Just some random things about living here..

In Nairobi, if you're driving down a big hill, give plenty of space to the large water truck, or Citi Hoppa (city bus) in front of you. In fact, give lots of space to any large vehicle in front of you when going down a hill. Mostly because the hills going down immediately go back up and many of these vehicles can't quite make it up the hill. In which case they stop, even more black clouds of exhaust come pouring out then normal as their engines work in overdrive to get the rest of the way up the hill. In the off chance that it can't make it, random men will jump out, or appear from nowhere and place large rocks behind the tires to stop it from rolling backwards. And if that doesn't happen... you will watch the vehicle roll backwards- towards your car. This has happened to me. I was fine since I had given space to get out of the way. But yesterday was a weird day driving, I was reminded of this rule over and over again as I saw 5-7 large trucks/buses stuck on their way uphill, large rocks wedged behind their tires, long lines of cars waiting to get around them.

I was also reminded yesterday that I am hormonal. This shows itself in my driving- I get so irate here when driving!!! I have no idea how most people here learn how to drive, I suspect that they never have. It's absolutely infuriating and ridiculous at moments. Driving is bedlam at times, and being pregnant/hormonal while driving brings out the worst in my temperament. I yelled at 2 drivers yesterday. People think it's rough driving in NYC, or that Boston drivers are aggressive. HA! I'd like to see those people survive an hour driving around Nairobi! All this too say, I'm not exactly proud of the responses that I had to those drivers, and have been asking God to help me!

We have rats that keep trying to invade our house. Hot husband obliterated a broom trying to kill one in the kitchen. He ended up trapping it in a box, putting that in a garbage bag, and then beating the bag/box against the marble walkway outside... Till the guards came and assured him that the rat had to be dead, and he was waking the other tenants. This is the thing. We live on the 2/3rd floor. They literally are scaling the wall outside to get to our kitchen window ledge, and the attached outdoor laundry area. *sigh. The specific rat that met Hot Husbands wrath- climbing into the kitchen via a top window. He had to climb GLASS to get into that window. These Kenyan rats are scary, freaky, and genius. But not genius enough to figure out the hot pink pellets I put out, doused in vanilla extract are actually POISON! BWA-HAHA-HA!!! (evil laugh!) Yes, so there are lot of them, and every night they eat all the poison, and the next night I put out more. I would use something else, but I've been to 4 stores and it was between hot pink rat poison pellets, and this sticky mat that you put down and their feet stick to it. Um. Heck no?!! Do I really want to wake in the morning to find a rat on a sticky mat screeching at me to un-stick his feet?

In Nairobi when it rains, you may not be able to get through to anyone on your cell, and your DSTV satellite tv service may suddenly not work at all. Also the internet will randomly become completely useless. People will drive as if they've never seen rain before, and a drive that would normally take 15 minutes in traffic could take 2 hours. Luckily the rainy seasons are the only seasons they have here. Imagine if they had snow? The whole country would shut down!

On a personal note:
I'm in week 16 and not puking. Rooibos tea in the night has been a major lifesaver with that, meaning that I'm also not eating like a horse to ward off puking constantly. The result? I haven't gain anything. However, sadly, I have lost 2 pounds the last two weeks because of an awful cold that has me barely hungry- and only eating because I know the baby needs it. This pregnancy in the weight department- so far- is proving to be very different then when I had Cute Child. At this point I think I had already gained 10+ pounds. I'm still in regular clothes, and currently look like I have a large beer gut. I will start gaining soon no doubt!

We are learning a lot personally as we are being stretched in ways financially that we haven't in the past. Without going into the details, please just keep us in prayer.

Burst into Song

This is my friend Kerri. And Sozo is the church that Hot Husband and others (like Kerri) all planted years ago. Sozo is very different now. It doesn't really exist as it did, and well, they have big titles for leaders, and do and preach things/doctrines I just don't subscribe to, nor agree with...

but watching this video, this one of Kerri's new song, brought tears to my eyes... One thing remains the same. The desire to worship, to pour love on the One who saves us, to let Him pour His love back on us. It was good for me to see that is still there.
Her song is on itunes- it's good. It's great. Go get it.




I won't be afraid,
I won't suffer shame
The Lord is my tower
I'll hold onto His name
He's calling me back
He's making me dance
Looking ahead
Forgetting my past
His unfailing love for me
Can't be shaken
Even though the mountains move
Burst into song
Shout for joy
Don't hold back
Don't hold back
And all your tears
Will wash away
All the pain
Till joy remains
(till joy remains)
-Kerri Lee Smith