The Long Walk

The walking journey from our duplex on lower station below Kijabe Hospital to Amelia's school at upper station has many detours on the way.
7:23 AM - Off to school we go.

7:25 - Climbing Gravel Mountain.

7:28 - Past Kijabe Hospital and watching out for Matatus dropping patients.

7:31-7:34 - Stop to pick up a Weaver Bird nest that dropped from the tree above.

7:37 Tight-rope walking along side the curb.

7:39 - Stop to touch the Sap Stump.

7:41 - Up the gigantic steps of the outdoor amphitheater.

7:43- A pause to quench our thirst.

7:46 - Finally a flat part of our walk across the soccer field.

7:49 - Always time to hang from the soccer goal.

7:53 - Stop to take a swing.


7:56- Made it with 4 minutes to spare before the school bell rings.

Amelia & Meredith

"It's hard playing against 3rd grade boys, but pink sweat pants make me run faster."


Some of Meredith's theological thoughts, "God is God. God is always by your side even when you go to church. God can take your heart and scrub it clean."


My favorite song I am learning is "Jingle Bells." But I usually play with my eyes open.


Me and Flower eating some carrots.

Meet Odete Lauren Friess

Meredith Lauren Friess has been informing everyone that as of her 4th birthday, December 16th, she is changing her name to Odete Lauren Friess. Odete is the name of her favorite dancing princess and therefore Meredith hopes to become her by changing her name!

Meredith also told me that,"God made Uncle Jason very silly!" I asked her how God made her and she exuberantly exclaimed, "God made me happy!" Of course I was delighted when she added, "And God made mommy beautiful."

Last night she went to bed complaining that I only gave her 1 dinner and she wanted at least 2. She also persuaded me to keep the quilt I made for the maternity ward and put it in her bedroom by exclaiming, "Mommy, that is the most beautiful quilt I've ever seen. I love it! Please, please, please can you put it in my room so I always can look at it?"

Meredith brings much joy to our family and it is a gift to have her call me "Mommy."

Do airlines discriminate against kids?

There are 30 rows of seats on the average passenger airplane (64 rows on a 747 and around 35 on a 757). If half of the flyers preselect their seat and are granted their request, then those who have not preselected have a 1/15 chance of being in any particular row (6% probability).

On our recent trip back to the United States we had 6 different flights between the cities of Nairobi, Dubai, San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle. On each of the flights we preselected seats in the middle of the plane. On 3 of those flights (even though our seating request had been preselected) we glanced at our ticket and saw seats 64 A,B,C,D. So Sara and I and two very tired girls took the long walk past first class, past the first row of bathrooms, past coach, past the second row of bathrooms, and turned to our left just before the drink cart and stow-away seat. I mean, come-on the very back row on 3 of 6 flights (and this is not the first time) seems like more than chance.

We tried to sleep any way possible even using the lap tray to rest on but couldn't in chairs that wouldn't recline. Sara was bumped and disturbed by the doors of the restroom directly behind our seats. And of course we deboarded the airplane as the very last passengers.

It costs 4 cents to fly 1 pound 1000 miles. Amelia and Meredith weigh combined 90 lbs. That is about 1/3 that of the combined weight of an average couple 270 lbs. Amelia and Meredith pay the same fare as an adult on all domestic flights. The flight distance from Seattle to Kenya is approximately 10,000 miles. Amelia and Meredith's weight savings in cost of fuel not needed for the airlines is over $700 one way.

Do airlines intentionally seat young children at the back of the plane? Do they use online reservation age information to discriminate? Do they want these kids out of sight and out of mind in the back of the plane to retain a more professional class at the front of the plane? Is it fair when these little kids (although noisy and with a tendency to kick the chair of the passenger to the front) actually save airlines significantly in fuel costs? (Amazingly each flight could save $23 in fuel costs due to decreased weight if passengers relieved themselves before boarding.)

Has this happened to any other families with young kids or maybe I'm just imagining a conspiracy?

Manners

Meredith has a way about her that's all her own. Probably every parent appreciates the uniqueness found in each of their children and look at certain traits in their children and wonder, "Where did they get that?" or "What possessed them to do that?"  

The other night Meredith got down from dinner stood near me with her hand raised and bowed as she said, "Queen mommy, may I please be excused from the dinner table." Last night she said at dinner, "Mommy, would you be so kind and please just get out the strawberries for me from the fruit salad?" I'm not sure what has triggered this fantastic and funny display of manners, but hope it continues!

How Can A Church Support Its Missionary Kids?

  Yesterday back at our church in Ohio (Westminster Presbyterian) over 100 kids "Gathered At The Baobab Tree" for Vacation Bible School, just as Amelia & Meredith did at WPC in 2008.   Denise and the other VBS coordinators picked an Africa themed curriculum (Baobab Blast) to help bring their VBS kids and our kids (Meredith & Amelia) together in God's ultimate mission even though we are continents apart.

So how could a church bring its VBS program and our MKs (Amelia & Meredith) together?  A skype date was arranged.  Below you can see Meredith talking in our back-yard on our computer in Africa with the entire VBS crew back on their projection screen at our church in Akron, Ohio.   

The kids at VBS had a lot of good questions about what it is like to be an MK in Africa for Amelia & Merdedith:  What is your desk like at school?  What is the name of your dog?  What season is it now in Africa?  What kind of animals do you see?

      The VBS kids sang us their "Babobab Blast" theme song with lots of spirit.  Amelia taught her friends how to say "school" in Swahili.  To end the VBS kids packed up a box of stuffed animals and toys they gave and are sending to Africa.  This generous donation will be graciously received and distributed in the Children's Ward here at Kijabe Hospital.  

Amelia & Meredith say Asante Sana (Thank-you very much) to the VBS crew at WPC!

Stars & Stripes

    Amelia & Meredith scream, "Happy 4th of July!"

 

   Amelia, Meredith, Claire, and Ford....I think some firecrackers were exploding! 

Skating

It would be so much better with pictures (but we forgot the camera!). Last night was Titchie Skating party. Amelia proudly rollerbladed around the basketball court too many times to count... of course the humungous, homemade ice-cream sandwiches the kids got gave plenty of energy. But Meredith stoled the show with one shoe, one oversized skate and a whole lot of energy! She also had a red koolaid mustache, bright green top with discordant skirt and leggings, pigtails and kept saying in her loud voice, "Look at me! I don't need any help!" This was a photo opportunity we really shouldn't have missed.

Meredith & Friend

This is really not her friend, but I figure I ought to write down a few of Meredith's funny phrases before she stops saying them and they are lost forever.

"How come when I get out of the shower, the air is all froggy out."

"Mommy, can we have chips and Brocomole?"

"I want to go to Naiwobi."

"When we go on Nafari, can we see the flamangoes."

she sings--
"Where is beautiful Mommy?
There she is.
God loves beautiful Mommy.
I do to. I do to."

Kijabe Matatu Service

      Amelia is the driver and Meredith the captain.  

Creativity

Maybe in your career (stay at home parent, teacher, accountant, pastor, construction, engineer, business owner) like ours, you find your day not so much filled with what you were educated to do (teaching, preaching, designing, leading, operating) but more filled with problem solving. Sara and I have both had many days like that:

1) Your resident is not here today and has asked for an emergency day off to get her hair done for a wedding. Can you talk to her?
2) Your patient is here (5 year old) from Mombassa (6 hours away) for full mouth restorations and our portable compressor is down. Can you talk to their family and let them know we will have to reschedule?
3) Another high-school student wants to observe a delivery in maternity ward (the last one fainted) and they have no medical experience. Should we allow people to hospital gaze? Do we need a policy? But we don't want to discourage people?
4) Our new financial management software for dental is up and running? How does it work? Don't we need another computer? We are now going to be collecting our own fees? Can we get a safe? We need another receptionist don't we? Can we hire?
5) The nurse midwifes are not comfortable with breach deliveries and the use of vacuum and forceps. They are requesting (if not demanding) more and more c-sections. How do we change the practice philosophy and their attitudes to get our c-section rate down?
6) The staff is not coming to devotions in the morning. Do I make it mandatory? Do we eliminate devotions and just see patient from the get/go? Are the devotions I'm leading just not relevant, inspiring, or interesting to their live?
7) Our phones lines at our house have not worked for 5 days. I have called maintenance 8 times. Sara is on-call tonight and needs phone service....what else can I do?
8) The patient is demanding infertility treatment..but she is single, or perhaps HIV+. Can you explain the ethical issues to this patient from a Christian perspective,,,and they only speak Kikuyu. How do I talk to them?
9) The country of Kenya is out of IV ampicillan. What should we do?
10) They already orally intubated your dental patient before you could arrive in Theatre, but you need access to the full mouth and needed nasal intubation. What to do?

These are just a few examples of the problems we try to solve each day (many don't get solved). Some do by God's grace. Having the ability to communicate clearly, compassionately, and patiently cross-culturally becomes a paramount skill. The mechanics and science of medicine and dentistry at times seem easy compared to managing these type of problems.

I think we as a family need creative outlets. Maybe you find this as well. Doing something that does not present with a problem (how can I fix it), but presents with a blank template (I get to create). Maybe this is gardening (an empty flower-bed), fishing (tying a new fly), book club (sharing a new idea).



I think kids have a lesson for adults in creativity. How much of their time (pretending, playing house, coloring, gluing, acting, dancing) is spent on creative activities? Indeed if we are made in the image of God (He is a creator) being creative is an important part of who we are. It does not take much. Amelia, Meredith, and a few rocks become a sparkly dust factory.



Sara and I have both found blogging as an outlet for creativity. A blank post is soon filled with opinions, pictures, feelings, and stories. Some fabric, an idea, and a used sewing machine and Sara is quilting.

Original Sin

"Mommy, I want to wear the dress Claire gave me,"
"No Meredith, your dress is fine. Do you want a snack before your nap?"
"Yes Mommy, can I have cereal?"
Bowl of cereal poured. Mommy goes upstairs to get something. Comes down to find Meredith, the table and floor, covered in cereal, and Meredith crying, "I need a new dress; this is wet."
"Meredith did you do this on purpose?"
"Yes Mommy, I sorry, but I need to wear Claire's dress," she says through the tears.

Well, now Claire's dress and cereal are not part of Meredith's life for 3 days.

Princess Band-aids

Meredith said she had two itches and was proud to show me her medical care.

BucketHead

As Sara begins to pack & Meredith unpack what Sara has packed for Daniel & Laura's wedding next Saturday Meredith and I have started a little conversation we repeat several times a day.
"Meredith what am I going to do when you go to Nanna and Papa's House."
"Daddy, I might miss you."
"What will I do?"
"Daddy I will call you on the phone or the Skype."
"Meredith, Amelia & I will miss you and Mommy."
Meredith then covers my mouth with her hand and says, "Daddy, don't talk about that. It's too sad."
We are excited that Sara and Meredith will be home for Daniel & Laura's wedding. We'll pray for a safe trip for them from Kijabe to Nairobi to Amsterdam to Seattle to Oak Harbor and back again!

1st day of 1st Grade

Amelia woke-up earlier, got dressed and then had to wait to walk to school. She had her new outfit on (courtesy of Nana) and a new backpack (thanks to Grammie). Meredith also put on her coat and backpack and thought she would be going to school as well. 

I think the day was a success. Amelia's been talking about school since coming home, and looks forward to collecting the "four things to share about me" for Friday. I think the biggest problem is going to be settling on only 4 things! 

This was also an exciting day for me as Dr. Sharon Morad (OB) began working and we will be together the next year. We've got a busy day lined-up for tomorrow and I'm grateful for her help!

On Being a Missionary

When I grew up (Malin writing now) I always thought missionaries were kind of peculiar people.  Some summer sunday evening a missionary would come to share at our church.   They were always wearing awkward clothes and trying to get you to eat strange foods.  Then they would pray or preach in a foreign language.   I use to think that is great, but not for me.

   Here I am now, no Sara and I, no really Sara, Amelia, Meredith and myself living as missionaries.   God has called our whole family.  We, as a family, are trying to determine what that means together.   How will God shape us?  How will God use our hands in the dental clinic, in the hospital...and how will He use the smallest hands in our family as Meredith makes a friend?   

our little wrecking ball

Just a few days shy of 14 months old and Meredith is walking. She is gleeful about her newfound skill but still quite wobbly on her small feet. She has the unfortunate tendency to not fall sideways or forwards but straight on her back!

Meredith's First Steps!!

Meredith's 1st Birthday

Happy 1st Birthday Meredith! We celebrated with Nana and friends, Amy, Derek, Sarah and Quinn. Meredith does not seem to have the sweet tooth her sister does. She played more with her cake than ate. Meredith is busy enjoying the rocking elephant, bike, dolls and other toys she received. She did figure out that besides being fun to ride, if she pushes the toy elephant over and then climbs to stand on top of it she can reach more things. We've also had to block all stairways since she started crawling. I still don't think it's ever occured to Amelia to try to crawl ontop of something.