It's an Obamanation!

We followed this matatu (the most common form of public transportation here in Kenya) on our way back from church yesterday! The side said "Vote4Obama". I wonder if they know they can't vote?

Mtwapa Conference

I haven't taken a shower since Friday. Why not, you ask? Because here in Mombasa, we have to buy water from a guy with plastic jugs and a cart, and I haven't had time to even walk downstairs to find the guy and ask him to come!

The second women's conference was this weekend, and it went very well. The ladies exceeded our expectations in many ways. First, in sheer numbers! There were about 75 women in attendance. Second, in punctuality. Kenyans are not very good at keeping time, but these ladies were there before we were! Third, in perseverance. Some women came from 60 kilometers away to attend the conference, and other women who lived nearby opened their homes to them. We heard from a few women that their non-Christian husbands don't approve of them going to conferences, so some of them snuck out to be there! (I can't endorse the behavior, but I still admire the determination...) And the ladies were all there every day!

Teaching was fun, but I'm glad it's over, and I'm in much need of some rest. This week will be mainly a time for rest and recuperation. A lot of things have taken a backseat to these conferences this month, so I will try to return to my normal habits and disciplines. First on my list: get some water and take a shower!

Some of the women who attended the Mtwapa conference!

Safari!

Here are some pictures from the safari I went on recently with the team and our summer short-term visitors!

Great tree!

He looks ferocious, but he's just yawning.

Mama Lion

and lion cubs

Water Buffalo

An ostrich couple out for a stroll

This is a termite hill. Seriously.

Baboons hang out in clans close to lodges. They like people food.

This elephant almost charged us!

gotta love a giraffe!

I wonder what he's thinking about...

This little kitty heard Anjela crying and thought she might make a tasty dinner.

Ujamaa Conference

Hi! I know it's been a long time since I last wrote. Last week I was on safari with some of our guests from America, and this week I've been teaching a women's conference in a village called Ujamaa. Thirty pastor's wives and church leaders came to the conference from over ten different churches, and we had a great time together! This is the first time I've done anything like this, and it was fun, challenging, and exhausting! Below are a few pictures of the women's conference. I'll add pictures of the safari soon!

The women on the last day of the conference (today!)

Teaching about the Beauty of a Godly Woman with my translator Evalyn

The ladies listened attentively

Several of the women brought their small children with them

On the last day we all had lunch together - Allison and some yummy pilau!

The 51st State?

Kenyans are taking the news of Senator Obama's nomination and running with it! Everyone is so excited - I get asked multiple times a day if I am going to vote for Obama. They are so proud of his Kenyan roots (his grandmother is from the same tribe as my boss Dennis). Let me quote an excerpt of what the Daily Nation, Kenya's national paper, said this week:

"(Obama is) inspirational, articulate, brilliant, funny, and naturally empathetic... Now it will be up to every Democrat, every progressive, to take advantage of this historic opportunity to make Barack Obama the American president who leads the world into a new progressive era of unprecedented possibilities."

Wow! That's a tall order to fill, especially in 4 to 8 short years!

I'm not surprised at the support Senator Obama has found here in Kenya. What does surprise me is that Kenyans seem to think they will reap a harvest of blessings if Obama is elected. One Kenyan man (the guy I buy fruit from) said, "When Obama is president, our problems will be over." When I pressed him to tell me what he meant by that, he conceded that his problems wouldn't be over, but he believes his situation will improve with a "Kenyan" in the White House.

It's an interesting phenomenon. I'll keep my political convictions to myself for the moment. Let me just say that it will be interesting to participate in the elections this year from here in Kenya!