Belated Blog Kenya to U.S.

I'm trying to catch up on the blog. After we left Kalacha we moved to Nairobi for three months. There I (steve) worked for A.I.M.'s T.A.M. shop (Technical assistance ministries). TAM works on Missionaries' vehicles. I worked with Stephen (Right in photo below), and Benedicto (not pictured) under Trevor (Middle in photo below)



I also worked with Mark a Sudanese Darfur refugee, who was training to be a mechanic. Pray for him as he has converted but struggles with anger and frustration after seeing horrible things done to his family during the war.

Stephen Jokes around after we pulled the engine out of this old land cruiser.

a video that charmyn took after a flat going to kalacha on a nice section of road

We were able to visit my foster brother at the home he runs for street kids.



And able to see Giraffes when my family came out. Angi even fed one from her mouth!


















Just before leaving we were able to make it to the beautiful coast of Kenya with my family.

Moving from Kalacha

Well we have moved from our place in Kalacha to Nairobi. This is not what we anticipated, but we believe it is what God has for us now.

In Kalacha we learned many things, had great times and trying times too. (Steve learns to wear the local "man skirt" called kalumpa)

The vastness of the Chalbi desert was striking.



















The nothingness begins just outside of the village.

And Seems to extend forever

at times the salt is so thick you might think it was snow if not for the 120 degree heat.


Ezekiel's face shows his discontent at having a towel keep his head from bouncing.
























Ezekiel happy to be united with Ako (Grandmother)
















Ako teaching us how to carry Umuro (Ezekiel) on her back
























Our bed after a week and a half. We removed the pillows to show the dust.

Prayer and Praise

Praise: Ezekiel's arm is great. We were able to fly to Gatab and back and have it checked out in one day. It is a big relief.

Prayer: I (steve) was asked to give blood for a very sick volunteer for a different mission in Nairobi, Angi wasn't allowed give because of the nursing. This Morning the volunteer died. Please pray for her family.

Prayer: Please pray for us as we are struggling with raising Ezekiel in the heat and different culture.

Thanks

Catching up on life

We are very behind on updating this blog, this is the post that I hope catches us up.

We have really been struggling with the idea of bringing Ezekiel back to a house that has a floor made up of 10,000 marble size rocks (i.e. choking hazard, and scorpion camouflage) The mission has allowed us to move to a house with a cement floor, running water and now that we have finally gotten our solar panel up, lights(custom made by Steve's brother for solar systems)




<-Our Happiness

One of the Reasons we were nervous in the old house->

-We attended a short conference for all Kenya A.I.M.ers before we headed up country again. Salome, Angi, Ezekiel, Enock, and Ezra were able to fly up by plane. This was a huge praise for Paul and I because the trip was extended because of of so many break downs.



<-our brother Boya getting to meet Ezekiel down country at our conference.

A great picture that Charmyn took that captures the spirit of the trip->

Traditionally if a boy is born the Gabbra women will come and dance and sing. It was a pleasure to have them come to our place.


















Christmas eve our team was able to have a big dinner together. Angi was able to make 2 pies and a cobbler all on our propane stove. I (steve) was so impressed I had to take a picture of one of the pies. Coconut cream:)
Christmas Day was a very difficult day. We were going to sleep in but we were awoken by a friend wanting to borrow money. After a busy morning when things were starting to slow down in the afternoon, I (steve) was moving Ezekiel and the chair he was in folded and I dropped him about 3 ft onto solid concrete. Ezekiel lip was ripped up and his left upper arm was broken. We flew out the next day to get an X-ray to a town called Gatab. 4 days later we flew down to Nairobi to take Ezekiel to Kijabe hospital. The Dr. has told us that Ezekiel will heal fine. Please pray for us as this is very difficult to deal with and figure out what the best things are to do.


<- perfect pie?

Bruised and bandaged boy->

Our lives are different in Kalacha. To keep water cooler we put a sock on the bottle and the evaporation helps cool it down. Our window lizard, Edwardo, has found that sitting on the bottles helps him stay cool as well. Other "friends" are not so welcome. Angi found a boomslang snake on our front porch. No pictures because we were busy killing it. Please pray for safety.

<-Edwardo staying cool

Sacrifice and outside house

This is old news that happened before Ezekiel was born but I thought it was interesting (and I had already uploaded the pics) so here it is...
I (Steve)(No Women are allowed) was invited to observe a traditional Gabbra sacrifice. I went with the old men and we sat near a traditional Gabbra house. The "meat" from the sacrificed goat was brought. Each man had blood smeared on his head and a piece of goat skin tied on his wrist. I was given some of the "best" part of the goat... a glob of fat to eat. (Not being sure of the whole "meat sacrificed to idols" and not being a big fan of roasted fat it got slipped into my pocket. This is not a good idea as the cleaning is difficult:)
The men then prayed and drank a coffee drink. With my very limited language I tried to ask them who they were praying to and why. They pray to Waaq (God) and to the animals. There were MusIums, Traditionalist and Catholics there. The next time of Sacrifice is coming so I will get to ask many more questions.
























It was so hot and we had run out of kerosene for our lanterns so at night we would pull our seats and visit with the kids.








.

Ezekiel Stone Harding

Praise God! Ezekiel Stone Harding is here.
Angi and I walked up for our usual Wednesday Dr. appt. The appt. went well. No change. 3-4cm. The Dr. offered to loan us a book on a birthing method. She would get it on her Lunch break. So after lunch we were returning to the hospital. When we were almost there Angi mentioned that she had to use the Choo(toliet). She said I might have just wet myself. She thought the pregnancy had finally caused all bladder control to fly out the window. The next couple of steps she said no, my water just broke. We went in and saw the Dr. but because we weren't having any contraction she sent us to the home we are staying in.

We had been there about 2 hours when Angi had some very small contractions. I didn't think much of it. Then a very strong one. Seven minutes later a stronger one. 2 mins later a strong one. Then one every two mins. We called a wonderful nurse (Jacqui Besley) who very kindly offered to help us during the birth. She came and decided Angi needed to go right to the Hospital.

At the Hospital they checked Angi; after about a half hr of 1min long contractions that were 1 1/2 min apart, she was at 8cm. Next check half and hr later, she was fully dilated. Off to the delivery room.

In the delivery room Jacqui checked on Angi, Dr Kim Smith directed Angi, I counted for Angi (the hard work) and Angi pushed. 45 mins later 8:02 on the 24th Ezekiel Stone Harding was born. The whole thing was less than 4 hrs!

Ezekiel means "God Strengthens"- Which is our prayer for Him and for us raising him
Stone -comes from my Grandfather Henry Stone Harding (We pray that Ezekiel will follow Gramp's dedication to the Lord
Harding- means "of Hardy Stock" and the reason for that one is...uh

Thank you to all who prayed for us!! And Jacqui, Dr. Smith, Dr. Hedges, and the Nursing staff.
















Angie and Zed, Z, Zek, (don't know yet)

Ezekiel after birth

7lbs and sleeping

Angie and Ezekiel both sleeping better knowing the other is there.

Random Animals that we have seen

Since being here in Kenya we have seen a lot of some animals ( goats, chickens, crows, baboons) and less of others. We have found that getting to see animals is a stress release and we praise God for when he brings them across our paths. (well Steve is still having difficulty with the Roosters calling at 4:00am)

One of the bats that lives in the prayer chapel

Two long-necked Gerinuk, on a trip to ABO.

A Cameleon I found at ABO.

A lizard trying to hide in Angi's trouser pocket

A goat giving a lift to a
crow in Marsabit

A spiky lizard in of Kitchen cabinet

The sheep must have image problems

Giraffe on the way to ABO

Small antelope called dik-dik on the road

Chickens in our Kitchen

Sykes Monkey in the front yard tree at Kijabe

Baboon outside the house at Kijabe