Unsuccessful Baking Experience

Yep, that's the hole that burned right through the pan.

I tried baking a cake and ended up with a hole burned right through my brand new pan/sufaria and a burnt cake:(  I've never really been known for my cooking/baking skills but seriously??

To bake here we take two large pans, place one upsidedown on top of the other. This creates the "oven". Then inside you put a couple of rocks on the bottom and put the pan with the cake batter on top of the small rocks. Place the "oven" on the gas burner and bake for about 30-40 minutes and you supposed to have a nice cake.

While the cake was baking I looked inside the "oven" to check it and saw a flame in there. I couldn't figure out what was causing it. Then realized there was a hole! I went back to the shop where I had bought it and told them about it, they said "you shouldn't cook with such a hot flame". Really, it's a pan! Anyway, they ended up giving me a new pan but I'm going to have to buy better quality pans that are thicker. Can't be wasting good cakes!

View From My Room- Mt. K!

I finally moved into my bedroom! It's great to be unpacked and a bit settled. However, the best part was waking up the first morning to a clear view of the sun rising behind Mt. Kenya!

The picture doesn't do it justice but Mt. K is the second tallest mountain in Africa at 17,057 feet (5,199 meters). To put it into perspective, Mt. Whitney in California is the tallest in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters).

Furniture Angels Needed

As the house is getting closer to completion, it is time to start buying furniture. To keep cost low we buy the materials and supply them to the local carpenter who makes them.

This is a significant undertaking and we could really use help. If you are interested in helping us furnish the house you can send money to my paypal account: sheilamurph@yahoo.com (no Y on the Murphy) 

or mail to:
Sheila Murphy
301 Murphy Dr.
Pacific, MO 63069 USA

The furniture listed below is needed to accommodate the kids who will be staying during school breaks as they don't have family to go home to.
$250- 1 Bunk bed, mattresses and bedding. 10 needed.
$1,000 - Dining room table and 16 chairs
$500- 1 Couch, 3 needed
$175- 1 Living room chair, 2 needed
$50- 1 coffee table, 2 needed.
$200- 1 guest bed, mattress and bedding. 2 needed.
$300- outdoor table and chairs
$20- outdoor bench, 3 needed
$10- 1 stool, 5 needed
$35- 1 bookshelf, 3 needed
$35- 1 night stand, 2 needed
$75- desk and chair

St. G Kids

When I'm not going to town to get supplies for the house I am at St. G visiting with the kids. We spend time talking, playing, braiding hair, washing clothes and practicing math and English. The kids are full of energy and fun to be with.

People who knew me during my Peace Corps service know that one little guy stole my heart, Karanja. He came to St. G in late 2005 at age 4. He couldn't walk, talk or chew but this kid was full of love and smiles (he is in my profile pic with the big smile). Karanja is now about 11 (many of our kids don't know their actual birth date) and so healthy. Look how tall he is!

  Karanja in 2005

Karanja now- He's getting so tall!

Our youngest, Ian, 5 yrs old and full of energy!

Karanja washing his clothes. I try to help but he is much better at it than I am. I get the water and hang them on the line, he does the washing.

Keep Going

Today was a tough day.  We have been having issues with students getting back to school after break, more needs for the house, kids without basic necessities, my power source that I just got to charge my phone and computer broke, I walked 4 miles home carrying 20 pounds of supplies..... With so many challenges, difficulties and needs I was doubting if being here is the right thing. The mountain of obstacles can be overwhelming and I was feeling defeated before even beginning.  But then I received the kindest message (see below) from one of our students. I believe it is God's way of saying, "keep going, you are on track".

"i wonder what a price i can offer 2 u more than prayers and thanks in this mothers day since u took all responsibility that my mum wud do, may she R.I.P and i say 2 her that i have a mum who catered 4 me with a great love. Sheila i will keep to pray 4 u in all the days of my life. If it were not 4 u, i would be somebody else than i am 2day."

First Visitor!

One of our college students stayed with us yesterday. He said it was the first time in about five years that he has felt welcomed and at home.
That was the best compliment I could receive! The house is still under construction but it is already feeling like home:)
I am excited that another of our college students will be visiting this weekend. The begining of many great memories.

House Update

I moved into our house last week! However, it isn't complete yet. I am living in a construction zone and it has been raining daily so the house is surrounded by a mud pit!

Love their ladders!

Kitchen

We did not have water for over a week because the water pipe was clogged about 2 km from the house. Fixing it is the responsibility of the community which means each home is supposed to send someone to help dig to find where the clog is and then fix it. Many people have backup water tanks so they had water on reserve and were not interested in fixing it. Unfortunately, we hadn't bought our water tank yet and were out of water. That meant we had to use the outhouse and couldn't bathe. Finally, after a few days they were able to get about eight guys to dig and were able to fix the problem. But the water is only supplied Monday - Friday (this is how it is scheduled) and of course they fixed it on Friday afternoon so we had to wait until Monday to actually get water. No electricity is one thing, but no water is tough to deal with.

A group of women were coming from church just as I was arriving with my belongings and they helped to carry them to the house, thank goodness!

The kitchen is coming along but isn't yet finished so we are cooking and eating in a bedroom for now. And my bedroom isn't finished so I'm still living out of my suitcase. We are adding patios on the back of the house that have amazing views of Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare Mt Range! I'm guessing we have at least one more month until the house is complete...

Kitchen

The internet at the house is slow but I'm at least able to log into Facebook and email. However, it is too slow to upload pictures, so to do this I have to go to the internet cafe in Nyeri. Nyeri is an hour away after my 20 minute walk to the roadside and the time it takes to wait for the matatu. And for most phone calls I have to go outside for reception but it is better than having to walk up the hill! 

So the simple life comes with it's challenges, but overall I'm happy to be here! It's good to be able to work with the fundi (carpenter) and have input on final touches. But most importantly I now have time to spend with the kids at St. G!

Pictures from KEF Workshop

Students in a small group project

Nazarene University where the workshop was held. A beautiful campus!

A sign of success- when you are asked to speak about your successful business! Bochi talking to the students about his briquette business.

My awesome students!

Samuel pointing to his dorm

Dominic, KEF Director, and Juliani,a famous Kenyan musician, who spoke to our students.

Formal dinner on the last night. To determine seating assignments they had the girls go in first and leave a shoe at the door then the guys had to pick a shoe and find the girl it belonged to, fun!

Kimathi and I at dinner

The whole Crew! Can you find the white girl:)

All of the girls were getting their picture taken. This is the guys taking their picture, yes everyone has a cell phone!