SCHOOL FIELD TRIP
part 2


Impalas also run wild in the park, hence the name. They are such dainty little creatures and fascinating to watch.

We compound ladies prepared some food and enjoyed a picnic lunch next to the lake. During prayer, a hippo was splashing and blowing in the water closeby, causing us/me to miss a few lines of prayer.....

We had heard about these monkeys that live in the park and are picnic pests. Soon the monkeys discovered us and about 10-15 came running, followed by a group of shouting school children. Never had our children had monkey buddies like this looking on. Since there were more of us than of them, they just watched from the tree branches above and the ground beneath. In the past, the monkeys already have grabbed food from children's plates making them cry. Today the children were the aggressive ones chasing the monkeys to the branches, with the children following.

The most interesting monkey was a mother with her baby. She just sat and watched, unless we came too close. It was almost uncanny how human-like she treated her baby by kissing and patting him. However, when she headed for the tree on all fours; he, animal-like, put his arms around her stomach and hung on......
These are the Vervet monkeys, the most common in Africa. They run together in groups and are the least afraid of humans. A pop question for you: What unique feature does the male Vervet monkey have that makes him easily indentifiable? Google it!

It was a good day and one for memories. Miss Rosalie had a goal chart for the school children which they attained. She is planning a mystery supper for the parents, possibly next Saturday. We all are excited although the parents are more subdued about it than the children. :)


Life goes on with changes that come with it. The more flexible you are, the happier you will be. Jonathan Martins are winding down their last couple weeks in Kenya. Martin Benders have replaced them and are quickly trying to learn all they can. It's a real brain overload with learning the transition ropes and having language classes at the same time. The brain sorts out the priorities, leaving the rest behind.

The last few weeks various ones of us have attended funerals of relatives of CBF members; the father-in-law of Alice Adhiambo and brother of Jack Oako. Most recently, the brother of Tom Ogema passed away. Last Thur, the two year old daughter of Pamela Kiti, an Oroba member, was buried. Also on our minds was the drowning death of 6 year old Titus Glick, of El Salvador, a grandson of Sam's cousin, Verda Glick.

Tomorrow morning, Monica and I plan to take Ziatune and her 3 children to her homeland to see her family. It's only an hour away, but seldom do they get to go home. It's sooo far away and costs too much. "Far" is a rather relative word around here and sometimes I jokingly tell people that where I live (Lancaster) is about 1700 kilometers from my homeland (Missouri). They look at me aghast, "how do you survive? You must be from another tribe." I say,"Aye, I think so...!"

Continue praying......thank God for the return and repentance of Helen Auma...she was a prodigal wife of an alcoholic husband. Pray for the health of Mary, wife of Paul Omimo. Their baby boy is only 2 1/2 months old. Being HIV+, she is struggling with her health and doesn't have enough milk for the baby. Survival is serious in Kenya and we need much wisdom in discerning the needs.

Mattie Kauffman

SCHOOL FIELD TRIP
Part 1
A few weeks ago the compound school went on a field trip. Not only did just the children go with their teacher, but the whole compound decided to go. There are 37 people and we all had a fun time taking a day off. Miss Rosalie had a break too, since all the parents were along to help supervise.
First we toured the local Coke plant. The modern technology was rather amazing in a country like this. They still use glass pop bottles, but are thinking about changing to plastic. They do realize plastic will make for even MORE trash, while people still recycle the glass ones.

After the Coke tour, we headed for a local park next to Lake Victoria. Impala Park is not only a park but also features a small zoo. There are a few zebras running wild, a lion or two, a cheetah and a leopard, and several smaller animals.


Waiting at the entrance for our tickets.

After the release, the school children headed out to explore.

Checking out the monkeys; afterall aren't they the main source of attention in any zoo?

Oops! Jeremy fell asleep. Martina overlooking the lake from a gazebo.

OUR TRIP TO NAKURU
part 2

The Engashura church building

Ab Fisher listening to a conversation

One thing unique to the church setting here is being able to bike to church. Lees have about a 15 minute ride.

You'll see Daniel with David on the back and Josiah with Glendon.

The Lee Fisher family-back: Jeremy, Lee, Sadie, Merle, Cynthia and Josiah

front: Timmy, Katie and Jeffrey

Life is a bit busier these days. My brother Martin and Kristy Bender and five children arrived in Nairobi on March 24th. It will be a date never to be forgotten since this was our 20th anniversary. Jonathan Martin, Sam, Miriam and I drove the 5 hours to meet them. We failed to meet them on time because of the worst traffic jam we ever were in! Oh, we arrived in Nairobi in plenty of time to do some sight seeing and shopping. We ate a leisurely supper, then started the half hour drive to the airport. This capital city is getting fuller and busier and the roads are not being improved. The conditions worsened when it began to rain and rain it did! The drainage system seems to be poor or non-existant. It took us 4 1/2 hours to get to the airport. Martins landed at 7:10 and we finally arrived at 11:00 PM. Due to some quick thinking on Jonathan's part, he was able to call the airport and notify them of our predicument. We found them patiently waiting on the curb. Cousins; Miriam-13 and Amanda-12 could hardly wait to see each other.

As we missionaries usually do; we slept at the one of the guest houses close by and drove the 5 hours to Kisumu the next morning. Within the first 3 hours, you'll see wildlife in the wild of various kinds.....zebras....impalas....baboons......! It was interesting hearing remarks from my little nephews that so reminded me of my brothers years ago. "Yuck! The baboons bare butts are SO ugly!" God must have fun creating some of these animals. The Nakuru mission is about the halfway point so we made a rest stop at Mel and Fannie Beilers. We arrived in Kisumu around 5:00PM. In Kenya it takes most of the day to drive 5 hours. It was Martina's 19th birthday and we'll remember this arrival date as well.

Life is also abit sentimental these days. Our hearts go out to the Esh/Gingerich/Kramer families with their loss of numerous family members. We didn't know them very well even though Sam was a 2nd cousin to Sadie Esh. We do know the people whose wedding they were planning to attend in Kalona, Iowa; Lorena Ropp and widower Alvin S. Miller. Lorena and I were little Amish girls in Kalona years ago. In those days, Alvin was a dashing young man from Aylmer, Ontario and was dating Dad's first cousin, Ella Beachy. This coming September, it would have been 42 years since Dad married Alvin and Ella in Kalona. (Mom wasn't able to be at the wedding since brother Martin was only 4 days old.) Now Alvin comes back once again to Kalona and marries Lorena. Isn't life interesting?

How did Eshes know Lorena? Several years ago, Lorena was along on a seed team to Ukraine. Also on the team was Johhny Esh, who was killed in a snowmobile accident while in Ukraine. Upon arriving home, Lorena, being the big-hearted person she is, went to visit the Esh family in Kentucky. They became good friends......and the Eshes wanted to go sing at her wedding.

Ashley Kramer, adopted daughter of Alvin and Leona also was killed in the recent accident. They had been on the mission field in Ukraine, thus becoming acquainted with Lorena. Even though, I had known the Kramers and their older children for many years, I learned to know Ashley when they made a return visit during my Ukrainian stay 2 years ago. The Gingerich boy, we did not know personally, although we did his parents. Ruth, Joel's mother lived in Spencer, Wisconsin years ago.

Yes, we are constantly being reminded of the brevity of life and how quickly it can end. Last week, the first of my aunts and uncles passed away. Adin Miller-73, was married to Dad's oldest sister. He was bishop in the Amish church in Sarasota, FL. A day or two later, Ivan Yutzy-71, from Brookfield, MO dropped over from a heart attack. He was deacon when we Benders lived there in the 80's. At his funeral, Ivan's niece and a very close friend of mine, Eva Gingerich-45, had a heart attack. She is recovering at the Columbia, MO hospital. Eva is married to Larry Gingerich and they live in Millersburg, OH. They with their 8 children have plans in the near future to go serve at a fledging mission in Cambodia. Pray for them as they sort through this interruption in health.

Ida Byler-81, grandmother of Kristy Bender, was buried yesterday.

Having lived in numerous areas wasn't always easy, but it does enlarge your world of friends considerably. A friend once said, "One can never have too many friends"......even though it does affect you when you get death messages......

Mattie Kauffman

OUR TRIP TO NAKURU
part 1

Back when AMA first asked us to go to Kenya; we were asked to replace Randy Lapps in the Engashura church in Nakuru. Lee Fishers were asked to go to Kajulu in Kisumu. Over time the two missions thought it would work better if the two families would switch places. It worked out that all 17 of us flew to Africa together on June 17, 2009. Because of Lee's and Sadie's Lancaster roots, we had known each other briefly but became much better acquainted after travelling together. We decided then to someday visit each other churches. The second weekend in March we decided to drive the 3 hours to Nakuru and spend the weekend with Lees.


The 2-lane highway to Nakuru is currently in decent shape. There are, however, no rest areas or McDonalds....you just have to make one. We parked beside the road and our homemade ham sandwiches were a special treat.

"Eeww, there's a tomato in my sandwich." Myrna dislikes tomatoes and we can't change her mind.

A view of the Engashura church service. The Ab Fisher family also attends here.

Lee Fisher as pastor.
Sam preaching the sermon today. He mentioned being a cousin to Randy Lapp's mother and knowing Randy since he was a very young child. That brought some chuckles.