kenya pics

My Dad put some pics online... you can view them right here! Check out my sweet fingernail painting for the kids in Kenya!

bella: home from Kenya

We made it back yesterday... it was a long trip home! My Daddy put some pics up on Facebook here - you have to have an account to access them... he'll put them up on his iWeb page in the next couple of days! I have lots of stories to tell and will share them soon!

some pics from Kenya

These are all from Allison's blog... she has been in Kitale, Kenya for the last 6 months and is working with the team that went over with Jana and Bella! These pics are Bella crashing after a hard days work, Bella making shirts, and painting finger nails for the local girls.

Update from Kenya: from Leigh

I was able to speak with both Bella and Jana on the phone this morning. Leighton even got to say Hi to his big sister, and Lola managed some grunts over the phone! Their time in Kitale, Kenya has been tough, but rewarding. Long days, lots of needs, sweaty kids (including Bella) and more! Bella has definitely had some great moments, being able to paint fingernails for girls at the Discover 2 Recover center. She has also had some not-so-great moments, once you have most days as a 4 year old, only most times you are not in a foreign country when it happens! Many of the kids say that she is the "smallest white person they have ever seen", so many are enamored with her and she doesn't like the attention most of the time! She is taking everything in though, soaking it up like a sponge, so we are confident that this trip will round her character and develop a wanting to serve... something that we see benefits from in years to come! Jana is feeling dirty nasty and is ready to come home and see her other babies (and husband). Please be praying that she'll be able to finish strong! They are now heading off to another town called Narok where they will spend two night working with an orphanage there, then onto the Masai Mara for a night of relaxation/wild animal chasing before jumping on a plane for the long ride home.

The bath never ends good...

when a potplant ends up in it!

Kenya Update: from Leigh

I was able to talk to Bella and Jana on the phone this morning. They made it safely from LA to Detroit to Amsterdam to Nairobi, then spent the night there and then hopped a small plane up to Kitale. Bella sounded tired, but was excited to tell Leighton about the 4 planes that she went on. Jana was glad they made it there, but said that Bella was really tired which made it really hard for her to interact with the kids at Sister Freda's Cottage Hospital. Just pray that she starts warming up and playing with the kids. I am hoping this will come with rest and familiarity over the next few days. Jana is tired too, and please pray for her as she balances being a team leader, Mommy to Bella, and lover of people in Kenya. I was just thinking this morning that it would be an exhausting enough journey just to get home to familiarity. But, to go all that way and then experience your first day in Africa, with it's beautiful people, different smells, amazing stories, and high-touch kids can easily get overwhelming! I'll keep you posted when I talk to Bella and Jana tomorrow....

Balls, balls and Leighton

Shopping for Africa clothes was boring until Leighton found this crate
of balls!

Bella: on my way!

I got up really early this morning, put on my clothes and shoes and I was off to the church to get our bus to the airport... We made it all the way to Detroit and are about to take our next flight to Amsterdam before getting our plane to Nairobi. It's a long long way to get to Kenya, just like when we go to Perth! I'll let you know once I get safe and sound in Kenya.. hopefully I can see a giraffe from the plane window!!