Coffee with Christine

Yesterday, we experienced the most interesting election we have seen in Kenya. For most of the day, we were just watching tv waiting for the presidential annoucements and a group of politicians gathered at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre downtown awaiting annoucements from the chairman of the Electoral Commision of Kenya (ECK). They were gathering since 11 am. No annoucements were made while many grievances from different politcal parties were expressed. Around 5pm, the ECK chairman appeared and annouced that the current president, Kibaki, has won the election and is re-elected to a second term and within the hour, he was swon in for his second term. It happened fast! The moment the annoucement was made that he had won, we could hear celebratory screaming, shouting and cars honking just outside our compound. It was LOUD! The people in our area seems happy, that's good! However, we heard that rioting has broken out in different parts of the country protesting the result...

We have been home the last three days due to the General Election here in Kenya. We've been advised to stock up on some food and to be cautious. The first two days were fine, the people went to the polls on Thursday and except for a few minor incidents, things went pretty calmly. Yesterday, I went to a nearby supermarket to get some fresh vegetables and it was pretty crowded and I didn't get the vegetables I wanted since they weren't any! The check out lines were long and slow....today, things got tensed. At about 10 am, we receive several phone calls from different friends about rioting breaking out in the city centre and on Thika Road, the main road just outside our compound. Tony did take the car out to get some petrol (to go where??? but it seems the right thing to do!) and also for our generator (the power went out twice today); and later he went out on Kathryn's bicycle to the nearby stalls to buys some fresh produce. He came home with some potatoes, onions a...

Every Christmas the girls and I decorate cookies to give as gifts to our friends and neighbours. The baking marathon begins each year around November. I would bake tens of dozens of cookies and freeze them. When the girls are out of school, they help me decorate. One of the reasons I started this tradition is that gifts are too expensive and there really aren't much choices - unlike in KL! And, if you know me, I love giving gifts - it's the most wonderful feeling! One year, we decorated a huge sugar cookie- about 4 inches big for each of our orphans. Now that we have over a hundred orphans- I don't do that anymore :-) Here are some sample of cookies we decorated and yes! it is a labor of love! We are still looking for things to put in the 800 goodie bags we are doing for our children's home. We have some pencils, cookies and candy. I ordered the toothpaste and toothbrushe- but only have 100 of each instead of 800. So I have to keep trying. Some friends here are wanting ...

School is out for the girls till early January. Before the school closed, the girls were involved in bands and Christmas concert. The girls sang, did handbells, flute, and piano. I know that many of you pray for us and our ministry. We want you to know we feel your prayers and one of the greatest blessings in our lives are our children. We are so grateful for all the prayers that is being sowed in our lives and our children lives. This term, Vickie received award as the Most Improved Player in her basketball team - she's the only 6th grader who received an award and her team are mostly 7th and 8th graders. We are so proud of her! Kathryn also had a first - she accompanied the middle school choir during the Christmas concert and did a fantastic job! She worked on her piece for only two weeks but she worked hard. As you can tell, the girls keep very busy. They both made the football team for next term. Tony couldn't be prouder. It will be another busy term for them!

This Wednesday, also a public holiday here, we organised a Christmas party for the kids on campus. My good friend, Trina and her dad who is visiting from America, helped me planned and organised the party which included lots of good (sugary and snacky), several games, a Christmas devotion, a Christmas craft and even a pinata (donated by another missionary on campus).... The pictures are not in a particular order...I am not quite sure how to move them around yet... Here the kids are enjoying their food. Kathryn and Vickie helping to serve the food .. A goody bag from Santa!! and an American one at that ! The girls had only met African Santa Clauses....now that I am thinkng of it, the girls have only had Christmases in Africa....they have not even seen an Oriental one yet...maybe we will make it home one Christmas to Malaysia!! If you look hard enough, you will see the boy trying to hit the pinata.... Helping the little ones with coloring pages.. Making a Christmas ornament with pipe ...

I didn't know what I was thinking when I invited the cafetaria crew to a Christmas lunch at our house. What was I thinking ?? Feeding a group of cooks????? Our kitchen crew cook for over 100 people everyday during the school term - breakfast, lunch and dinner. I thought it would be a nice change for them to have someone cook for them instead. I decided to do a Chinese meal since there were only 6 of them....I think I can handle cooking chinese for 8 people (including Tony and me). During the meal,we found out that none of them had had CHinese food before! They seemed to enjoyed the meal...I made chicken with mushroom, stir-fry vege, fried noodles and steamed rice. We also sent them home with a gift

We have been busy with Christmas activities since November! We hosted a Christmas fellowship at our house for the Ladies Ministry on campus. 35 women came for the fellowship. We had games, a Christmas devotion, and a craft. Look at the yummy food! This last picture is a gift to our aerobic instructor, Johnny, who has been giving us aerobic classes during the term. These are the ladies who faithfully exercised at least once a week!

This is our latest family picture....the first with Max. Kathryn is now about 4 inches taller than me!! and Vickie is not far behind..how time flies