From Lawyer To Missionary: Carrie, Kenya and You

April 6, 2012 We were up at 1 am to get ready for airport ride and now it ’ s about 4am and we are in the airplane about to take off.  This is the first flight Sue and I are separated on.  We are heading to Turkey for a short lay over and even shorter now because we took off late.  Sue and I are both very excited about the work to do at home and knowing that I am returning with Fox River trip in June so not too hard to leave this time.  I remember the times when I first came to Kenya and I would be so upset leaving.  I would be so upset crying when we got to the airport knowing I had to leave, not knowing why or what I was to do in Kenya and also not knowing if I would ever be back.  The trips are not cheap to get there and I have to fund raise, collect cans, sacrifice things like haircuts and other things to save what I can to get here every time.   And I never knew if I was coming back or not.  I remember a time after the second trip here leaving rather donate the $3500 eve

April 5, 2012 Our room was nice, a little warm and muggy.  We were on the first floor and it sounded like someone was trying to get in through our window in the middle of the night so we did not sleep great.   We had a great breakfast with omelets and fruit and just about anything we could want at the Grace House Hotel. Then we headed off to Kibera.  Kibera is the second largest slum in Africa or maybe the world.  It is 1 square mile and over 1.5 million people live within that mile.  Small tin roof and side shacks comprise the housing.  Walking around, all the kids yell - “ Hello, how are you? ” - like it is a song or something.  But most of them don ’ t even know what they are saying.   But you hear it everywhere.   It was very muddy as it has been very rainy here for the last few days, but you don ’ t know if the mud is from the run or something else.  There is not adequate sanitation and it is not disposed of properly so there is waste in the streets.  Lots of street “ store

Wednesday April 4, 2012 Well we started the day off early as we had to get to the airport by 6:40am for our 7:40am flight so we thought.   George ran in to the house at 5:50 am much to our surprise as we don't see him until later in the morning usually and we had said our goodbyes yesterday.   “ You have to sign the guest book he says. ”   I said you could have called and he said no no I did try but Rashid had your phone for charging and I didn't know where the book was so Rashid picked me up and here we are.   We signed the guest book and off to the airport we went.  That shows George ’ s dedication.   It was sad to leave Rashid, he helped us so much during this trip.   He was still talking about the orphanage that we visited yesterday and how we could improve upon it slightly but that it was such a great concept.  He was still so excited.  I will take Alan today he says.  It was so great to see his passion for this idea, even though he lives there and grew up ther

Tuesday April 3, 2012 We got up at 7 to run, our last run to the beach for this trip at least.   It was so, so nice to have found that spot.   It was the perfect distance for me at least and the nice relaxing walk on the beach and there were stairs and a hill to come back up from the beach.   Rashid, our amazing driver, body guard, banker, secretary, and so many other jobs, organized our day today.  We had our list from Grace of Little Angel ’ s.  Our goal: to hit as many on the list as possible.  He studied it the night before so we could hit as many as possible. The first one we went too was Upeindo and we didn't want to leave.  We found the largest baby orphanage right now in Mombasa.  There were13 babies in this orphanage.  It is run by Patrick and Tammy.  Tammy is an Austrailian and I think Patrick is Kenyan.  They just opened in October 2011. Their place is small but it does work for the number they have right now.  They are paying a lot for rent and on formula.

Monday, April 2, 2012 We went downtown this morning and traffic was horrible.  We met with Grace from Little Angel's.  Little Angel ’ s is the only adoption agency currently working in Mombasa at all, but they are not directly connected with any babies at this point.   Little Angel ’ s is probably moving back to Nairobi soon as they cannot warrant having the office there as not enough adoptions are happening.  She gave suggestions on how to educate the police and hospitals and gave feedback on the adoption event.  She also gave us a listing of the Children's Homes she has been working with and trying to get adoptions through.  It was a great meeting, we learned so much and got so much information.  Then we quickly met with Hellen at the bank to sign the card so I'm on the account after getting pass port photos in a small booth up the road which was interesting.   Then we went to the wood carver ’ s shop which is right by the airport.  It was hotter than ever in th

Sunday, April 1, 2012 Sue and I started our day out with another run to the beach.  Then it was off to Ingili, another school and church run by Bobby and Lisa Bechtel, close to Mombasa.  This is where Pastor Allan preaches every week.  We went out there because we missed Anne at Bomani and one cannot come to Kenya and not visit our precious hard working, great cooking Anne.  When we got there she was not there yet so we met with Alan.  First he showed Sue around the school.  Then just as an aside as we were talking in the dining hall, he said he was talking with a Christian friend of his about the adoption mission we are working on.  This friend just happens to have some property right off the road in Mtwapa which she was willing to sell significantly cheaper to help with the Christian mission. The property should sell for $160,000 or more but she is willing to sell for $48,000 or so.   That was another chilling God moment.  We were to meet up later to view the property though it is o

Saturday, March 31, 2012 Great start of the day with a run down to the beach.  I made good running time, and did it all by myself which is a miracle.  For those of you that don ’ t know, I HATE to run.  That is a whole different journey that God has me on, training for a half marathon.  I ’ ve always been a walking fan.  Walking is the same as running as long as you do it long enough was always my motto, but since I started running in December, I can honestly say that is definitely not true.  Running is so much more.  I hate it, but it is so much better for me than walking or any other type of exercise.  It is a great way to clear your head, tone your body, and increase your energy even if you are miserable even thinking about it!  When I got to the beach, looking out over the ocean there was a peace.  If God can take care of keeping the oceans where they need to be, He can take care of my small problems, even if they seem large to me to Him it is just another thing.  That brought me

Friday, March 30, 2012 Up early again to see Chris and Lisa Moore's school Mbewau in Mtepeni. It is a beautiful school with great landscaping.  The kids did a program as today was the last day of school for awhile for the first term.  We got a chance to say hello to the kids in the younger classrooms and watch their dramas and verses.   Chris and Lisa have worked so hard and this a beautiful center.  They have a full doctors office which looks great.  Then we headed to the property in Mtwapa with Bobby to view the property.  We were early so we decided to find the beach it definitely was not very far.  Coco Cabana was the name of the beach and it is constantly controlled by the police.  We had a Sprite to give them a little business.  Bobby liked the building but we asked him and Allen if they saw any draw backs and they both said it is easier to start from scratch with just land and then build who you would like with the help of an architect. Then we went for lunch which took f

Thursday, March 29, 2012 South Coast here we come.   I love, love, love south coast.   That is were I fell in love with Kenya for the first time.  In Tiwi in 2008 when I meet a young girl, at that time who was in KG-2 and was so quiet she would not even tell me her name without whispering.  I had to ask Pastor Vincent what her name was.  She was so cute.  She had brads in her hair and she was so so little.  I watched her from afar for a little while and then I moved closer and she came over to sit on my lap.  Now every time I come see here growing so so much.  She is very advanced in her class and is doing so well.   Even the next year, she was already on stage yelling out a poem as a presentation in English and that was when she was in KG-3 which is difficult for them to speak English still at that age. I have since learned that she is the youngest of the family and has three older brothers.   Her mother passed away in 2010 which is so sad.  My daughter's best friend's mom pa

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Wana Wa Mola just started, in January 2012, a second location for older boys that might not finish school as they are too old to go back and complete the grades but instead will do vocational training into a caterer or something like that so they will be able to find employment.  We met the music teacher and the day time Christian leader of the home.  They took us around and showed us the place.   It was small but nice.   They need a well right now.  We ran this one different than all the rest as everyone spoke and understood English very well.  They had 6 boys total at one time earlier this year.  2 were in high school so were gone for the day.  Two had left the home to pursue a career in music back in Tanzinia where one of the boys came from.  The two boys that were there during the day were twin brothers - Francis and Peter.   We did a worship session where they sang and played guitar for us - they needed a new guitar - they had like a $30 type guitar that

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 We finally get to meet with Hellen and Vicky today the lawyer and psychologist I am working with on the adoption work.  Very excited about that.   They picked us up.  Once in the car we headed right out to view a property for a possible site of the offices of Pilgrim ’ s Adoption Resource Center (PARC).  There was a building that was a little more than half built by a German man who appeared to be working with some kids here.  He was married to an Africian woman I believe.    He fell ill and had to return to German and has since died.  Now the house is sitting here half built and running into ill-repair because of it.  It has a great size plot that is already fenced in on all sides and with a gate in the front.  The bottom floor is an open conference room type area, one bedroom which would be an office and the kitchen in the back.  That would most likely be the floor for PARC's offices.   Then on the second floor there are 3 bedrooms, each one with a bathro

Monday, March 26, 2012 Well, today is filled too.  We started with a meeting with Allan - the person who has been getting me various meetings with government officials and has introduced me to almost everyone that I know here in Kenya outside of the schools.   He is remarkable guy that does so much for the children and churches of Kenya.  He works night and day raising funds, doing business, and brainstorming of better ways to serve the kids.   Well Allan met us at our place at 10am good thing because even that way, I almost overslept.   I was up quite a bit of the night last night and wasn't feeling very well this morning.  We talked about the status on the adoption work and the possible building purchase for the organization to house our offices as well as a Children's Home down the road.   He suggested that it would be a good way to go.   He also had some suggestions on people to help with the Children's Home in various facets hoping some of that is financially!   Then

MARCH 25, 2012 We arrived into Nairobi at 1 am.   Sue and I waited patiently till 5:30 for our Kenya Airways flight to leave to get us to Mombasa and had some good talks which kept us awake somehow as we went the full night with no sleep.    Sue and I hardly know each other.  Other than the briefly meeting 2 times in early January, we had one conversation on the bus on the trip last July.  So it was good to get to know each other a little bit.  An on time departure from Kenya Airways between Nairobi and Mombasa has been less and less likely but this one took off early and get to Mombasa early and our luggage was unloaded so quickly.   We are 1 hour early hoping our driver was there early to get us.    Luckily for us, they were early.   We went right to the Nakumatt (Kenyan Walmart/Walgreens) so we could get our food for the week and shampoo and other things we couldn't take because the suitcases were to heavy already.    Mission accomplished on that.  Then we need a key to get int