A glass wall containing glass doors were all that separated us from our dear friend from Michigan.

The girls were buzzing around Patti, anxiously waiting for Robin to make her appearance. Finally, after standing and waiting patiently for 45 minutes, we spotted a woman wearing a shirt that read “147 million orphans… feed 1.” With her shock of blonde curly hair, we knew it must be her! She had just arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and had gathered her luggage from the carousel. Her visit with the security guard checking her bags was abnormally brief and, before we knew it, we all had our arms wrapped around her in an attempt to hold on to the one thing (person) standing before us who tied us to those we love so dearly in our home country. We were thrilled to have her here with us.

Travis and the boys were outside the airport in the car, circling around for the eighth time as there were virtually NO parking spaces in the entire parking lot ~ which isn’t much to speak of! In due time, they came around, picked us up, and our journey with Robin began.

Because travel late at night is extremely dangerous, we stayed at a guest house in Nairobi for the night. After making the one hour drive to Kijabe the next afternoon, we were so excited to be able to show her our home. There was no time to waste. We packed up our bags and the following day were on a safari to one of our dorm boys’ homes.

A long and dusty road

The Reids live virtually out in the middle of nowhere ~ an hour and a half off a less-traveled road on a two-track that winds and curves and eventually ends at their mission compound. Starting five years ago, they built every bit of it by hand. They work with the Maasai people ~ nomads who wander with their cattle; their wealth. They are in the process of learning the language and keenly feel God’s calling to minister to these people ~ the young girls in particular, who undergo female circumcision and are often married off to older men before they are even twelve years old.

We spent three days with the Reids ~ three amazing days. Life for them is far different than it is for us. They have approximately ten acres of land completely surrounded by a high voltage electric fence. The fence is to protect them ~ not from thieves or troublemakers ~ but from predators like lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, etc. They are constantly on the lookout for Black Mamba, Puff Adder, and Boomslang snakes. A sign posted in their guest house says to please not use the long-drop (outhouse) after 11:00 pm as it is extremely unsafe. Leopards have been known to jump the fence and enter the mission compound.

Taking a break from digging

One day at the Reids was spent visiting the Maasai Mara National Game Reserve. It was just like God to allow us to see two male lions sitting on a mound of dirt ~ pawing at it occasionally. We realized that they were atop a warthog hole ~ with a warthog inside anticipating his imminent demise. Patience enabled us to see the lions dig for their breakfast ~ and eventually partake of it! What an amazingly beautiful day it was to observe God’s incredible creation.

The next morning we drove to one of five churches that the Reids have planted ~ in a particularly dark, oppressive area ~ to hold a children’s Bible program. Upon our arrival, not many kids had shown up. As we started playing games and laughing with them, the children came out of nowhere ~ in droves.

They came out of nowhere

Before we knew it, there must have been over 100 kids (and over 30 adults) who had joined in the fun and then more continued to straggle in. After a time, we all sat and listened to the Bible story that Mr. Reid shared and then as Mrs. Reid taught us all to sing Jesus Loves the Little Children in the Maasai language (don’t ask us to do it now!). Snacks and juice were provided for everyone. It was especially touching to see our dorm boy in his home setting ~ with his family being a light to all around them. Pray for the Reid family as they minister in such a difficult setting ~ all for the sake of the Kingdom!

Robin and Patti were able to visit several orphanages in Nairobi and another one closer to us in Kijabe. The time spent with these children was unforgettable! We shopped in Nairobi, purchased many kilos of meat at the City Center meat market (Set aside any preconceived notions of walking up to the meat counter at your local Meijer grocery store.), bought souvenirs from vendors at the crazy Maasai Market (Picture literally hundreds of people, each with a 10 x 10 ft. patch of concrete on the top level of a mall parking lot with aisles two feet wide, each bombarding you to buy their wares!

The Nairobi meat market

Thus comes in the art of negotiating prices!), and even visited the Kijabe hospital with us as Kylea had a persistently high fever and Student Health Services at RVA referred her to a hospital physician.

The rest of Robin’s time with us passed in a blur! Staff meetings ensued, school resumed, and Robin was immersed in RVA life with us. Just as our dorm guys were growing accustomed to having “Miss Robin” around, it was time for her to leave. It saddened us to see her go. (Our guest room is open for those who would like to come and visit us during our school breaks!)

Within a week and a half of Robin’s departure, our car died and needed to have the radiator and head gasket repaired and rebuilt, Kylea broke her arm falling off her bike, and Patti had pneumonia (they say it comes in threes, hey?!). May was a month that we were glad to see go! We’re so very thankful for God’s protective hand on our car as we traveled virtually hundreds of kilometers during Robin’s visit ~ sometimes out in the middle of “no man’s land”! It was only after we traveled back to Kijabe that it refused to go any further! What a blessing!

Us with Miss Robin

As we finish our last five weeks of school for this school year (it doesn’t seem possible!), we ask for your much needed prayers: for a strong finish, for physical health & safety (for staff & students), for consistency & balance in every area of our lives, and for precious memories that will last a lifetime with our 6th grade guys who will be heading up to junior high.

We cannot even begin to properly express our appreciation to all who pray for and contribute to this amazing ministry! There is joy unspeakable in serving these kids ~ and our Lord ~ in this way! Thank you ~ a million fold!

Did you know:

• that a “hotel” in Kenya is a restaurant?
• that the Swahili word for chicken is “kuku” (a “hotel” slogan is “We go kuku for kuku!”)?
• that crisps are potato chips and french fries are chips?
• that a toilet is called a choo (pronounced cho with a long “o”)?
• that a boot is the trunk of your car?
• that a pharmacy is called a “chemist” in Kenya?

Redeeming the time,

Travis, Patti, Kylea, Joshua, Tia, & Levi Nielsen