Kenya Conference

We had the awesome privilege to go to Kenya for a Christian Medical and Dental Conference. It was so wonderful! Since Brett and I are both medical and both wanted to attend, we also took the boys along. There was no program for them and they weren't allowed at the conference center so we found a little tea farm to stay at. My mom and a friend Margaret came and took care of the kids. (We did consider leaving the boys in Mali but someone would have still had to flown out and taken care of them, staying in a country where they couldn't speak the language. We didn't think that was wise. and since african countries aren't the most stable, I didn't feel comfortable leaving them in Mali and have both parents in Kenya. Two years prior the conference was cancelled because Kenya went into riots. While we were at the conference, Ivory Coast dissolved their government and the president of Niger was abducted. so like I said, not always stable). Anyway, so we stayed at Kiambethu Tea Farm. It was wonderful. The couple who runs it are Fiona and Marcus (Fiona does most the work!). They are wonderfully sweet. Her grandfather (Scotish) came to Kenya in the early 1900s. He was the first tea farmer in Kenya. He bought 350 acres in 1910. He started the church and a girls school. He had four girls. Fiona's mom was the oldest so she got the house and its land and the other three daughters got land. When Fiona's mom died 12 years ago, she took over the farm. Really quite neat. She has lived in Kenya all her life. Marcus came when he was really young. They were a simply lovely family and we hope we can go back soon....like in two years for the next conference. :)

The hills of the tea farms.

These were homes of the tea farmers. They lived in the valley of the hills.

Some of the workers on the fields. They actually made a good salary. They get paid by the kilo of leaves they pick each day.

The house from the path we walked each day to the conference center. (It was said to be a 10 to 15 minute walk. First day we did it- with kids- was an hour. It was steep hills. It took us a good 20 minutes if not 30 each day, but it was lovely).

The beautiful house

The cottage we stayed in. My mom and Margaret were in the main house and our family was here. We did all our meals here since it had a kitchen and all. Very cozy.

The yard. Are you kidding me??? It was SO BEAUTIFUL!!

the garden. we were blown away by the grass and plants. It was so pretty. (then again, we are coming from a place that just has red dirt).

On the walks to the conference center the first two days (before classes) our boys got torched. We realized afterwards that though it is hot and sunny in Mali, you never stand in the sun because it is so hot. Kenya was in the 70s or low 80s so you enjoyed the sun. Also, it was high in elevation (7,500 ft) so that increased sun exposure. Unfortunately, we and my mom forgot sunscreen and had to buy it there. A little bottle for $25! ouch! One good thing about the elevation, though, was that it was too high for mosquitoes so no malaria! can you ask for anything better? Hope you can see how red his face is compared to his chest.

It was cold there, though. Like I said 70-80s. But in the nights it was in the 50s or colder. We were freezing. The boys would get out of bed shivering and asked to be covered in these blankets.

we so enjoyed the yard. We would spend the late afternoons and evenings out there as a family (and of course the boys were out during the day as well).

Opening our Valentine's gifts. My mom brought heart shaped frames and put a picture of each boy in one and then they decorated them.

It was fun to see the difference of each one and their level.

Enjoying the cookies they made for themselves...I mean us.

Sweetie pie.

Trying to get a picture.

Love the randomness. Kenan in his own world eating his cookie. Dawson doing I don't know what. Silas is hitting him, trying to get him to move.

This picture always makes me think of the Presidents walking on the White House lawn. Their heads are often down and it is them and the grass.

He saw me.

Ready to hug

Now he's seen one of the NINE dogs they had. This is him calling him.

And this.

Brett was hoping Silas was trying to get him to come, not the dogs.

Pensive Kenan

Another day but Dawson was still in his Superman outfit.

Pretty garden flowers.

Brett bought me roses for Valentine's Day. I've never gotten more than three at a time. This was nice because it was 20. Helped that Kenya is one of the leading exporters of flowers (I think number one exporter to Europe). They were really cheap...but beautiful.

As I was eating breakfast one morning, this moth just landed on my nose.

Then it was a photo op for me and Silas.

Finger painting with Grandma.

The boys had a blast. My mom brought tons of stuff for them. They had loads and loads of fun. BIG THANKS to mom and Margaret for watching the boys while we were in meetings!