Safari!

 With our time at Amani at an end, we took our last two days in Africa to go on safari!  It has been amazing!  God was so gracious to show us so many beautiful animals each and every time we went out--we even saw a cheetah!!!  Please enjoy this last picture summary (just a few of our favorites!) of our time here in Africa.  

Thank you again for your prayers and support! We couldn’t not have done it without you! For our last prayer requests, we ask that you would pray for our safe travel home. The airports are full of people and flights have already been delayed a bit here and there, so please pray that we have smooth flights and grace to get home in good spirits. 

Again, thank you for journeying with us! We can’t wait to get home and share so much more with you! 

Blessings!

Cultural Dinner at Gracehouse

Amongst the many fun experiences we had, Tuesday night brought us a cultural dinner thrown by Margaret, the owner of Gracehouse (the hotel we are staying at).  It was a night of authentic Kenyan food, dance, and music!  Enjoy our picture summary!

When we went down to dinner, we were asked to sit at the chairs for a surprise!  We had no idea that they were going to give us African-style headdresses!

Christian, Janice, Jennifer, Jessi and Kaija

Charlene and Holly

Our fearless leader, Melanie!

Our Kenyan feast!

The African dancers would pull a few of us up to dance every now and then!  Jessi had a blast dancing and the rest of us enjoyed the show!



Off to safari, we go tomorrow! :) 

Amani Cultural Dinner and Fashion Show

 On this special night, Amani threw a simply magical cultural dinner and fashion show in our honor.  We were truly humbled and blessed by the beautiful depiction of transformation: transformation within the Amani organization, within the women they serve, and within each one of us as God does his transformative work in us.  Please enjoy a picture summary of this magical night we experienced!

Program Cover

The program told the story of transformation through the song choice, dances danced, and fashions displayed. The Amani garden cafe area was beautifully decorated with twinkle lights giving it a magical glow!

The beautiful set up for the cultural dinner. Magical!

1st course! Delicious tomato soup!

We didn't get a picture of our main coure but it was a delicous garlic chicken.  This was our desert and it was so yummy--apple crumb cake!

The show begins!

Julia and Ken were our emcees.








It was a magical night! The head of Amani Ya Juu, Becky, ended the night with a few recognitions and restating the vision of the power of transformation.  We all left feeling we had been a part of something really special. 

Amani will forever be in our hearts!  We all look forward to how we can be a part in the future.
Blessings!

Day 8: Our Last Day at Amani Ya Juu

Today we started our day with a little bit of birthday surprise for Maggie, one of the key women here at Amani. To have met Maggie is to have met joy!

Zumba exercise! Janice, Jennifer, and Christian lead the women in dancing to Mandisa’s “Good Morning” and just had the best time! 

We then moved upstairs for our devotional time. Jennifer shared a bit of her faith journey; about how she had peace throughout many challenges in her life and about how we can go to God with our messes and he washes us clean! She ended the devotional by reading a script of encouraging truths from God's perspective.

Julia also shared a bit of truth that she was reminded of Tony Evans's definition of faith: “Acting like it is so, even though it’s not so so that it might be so, just because God said so!” Amen!

Once devotions were done, we moved into our final time to work on our peace projects.  Jennifer was able to finalize the chair reupholstery with the help of the talented Stella.

Janice and Christian worked on possible new marketing techniques with Bella.  Below is a screenshot of Bella in the middle of showcasing one a pair of the oven mitts they make.

The rest of the crew met with Becky and worked as a think tank on future marketing endeavors that can help get the word out about Amani Ya Juu.  We then broke for lunch and proceeded to the closing session of our time here.  What a sweet, sweet time! 

Jennifer presenting the completed chair with the "surprise" matching pillow with the Amani logo.

Becky LOVED it! 

Becky and Julia receiving a very special gift for Amani.  This cross was donated by a special family close to Melanie's heart.

Melanie presenting the gift.

The Amani women selecting scarves.  Melanie shared a very special message about the covering of God over these women's lives.  It was an impacting message that I think will leave a lasting mark on the lives of the women here. 

Becky sharing a short encouragement with the group.  It was truly inspiring and wonderful to see how God has pulled everything together for such a time as this.

One final photo.  Memories made for a lifetime!

For now, our time at Amani is over but as they encouraged us to say, it is not a "goodbye," but a "see you later!"  Thank you for journeying with us!  We have been so thankful for your prayers! They sustained us through the beginning tiredness of jetlag and the simple day-to-day projects, sessions, and activities.  Tomorrow we have a day to see the city a bit and rest.