Last Wednesday evening was special, if slightly surreal, as we ate pizza followed by a most delicious Sudanese soup with Justin’s Aunty Anne and Uncle Ray. We are still in Nairobi but the soup was a gift from a Sudanese neighbour and I want the recipe! Together we watched the DVD of Justin’s grandfather’s/Anne’s father’s funeral service as this occurred just after we arrived in Kenya. It was special to see the fruit his life as a Christian had reaped both in his own and future generations. We then said our farewells to Anne and Ray who are now back in the UK on furlough. Even in their absence they are blessing us as we look after a good collection of books and DVDs for them!

On Thursday Deborah had lunch out with some girlfriends at Amani Ya Juu. This is a women’s cooperative who make the most beautiful crafts (and lunches!), providing employment to at least 50 women from all over Africa who have been affected by wars and ethnic conflicts. It was so good that we had a return visit on Saturday which enabled Justin to do a bit of birthday present shopping!

Our Saturday was very special as we met up with a friend, Zillah, who was training at All Nations with us and was in Nairobi for a few days before going on to Uganda. She introduced us to another British family who are on their way to Madagascar but waiting in Nairobi until the political situation there has calmed down. The kids were very happy playing together (which meant the grown-ups actually got to have whole conversations!) as we explored the Arboretum and then the playground at Amani Ya Juu.

Sunday was also very sociable as we enjoyed church and lunch afterwards together with Zillah; hosted our first impromptu visitors during the afternoon (which made us feel we really are starting to belong) and then enjoyed an informal time of singing, Bible study and samosas with our upstairs neighbours/team-mates in the evening.

Just so that you don’t think it’s all play… Monday we were back to individual Arabic study, water project meetings, doing the washing and shopping, teaching ‘tricky words’ in school, and having Arabic conversation class in the afternoon. These are fun things too though and our local supermarket actually has more of the cool ‘car’ trolleys (mums of small kids will know what I mean) than Tesco in Cambridge – just a shame they don’t take 2 passengers!