STAN - Living and teaching in Kenya

JUNE 3rd, 2009: Hello Everyone. It looks like there's a little catching up to do. (It’s much more difficult to send emails from the Internet café than the convenience and comfort of my own home). I was telling you about the 'retreat' for the young people. It was a great fun and spiritually uplifting. There were 18 of us - 9 girls, 6 boys, Joshephat, the pastor and headmaster of the group, his wife Nelly and their daughter, Purity. You couldn't ask for a better group of kids. We took a public bus so it was a long, bumpy, 12-hour trip. We stayed in a church compound that had a clinic and several buildings with beds so everyone was comfortable. It was located in a beautiful rural area so we were able to hikes through an equatorial forest and to the top of a mountain. I didn't make it to the top but some of the kids did and said you could see all the way to Lake Victoria. The countryside was beautiful and lush. It was quite an adventure for these slum kids, many of whom had never been out of the city. Joshephat said that even the bus ride was an adventure as they had never been on a trip lasting more than 30 minutes. They were so appreciative and when we returned some showed their appreciation by cleaning my house and writing “thank you” letters.

After getting back from the retreat, I was in Kayole for my regular classes and some of the kids asked if I would teach them regularly like I did on the retreat. So now I have started a class for teens on Sunday afternoons. I was excited to see their interest and now to see them learning about the grace of God is amazing. I told Joshephat I hope I am around to see these kids grow up because it will be interesting to see the spiritual impact they have if they keep on like growing.

The adult classes continue to go well. I added another adult class in Kayole which brings the total to over 50 students. I am finding that it is hard work and I think I have reached the limit of classes I can teach. I’ve learned not to wear dress shoes as my feet were killing me after teaching 2 hours Friday night, 2 hours Saturday and 3 hours Sunday.

My six month visa expired the first of June and it was nip and tuck to see if my work permit would go through in time. The guy doing my paperwork was not very responsive and he waited until the last possible moment to get it done. But I am now legal for three years. I only have one more thing to do-go to the city and register as an alien but that is not difficult.

I can't think of anything else right now. I am sitting in my back yard writing this out long hand and Rafi (my dog) is pestering me to play with her. So I guess I will go and get this on the computer and sent out. I will include a few photos of the retreat in case you haven't seen them. Pray that God will give me the strength I need. He continues to take care of me and is teaching me as well as those in my classes.