Our visiting mission pastor

It was so fun having Joe McGinnis our mission pastor from FBC, our home church in Ohio, visit us here in Kenya for three days!!  Though it was Joe’s first time to Kenya he is not a stranger to Africa.  He and his wife, Aimee, have two beautiful children they have adopted from Ethiopia and have a huge heart for all of Africa.  In fact Joe was leading a short term mission team from the church to Ethiopia and decided to swing by Kenya to meet us before heading back home to Ohio.  Aimee, I know it was a sacrifice to let Joe be gone for as long as he was.  Thank you!!

On the first day Joe came to where John and I are staying and John did the honors of cooking a good traditional Kenyan welcoming meal, chicken stew with ugali and mboga. 

Cheff John

It’s the whole chicken, including head and claws because as the Kenyans say, "How else will you know that I’m really serving you chicken and not some wildlife bird?"  Ugali which is made from millet and maize flour cooked into a hard mound similar to plenta.  And Mboga which are traditional greens, or weeds, as I know some missionaries call them =).  Joe was very adventurous and the head in the pot didn’t stop him for going in for seconds.  A nice large cup of piping hot Kenyan Chai Tea followed along with good conversation and fellowship.  Joe’s comment after the meal was, “Where’s a hammock when you need one?” 

 

Notice the size of the cup of tea Joe has =)

 

 

The second day of Joe’s visit was by far the highlight.  John and Joe went on an adventure together.  They flew to Kakamega early in the morning and flew back the same day. The reason this is such a big deal is that it was John’s first time every flying.  Joe did a great job documenting the entire experience, thank you Joe. I of course stayed back in Nairobi and prayed that would not be the day I went into labor.   To read more about this adventure Click Here.



Adventurous guys...Read More

On the last day we took Joe to Dominoes Pizza here in Kenya.  Now I must admit it was more for me than for anyone else.  I felt since I wasn’t able to join in on their adventure to Kakamega I deserved something special too. And what makes a pregnant lady happier than food?  Not much.

 

 

 

 

 

Joe’s visit was a big deal for many reasons.  It was the first time our home church has been able to come to see firsthand the ministry we are involved in here in Kenya.  It was such an answer to prayer for John to be able to take Joe all the way to Kakamega so he could see our home, our hostel project and see what ministry on ground looks like for us. 

 

 

 

A day well spent

Once on the ground in Kisumu John and Joe had to take public transportation the rest of the way.  Joe had no idea what he was in for.  In one day he flew in a plane, road in a Matatu, a public vehicle that they squish way too  many people into for any form of comfort, locally known as a "ngurue" or pig.  After that he enjoyed a ride on the back of a pikipiki, motorcycle taxi, and a boda boda, bicycle taxi and lastly a Tuk Tuk, a motorized rickshaw.  The first three they took from Kisumu to our house in Kakamega then another Matatu ride and the Tuk Tuk to get back to the airport in Kisumu. 

Here they are totally squished in the Matatu. No shoulder room guys.

No one else is smiling, haha

 

 

On the back of a Pikipiki, motorcycle taxi

 

 

Tying the luggage onto the back of a Bodaboda, bicycle taxi

On the back of a boda boda, bicycle taxi, heading to our home

A nice surprise upon arriving at our home.  The terrible road is being fixed as well as the opposite plot that used to be a dump site and attracted all the "street families".

 

 

After all the traveling John took Joe for a nice Kenyan lunch at Lawino 2000 downtown Kakamega.  They had a traditional delicacy known as "Aliya."  It is beef that has been salted and dried in the sun for five days before being made into a stew.  Of course this was accompanied by Ugali and traditional greens.

Quite a feast!!



John teaching Joe how to properly eat the meal. No silverware necessary.

In a Tuktuk, a motorized rickshaw, back to the Kisumu airport

 

About to board their flight back to Nairobi

 

John wore Joe out with all the adventure.  Apparently once back at the guest house Joe passed out while sitting up texting his wife back home and didn't wake till the following morning.  As soon as John got home he too passed out while I was talking to him.  =)

John's first flight!

Oh what a day to remember.  The flight was at 6:40am.  John had to leave the house at 3:00am to pick Joe at the guest house and head to the airport.  Needless to say with the excitement and anticipation, John didn’t sleep that night.

I woke up to see John off, kissed him on the cheek and said, “Have a good flight dear.”  That totally made John’s day =). 
 

3:00am Taxi pick up. 

 

I had always hoped to be the one to share that experience with John.  I had naughty plans of scaring him at take-off and landing so maybe it was God’s mercy that I wasn’t able to fly with them. =)  Joe was much nicer and documented the entire trip. 

 

Grabbing a cup of early morning coffee at Java House before the flight


 

Getting his boarding pass.  "They called me Sir." - John recalls with excitement


 

Walking to the plane

 

 

Boarding: "Goodbye Nairobi."

 

 

Tell your wife how excited you are =)

 

 

He knows where his exits are =)

 

 

 

The anticipation!

 

 

 

  

Take off part one:

 

 

Take off part two:

 

 

Continental breakfast.  Because it was his first flight they gave him 5 extra bags of peanuts and an extra yogurt =).  Plus he got to keep the magazines in the pocket in front of him.  These as well as napkins with "Kenya Airways" printed on them plus the unused barf bag are among John's prized souvenirs. Haha

 

 

 

 

 

In the air over Lake Victoria

 

 

Touch down. Never been so relieved to be back on the ground.

 

Proud to display his unused barf bag =)

 

 

At the Kisumu airport. John's first flight:  a success!!

 

 

 Click Here to continue reading about Joe and John's time in Kakamega before heading back to Nairobi that evening.