Esther-Ordinary Faith

Rosslyn Academy Elementary presents...

Esther-Ordinary Faith

A kids musical by Kathie Hill

Emma, with her friends, before tonight's

performance as the auditorium filled up

This year's Spring elementary drama was a musical based on the story of Esther. Through the musical, the children and audience learn that God can be trusted in difficult times -- We can have confidence in Him!

Emma and her buddy Diana with the dancers

"The Lord of the Dance"

Erica and Kim after a busy few months of

rehearsal as co-directors of the

Rosslyn Elementary musicals

The dancers

Mommy and Emma at the end of a great night!

Thank you for praying

It is a beautiful sunny Saturday morning here in Nairobi, Ava and I are just finishing breakfast before heading to the hospital to see mommy. We want to thank everyone who has been praying for Erica's surgery and health. She is doing well, but we know that she has several weeks of recovery ahead. We all appreciate the many friends and family both near and far, who have been so encouraging and have shown us such kindness.

I'm sure some of you have read the work of Frederick Buechner, this thought below is a wonderful gift we received from a friend and we wanted to share it with you.

Becoming Human

Frederick Buechner

I don't think that it is always necessary to talk about the deepest and most private dimension of who we are, but I think we are called to talk to each other out of it, and just as importantly to listen to each other out of it, to live out of our depths as well as our shallows. We are all of us adolescents, painfully growing and groping our way toward something like true adulthood, and maybe the greatest value we have both to teach and to learn as we go is the capacity to be amazed...which is a power to heal us and bless us and in the end maybe even to transform us into truly humanbeings at last.

From The Clown in the Belfry

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Yesterday, Rosslyn Academy Elementary School presented its 2011 Christmas production. It was a fantastic pageant from the perspective of the stars of the night sky. This year Emma was literally the "star" as she had the role of the Star of Bethlehem.

Each year the entire elementary school participates in the Christmas production through either drama, instrumentals or the choir. This was the largest production yet with a such a large enrolment in the elementary. The theatre was packed out with rows of parents and guests standing at the back of the house.

The stars looking down upon the story of the nativity

Angels meeting the terrified shepherds

The sinister King Herod looks on as the Wise Men

who have followed the Bethlehem Star, come seeking

the true King of Kings

All of the children did a wonderful job singing some

funky versions of familiar Christmas carols and worship songs

In the end the lesson of the play was clear,

God sent his Son into the World because of God's love for us.

The greatest gift he wants from his children, is our love!

So proud of our little star!

Gemma (Cirro) and the Bethlehem Star (Emma)

after a great performance

Mary (Emma's bossom buddy, Diana) and Emma

We were thrilled to have several friends from Eastleigh

join us for the Christmas Concert and stay over with us.

The cast and soloists

Erica and Kim

Once again, Erica and her friend Kim Remich teamed up! Along with Erica as the drama director and Kim as the program director, this year teacher Mark Statler joined the team as the 5th grade Music Director. They were very thankful for the army of parent and student volunteers who helped make this such a great program.

The stars!

Gemma (Cirro Thuo), Bethlehem Star (Emma),

Zaniah (Mattie Kohl), and Mira (Laura Mixon)

CBC Interview with Erica

Drought Response in the Horn of Africa

Please keep us in your prayers as we coordinate CBM's drought response in Kenya's Northeastern Province. We are presently assessing the immediate needs in villages and informal settlements outside of the Dadaab Refugee Camps, and working with our team to design immediate relief and long term sustainable development initiatives to help the affected communities become food secure. We are thankful for the support and encouragement of so many friends and churches in Canada that have been upholding this ministry.

This morning, Erica was interviewed by CBC radio's Mitch Cormier about her participation in the food convoy to Dhobley, Somalia, and CBM's long term work in sustainable community development in Kenya's Northeastern Province.

Bringing Help to Somalia

Posted by Nancy Russell

A UPEI graduate turned missionary brings aid to Somalia. Erica Kenny was part of the first convoy to enter the volatile country since famine was declared last month. We reached her at her home in Nairobi, Kenya.

To Listen to the interview: Click Here

Other Links:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/08/18/pei-kenny-somalia-aid-worker-584.htmlhttp://news.ca.msn.com/canada/somalia-aid-worker-feels-blessed

Famine Relief Convoy into Somalia

Photographed by Erica, in Dhobley, Somalia

We appreciate our friend Andrew Myers who just shared with us a link to the Today Show's coverage of the food relief convoy into Somalia that Erica was a part of. The piece that aired this morning on NBC, highlights Amanda's journey. Near the end, you can see Erica in the background talking with a group of Somali children.

Once again, we want to thank everyone who has been praying for this effort and for the people of Somalia.

click here To watch the video of the NBC Today Show coverage of the convoy

Birthday Bash!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERICA !!!

The birthday girl

(There is one way to keep Tristan

from sneaking an early piece)

Last night, we had a wonderful time celebrating Erica's birthday with friends in Nairobi. We had the party at the beautiful Zen Garden Restaurant in Spring Valley -- everything was amazing! We are so thankful for the everyone who could come and for the special evening together. We had a lot of fun sampling the sushi, decorating ourselves with flowers, and celebrating Erica!

The party was well past Ava's bed time, so a big thanks to our friend Judy for staying back with our littlest one. Ava did have fun opening presents at home with mommy and eating cake for breakfast the next morning. Oh, what a great birthday tradition!!

Atalie helping Erica with flowers in her hair

Mel giving a scarf tying demonstration

... Tristan, very European!

Kerry, Emma and Tiffany

Emma with Tristan the flamboyant!

Sammy filling in as Ava's double

"Oh Ava what big eyes you have...

...what a full beard you have?"

Amy, Emma and a "quiet" Tristan

The Girls

Parablelooza Night!

Mommy and Emma on stage at Rosslyn Academy,

after last night's performance of

P A R A B L E L O O Z A

This year's spring production for Rosslyn Academy Elementary was the musical-game show "Parablelooza". The children from kindergarten to fifth grade did a fantastic job in song and drama! Together they reminded us about the message of God's love shared in the parables of Jesus.

Corn-Crop-Crazy

As a game show, the night was a competition between Orange Crush and the Green Machine, the two teams have been practicing for months. Although the music and dialogue were rehearsed, the games were happening in real time and the outcome was up in the air! Who would win the Parablelooza Challenge?

Emma and Josh as referees

Audience Participation

One highlight of the night for the students were several audience participation activities within the game show. Elementary parents, Rob Beyer and Kevin McGee, getting doctored to the glee of the children!

Orange Crush Wins!!!!

Announcer Keenan Carline announces the final results -- victory to the orange!

drama cast

so proud of our little actor

Directors Kim and Erica after another great production!

Celebrating a wonderful performance with our friend Mel

Prayer Requests

Thank you for your support and prayers!

We want to thank everyone who has been following along with our blog and faithfully upholding our family and ministry in prayer. Without your generous support and commitment to standing with us, we don't know how we could ever have followed God's call to serve in Africa.

On the blog we tend to focus on the celebrations and joys of ministry and our family, but working here is not without its unique struggles and challenges. Some of you will know that we have encountered several thorns along the journey, one particular problem has been with digestive parasites (a common issue for anyone living in the developing world). Erica has acquired some chronic health issues that we believe have resulted from the constant battle with parasites and their treatment. Please keep her in prayer this week as she is going through a number of tests here in Nairobi. We pray that the doctors might get to the bottom of what is causing her so much discomfort and that the Lord might heal any damage caused to her digestive system.

Thank you all for upholding us in your prayers.

In the grace and peace of Christ,

Aaron & Erica

The Next Noel

Christmas Play!

Mommy and Emma

On Thursday evening, we had a great time at Emma's Christmas play directed by Erica and her friend Kim Remich.

"Sing Noel"

The Next Noel

This year's Rosslyn Academy Elementary School Christmas play was "The Next Noel" a sequel to last year's Christmas play "The First Leon". In this follow up to last year's story, Tristan's old role of "Leon" (played this year by fifth grader Brandon Githinji), returns to his school to direct the annual Christmas pageant. But the role of director goes to Leon's head. Pretty soon, the other children begin to fear that the Christmas pageant is more about Leon than anyone else!

Emma's character "Julie" played the role of Mary

in Leon's Christmas Pageant

As the "Christmas Pageant" began, there was NO Leon...!

...In the end, Leon remembers the true meaning of Christmas as he humbles himself and kneels at the manger in the "Christmas pageant" ... as Shirley the Sheep!

Directors Kim Remich and Erica, with the cast

WELL DONE !