days 16 - 20

 

this is why you should carry lipstick in your pocket ❤️

on thursday, we took seven of the staff (alex, robert, winny, bella, cleophus, lucy and carolyn) to see the homabay project. omg! even the car ride is fun with these people! we jammed both physically and musically in the 8-passenger car packed with ten 🤪

they were so excited about homabay! it has such an incredible feeling on that property. i cannot wait to see what HE is going to do here 💗

so, back to the top picture. i was able to sneak away and go pray in what will be my bedroom. i had a precious quiet moment with my Father. i saw what looked like a heart in the concrete and wanted to mark it in a dedication of adoration and gratitude 💕

after we left the property, we went to pikadily's resort. just a perfect spot for gathering a group for a good meal and good fun. holy cow! these people are stinking competitive! they'd never heard of or seen foosball ... they were both bulls in a china shop and kids in a candy store!!!!! crazy and loud and memorable 😝

and friday was a literal repeat with the other half of the staff (risper, olivia, jared, eric, william, maria, and acquila). this group was equal to the craziness of group one 🫣

i want to establish a tradition of team-building outings each trip. this june will be #3! it builds even more comradery allowing them to see each other in a whole different light outside of work.

saturday, we went to church with alex. i like this church a lot even though i have no idea what is being said 😂. i was sitting the other night with some staff and they are just talking away in either kisii or swahilii, i have no idea, and nothing about it seems weird. i just smile and pick up body language cues here and there. and being only white person, doesn't faze me one iota. strangest thing. 

saturday afternoon was spent with martin, anna, and their son vernon. yes, the very people i humiliated myself in front of the weekend before. i was redeemed lol!!!! i was back to my normal weird self 😅 . we had the best conversation for hours that just flowed. martin shared his testimony about his transformation from changing from contaminated water to filtered healthy water! it literally changed his life. this is why he is so powerful in what he does -- provides education on importance of hygiene and filtering water. his story is beautiful and convincing. 

saturday night, lydia packed for her flight to ethiopia on sunday morning and then lydia, bella, lucy and me did face masks. i can't not chuckle just thinking about it. lucy had on an otter mask and lydia a tiger one. i get so tickled sometimes, i can't stop laughing. this was definitely one of those times. and no picture 😭

sunday, we were up, at what is for me, the crack of dawn 🤪 5:30. everyone here is up at 5:00 a.m. 😳 everyday!!! chores to be done, laundry to be washed, breakfast to ready! praise and worship at 6:00. anyway, i still maintain nobody should be up that early. but we were. it was the beginning of a massive fiasco for bella and lydia. late start, shuttle with smoking engine, new shuttle, missed flight, overnight at stephen's. but alas! she reached ethiopia monday night 🌙 🙌 so, sunday for me was quiet. i called it a sabbatical day. a very much needed one. basically, i prayed and i wrote. visited folks on and off, but just took in some peace and quiet. being that i live alone mostly, this is super comfortable for me. i need down time to recharge. 

i always make time for number rings and diamond art with my little posse of girls 🥰

monday, i was to step into bella's shoes for the week! the Boss handed off to the General as we are affectionately known 😊. i had a team meeting with the girls outlining activities for the week and what expectations are. we prayed for bella's time away and committed to doing our best for her! the staff is fully capable of keeping everything in order as usual, i just kinda oversee and encourage 😉 they run a tight ship here. in african homes, disobedience and bullying are just flat out not allowed. one look of shame and they quickly respond. 

then alex and me full on tackle errand day!!! no words can explain the insanity of driving around kisii on market day. you have to experience it to believe it. we picked up online orders, went on great hunt for crochet hooks and bracelet clasps 😄, and shopped at naivas for all things baking!!

we are having a clean up the property day on thursday in preparation for a saturday church service here (alex's church) and chocolate chip 🍪 cookies are the reward!!!! jack is connecting the stove as we speak... finally a stove and oven! woot!

and that afternoon, it was time for creative arts -- crocheting, beading, sewing, and diamond art.

and if all that wasn't enough for a full day, i throw in spoons. remember how i said earlier how intense the staff was playing foosball? now i know it is learned in childhood!!!!!

and that is five days of life here 🥰