All sorts of excitement!

So it's been a week and a half since my last post, but I promise there is a good excuse!  The last ten days have been some of the most hectic of my time here in Kenya, and while it will take a few posts to fully describe all that has happened, I wanted to at least provide a quick run-down so yall know what I've been up to...

1.  Steve's wedding - LAST weekend Jane and I drove to Kisumu for the CFA Financial Director's (and a great friend of mine's) wedding.  Definitely more details to come on this one, but the short version is that this was one of the MOST Kenyan experiences that I've had.  Even more than the wedding I was a part of in March, this one truly typified the mantra, "All Kenyan, All the Time."

2.  Road tripping - As a part of the wedding, I got to drive back and forth to Kisumu (4.5 hours) on back-to-back days.  Because of the wedding's very, very slow pace, most of the return drive took place in the dark.  In the rain.  Yikes. 

3.  Burglary - While we were at the wedding, Jane and I learned that some robbers broke through the roof in her house and stole her computer.  While everyone was asleep.  Thankfully, no one was hurt and the volunteers got to experience the magic of Kenyan police investigation.  Unthankfully (is that a word?) Jane is out one Macbook.  Thankfully, all her data was backed up.  A 2 to 1 ratio is pretty good?

4.  Moving - After the ACTS house demonstrated its lack of adequate security, Jane moved to Brackenhurst last Monday.  Pros - safety, beautifully manicured grounds, short commute, DSTV in the lounge, her own bathroom.  Cons - no kitchen, lots of volunteers around, unappealing paint color in her new room.  Not an ideal situation, but at least it's only for another month or so! 

5.  Food Poisoning - Steve's wedding decide to reappear in our lives last Tuesday in the form of food poisoning.  Jane and I were given the unique opportunity to bond through alternating trips to the bathroom and group doctor visits to discuss our symptoms.  We are both back to 100% now, with another story to tell - hooray!  Seriously though, praise God for working out medication and making us well.  As a side note, almost all of the 300 guests at the wedding also got sick...what a mess. 

6.  Leadership - On Wednesday, all of the CFA admin team (7 of us) met up in Limuru to attend the Global Leadership Summit in Nairobi all day Thursday and Friday.  We all stayed in my house (party!) and spent two very long days in town watching DVD's of some awesome Christian leadership speakers (exciting!), listening to local Kenyan speakers (not quite as exciting), and bonding together as a group (makes you feel warm and fuzzy right?).  Although I was still a little sick and worn out, it was an AWESOME time and there will definitely be more to come on what we learned...

So there are the high points!  Add in other staff meetings, Jane's face swelling up, the brakes on my car going out, losing power in the house, disgruntled employees, meetings with pastors, etc. and you get an idea of the pace of life lately.  Whew.  This morning, though, I'm back in the office playing catch up and I have a pot of coffee all to myself - thankfully, Kenyans hate the stuff.  I feel like I've learned a lot and God has shown himself in some unique ways over the past couple of weeks, so once I can process all that you'll hear about it...get excited! 

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!  Oh yeah, Jane and I also decided to come home for Christmas, which is REALLY exciting!  Hopefully we'll see some of you around Charlotte, Bay Village, or Vail (boom!). 

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Philippians 4:12-13  (in a small way, Paul, I feel you!)