Random thoughts about our trip to Kenya

• "Good morning sunshine!"
• Hello rain!
• Watch out they pee!!!
• Wet paint in the sink, on the floor, but none on the wall.
• "The best dip ever!!!"
• Fahrenheit to Celsius?...we don't have a clue.
• Ruffles, pink clothes, and tights are ok for boys, right???
• Auntie! Auntie! Uncle! Babu???
• Need a sedative? Try a swing.
• Fall asleep before 9pm? Hakuna matata. We'll wake you up in time for milk!!!
• They'll sleep anywhere and on anything.
• In case of emergency, we provide our own cow midwife!!!
• Climbing like monkeys, laughing like hyenas, screaming and crying like howler monkeys, but in the end they are all precious little angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jodi Polhemus & Stephanie Wong

More bumps and dust and a cheetah!!!

This morning started out with a game drive on our way out of the park. We spotted a group of vans and went to investigate. When we got there we discovered that someone had spotted a cheetah way out in the distance playing with a tiny baby gazelle. It was fascinating to watch the cheetah toy with its prey. Then we continued on our bumpy, dusty journey on the typical roads of Kenya towards Nairobi. Tomorrow we plan to do some shopping and bargaining in the market before we catch our flight to London around 11pm. Please pray for a safe journey home and that all our flights will be on time and all our luggage will make it to Chicago.

Jodi P. and Stephanie W.

Our Goal: A Rhino!

We woke this morning to two elephants eating trees off our back porches. It was so amazing to be so close to such enormous wild animals. We then headed out for an early morning game drive in order to catch the animals at their busiest. We had good luck as we were able to see the elusive leopard lounging in a tree. Number 4 of the big 5. We saw many herds of zebra and wildebeast and various other animals. We were just heading in to breakfast when the drivers got the call that there were lions close by. We found two male and one female laying very near the road and were able to get a close look at these majestic animals. We were also able to take a lot of great pictures! We went back to relax at the hotel until the afternoon game drive. The local monkeys were up to no good and went into two of our rooms. After diligently warning everyone to not leave their door open because the monkeys would get in, Jolinda decided to just run a few doors down to borrow a transformer. When she arrived back moments later she realized she had not shut the door and walked in on a monkey sitting on her bed. He had helped himself to a sucker and mint out of her bag. Then later, after feeding the monkeys some peanuts, Brent and Joan were surprised that one of the monkeys decided to boldly open their patio door and run in to the room for the jar of peanuts. They stood there in shock and yelled but it took a guard and a rock to get the jar back. Our team was unaware that at lunch our drivers prayed that we would find a black rhino in the afternoon. And only heard about it after we very quickly found a black rhino right out in the open that afternoon. We also enjoyed a beautiful African sunset before heading in. The hotel treated us to a "Bush Dinner" by candlelight out under the stars complete with Lobster and Steak Kabobs! The Masai dancers took turn seeing how high they could jump. The one who jumped the highest was supposed to get the girl. And in this case Abigail was chosen. She respectfully declined. Pete also joined in on the dance and a great time was had by all.

Masai Mara

After a 4 hour trip we arrived at our hotel in the Masai Mara National Park. The road back to the Mara is as bumpy as usual, and again we were wondering if it was really worth it! Then we saw the giraffe standing right by the road and pulled close enough to touch it. We also saw elephant, buffalo, zebra and various other animals all before getting to our hotel! On our first drive we saw three of the big five animals: the elephant, lion, and buffalo. David, who is one of our drivers/safari guides managed to get his van stuck while trying to cross an area that was steep and muddy. He tried to get out of the ditch with everyone in the van but was unsuccessful. He eventually had to have all 7 of his passengers get out of the van (which is illegal and dangerous to do in the park) in order to get the van out of the mud. While those 7 members of the team waited in the grass the other 7 of us stood in the other van (where we were safe) and kept our eyes open for predators. We also were entertained by the hippos at our hotel as well as vervet monkeys. A bird came in the window and was eating the butter at the next table from ours so we all checked ours for beak marks! We truly enjoyed God's magnificent creation and his protection on all of our travels.

Leaving the babies

We left the baby center this morning with only a few tears shed and lots of last minute hugs and kisses. It was hard to think some of us will never see these little ones again. And even those who do come back will miss those that have been adopted. Our prayers will remain with them always as we continue to pray for families to come forth to adopt them and that they know Jesus as their personal savior. We traveled to Tenwek Hospital with a stop at the Tea Hotel for lunch. The road back to the hospital is still one of the roughest in Kenya, but hope is on the horizon as there is a new road being built. It surprised the team that the area right around Tenwek is so crowded with people selling food, cooking food, etc. It was like it's own little city with a lumber yard, school, etc. The hospital even has a tailor, restaurant and power provided by a hydro electric dam. It also surprised the team that the area where the missionaries homes were was so beautiful with flowers and plants everywhere. The work that they are doing is of great value and we prayed that God would continue to bless them. We learned that they will soon be able to perform their first cardiothoracic surgery. A team is coming that will help them set up an open heart surgery suite. They will also provide education for the doctors, nurses, etc. We were able to spend some time with Jeff & Christine Stanfield, Faith Shingledecker and Anna who are missionaries at Tenwek. It was a lot of fun and a valuable experience for everyone.

Church and a cow!

Today we walked next door to the Ngata AGC Church for Sunday service. We were able to join in with the Kenyans as we praised and worshiped together. We all had to stand up in front of the church and introduce ourselves. We were all extremely happy that they didn't ask us to sing!!! Half of the group split the children up into 3 classes for Sunday School. The rest of stayed in the Church to listen to Pete talk about "Secrets Revealed." Prior to this trip God told Pete that if he was given the opportunity to share he was to say "Yes," and God even provided Pete with the topic. Isn't it amazing how God provides and knows exactly what is going to happen?!?! Pete did such a great job speaking to the whole church that you would never guess that he doesn't do this at home. All the kids thought all the white people (Wazungu in Swahili) were CRAZY during Sunday School, and ended up teaching the Wazungu songs in Swahili. We drove to Nakuru for lunch after church with Staci and her twin boys, Solomon and Gifton (former baby center residents). When we got back to Ngata, all the men piled into the Range Rover and went to visit the land where the well is going to be dug. While they were checking out the land, Brent noticed that the neighbors next door had a heifer in labor who was having some difficulty. Brent immediately went over and asked them if they needed help. In the end it took 4 grown men and a rope to deliver the calf safely!!! God always provides for those in need!!!

Jodi Polhemus & Stephanie Wong

Kenya: Baby Steps

Against Jamie's wishes we painted Margie's apartment ceiling white. We joined the Kenyan woman's meeting in a Kenyan home with 70 women in one room. Bev Lambright said it best, we no longer have an excuse that our homes are too small to invite 70 people over for tea and fellowship. No one wanted to leave becuase we enjoyed the worship and fellowship so much. Abigail has offered to be Margie's house helper and return with the March team (if she feels like it by then). The local Kenyan women prepard ugali for lunch but not many of the team enjoyed it. It rained hard again but the sun did shine for a little bit and time was spent with the babies on the playground. Another small step was taken toward resolving the water issue with a drilling permit secured at the local water ministry here. We thank you all for prayers and support. Bwana Asifiwe (which means "Praise to the Lord" in Swahili). God bless.

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: Random Activites of the Day

• Against Jamie's wishes we painted Margie's red ceiling
• Margie's cabinets are finished and painted
• We were finally able to dry clothes after several days of rain
• We lost Kaylynn and Jodi for awhile and finally found them "organizing the baby clothes closet" but really they were playing with the babies
• It is raining again tonight as it has every night since we arrived
• Could someone let Abigail's parents know she is not planning on returning...she loves it and if anyone has a problem call Jamie (Ha just kidding!)
• Bernie found Bev hanging out a second story window and made her come in...she was washing windows...they look great!

Well gotta go the babies are calling! We are loving them and giving them hugs for all of you! Thanks for the prayers and God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

2008 10 Kenya Team Picture

Front Row: Katelyn Bussard, Stephanie Wong, Tracy Bussard, Jamie Lengacher, Abigail Carpenter (?)
Second Row: Joan High, Beverly Lambright, Pete Carpenter, Jolinda Lengacher
Back Row: Brent High, Bernie Lambright, Tina Carpenter, Margie Helmuth, Jodi Polhemus

Kenya: The Meeting

The first meeting of the AGC Baby Center board was held today at the Baby Center. Jamie Lengacher represented NMC in this meeting and spent 6 hours of his day here. Everything went well and many goals were decided for the coming year. The rest of the team painted the apartment that Jeremy and Nichole Greenly (Brad and Kelly Fishbourne's son-in-law) will be staying in January. They also did laundry and washed windows before spending more time with the babies. The most meaningful time was the opportunity to spend time in prayer for everything that is happening. God is good! God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: What We Did Today

Things we did today...

1. Milked a cow
2. Played with babies outside
3. Made sure Margie Helmuth and Stephanie Wong's space heater was installed, the only source of heat we have, at least they are warm, ha.
4. Ate lunch in Nakuru and saw Jon Steury and Robert Langat. Both have been visible in the baby center leadership, and it was fun to spend time with them.
5. Bought 2 pineapples, 2 avocados, and a bunch of cilantro for under $3 at the market.
6. Lost power and ate by candlelight
7. Learned to bargain for souvenirs

Time for bed, goodnight, love you all. God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: The Fever

Our whole team has come down with a fever bad, and there is no hope in getting over it. We have come to accept our fate along with everyone here at the AGC Baby Center, we have an incurable baby fever. It didn't help our cause when we held three of the babies here, Paul, Isaiah, and Abigail. Their sweet faces reminded us again what a great work God is doing here. Pictures will come later. God bless.

Jamie Lengacher

Kenya: Heading Out

I sit at Ohare airport with 13 others waiting on our first flight to London. It is exciting to see 9 first-timers on this trip. Tracy Bussard and her daughter Kaylyn, Peter and Tina Carpenter, Abigail Carpenter, Stephanie Wong, Jodi Polhemus and Brent and Joan High round out the first-timers. Bernie and Bev Lambright, Margie Helmuth and Jolinda and I make up the rest of our team. We are excited to bring new faces to the baby center. I cannot wait to watch them catch the baby center "fever".

The last two weeks has been emotional to say the least for me and my family. The sudden loss of my brothers wife at 39 is hard to understand. What I do know is God is faithful and he loves us. He also wants us to keep moving forward even when we hurt. That is why we will continue to "press on". I thank you all for the love and support you have shown my family. God bless!

Jamie Lengacher

Margret - September 2008

These pictures were taken of Margret by Jolinda Lengacher when in Kenya in September 2008 for the dedication of the baby center. She loves to dress up in cute little dresses! Margie is 2 1/2 years old.

September 2008 Baby Slideshow