Some highlights from the past several days. I taught a discipleship class, visiting with "old" and "new friends", trying out new lunch menus and many other things.

 For some R & R I moved to our favorite spot in Diani Beach "Nomads"! The sign welcomes me back. I got a beautiful upgrade on my room! Its very beautiful here. This is the view to which I wake up in the morning.

 Some "old" and "new friends" that I had lunch or dinner with. Its a joy to meet new people and share life with.

As you can see the beach is absolute beautiful!

 Jambo Friends!
Here are some of the snapshots from yesterday. I visited different friends in the area. You can tell by the pictures that Kenya is a land of contrasts.

Jambo

Today I went to "our" Kenyan home church. It is so good to be back and enjoy the company of many good friends. I tried to catch a bit of our worship music hoping you will enjoy it.

We went out for Pizza after church to my favorite restaurant "Nomads". Dennis the Pastor and his family along with the Assistant Pastor James and his family.  It is a beautiful spot right at the Indian Ocean.

Jambo Friends

Meanwhile I made my way to Diani Beach, our former home. It is good to be here, so many friends welcomed me warmly back into their midst. I feel very at home here. My days are filled with teaching women's discipleship class and Bible studies. This time I offered to coach women one on one and many take advantage of it to meet with me.

Yesterday evening we had an very special time with the women's fellowship. As I shared about my story and how I went through the grieving process after I lost Gil women started to cry. Here in Kenya women are told to be "strong" which means stuffing your feelings and show no hurt or pain. God opened somehow the hearts of the women as the listened to how God has taken me through suffering and pain. We cried and then prayed together. Nobody really wanted to leave afterwards and we felt that God's Spirit was with us. It was a very special time together.

Jambo Friends
Checking up on how the kids are doing in school was a real joy. The head teacher met with me and gave a short report about each child. Some of the kids from the home are really bright. One of the children I enrolled in spring was even the best student in his class. It is so exciting to see that the kids love to go to school and make good grads. I felt like a "proud" parent! I always received a warm welcome when I show up at school. A flock of kids surround  me to greet and touch my skin or hair.

 Another event from last week was the renewing of the lease for another 6 month. It took two days of negotiation! Life in Kenya is a bit different then in the States. We were able to included into the new agreement the installation of running water. This is a necessities for 27 children living under one roof. The picture shows the landlady signing the new agreement. Its a joy to know that the kids have a safe place to live.
I am holding one of the "new kids" of the home. Philip was found at the wayside, laying in the bushes along the road. Another of the "new" children is James. Pretty much the same story. He was found by someone along the road. David the third "new" child tells me that he is already 9 years old. He has also a very sad story, but as you can see in his face he still has a great smile.

Dear Friends
This week I went to the places where Martin was cared for in his last weeks. Kijabe Hospital and Thigio Hospice. It was good to see the places and connect at Kijabe with a former co-worker of World Harvest Mission. I was so impressed with both places, very clean and caring. The visits were healing to my heart and confirmed that Martin was in the best hands possible.  Here is a picture Sister Eileen who cared for Martin in the Hospice and  the hospital.