Canadian Girl!

Our little Canadian

Celebrating Ava's Canadian citizenship with our friends Kerry and Mel at our favourite restaurant, Peppers. Mmmmm.... pass the buttered chicken!

This week, we are preparing for a gathering of Guardians of Hope leaders meeting in Nairobi. We are also looking forward to a meeting of young leaders within the Stars of Peace group that are coming to our home to be introduced to our new youth intern and be a part of planning for the groups activities over the coming months. We are also excited to be celebrating Ava's fourth birthday on Friday. Thank you for keeping our family in prayer!

Hermione getting some alone time...

Hermione has been showing more and more character as our fearless little "Scrappy Doo". She is quick to let Henry and Reese know when she has had enough. It was very cute the other night when she came into our office to get away from the big dogs, jumped into Erica's lap and curled up into a ball: Henry was right behind her, seeing the puppy love Hermione was getting from Erica, Henry jumped up into Aaron's lap (almost knocking him out of his chair) and tried to curl up like Hermione, sticking his massive head under Aaron's arm. We almost past out with the laughter!

Members of the Iftin Self Help Group Leadership

Farhiya, Hani, Laura, Abdiya, and Gelgeli

On Monday, we met with leaders within the SHG project in Eastleigh as we reviewed its progress over the past year. The women have been struggling against several obstacles. The eight groups have suffered great losses in their numbers due to people leaving for refugee camps, persecution, and issues of distrust. Please continue to pray for the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program as they pull together to strengthen the groups.

Officially Canadian!

Our little Canadian!

At long last, Ava's Canadian citizenship certificate arrived this past Friday. This is a huge answer to prayer! We celebrated with Ava over strawberry ice cream in the afternoon and then with a taco party with a bunch of Tristan's buddies who were sleeping over.

Singing O Canada over celebration brownies, with Robert, Tristan, Ezra, Ava, Emma, Michael, Mommy & Daddy!

Michael with Hermione

We want to thank everyone who has been praying for us through the long adoption and citizenship process. We thank God for this wonderful gift!

Sundown on the Athi Plains

Sundown on the Athi Plains

This weekend we traveled out of Nairobi to meet with our friends, and team mates, Tim and Diane Bannister. They live in a thatched roof cottage on large farm set upon the Athi plains, about a hours drive outside of Nairobi.

Tim and Diane have coordinated short term missions in Kenya for Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) since we joined the mission together in 2006. For anyone who has come to volunteer in Kenya with CBM over the past four years, you have no doubt had the joy of spending time with the Bannisters and likely visiting their beautiful home and the nearby Acacia Camp. Prior to joining CBM, Tim and Diane served for 20 years with Africa Inland Mission where they worked with Rift Valley Academy, a international christian boarding school for missionary children in Kijabe, Kenya.

As we begin our new role with Guardians of Hope, the Bannisters help will be invaluable -- not only with facilitating short term volunteers, but in their cultural experience and development perspective. We are so thankful for the blessing of team and the joy of camaraderie as we journey forward.

Ava having a cuddle and a chat with our "uncle" Tim

Our children had a great time riding their bicycles as wildebeest and gazelles watched on from the distance. Of course, you can't cycle long in Kenya before the countless thorns puncture at least one tire -- Oh well, it was fun while it lasted!

Sunset over the Athi Plains

A lone male Masai Ostrich watching us as we headed back to Nairobi

When we arrived home, we were delighted to see that Henry and Reese have adjusted well to our new puppy, Hermione. Henry is very protective of her and Reese has without a doubt adopted her as her own.

Hermione hanging out with Reese and Henry

Hermione

Welcoming home our new puppy, Hermione!

Our friend Andrea's dog, Daisy, had a huge litter of puppies and we were blessed to be able to make a home for one of her smaller female dogs. Hermione is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and South African Boerboel mix. Our children had a great evening wrestling with her and helping Henry and Reese get use to having a new puppy around.

This morning, Reese was very affectionate and spent nearly an hour grooming poor little Hermione. Henry is tolerating her, but still not sure what to make of this new addition. She is the small fry right now, but given her huge paws and breed it won't be long before she is the big dog in our yard.

We spent a long time thinking about names with our kids, and yes we were considering lots of candy bar names, but in the end we felt Hermione just fit the best!

Hermione and daddy vegging out

Nap time with mommy