After we were done with visiting pastor Joshua we continued on to Nairobi. We went up for a week. There is a good counseling place for Missionaries in Nairobi called Tumaini. Because of so much transition and just ministry related issues Nick and I felt like we needed to go talk to someone. It went really well. We got to see someone for 4 days 2 hrs at a time. It was a perfect time for us to be there. So many things were put in place too during the time there. Lexxi had to see a dentist to file down a permanent tooth she had cracked back in April. (We do not have a dentist here in Dar). We stayed with my brother and sister in law. Miriam was such an encouragement to me that week. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins. And we also got to see my mom and dad a little when they came up for their Kenya field mission meeting in Nairobi.
The Smiths have 6 little puppies for sale. Rottermans I think is what they are called. They were so cute! The kids enjoyed playing with them but it was hard for them to leave them... they wanted to take some with us.
Red is the color I guess is this picture!
The Dentist was so nice and simple. No long waits like I remember our dentist appointments were. Poor girl still has a weird looking tooth but at least it isn't sharp anymore, and wont cut her lip.
After our sessions, Nick and I stopped by Karen Blixens house... know the movie out of Africa? It was filmed here. Well most of it. And a really cool store called house of treasures but way too expensive to make a purchase. We browsed.
We met up with mom and dad and Miriam at the mall-ish courtyard. The kids had a great time "fighting" in the netted playground area. :) and I think we all went to habisha Ethiopian this night.
We ate well at home. Something I really love about our family. There sure are some good cooks!! They all know good food and know how to make it.
Katie and Kaleb are great house help! :0) and that is curry.
Kitengela Glass factory.
This place was far but really cool to go see. We watched them blow glass and we bought some beads made from recycled glass.
Some of their art work.
A lamp shade and some hanging beads.
The lady that owns the place was really neat. She likes animals and has rabbits, birds, turkeys. Their were sculptures everywhere and it was just really artsy. People come and stay here for a days at a time and work on a project. Kitengela is sold in two places I know of in Nairobi. It inspired Nick and I to think along these lines. Seems like a lot to get started but I think this would pick up really fast.
We got to go out to Naivasha where Kevin and Meem are building a house. It would be nice if it could be finished before November. We are planning on visiting during or around Christmas to stay! The house is beautiful they really have done a great job with the lay out and it is very unique.
We hung out at the Hovings house, neighbors to Kevin and Miriam, for lunch time, we brought a picnic and we all got to ride the pikis. Lexxi and Ethan were riding all over the place. I think we want to get one now. I even convinced mom to get on. I think it has been years since she has ridden. It was fun.
We left on Tuesday, went back to Arusha renewed our drivers licence, spent the night then drove to Moshi. Had a meeting with Stella that Kari Ness so wonderfully set up! We now have the CHE trainings in Swahili. We bought groceries for a night to camp out and headed to Mkomazi game reserve. It was a joke-animal wise.
We drove around the park forever deciding where we should set up camp. As soon as we found a nice spot we got out of the car. I heard a bee. then once we got the tent up there were like 9, then a few mins later like 20!!! We were being bombarded. So Nick started a fire and smoked them out. As soon as night fell they were no longer around. We enjoyed a wonderful steak and potato dinner with green beans and carrots.
We were so excited that maybe we would see something that we brought out huge car spot light with us. That night there were dikdiks hanging around our car but nothing scary.
We saw... Baboons, porcupine quills (which I took with) dik dik, Eland, Giraffe, buffalo, Monkeys, bees, bee eaters, ostriches, Kudu, lots of cows, goats and beautiful birds.
The next day we drove around looking for the rhino reserve and wild dogs which the camp has but there was nothing marked! It was not worth it that way but the camping was fun. It was good to do something like this as a family. The kids had a great time riding on the roof rack and getting to 'drive'. We drove back to Dar that day, and even though our insurance on our car was out we did not get stopped once! We got back Thursday.
Our camp. The bee are all over those apples.
The kids driving... Ya that is how Ethan rides everything. NOT LOOKING!! Lexxi is such a better driver than he is. :0)
The Park, the giraffe's and the kids on the roof of the car.
On the way back home we drive past this place every time. It is an area that is just covered in white paint?!! Looks like they wanted the look of snow!
