Down To Earth

And here is Michael again.
But with his feet very firmly on the ground this time.
Just to prove that he doesn't spend all his time in mid-air.
Michael and I are 2 of just 10 men who work here permanently.
Most days we all take our lunch together in the workshop.
And once a week (on Tuesday) we study the Bible together.
We have just finished a study on Marriage & Sexual Morality.
I've learned a lot about African traditions & customs from my fellow team members.
Wonder what we'll study next?
Guy

Groundsman?

We have a great team of groundsmen here.
This one is Michael.
Well and truly off the ground at this point.
Having climbed a ladder & walked along a ledge to water the plants outside our bedroom window.
Clearly, a very balanced person.
Guy

Muddy Madam

Farrah and I got caught in a downpour the other evening.
This was the state of Farrah's legs by the time we got home.
There is a dirt track between us and our local shops, which can quickly turn into a mud track.
As you can see.
Guy

Sue's Sojourn

Our good friend, Sue Begg, just passed through here.
On her way from NE Scotland to her beloved Lamu.
I think this is her 5th trip to the "medieval" island - so far.
Sue's helping out for 3 weeks at the New Life Centre there.
Thanks, Sue!
Guy

Breaking & Baking

Before leaving Uplands, I was given the honour of being one of five men who officially broke the ground at the site of Abigail's next project ...
a brand new bakery.
All of us were asked to break the ground in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Thanks to a Kiswahili song we sing at church that my boys and I love, I was able to reach into my memory banks and break the ground in the name of ...
"Baba" and "Yesu" and "Roho".
Halle-phew-jah!
Guy

Oh, Happy Day

One of the biggest smiles on the day belonged to Keziah.
With her mum, she had moved into a new home in another village previously built by Abigail Ministries.
She had come to join in the joy of the newest villagers.
Her smile sums up the day beautifully.
Guy

Shena's Villagers

At one point in the celebrations, all the villagers sang together.
Here are two of the "new" neighbours, in full voice.
Songs.  Prayers.  Laughter.  Tears.  All in one day.
A real "wish you could be here" moment.
Guy

Shena's Village

Our friends, Roger & Shena, first came to Kenya in 2001 for a "once in a lifetime" retirement holiday.

But God had other ideas.

They lost their hearts to the people here & wanted to find ways to help the poorest.

So began Abigail Ministries - www.abigailministries.org.

They return to Kenya 2 or 3 times a year and we joined them a few days ago in Uplands, as they opened a new village.

Re-housing 12 desperately poor families, previously living in ramshackle homes under a railway track.

This is Shena welcoming the families into their new homes.

Leave you to imagine the celebrations!

Guy