The Container Arrived!

Our container arrived to Lodwar on Thursday April 19th. The total journey from Ruston to Lodwar took only 11 weeks! God's speed huh? It arrived not a moment to soon! It was lots of work to unload the items off the truck at Share's compound. With about 20 hired hands we quickly sorted out donation items and our personal belongings. We brought our things home and began what turned out to be a week long unpacking, reorganizing and sorting marathon. Phew! All that hard work paid off and it feels very homey now! I cannot describe the wonderful feeling of seeing all our "stuff". I was happy to see my own worn out dish rags! Just because in a place where everything is different small familiar items make a huge difference. The girls were so happy to have their bikes, toys and rooms set up.The container was taken off the truck and a few days later was put onto concrete pillars Taylor had just finished. It will be remolded to be an on-site office for him for the construction of the SEND Center.

We are heading to Nairobi April 28-May 9. We are ready for some "R&R" and a hot shower. We have some fun things planned. We are all really excited. While there we will also shop for a new cooking range (we have not had an oven for about 8 weeks...yep...challenging!), buy meat, cheese and dry grocery goods to last 3 months. We will also eat out and enjoy some cooler temperatures and just relax. Since the house is all set up, when we come back on May 9th it will feel like coming home.

Open that thing up! 

The girls were so ready for their bikes!

Our things had shifted quite a bit after Kenya customs went through most of the contents. Let's just say they did not put as much care into packing it as we did. It had to travel on what may be the worst road in the world.  Only minimal damages occurred.

There it is! Our new "family ride". Taylor has since "tricked out" this ride .  It is now equipped  with locking tool box  on back. Yep, the girls and I (yes all 4 of us) take this to run around town. We get a few looks :)

That's a lot of stuff.

Backing up to be manually lifted off the truck. 

final resting place! Taylor will renovate 20ft. of the inside of this container to be his onsite office for the construction of the center. 

A tisket, a tasket....choosing a Turkana Easter basket!

Happy Easter! We had a good week here in Kenya. Even though Lainey came down with Malaria. She is doing great and responded quickly to her treatment medicines. She basically just ran fever and complained of a stomach ache. She was on preventative medicine, sleeps under a net and we have screens on the windows. It just happens. We had a few clouds roll by but no more rain yet. Saturday morning we are getting together with the Harris family to dye eggs and do Easter crafts and swim. Saturday afternoon Stanley (a Share Int. staff member) and his family are coming to swim. Then Sunday we will go to church. (I have to be honest, I have a huge crush on the Easter Sunday speaker ;) And yes, you guessed it Taylor is preaching. He will do great as usual. Then we are getting together with the Harris family and Lynn (Both CMF missionaries) and having an American Easter potluck! With our resources combined I think we will have an "Americanish meal". I will be adding a ham, deviled eggs and dessert to the meal. We took the girls Easter basket shopping at the basket market in town and they loved it! Enjoy the pictures!

So many baskets...which one to choose?

Taylor haggling with the "mamas"

Andi, remarkable balance. Even the Turkana ladies were impressed!

Lainey. She was able to make her selections the quickest and never changed her mind.

Andi thought she needed one as a purse also.

Lucy loves small things. Later that night she collected big ants in her "purse basket".

Happy Easter. We love our baskets!