Stay Positive

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Philippians 4:8 

June 25, 2016

This week, we have continued to be blessed with more school visits along with a trip to Eliye Springs to see another part of Lake Turkana. The morning we were there, it was an unusually cool morning and I got to run on the beach there for an hour. (This was such a treat because most mornings I have been here in Lodwar I have only had about 30 minutes to run due to our tight schedule and due to the heat.) I ran by a pack of donkeys and goats at one point, but mostly, I was by myself looking out at the beautiful landscape on the beach. When I was running, my mind returned to a conversation I had with Liam Hutchinson back in December when we were baking some cookies in our kitchen. I had asked him if he could tell me about some of his reflections about his family’s time there in Malawi when they were there 2014-2015. Anna was in the room working on homework and Taylor was making some lunch while we were talking. I asked Liam if he had any advice for us for our trip to Kenya this summer, and he said that the best thing we could do was to stay positive. With so many things that happened that were out of his control, he learned how important it is to stay positive and keep perspective through it all.
I was grateful for this sweet memory and was able to come back from my run and share it with Taylor and Anna. It was good for Taylor and Anna to hear it in the kitchen back in December, but it is even better for them to hear it now that we have been here for almost a month. Liam is right that we need be intentional about keeping a positive focus. While I know there are ups and downs about each day here for us all, I am praying for Anna and Taylor to be able to give the same advice to someone down the road that above all else that it is important to stay positive. (Thank you Liam!!)

at Turkana Girls National School 

at Turkwel Boys School 

  

I have been so grateful for the books we have brought to keep Anna and Taylor going on the long car rides we have had to school visits... The latest read was the Mysterious Benedict Society and now we are into an anthology of stories assigned for Taylor's 5th grade class.  

a sweet visit to see these girls at their home (Abigael and Purity) 

pictures from the time we went to visit the Cradle (a new hotel in town) when Jason was here

Emily, Rose and Anna 

so thankful for the gift of laughter when we have had some long days 

visiting Mercy at school 

goats in the classroom :) 

on the road to Eliye Springs (collecting cool sticks that Turkana people use as toothbrushes) 

out of Africa 

We had quite the adventure getting to Eliye Springs because of all the rains we have had. The shortcut we took did not shave off time, but we sure had an amazing ride through some crazy mud and even had some Turkana men help us through one area we were not sure we would be able to get through. 

a whole other part of Lake Turkana that I've never seen before 

Happy 23rd to Taylor 

bright sunshiney day! 

Chapati University! 

(Anna was sick the first time they gave a lesson and 

could not stay the whole time so we were so thankful she could take part in it yesterday!)  

chapati lesson #2 for Taylor 

meeting up with Silale (one of the young men we sponsor here in Lodwar) 

with Sabina (another student we love here!)