Kampala's Day off- Elephants and Giraffes

On Sunday night, June 19, we left the Bible School behind and flew back to Nairobi. Everyone looked forward to the visit to the elephant orphanage. We we not disappointed. These very loving animals bond to their personal trainers, who are with them twenty four hours a day.

Some have been orphaned by poachers, or found alone in the forests. They need love, warmth and attention just like little babies. Once they are two years old, theyare sent on toanother national forest.
At night time the trainer sleeps in a bunk, in the elephant's bedroom. The babies have a blanket tuckedaround them while they sleep and wear it all day for the first few months.

The trainers feed them their bottles, which look like they hold about four litres.

Those bottles were emptied very quickly!

Just for the record, these fascinating animals have wrinkles at a very young age, yet everyone kept saying how cute they were. I'm keeping that in mind!

On to the giraffe farm.

We had the fun of feeding them pellets right from our hands. Brenda, the nurse teacher, enjoyed the thrill of allowing a tall giraffe to take a pellet from between her lips. No one else wanted the same thrill, except a trainer below. Note: Brenda also taught classes on person cleanliness.

Our day-off was crowned with two more special events.

First... a visit to Pan African University, where Paul and Lynn Kohls take leadership roles, he the academic dean, and she a professor. Another beautiful Canadian couple who have given their lives to the education of Kenyan youth. An incredible environment of learning, with impressive grounds and buildings.

Second... dinner at Safari Hotel. The most beautiful grounds graced with gardens. pools, bridges and palms lighted for evening dining.

The menu included: crocodile, camel, goat, and gizzards. I tried all but the gizzards. Too many new tastes all at once.

Question: Is it okay to have this much fun on a 'mission trip'?

Come back again soon for more of Africa!
Margaret will share on the next couple blogs.

Africa- Kenya's Sunday's adventures

Hello from Africa!

Our adventures continue in this beautiful land of contrasts. Poverty in the middle of lush gardens and flowering trees. This is the rainy season, so the terrain is getting ready for planting or showing off its early produce.

Mike and Sheila Middlebrook were wonderful hosts while we stayed in N'yangori.

He is dean of the Bible school and together, they are only Canadians at the training facility, as the nationals now take the teaching postitions. With a Phd, Mike could surely have a high paying job in Canada but together they have chosen to invest in these beautiful young people. It was truly an honour to be in their classrooms, and to hear the quality of education they are receiving. Then we had the fun of teaching our own special topics.

There is such a passion for learning, an atmosphere of excellence in both the academic and spiritual development of the students. Imagine a classroom with neither powerpoint or overhead.

On Sunday we went to various villages. Catherine Routley, Daniel, our translator and I went to the church where Daniel is the pastor. We rode in the van over roads that were like washboards, with ruts and deep holes that threatened to devour us all.

I spoke to his congregation and Catharine, one of our nurses, sang accapella. Here we are with the gifts they presented to us. It includes six eggs, flowering plants, a cardboard painted house, a hanging decoration and a paper mache dish.

Just as we thought we were finished, each of us was presented with a tree sapling, in a plastic. We followed the whole group to the church yard where two holes had been dug. Then one at a time, Catherine and I planted the trees and covered the planting with soil. It was a big celelbration to mark the day we had shared. A wonderful memory for sure.

Margaret had her own adventure at another village church. Here are some of the women worshipping. Believe me, they are not afraid to raise their voices.

There are so many wonderful stories to tell, we could fill a book. Please come back again for more of this colourful land.

Hello from Africa!

Hello everyone,
Finally we found the internet!
Join us for our first few days.

Left Pearson Airport at 7:00 PM on June 13. Ready to go!





Arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7:00 AM June 14, seven hours ahead of you. Marg had a sad heart for the good shopping was at the other terminal. She did however survive and we walked off the sadness!

After three hour layover, we flew on to Nairobi, Kenya and arrived at the PAOC guesthouse at 10:30PM. What amazing flowers, trees and lush greenery everywhere we look. A few winks, a quick piece of toast and off again, another short flight to Kisumu, where we enjoyed the African dancers and singers that greeted us. At least that's what we thought. Really there was an important dignitary on the flight!

From Wednesday evening to Sunday afternoon, we were constantly on the move, speaking, teaching and preaching at the N'yangori Bible School. What an incredible group of Kenyan students, about 250 passionate Christians who know how to worship and pray. We may just bring a few back with us sometime, for they have much to teach us. We spoke at eight different villages and oh, how the roads gave us the ride of the year, with many bumps, shakes, and holes.



On Saturday, the nurses helped to organize the first clinic. What a moving experience.



So long for now!

Hello

Too long! It's been much too long. Life has its way of crowding in and filling every wee space on the day timer. But tonight I had to drop by to say 'hello' and 'so long.'

'So long' for in just four days, I join nine others to make our way to Kenya/Uganda.

The excitement is rising, for not only does our team have the privilege of encouraging with words, but also with actions.

Four nurses will participate in teaching basic principles of hygiene and provide HIV testing.

Through the generosity of many, huge amounts of syringes, needles and other medical supplies have been donated.

In this picture, my daughter-in-law and I unload the first contributions. It is wonderful to know that our abundance can fill a huge need in those African countries.

Stop by often in the next few weeks to join us in our adventure of depositing physical, mental and spiritual nourishment to those we go to serve.

So long for now.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace.

Numbers 7:24-26