Familiarity

We got back into the states about 2 a.m. on Friday and the jet lag has been exhausting. In bed at 8 p.m. and up at 3 a.m. Trying not to nap in the middle of the day is quite a challenge. I mentioned in an earlier post about how arriving back in Nairobi felt as though we had never left and I felt the same way on Friday when we got up and did normal things like Wal-Mart, lunch at Granny's, time with friends, pizza etc. It amazes me how easy it is to slip back into what is familiar no matter where it is. Although it can be very hard sometimes to feel like your heart is always in 2 places, it is also so nice to be able to find comfort and familiarity in both places. Of course in the familiar is sometimes where I struggle most to find God. One of my favorite Shane and Shane songs starts out by saying "Heaven forbid familiarity would keep me from your majesty..." My prayer for the return home is that in my reality in what is most familiar that I won't lose sight of what is most important.

Here are a few more quotes from the team:

Barb, Jane, Kathy and Rich have been able to effect meaningful changes to the library which is used by all the MoHi schools. The school librarian, Phoeby, has been a joy to work with along with an American woman, Marla, who comes in twice a week. The library is in a well lit room on the fifth floor. The children greatly enjoy visiting it. The staff and children continually give thanks for the help and partnership with the people at West Side. (submitted by Rich Thompson)

It is a great privilege to be here in Kenya. The children we have met in various slums in the Muthare Valley are precious, but they are also dirty, withchronic runny noses, filthy clothes and no place to play...except in the dirt. Their sing-song voices, "How-R-yu?" greet us every day as they delight in having their pictures taken upon our arrival. What I carry in my heart today is how happy we have made them feel this week. They have so little, but they appreciate it so much. No crayons, one pencil, no glue bottle, no backpack, no markers; just a dirt floor inan 8' X 10' room with over thirty kids crammed in it. They do have one teacher, one chalkboard and a strong desire to learn. Amazing (Barb Sanders)

*Pictures to come as soon as we wake up enough to view them!!