FUN in Malindi

As I sit here in the middle of a morning rainstorm, I get the lovely privilege of recalling our time here in Malindi. God is so good!! These past 10 days we have had the opportunity to work with the Mahenzo Christian School in the village of Nine Poles. Our days start out with breakfast at the hotel followed by a 35 minute morning drive. When we pull into the school we are greeted by all the little smiling faces in the 3-7 year old class. These children get to peer over the wall and watch us work in the courtyard every day (sorry to their teachers for the constant high fives and funny faces we make to them!!) During our time here we have completed 5 floors and plastered a few walls! These cement floors are very important to the kids because they keep chiggers and other bugs that live in the dirt from getting into their feet and causing wounds. The first room that we completed houses 11 orphan boys at night. How great it is to be a part of what the Lord is doing here.

We filled each room with a layer of dirt…and then come the rocks. Thousands of coral rocks! The boys (Jeremy, Ken and Ambush) sure had their work cut out for them busting up the big pieces of coral rock with sledgehammers! We figured out a marvelous assembly line system and had many laughs throwing the rocks down the line to fill the rooms. Next came the mixing of the cement. Once again the boys had their work cut out for them! Every day with shovels they would mix the sand, cement and water together. It was so encouraging getting to watch because they were always so willing to do another load. I bet over the course of the week they probably mixed over 25 loads! LeShae, Kori, Shannon and I would fetch water in 10-20 liter jugs and carry them back to be used in a large container. One afternoon they bravely attempted to carry the water on their heads like the women so gracefully do here, it was definitely a sight to see! Once all the cement was laid our fellow Kenyan workers would smooth it out to perfection. During the afternoon the children would break for chai time and we would get to interact with them! Talk about joyful smiles and laughs! These children are so inviting and willing to let you sweep them off their feet onto your back or into your lap. A group from Lubbock Christian University is also here working at the school teaching classes. Over the past 10 days we got the opportunity to get to know and work along side them. The days end around 4 o’clock and we make our way back to the hotel, trying to catch that last bit of sunlight to swim at the pool or go the beach. Before dinner we get to gather together and have a small devo time given by Jeremy. It’s great to talk about the day and be encouraged by the bible. Dinner was always complete with snack time and gelato. Our Saturdays consisted of going to the market place, eating at “I love pizza”, and playing at the beach!

As Jeremy mentioned in the post before, we brought along with as two boys from MITS Ken (18) and Ambush (17) to work for the week! Ken is working on his skill of computers and Ambush is in the skill of sewing. It has been great to see them pour their hearts into working for their fellow Kenyan neighbors. MITS has taught them so well how to serve and it is so evident. They have become our honorary Aggies for the 2 weeks! Now as we sit waiting for the night bus to take us back to Nairobi, I get to reflect on the ministry we have been able to be a part of and how awesome it is so see God woven throughout this place. Please pray for our safe travels back to the United States. Just think in 48 hours we will be back in Dallas, so crazy! Kwaheri (Goodbye) from Kenya!!

Blessings, 

Candace Bayles