Kilpatricks In Kenya: 2013

Sunday, September 22, 2013

From then 'til now

September is soon coming to a close. Many of you are enjoying cooler weather as the colors of Autumn slowly emerge. Not us. It is hot, dry and sunny...everyday. We have enjoyed an abundance of papaya from our trees lately. So have several monkeys and birds.

Last week we had a team of five from the US stay with us in our home. They were so fun to have around. What a blessing they were to us. We were also able to be a part of New Hope's (street children rescue program of Share) party. It was a treat to see these sweet kids that have been through so much have a blast in our pool, on bikes and scooters and playing games. Many have never experienced these simple childhood joys. We finished off the evening at a restaurant down the road featuring Kenyan favorites of fried....anything. Chicken, potatoes, bread, cabbage, chapati and a luke warm soda. Delightful!

Construction is going so great. Roofs are going on! We love to see the progress. It is impossible to explain what some of these images mean to Taylor and I. With only seven weeks left until we head to Nairobi and begin our journey to the US, Taylor and his crew are really working hard to meet the goals set. Construction of the Center will stop while we are in the US. Great news is that the New Hope program of Share, has a small building that the crew can work on in Taylor's absence. Taylor will help with some of the material ordering, scheduling and obtaining legal permits to get them on their way. We are so thankful that the crew will have paychecks while we are away.

We are so looking forward to visiting America. It will have been nearly two years since we have been on US soil. We have some serious fun times and loving to do on nieces and nephews....one I have never even met! Some other things we are looking forward to are visiting friends, eating American foods, smooth roads, cooler temperatures and my all time favorite of hot water on the tap. Yes, we have changed our standards.

Joshua (one of our visitors) and Taylor. Both in blue.

Pool party!

Happy little boys.

Wild times.

What an awesome smile.

We came to the construction site to see the roof structure go up. Shade is a must!

He is about 30 ft. in the air on a tower he built.

See, told ya.

First beam

All 24 done by day 2.

Now for wood and then shingles

Teaching and explaining

Sometimes you never know what will happen here.
Here is a riot that broke out between motorcycle taxi drivers and police.
The only bridge was shut down for hours.

indoor football....or soccer you might say.

games.

The girls and Akai ready to go out to eat for their reward dinner
for being on time everyday for school for a month.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

It's blog time again.

Hello from cold,cloudy Nairobi! Yes, it is just about 1 degree south of the equator, but it is "winter" here and we are freezing. We are experiencing lows in the 50s! I see your confused looks and furrowed eyebrows. 50s? Lodwar is usually 100+ degrees and Nairobi has no heater systems in the concrete houses. Yes, we are freezing. I am wishing now I had taken a picture of us all eating breakfast in our coats and scarves!We are headed back to Lodwar tomorrow (at least that was the plan...the Nairobi airport is currently on fire! so we will see :). If and when we get there, I can't wait to soak up the sun! It is surely comforting to know summer is always waiting for you at home. At least to a beach bum like myself.

We arrived in Nairobi on July 14th. We celebrated Lainey's 6th, my 28th and Lucy's 5th birthdays. All within 8 days of each other. It was fun for the kids (and myself!) to be able to do exciting things for their special days. But it has not been all fun and games, we also visited the tropical disease specialist which included long appointments and blood draws and several test. Results, well...hummm....(close your eyes grandparents)...different combinations of typhoid, atypical bacteria infections, intestinal parasites, a uti...and the list actually continues but I will stop there. So we then preceded to buy a small pharmacy and began a schedule of medicines that could have even posed as a challenge to the most seasoned RN. Good news, we are all feeling better! We have not felt well for months so we are glad to be feeling ourselves again. Even if it cost us a small fortune! I am still struggling with some eye problems...like being able to blink! But after visiting the eye doctor I am hoping by desisting my contact lens wearing and sporting my new glasses that the issue of my eyes being too dry to blink will be resolved!

The construction of the SEND Center has continued in our absence. The stone walls are going up and it looks wonderful. Taylor and his crew are doing a great job. While here is Nairobi, Taylor was able to gather some much needed supplies and materials. Some we will carry back and others will be shipped via trucks. Here in Kenya, showing up in person is sometimes the only way to find what you are looking for. Check out the SEND Center tab on this blog to see updated pictures of the amazing process of the construction.

Every time I begin a blog post I remember my solemn vow to never have a blog. My philosophy behind that is "If you really want to know what is going on with my family, be actually present in my life". Good thought I still think, but difficult when you have moved your family to Kenya! So just know as I write this, I am still missing your presence in my life! Nothing can take the place of a warm body. So you and I will both pretend we just had this conversation over a cup of Kenyan coffee and fresh baked cookies.

Of course, pictures follow below. They tell the stories much better than my words.

Lainey and Bonnie our kitty.

Wild parrots! My favorite backyard visitors.

Our baby is growing.

We think Taylor may have a promising future in goat modeling.

Meet Patty. Our new leopard tortoise. Yes, you have only seen those in zoos.

Andi Rose.

Meet the sheep. Yes, sheep meat is much better than goat. I see
this fellow as mutton chops, curry and maybe some stew.
I must say, he is a bit "sheepish". The weird tail is fat reserve, like a camels hump.

Happy 6th Lainey!

My girls favorite treat, horse riding!

"Yes, I want to ride. Only if he will run!" said Lainey.

My little natural. Her aunt Leslie would be so proud.

Our favorite Nairobi spot. Paradise Lost.
Complete with prehistoric caves, waterfalls, trails and animals.

This can be defined as pure kid fun.

Sisters

Out of focus, but you get the idea.

Even this one dared to cross the moss covered rocks.

Andi.

How can one not be expected to climb a magnificent tree like this?

Hey! Who is that lady with my kids? Oh me. Don't see too many of these folks.

Happy 5th birthday Lucy! Enjoying the cupcakes not sprayed by the feral cat.
Call if you want that story.

My ocular mini me.

My kids riding the meanest camel I ever met.

This is him hissing, growling and trying to bite us. Serious camel-tude!

Glasses do make you smarter!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

June

I think blog world time travels much faster than real world time. Or maybe my life just travels faster than my blog writing. Either way, it has been a busy few weeks with lots going on so I will fill you in.
Jon-Marc (Taylor's younger brother) came to visit us here in Lodwar! Our first family member to visit. And in reality only our second visitor to come see us since we have lived here. Jon-Marc was instantly promoted to favorite brother-in-law status. (Just joking all you other brothers...kinda). He was so great and we all enjoyed our time with him. It is difficult to describe what his visit did for our hearts and spirits.
Taylor has been suffering from kidney infections and stones. Poor guy. We think it is just the result of the harsh climate here. We were thankful he happened to be in Nairobi for a few days and was able to see a doctor and come home with a bag of medicines. Now I just follow him around with ice water. On another health note we are all five currently being treated for malaria. Tricky business this malaria, it has many faces that come and go in a cycle. I always imagine us healthy, but maybe we are not!
We said good-bye to Amy yesterday. She has been living with us for the last 8 weeks. She is the finance of a new Pioneers missionary that has just moved to Lodwar. They are both from England and she was so fun to have here at our house. Yes, we have all picked up "bits and bobs" of her cute english accent. Now my girls ask where the "loo" (bathroom) and the "rubbish" (trash) is and call each other "cheeky" when someone has been a bit mischievous. She will return to Lodwar after their wedding in November. Her sweet company was a blessing to all of us.We look forward to their return! (this paragraph was actually all written in my new "proper English" accent.)
And as you will notice in the pictures, we are plus one girl. Akai (Florence) came to live with us about 2 months ago. She is about 12 years old. Her troubling situation came to our attention via a Share staff member. She is living in one of our free standing guest rooms and attends a private school next to our house. We consider ourselves foster parents. But we will love on her and meet her basic needs as long as she is in our lives. She is so gentle and respectful. She has had an extremely tough past few years. We are hoping for her education to continue (she is a few years behind) and be able to have a bit of a childhood.
SEND Center progress has been going fast and so great! Taylor and his crew have been doing so much work.Currently four structures are underway: 1 conference center, 2 cottages and 1 freestanding restroom. The slabs, footings and columns have been poured. At night of course, as it is too hot for the concrete to cure properly in the heat of the day. Also rough plumbing has been done on the buildings. Walls will be started soon. The progress is so encouraging to see. Taylor has done a wonderful job. Please few the pictures of this amazing work under the "SEND Center" tab of this blog.
Another great thing is that we will not be homeless in July! Share Int. is in the process of purchasing the house we live in. A balance of about $35,000 was owed and that money has been raised! How awesome is that??? We are grateful for God's provision and all those who gave.