Safely home!

Just a quick note to let everyone know we are safely home despite the British Airways strike! God is good! Long two days of travel but we are all so thankful for the amazing experiences we shared in Africa! Hope to share pictures with all of you soon.

Forever changed!
Cheryl and team

Our last day in Kenya........

Due to airline changes we are leaving Kenya a little early and headed to Tanzania in the very early morning tomorrow. So this was our last day, it came too quickly! We have fallen in love with so many people and the beauty of this country that it will be a tough good bye. This morning we went to the giraffe park here in Nairobi. Cannot wait for you to see those pictures! Each of us(ok, get ready for this) was kissed by a giraffe! They were right there to pet and feed, great fun. Then we went to an elephant orphanage inside the Nairobi National Park. We learned so much about elephant rescue, poaching, and the sweet personalities of these magnificent animals. We got there at feeding time and watched them down the biggest bottles I have ever seen. Elephants are so playful, much like toddlers. They pushed each other around and passed a huge ball back and forth with their handlers.

After a nice lunch here at Kijiji where we have been staying, we left for a school outside Karen. Our art team members did another amazing job with the students while the rest of us played soccer, blew bubbles and otherwise entertained and enjoyed the rest of the 270 children.

We will try to email or blog while in Tanzania if possible. If not, we will see you all soon. This has been such an unbelievable 2 weeks, we will never be the same!

Love, Cheryl

Back from Safari!

Today we left behind us the breathtaking Masai Mara. The past 3 days and 4 safaris with Sammy our guide have been surreal! Where else can you see purple and green lizards, a herd of zebras, hyenas lying with their cubs, wart hogs bouncing through the tall grass (tails up), gazelle and all manner of antelope scattered on every side? We followed a single male lion in our jeep until he passed beside us and roared loudly in annoyance of our presence! Earlier we had seen 4 female lions and their playful cubs resting beside a tree and later 4 male lions spread out to mark their territory, challenging the three cheetahs on the edges of where their pride had settled. We took a path less traveled and came across a herd of elephants grazing with their calves, watched the tall giraffes eat from trees at the edge of the forest while baboons ran between them and scurried up a tree. There were more small animals than I can name running freely across the Mara unhindered by our presence and birds of every size and color filled the sky. On our final game drive we found more lions, a pair of mating Rhinos, a leopard in a tree with it's prey, and ended our safari with breakfast on the Masai Mara River, seated at tables drinking mimosas and watching the Hypos and crocodiles! Oh, how we wish we could have shared this experience with you!

Well if this hasn't been amazing enough...........we arrived back by plane today from the Masai Mara in time to have lunch at The Karen Blizen Tea House (Out of Africa movie!). We then arrived at a small orphanage outside of Nairobi to be blessed by one of the most delightful room of girls from about 8-14 years of age. They sang, smiled and shared their hearts with us. We were led through the orphanage while they proudly showed us their rooms and other parts of their home. It was another display of joy and generosity as they showed us a rose bush with one rose in their garden which they wanted to cut and give to us! It was great fun to also sing for them and Carrie did an amazing job of leading all of us. I'm so tired now that I really hope I am able to adequately express the day we had. Guess I will go for now, hope to blog again tomorrow before we leave and may be out of touch for 2-3 days again due to lack of computer access.

Love and miss you all! Cheryl and team

P.S. Please pray for British Airlines strike!

Words cannot express!

The past two days have been so rich that I am just sitting here wondering how I could possibly paint a picture for you! Yesterday the "teachers" went back to the slum area but before they arrived we received a phone call that the kids were waiting for them. The pictures and videos of their games and songs brought me to tears over and over again and we can't wait to share them with you. Andy, they LOVE your songs! Wait until you see Carrie playing guitar and singing with a hut full of beautiful Masai children. The "nurses" went back to the hospital/clinic yesterday and saw a total of over 160 women! Absolutely exhausting, but we were so grateful to be with these amazing women who do not complain about anything. Many waited for 8 hours or more to see us. Then today we all went together to the Masailand, we treated Masai women and the "teachers" sang songs, played soccer, and entertained each other to everyone's delight. We were seeing patients in a metal hut with dirt floors as we listened to the beautiful voices of our team and the children in a nearby straw hut, I can hardly type without crying! The women and children sang to us as we left to thank us and bless us. It was like something out of National Geographic! Our lunch meal was shared with men, women, and children and cooked in a very large black pot over an open fire, really-you would not believe it. We also saw the land where Out of Africa was filmed, what breath taking countryside. Pictures and videos of all and new adventures tomorrow. Love, Cheryl

What the "teachers" did today was something straight out of a book. We visited a slum today with about 8,500 people... it was surreal the whole day! We walked around streets covered in trash that were surrounded by homes made of cardboard and tin. However, the spirit and humility of those children was absolutely astounding. We had game after game and craft after craft and the kids couldn't get enough... more than anything they just craved attention and love which we truly couldn't give them enough. It was such a privilege to serve them and the wonderful team members serving in the slums. Those kids have absolutely nothing but they have so much to offer. One of the most memorable days of my life. We left with the kids hugging us and holding our hands telling us how much they loved us after ONE day!!! What a loving people- broke my heart to leave but I know we'll be back tomorrow and always praying for them. -Jodie

End of our first day!

Wow what an amazing day this has been! The faces of children and women we have already come to love are burned in our minds. We are exhausted but thrilled to be here. Nurses spent the whole day in Martha's clinic caring for the most joyful women, and the "teachers" spent the day with about 50 children. They started out with 20 but after a walk around the village with the children they were followed like the Piped Piper and picked up another 30 or so! Great dinner tonight at a beautiful place here in Karen with a group of Kenyan women from the university and we are now off to bed. Talk again tomorrow, love-Cheryl

A note from Kenya!

We are here! A day later than expected due to a missed plane in London but we had a great time touring the city. Arrived in Nairobi late last night and are up early to pack our bags and head off into the city. Jodi, Carrie, and Jenny are going to the slums to work in a special art program. Patti, Kelli and I are going to see over 100 women today at Martha's clinic. We are all very excited. It is beautiful here, very green with lots of flowers blooming where we are staying. Hope to blog tonight and let you know how we all did. Love, Cheryl

Leaving tomorrow!

After almost 2 years of planning, we are packing up tonight to leave for Nairobi in the morning! Jodie and Jenny are on their way over, Carrie is driving from North Carolina and our California ladies (Patti and Kelli) are meeting us in Dulles tomorrow. We are hoping to blog in the evenings whenever possible so our friends and family can tell what we are doing each day. These first two days are travel, but we will be very busy starting Monday morning (Kenya is 8 hours ahead of us here on the east coast). Check us out later this week! Cheryl

This is it!

Well, last night was our last team meeting and we will be leaving for Kenya in just 5 short days! Everyone is so excited and all the supplies are gathered. Still lots to do as we organize the activities, pick up last minute things, and pack. Looking at the large pile of stuff taking over two rooms of my home, it is difficult to think that it will all go in our baggage. As a team we are so thankful for all the money which has been raised, all the medication and children's art supplies that have been donated, and the help we have had from our family and friends. Mostly, we are thankful to a God who has made this trip possible and blessed us with the opportunity to learn and serve in another culture so different from our own. Hope to blog most days we are there to let you know what we are doing so stop by! And, don't stop praying.........still lots of little tasks to complete!

Believing Him for amazing things!
Cheryl