Friday, May 28, 2010

First few days in Kenya


I am so blessed to be here in Nairobi, Kenya among all these amazing people. I am falling in love with the country and the people and I can feel my relationship with Jesus grow stronger and stronger each day.


I have worked 2 days at Amani Ya Juu (the third day I was home in bed with a stomach flu...I feel much better today). Amani is more amazing than I though. They do so much for the women and their families. I am so honored to work with them!


I have been working on the collection; there are some fitting issues that I will be able to tweak and some designing to do. But overall everything is beautiful made. I urge you to check out Amani Ya Juu's website and buy some of the home furnishing, bags and quilts...Even sign up to be a US volunteer and sell the Amani good to family and friends. What I was most excited to see is the women tie dying and making most of the prints on the fabric themselves. The photo below is where all the fabric dying is taken place.


I work up on the floor where all the sewing and quilting is done. It is so exciting to working up there...Listening to the women sing in Swahili, talk and laugh. Most of these women are refugees from surrounding countries and they find peace and hope when they come to work at Amani. Here are some pictures of the work area.


There are also a few beautiful women who prepare food everyday for the workers. Below are some photos at lunch time.


I am blessed to stay with one of the ladies Ruth, she lives on the boarder of the Nairobi National Park. Aren't you jealous that I get to wake up to this for the next few week!

Oh and this morning when I was enjoying the sunrise I could have sworn I heard a Lion...Its what the Lions at the zoo sound like and I heard it like 5 times...but who knows. I will try and find out later what it was. Oh and on the animal topic...everyday to work I see a whole bunch of baboons on the side of the road! They are so cute/funny looking!

I will post more pictures, I am off to go on a tour of a Tea Plantations...I hear it is beautiful...but im not surprised...everything is here.

I will leave you with this bible verse which was the first one I read when i arrived here...It has help me tremendously.

"I ask-ask the God our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory-to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the eimmensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, Oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him-endless energy, boundless strenth!" -Ephesians 1:17-19

7 comments:

  1. That sounds so perfect, and I love the pictures! Please keep updating us, I love it!


    I love you.


    PS Watch out for those lions ;)

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  2. Lol thanks Ash...and it turned out to be a hippo...It really did sound like a Lion. Ruth said is still could have been, but most likely a Hippo.

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  3. STAY AWAY FROM THE HIPPOS! They are so dangerous (although Lucas would love if you could get a picture for him!) I love the photos...the scenery and the ladies are so beautiful! Keep 'em coming =)

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  4. Can't wait to hear more, and to see more pictures. Glad you're feeling better- and am so very glad at how much you see to be enjoying Africa already. I love you. Mom

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  5. It's all so beautiful. I am so proud of you, I know you are making a wonderful difference in their lives. As I'm sure they are doing in yours as well. Thank you for sharing this amazing experience with us.
    Love, Irene

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  6. Your pictures are wonderful! It's amazing to see what goes on not only scenery-wise but where you are working at and who you are working with.

    Please do keep the pictures and updates coming!

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  7. Oh yeah! My photographer... keep those pics coming... I'll print them off for my Africa themed room. :) Ok Seriously, I am so happy to know you are doing great. Great powerful verse from Ephesians! You always have a great attitiude. You're in my prayers and look forward to all the stories.
    Amanda

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