The trailer is packed and ready to go to the airport
The sound of 24 feet running through our home echoes the purpose of God bringing us to this amazing place! We are so thrilled to be here! Our 27 days in Kenya have been packed full. Going back to August 9, everything went smoothly at the airport in Chicago. We checked in our bags, said our tearful good-byes, and off we went on the big bird. Our children overwhelmed us by the ease with which they left their family and home country. The flight attendants on each of our 8 hour flights mentioned how polite and well-behaved our kids were! What great travelers (Levi even received a proposal for marriage by one of the British Airways flight attendants!!)! Needless to say, they slept more on the second flight than the first–our adrenaline was as pumped up as our excitement!
We arrived in Nairobi, Kenya the night of August 10th and, after being cleared through customs with no hitches, we drove immediately out to Rift Valley Academy–and to our new home! It was a thrilling night! We had a week to unpack, explore, and settle in then the meetings began. We had New Staff Orientation (since we’ve been gone so long!), Dorm Parent meetings, and then Staff Inservice meetings. Whew! What a lot of helpful information!
Our new dorm boys arrived on the 26th of August and the returning students came the next day. It has been a whirlwind of activity since then and we wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. We have 8 amazing 5th and 6th grade boys: 1 American, 1 British, 1 Kenyan, 1 Malaysian, and 4 Koreans. In the 10 days that we have known them, we have fallen in love with them! They make us laugh and bring so much joy to our lives! God knew exactly who we needed. In future letters, we will introduce you to their families and the diverse ministries they are a part of here in Africa!
Our children have adjusted to life here in Kenya in a way that only God could do. Some days it seems that they have always been here, they fit in so well. They have made many friends and have leaped into typical missionary kid mode–seeking adventures and getting completely dirty (from head to toe) each day.
Some things we have already become used to are:
• coming upon baboons climbing on our shed in the back yard (they like to rummage through our trash can)
• adjusting to 30 degree temperature changes from morning to afternoon to evening (dressing in layers works well!)
• not having a local Walmart to dash to for an immediate need
• having a 5 to 1 student to teacher ratio in the classroom (Tia is the only girl in a class of 5 second graders!)
• getting used to many different languages being spoken all around us each day (Kikuyu–the local tribal language, Swahili, Korean, Canadian (eh?), and many others)
• not being able to pronounce kids’ names correctly (we actually have 30 different nationalities represented here at the school)
• exercise being a part of our every day life as RVA is built on an escarpment and we happen to live at one of the highest points on campus. If we take a trip down the hill, we make certain to accomplish as much as possible, which brings us to the next point…
• our altitude of 7500 ft. above sea level is something you just don’t get used to in 27 days
• not having a vehicle to get where we want or need to go, and depending on others to help us get there (please pray that we can find a reliable one soon!)
• having deep spiritual talks with our dorm guys in devotions at night–we’ve had great conversations already
• how much food 10 boys and 2 girls can consume in one sitting (it’s good that eggs are inexpensive out here)
• having indoor and outdoor workers helping us with some of the demanding tasks of living in Kenya–with 8 more kids and many more responsibilities! Harriet, who helps Patti out, is a dear old friend (like a Kenyan mother) and her husband Samuel helps us also.
Patti with Harriet
• trips into Nairobi entailing dodging sheep, donkeys (with carts), pot holes that could rip your axle off, people, buses, motorcycles, and packages falling off of motorcycles. Sometimes all of this occurs in the early morning or late evening fog. It’s never dull–that must be why Levi loves to go into town with Mom!
• letting your daughter go to a sleep over at 9:30 pm on the spur of the moment–to someone’s house who you’ve never met (that only sounds bad!)
• being incredibly thankful for those who pray for us each day and for those who sacrificially give so that we can serve these amazing students at Rift Valley Academy
• realizing that there are just not enough hours in a day to adequately convey those thanks but praying that God will heap blessings on those who are a part of our team
• feeling that this is exactly what God had planned for us–even though it took us some time to get here–and we really don’t want to leave our dorm boys any time soon
• wondering what else we will get “used” to and will seem “normal” in the coming months (we’ll keep you posted!)
Please pray for more great conversations with our “kids.” We look forward to the joyful challenge of building disciples to grow God’s Kingdom! You all are a blessing!
click here for more pictures of our journey
Grateful for God’s Grace,
The Nielsen 6 + 8
The Nielsen 6 + 8
Our new family
Discuss this article (6) »
RSS
September 7th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the great update! What a great bunch of kids you have. I pray you will have a wonderful impact in their lives over the course of the next year!
We miss you!
September 7th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Hi Guys, What a wonderful picture. You look like one big happy family. That is so wonderful. So glad that everyone is adjusting so well. That is truly an answer to prayer. We will continue to pray for your family and your ministry in Kenya. Love you. Don and Bon
September 8th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
Praising & Thanking God for your family. Isn’t God so faithfull? We have you in prayer daily. Sango & family
September 9th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Hey Patti and Travis!!!
So good to hear from you! we are praying for you and missing you! just wanted to write a short note and thank you for the update!!
We hopefully will be moving into our new home next week, by the 17/18th! I am soooooo ready, it has beena long summer!! but God is faithful to all that He has promised!
must go, will try to write more later!
Sara
September 15th, 2010 at 4:47 am
Blessings to y’all!
)
So good to hear your update. It’s always a blessing to hear how God answers our/your prayers! Y’all are at the top of my prayer list which also has your new pic taped on
October 17th, 2010 at 3:04 am
When we last saw you at Grace Bible Fellowship, we discovered that Kylea really enjoys “Little House on the Prairie” (just like we do)! It sure seems that your family is creating its own adventure: “Little House on the Plains/Highlands”…and just like the TV series, we bet every day you learn and share new, valuable lessons. May God continue to bless your wonderful endeavors.
Jim and Cindy Karwowski