The Nest

Our Friends from the Nest Children's Home just shared some pictures from their Easter Celebrations! The Nest is a Ministry that cares for children and imprisoned mothers. Over the years, they have also provided for hundreds of orphans who are abandoned or brought to their home in Limuru or Gigiri. You can see photos and learn more about the Nest through this link: http://uhuru.de/thenesthome/ or by searching ourblogs on the search bar at the top of the page or using this link http://fivekennys.blogspot.com/search?q=The+Nest

Women at the Well

Sisters within the Africa Brotherhood Church

gathering near a water catchment at the

Eastern Kenya Integrated College (EKIC)

Mitaboni, Kenya

This past week, Aaron was away for doctoral studies with Carey Theological College as part of a joint partnership with Canadian Baptist Ministries. This has been a great opportunity to study with, and strengthen relationships among, the leadership from each of our African partner churches. It has been a rich time of reflection and examination of the ministry that our family has been a part of in Africa over the past years, since coming to Kenya in 2006.

Some of the Somali Women in the Noor Self Help Group

glazing ceramic beads for their jewelry business

Empowering women is a major thrust of CBM's ministry in Kenya. Whether through theological education, or through grassroots leadership development in projects like the Guardians of Hope and Muslim Ministry Self Help Groups, we are committed to help communities recognize the importance and value of women in society.

In the life and ministry of Jesus, we find a demonstration of God's love and esteem for women. In a culture and time where women were often viewed as little more than property, we see Jesus approaching and speaking grace into the lives women. We are reminded of the scene in the fourth chapter of John's Gospel, where he encountered a solitary Samaritan woman at a well. As it was the heat of the day and most people had sought shade, this woman (possibly in her shame) had come. Jesus asks her to draw him water to drink and enters into one of the most revealing conversations in the New Testament. It is remarkable to read how Jesus sees this woman and treats her with dignity and love. Jesus sees, he listens and he speaks into her life giving her a new identity and hope.

Isn't this an image of the Gospel, that the Church must be about bringing a new reality into existence through courageous and subversive acts of inclusion, healing and a grander vision for life in relationship with God and others. We pray that this might be your experience of the Kingdom of God. That the Spirit of God might draw all of us into conversations that bring liberation, forgiveness and wholeness into the lives of others!

In Prayer

* Please remember our friend and colleague, Henry Mwangi, director of development for the African Christian Church & Schools. Henry is grieving the death of his mother who past away on Friday evening after a difficult battle with lung cancer.

* Please pray for our friends and team mates Tim, Diane & Caleb Bannister, who are preparing for their new field assignment in Liberia, West Africa. This will be a major change for the Bannisters who have raised all four of their children in Kenya during their ministry with Africa Inland Mission and with CBM. We especially remember Diane as she completes her masters studies in public health through the University of Uganda.

* We also pray for our Laura Muema, Aisha Hussein and Patrick Ndogu as they work together in strengthen the Muslim Women's Self Help Group program in Nairobi. We thank God for the progress that we have witnessed in these groups as women support each other in bettering the lives of their families. We are thankful for the new kiln that the Noor SHG is now using and for the opportunity the group has to encourage other groups by their example and leadership.

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!

Doctoral Studies

Arch Bishop Timothy Ndambuki,

of the Africa Brotherhood Church

This was a big week for our friends within the Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC), as the church named Rev. Timothy Ndambuki their Arch Bishop and Rev. Mishaq Mwikwilu as their third Bishop. The church also celebrated its first ordination of women into pastoral ministry and into the Cannons of the church.

DMin student Alevera, from Rwanda

This week, Aaron has been studying in Mitaboni in the

Carey Theological doctor of ministry cohort.

Nirmal presenting during Dr. Jonathan Wilson's course

in Theological Reflection in Ministry

Driving through the hills of Ukambani, Kenya

Happy Easter

EASTER GREETINGS

Wayne, Maureen, Jenny, Sean, Michael, Tim, Caleb, Tristan

Erica, Aaron, Ava and Emma

We had a great Easter celebration today with our friends the Morgans and Bannisters. Our three little egg hunters were up early this morning searching the house before our Easter Worship Service -- Ava took the largest haul! There has been lots of singing in the Kenny house, the latest tune comes from an Apple App called "Baby Monkey". It is a very simple game where you control a monkey and a pig as they bounce across the screen grabbing bananas and dodging obstacles, but the further you go the more of the song you hear (imagine singing this in a falsetto, over and over again):

"Baby Monkey, baby monkey

riding on a pig, baby monkey

Baby Monkey, baby monkey

backwards on a pig, baby monkey"

We also enjoyed a great turkey dinner and fun with our team mates the Morgans and the Bannisters (just back from Liberia, we are very sad to see them leaving Kenya). Diane is back in Uganda this month finishing her masters studies in public health, so we weren't able to enjoy a final holiday meal before their upcoming move. We continue to pray for them as they prepare for this transition.

Let the after dinner games begin!

Deep in a game of spoons

Wishing You a Happy Easter!!

2012 GOH Leadership Conference ACC&S

Dr. Julius Karanja, Moderator of the African Christian Church & Schools, opening CBM's second ACC&S Guardians of Hope Leadership Conference at the Jumuia Centre in Kikambala, Kenya

This past week, we had the pleasure of leading our second ACC&S GOH leadership conference with our colleagues Wayne and Maureen Morgan. We travelled to the coast with our children for intentional time of reflection on the ministry of the Guardians of Hope with members of the ACC&S executive and leaders from each of their nine GOH projects.

Erica and Maureen facilitating a session on strengthening

the leadership role of women in the GOH

This year's conference focused on the effectiveness of HIV & AIDS awareness, strengthening the role of women, and sharing best practices in the self help group approach. Over the conference, the groups also worked on refining a self assessment tool that the groups will be using to set measurable targets and track their progress.

Wayne Morgan sharing during the closing panel discussion

responding to the group presentations on their successes

in HIV & AIDS Awareness and Prevention

It was encouraging to hear how many groups have begun partnering with the local government in voluntary counselling and testing projects. In the community of Embu, 23 people who tested positive through their VCT have joined their GOH support groups in the past few months. "We are working together so that everyone in our community knows their status!" shared pastor John, "Stigma is being reduced and those living positive are finding support and acceptance!"

Worshipping under the shade of the trees

The ACC&S leaders deeply appreciated the support of Canadian Baptist Ministries that made this gathering possible. "Please thank the Canadian Churches for us," shared ACC&S General Secretary Joseph Miana. "You do not know how great it is for us to have this gift to come away, and step back from our busy ministry and responsibilities in our home communities. This time away together greatly enriches our ministry and is such an encouragement for us!"

We also want to thank all of you for your prayers and generous support for our family and the ministries that we are providing leadership. God is using your help to strengthen the ministry of the Church in Africa as it seeks to bring about transformation in the lives of so many!

One of the great challenges that the ACC&S is facing is encouraging and empowering women in leadership. Within the GOH we are intentionally working to over come gender inequality and long standing patterns that have held women back from sharing their perspective and potential. Please pray for the courageous women leaders of the ACC&S GOH who are reaching out to their sisters and mentoring others in their church and communities.

A further challenge facing the ACC&S GOH is a generational gap between current leadership and the growing youth population of Kenya. Presently over 60% of the Kenyan population is under the age of 25. Please pray for the Church as they seek ways to reach out to the youth of their communities and involve this next generation in the leadership of ministries like the GOH. Having multiple generations represented in leadership is one key way of strengthening the ministry of the Guardians of Hope that has been caring for AIDS orphans for the past seven years.

Emma enjoying some quiet time at the conference

ACC&S GOH Leadership Participants

Thank you for remembering and praying for this ministry!

Who is that at our window?

An African Grey Parrot

Early this morning, we could hear a ruckus outside of our bedroom window: It sounded like monkeys in the Flame Tree. We have had monkeys in our yard before, but our three dogs usually encourage them to move along quickly. But not this morning -- we could hear the monkey for over an hour as we made coffee, breakfast and got everyone ready for the day. Heading out the door for school, we looked up into the trees and, to our surprise, discovered that the monkey noises weren't monkeys at all, but two wild African grey parrots having breakfast in our trees.

We locked up the dogs and spread out some fruit in our yard for them. We would love it if the parrots stuck around and nested in our trees, but sadly they are most likely just passing through. We'll let you all know if they are still there when we return home.

Spiritual Emphasis Week

SonSurf Beach Bash

Rosslyn Academy's Elementary

Spiritual Emphasis Week

This week is Rosslyn's annual SEW for the students in elementary school. The kids are asking BIG questions and discovering BIG answers as they "Meet Up with Jesus" in this Gospel Light Vacation Bible School adventure.

Emma helping to lead songs with the kids worship team

Each afternoon, teachers, high school students and parent volunteers are taking part in skits, songs, stories, crafts and activities. Aaron is the theme speaker again this year at "Bonfire Beach". It has been a fun week!

Aaron and Claude Kranik

at Bonfire Beach!

Erica and Emma after the opening worship

Arabian Nights

Rosslyn Academy Middle School Banquet

"Arabian Nights"

This evening is Rosslyn's annual Middle School Banquet for grades 6, 7 and 8. Tristan went with his friend Natalie, and their friends.

Tristan and Michael looking sharp!!

Several teachers and the student council did an amazing job transforming the Middle School area into a incredible banquet hall.

Tristan and Natalie looking pretty cute together

hanging out before the banquet

Have a great evening kids!

Tristan and Emma

Rosslyn Academy Choral Concert

Last evening, we had the joy of attending Middle School and High School choir concert at Rosslyn Academy. Tristan sang in the Grade 7 & 8 choir, under the direction of Mr. Mark Statler. It was a great evening!

During one of the songs Tristan played the jambe

...after the performance we had a great time connected

with friends and other Rosslyn families.

Rosslyn Academy Invitational Swim Meet

Today, Emma competed in a Rosslyn Invitational Swimming Meet, where she raced in the 50 meter freestyle and 50 meter backstroke. She did a great job!

Erica and Amina volunteering as time keepers

at todays swim meet

Emma and her buddy Diana

Way to go girls!!!!!

Tristan and Emma want to share a BIG HELLO to the Sunday School Kids at the Berwick and Kentville United Churches who are following our blog this month. "Hope you are having a great winter!!!"

Getaway

Weekend Getaway!

This past weekend, our friends Charles and Eva treated us to a wonderful retreat at their cottage at the Great Rift Valley Golf Club overlooking Lake Naivasha. After an intense month, it was an incredible gift!

Mommy and Emma at the driving range

See the resemblance?

Like the old hippo, our little Ava lost her second tooth over the weekend.

Daddy and TK