photos part 1

Since I can't post more than five photos at a time, I will do this in stages.

The conference took a cultural and social outing yesterday and we traveled through the Great Rift Valley and then to Lake Naivasha, a natural fresh-water lake in the Valley. The Valley is ringed in dormant volcanos making the soil very fertile in parts. The above shot is the Great Rift Valley, the mountain is a volcano. It is obviously hotter in the Valley then it is up on the Valley rim (were we are staying). Short sleeves for these midwestern girls, coats still for the Africans.

As we were traveling down the Canyon to the Valley, I hung my camera out the window just snapping away at a very fast shutter speed. I wasn't quite sure what I captured until last evening when I downloaded the images to the computer. Some of them were quite amazing. Any of the photos of the houses, the people and the countryside were blind, as in, who knew what would show up.

On the Rift Valley Road, we stopped at a place for a "kodak" moment. There were vendors and a very rickety viewing platform. Great colors for the fabrics and the buildings. Besides some of the normal shots, you get the Anna artistic shots.

Enjoy part one.

The magic switch

When Lisa and I arrived from the airport on Sunday, a shower and brushing our teeth is what we wanted most. But our room was not ready so we trotted off for breakfast and a fabulous cup of Kenyan coffee (it is the best).

Arriving at our home for the next week, a hot shower awaited. Ahhhh, you all know that feeling.

On Monday morning, I climbed in the shower and was greeted by ice cold water. And I mean cold. Quick wash up it was, and I warmed up by drying my hair.

Same thing on Tuesday morning.

Then I kind of remember an extra switch by the other switches. Lisa asked someone and yes, the magic switch! Turn it on about 30 minutes before you want hot water and voila! hot water in the shower.

The photo shows the series of switches outside of the toilet/shower area. The first two switches are for the lights, the middle switch is for hot water, and the last switch turns on the electrical outlet.

It's the little things that you learn along the way.

Yesterday was an incredible day. After the design class, we spoke to many folks who wanted to know more. There was a young man from Nepal who signed up for a private session with us so that we could critique his work. He had no formal training yet was producing a magazine as an outreach in his country. He is the writer, editor, designer and production specialist. I cannot speak to his writing ability because I cannot read his language, but his design skills are wonderful. Some tips, tricks, ideas and someone to bounce ideas off of would be all he needs. God has given him a gift. We were then invited to Nepal by his translator!

We had dinner last night with a publisher. He currently lives in England but is a Nigerian. He feels God is calling him back to his homeland to improve the state of Christian publishing. He wants to raise the standards so that more folks are attracted to the books and therefore the Word of the Lord. We were then invited to Nigeria too!

And this is a small world. I ran into a friend of a friend. Lisa met the sister of a man whom she goes to church with (and they are from Singapore).

Today is a day of rest and friendship. A class in the morning for most and then an outing to a Lake to enjoy a picnic lunch and some hiking.

Lisa's perfect afternoon

Once upon a time, a girl named Lisa went to Africa. On a perfect Kenyan afternoon, Lisa sat in the gazebo overlooking the grounds at Brackenhurst. Inspired by the surrounding countryside, she sketched. And she sketched. And she liked it. And she was happy.

Below are Lisa's sketches. Also included are photos so you know what she was looking at. And then one more photo — Lisa experimented with a new technique that she learned in Anna's photo seminar. It's the beautiful photo of the trees against the dramatic sky.

hakuna matata

Yes, that line from the "Lion King." It is a real phrase here, swahili for "no worries."

And that's how you have to take Africa. You go with it, you go with whatever comes your way and say to yourself "hakuna matata."

For instance, electricity. It goes on and off at will. The backup generators run a couple of main buildings, maybe they do, maybe they don't, but they certainly do not provide electricity to the guest rooms.

Instead, you arrive to your room to find a candle and matches. Yes, we've used the candle and matches. And then when the electricity comes back on in the middle of the night, and you've forgotten to turn off the lights in the room, you wake up.

Yesterday when I was just finishing up the PowerPoint presentation about photography, the electricity went out. We opened the curtains to the room and had the question and answer portion in the natural light. Not a bad thing. Hakuna matata.

Attached are a few more photos, including the birds mentioned in the previous post.

flora and fauna

The photography class went well. Thank you for your prayers. I had nightmares of no one showing up but had 15 to 20 people show up to learn. It was a good group, they laughed at my bad jokes and the photos of me with plants growing out of my head (photography tip #1 — make sure things in the background of your photo do not look like they are growing out of the top of your subjects' head).

Today, Lisa and I lead the first of two "Design for Non-Designers" workshops. We repeat both workshops on Thursday.

So, photos. You wanted photos. Here are a several photos for your enjoyment. Brackenhurst is a beautiful resort and Africa is an incredible place.

We don't what the yellow bird is, but the blue-black-purple-yellow bird is a Orange-breasted Sunbird. He and his song were beautiful.

There is a photo of our room included in case you were wondering if we were staying in a hut.

We couldn't add all the photos to this post. So watch out for round two and possibly three.

Running through airports, sleeping on airplanes — Part 2

Anna and Lisa prior to 30+ hours of travel. Trust me you will not be seeing an after shot!

After we were booked on EgyptAir we had a bit of time to rest at Heathrow. With food vouchers in hand Anna and I headed to a restaurant for some bangers and mash. And ugh, I forgot how in England they like to serve those roasted tomatoes with breakfast.

After filling our tummies we felt a little better but then had to figure out how to call Africa and let our contacts at the conference know that our arrival time had changed to 3:45 am. And also calling home so our dear husbands didn't worry.

Finally our gate was posted and we were boarding our flight to Cairo. Talk about not being in Kansas anymore. How strange for everything to be in Arabic first and then English. Both of us were looking at the time and getting a bit nervous. The flight was supposed to take off at 2 pm and it was approaching 2:30 pm. We could feel our connecting time for our Cairo to Nairobi flight getting shorter and shorter.

Flying EgyptAir was really an eye opening experience for two midwestern American girls. Although I live in a culturally diverse area being immersed into the Middle East culture was quite a big difference. We really did love seeing the flight safety info cartoon guy with the unibrow and the movies Pink Panther (and later, Star Trek) with Arabic subtitles.

Finally we were in the air once again and shortly there after...sleeping.

Four hours later and another time zone we were approaching Cairo. Anna always wanted to see the pyramids but unless they were illuminated by little white Christmas lights that wasn't going to happen. So with 30 minutes before our next flight we started our next Olympic dash through Cairo's airport. And, can I say, they have the slipperiest floors ever. Here we are running but having to shuffle while doing so. I think we may have actually invented a new Olympic event. After what seemed like miles of corridors and at least 5 different security points, we were on the plane to Nairobi.

I remember passing the first security point at our gate saying "Thank you, Jesus!" when directed through. And then thinking of the cultural difference. We also were taken aback when before the EgyptAir flights take off that there is prayer on the video screen to Allah. I have to admit I really wasn't paying attention the first time but Anna elbowed me, leaned over and said, "Start praying to Jesus!"

Somewhat in disbelief but mainly relieved we were on our flight to Nairobi. We didn't care if we were in the absolute last row at the back of the plane that the flight crew had intended for storage or something. Let the next round of sleeping begin.

At 4:00 am we FINALLY arrived at Nairobi Kenyatta airport. Getting through passport control and customs at 4:00 am, not a problem. We were then greeted by our transport and told we could be taken to a guest house or there were some more conference attendees coming in at 5:30 am and we could wait and all be taken together. Let's just say, I should have remembered the say that I had heard many times about "being on African time." Four hours later with a nice group of people we were driving to Brackenhurst. An hours drive from the airport.

We arrived safely at an incredibly beautiful facility that we have yet to fully explore. All I have to say is that about 34 hours later, I think it was all worth it.

Thank you for all your prayers that got us here safely. Anna and I have yet to lead our workshops so continued prayer for our teachings would be much appreciated. The theme of the conference is "One in Word." We pray that the words we say help all that receive them and that we are all one in glorifying God.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord jesus Christ — Romans 15:5-6

Running through airports, sleeping on airplanes

Where to begin. Firstly, know that we are safe, we are in one piece, our bags arrived with us and our sense of humor is in tact. Praise God for all of those things.

The adventure began with a 6 pm flight from Chicago to London. Had dinner, comfortably snoozing, as comfortable as you can be in economy class on a 777, when the pilot announced, "is there a doctor or other medical personnel on board?"

Yikes. Quick prayer for someone as we didn't know. Fell asleep again. Woke up to the pilot's voice once again, "We're going to need to make an emergency landing in Shannon, Ireland because one of the passengers needs immediate medical assistance." More prayers offered for this passenger.

Lisa had never been to Ireland. Hadn't planned on it right now, but at 6 am local time (about 2 am Chicago time), we were touching down in Ireland. Paramedics boarded the plane, did what they needed to do and took the man out the back of the plane presumably to the hospital. We didn't leave Ireland for 90 minutes. Lisa has now officially been on Irish soil. Well kind of, her feet didn't touch the Emerald Isle.

Our original flight plans had us with three hours to get from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 at Heathrow. And everyone told us we needed that kind of time.

By the time we circled, and circled, and circled, and then landed, we had less than one hour. Of course we were in the back of the plane. And the plane was full.

When we finally made it out of the plane, the Olympic sprint began. Oh my, Heathrow has got to be the biggest, longest airport with the most switchbacks, corridors, stairwells and THEN A BUS! A ten-minute bus ride to terminal 5.

We made to the security check point to find out they had closed the boarding line two minutes before us. We were, hot, sweaty, hungry and thirsty and about to stand in line to find out that British Air was going to send us back on all of those switchbacks, corridors and stairwells and bus ride to Terminal 3.

There we encountered a security line which snaked for about 30 minutes. It's like we had left the airport and never been inside. Started that process again of taking out the macbook pro, taking off the belt, the jacket, the quart-sized baggie with liquids, but not the shoes.

The gal at American Airlines found out that we were on AA#86 and therefore knew all about the emergency. She was trying everything she knew to get us on a direct flight to Nairobi, but it was booked solid. Next option — Johannesburg then Nairobi. Don't think so. Last option was going to Cairo on Egyptian Air with a connecting flight to Nairobi.

The next leg of running through airports and sleeping on airplanes began.

Since we're getting ready for dinner we'll need to finish this story tomorrow.

The conference is awesome but Africa is even more awesome.

Two prayer requests:

Pray for the man who was taken to the hospital in Ireland.

Pray for me (Anna) as the first photography workshop is tomorrow.