my time thus far has been absolutely delicious. the family i am staying with is wonderful--they are from wisconsin and work at BTL (wycliffe) also. dave is the only one here though because his wife debi and their adopted kenyan daughter are in the states visiting her dad and other family. dave reminds me a lot of my dad. he is very down to earth and easy to get along with. susan, their house girl, is staying in their small house in the back. she is precious and has been teaching me many things, including swahili and how to clean vegetables here. work is great--today, i laughed a whole lot. flo, the girl that i share an office with, is HILARIOUS. we teach eachother things. she is amazed at my love and interest in everything about africa. i'm really going to like it here at BTL (bible translation and literacy)...everyone is relational in kenya--americans could really use some help in that area. kenyans acknowledge EVERYONE in the room and shake everyone's hand before bringing up the reason as to why they stopped by in the first place. we begin every morning with a prayer meeting--this includes singing a hymn, updates from each department, and praying for each people group that they work with--kenyans can pray. it is amazing to listen to them as they talk to the most important person in their life.

in other news, i had lunch with crazy gayle on monday. that woman blesses me--to see her flag people down while she is driving and to hear her demand that iced tea be a concept that the kenyans should understand is downright hilarious...she is not afraid of anything...especially speaking her mind...things with Compassion International are great--i spend the majority of my weekends with a project site in Shauri Moyo...saturdays are filled with kids, kids, kids, and more kids...i love their smiles and their sincerity...they are absolutely precious...it's been refreshing to be there with Pascal...the kids ADORE him, as he adores them...it's been beautiful to spend time with him--my heart is full...ive gotten to spend a lot of time with his family, which has been good...his nephew Melvin sings "you're beautiful" by james blunt every time he sees me--that blesses me...that's definitely on my team...

i do miss everyone back in the states...but i know that right now i am supposed to be here...and its breathtaking...each day brings new joys...its simple here and i love it...i want simplicity...


**i was reminded today of this summer and how after i got back from ministry site each day, i always asked my camp roommate "what if i went to worship naked?" --because i hated figuring out what to wear, etc...at work, i was designing a newsletter and uploading pictures from the field and came across a people group that only wears wraps--men and women--everyday--just wraps that they wear around their waist...sooo simple...thats life...sooo simple...if only the states werent so consumed with "what to wear" and all the wasted energy in the things that dont matter...what if....

it's raining a lot here...at least today...the guard at work asked if i was going to melt today...i laughed and spun around in the rain and watched him stare in amazement...it feels good to dance in the rain...walking a nice distance back home in wet clothes=not so much a good feeling...



larry, one of the computer guys at work, who asks flo everyday how i am doing and if i am single in swahili because he thinks i don't understand=steven's team.