaiah 7:14-15 
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Maisha Kamili Advent Guide Day 3

www.maishakamili.org

Beatrice has just graduated from high school. We don't know what her plans for the future are, but we are thrilled to have been able to help her get this far.

Pray 

That God will make clear to Beatrice what her next stage of life will include and that he will provide a way for her to learn job skills.

Read

Micah 5:2-5a
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.