We Appreciate our Guards

Last evening Darlene and I took John Wambu and the property guards at Kamulu out to dinner.  We went to Tuskys, which is a grocery store nearby.  They also have a cafeteria type bar with food to go or to eat on site.  They have several tables out front with plastic chairs of various makes.  We think some of our guards had never been "out to eat" before.  Some are from maasai land and all are country folk.

We told them to order whatever they wanted.  John ordered first, getting two pieces of fried chicken. I asked him if he were getting any vegetables, so he ordered two sausages as well.  When the guards saw that goat meat was cooking on the rotisserie, they were delighted.  Emmanuel told me that "Men eat goat. Mamas eat chicken."  Of course I had ordered a piece of chicken.  They ordered goat and used up all the goat that was cooking.  They also got rice and french fries and sausages.  We prayed together and sat down to eat.  I told them, "Darlene and I are leaving soon, so this is your Christmas dinner with us."  They all ate heartily, and Emmanuel was the best eater.

I went back in and ordered pieces of chocolate cake and a bucket of ice cream.  Darlene had made chai (hot tea cooked with  milk) for us all.  They even had food to take away to eat later that night or today.

Francis Mbuvi told us when he saw that he was reminded of the old days when Darlene and I would take the young people at Eastleigh out and tell them they could order whatever they wanted.  The guards were so delighted, he said, and they couldn't stop talking about it.

It feels really good to be able to offer something to the men who keep us well protected at Kamulu.  So...honor to Emmanuel, Robert, Chalo, Leonard and the other one whose name I can't remember.

Pass on the Blessing

I am sitting in the back yard at a picnic table under the water tower out of the sun.  I can hear some of our Made in the Streets Team members and students outside the walls.  They are working in the soil, planting their own gardens.  Our house sits on the corner of an acre that we bought back in 1994 when the prices were cheap, comparatively speaking.  This year we decided to let Victor (our agriculture teacher and farm manager) divide up the acre into plots for each Team member and student who wants to grow vegetables, make a little money and supply MITS with food.  We told them they could grow it on the halves -- keep half for themselves and give MITS half what they grow.  17 of them signed up, and they have been working when they have free time.  We feel really good about being able to help each one of them have a place to work and grow food.  So many people have helped us in our lives -- how great to "pass on the blessing."

Thinking about what brings me happiness, most of you know
it turned out to be the "desire of my heart" to help street kids
to find a new life.  In two weeks these young boys who have
been sleeping on the streets will come out to Kamulu to
live with us.  Talk about passing on the blessings!  That's
Moses in the middle, one of our Eastleigh Team members.

And speaking of my heart's desires, soon after we moved out
to Kamulu, I wanted to start an orchard.  Some friends in Kentucky
and Tennessee helped us get funds for it.  It has taken more than
 four years, but this year we have mango trees with lots of fruit,
and the orange, macadamia, avocado, marring and mulberry trees
are also doing very well.  It gives us lots of blessings that we
can pass on to our students and to kids still sleeping on the streets.

Wow!  Life is good!