The view out my windows

I just wanted to take a minute today and offer up a thanks for all that God has been doing in my life over the past two months here in Kenya. I know that many of you are praying for me and for CARE for AIDS, and I have to say that your prayers must be working, because I have so many things to praise God for. I am getting to spend time with some really inspiring and incredible people - both Kenyans and "wazungo" - and I am being challenged by people who come from a wide range of vastly different backgrounds. I am getting to see and understand a culture in a real, complete way. It's so exciting to be free from the pressure of a week-long trip where the experience of a totally different place must be squeezed into a few short days, and I love getting to pick up little bits and pieces of understanding over the course of weeks and months. I am getting to learn a lot about how businesses and ministries work, and I am continually seeing how to put together the pieces of those different kinds of organizations and make this vision become a reality.

I am also so thankful for the beauty of all that I am surrounded by. Yes, places like the Maasai Mara and the Great Rift Valley are stunning, but I also feel like I am coming to appreciate the smaller things - the sunsets over the hills, the vibrant blue of the sky and green of the tea fields after a rain, or the brightly colored flowers that bloom in the midst of the slum. I put a few pictures on here taken from the various windows of our house - even though I look out on this each day, every once in a while I get struck by the realization that this is Africa, and that it is wonderful!

I would ask for all of your prayers this week, as I am taking a trip down to the coast tomorrow with Duncan, Cornel, Steve, and Irene. I am so excited about this break - all of us in the administrative staff have been working pretty non-stop lately, and we are all looking forward to taking a couple of days to relax at the beach. I don't know what all the trip is going to entail, and some of my American friends think it's crazy to do this the "Kenyan way," but I know that we will have some adventures and I'm sure I'll get some time to hang out in the Indian Ocean and take a deep breath! Thank you for your prayers for safety as we drive and for a rejuvenating time!