Next steps

Currently we are in Nairobi and we stopped here for a little over 24 hours. We get to stay one night at Mayfeild Guest House before we fly to Entebbe Uganda which is just outside of Kampala. We are still processing our time at orientation, and thinking about what the next few weeks look like for us.

Once we get to Uganda we will be at Matoke (Ma-toe-kay) Inn for about ten days. Over those ten days we will begin our language training that follows the LAMP model of learning language.  I have no idea what that entails but maybe I will shed some light on that when we learn more. The language that we will be learning is called Luganda and we hope to be sharing words and phrases with you soon! We will also spend some time getting acclimated to the new city we will be living in and hopefully getting our housing figured out.  

After those ten days, if we have a place to live, we should be able to spend a day at our new place before we do a "home stay." A home stay is an opportunity for us to live with a Ugandan family in order to learn their language, culture, and home practices. This time will be very eye opening.  We will learn so many things that will help us get to know the ins and outs of some amazing people we will be spending a lot of time with over the next few years.  

I don't know yet how open I should be about some of the things that challenge us, but I have decided to step out a bit. We are having a great time learning things and we are loving that we are finally on this wonderful continent. At the same time we are so ready to be in one place for a while. I really enjoy having a place for Kyle and me with our own space, the ability to make our own food and be on somewhat of a schedule. The last three weeks has not given us much of the freedom to do those things and the next two weeks will further challenge us. As I contemplate these things, I get ready to make a big push for the next two weeks and just "pull myself up by my own bootstraps" and get through it. I am really ready to have a place to call home again, even if it is in a totally new city with a totally new surroundings.  A few nights ago as I spoke to the Lord about all of this, the Spirit reminded me that "this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through." Although I can sometimes sing that song with a light heart and silliness in my voice, it is true of us and it is something that I need to remember. So my desire and my aim is to remember that core truth when I get fed up with living out of a suitcase, or having to walk down the hall to a shared bathroom, or when I am told of what schedule I have to keep or handed a plate of mystery food :) Thanks for letting me vent a bit, I pray that you remember to that this world is not our home, and that the hope of Heaven outshines all of the struggles that we could face. 

2 Cor. 4:16-18

"So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Safari Pictures

About ten days ago we got to go on a little Safari at a nearby "ranch" (as it was referred to by our leaders). This was fun to get out of the orientation classroom and enjoy the outdoors. There are many wonderful places to go on Safari in east Africa but the place we went was a little bit of a smaller scale experience. We were there for about a half a day, and it was only a forty minute drive from the college we were staying at. Our orientation leaders drove the cars around the ranch and we got the chance to see a few different types of gazelles, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, and some ostriches. For part of the drive, Kyle and I sat on the top of the land cruiser with some of our friends (Trey was not feeling well that day so he stayed back).

It was a beautiful day to be outside and we had a lot of fun. We ate lunch out on a veranda by some huts that you could pay to stay in. Lunch was a buffet with a pasta bar where we could have our choice of bell peppers, sun dried tomatoes, onions, ground beef, garlic, or tomatoes and to top it off they even had parmesan cheese. It was a great break from the other food we have been eating.

A break in the silence

I, Kyle, thought I would keep you all up to speed on the latest happenings of our life. We have had an eventful last couple of days.  There was a "talent show" the other night, where we performed another song we wrote about being a missionary.  It was satire, and hilariously funny.  Maybe when the internet is faster we can post a picture of the four of us and our amazing performance.  We also showed our remake of Justin Beiber.  Then in one of the other "performances" one of the guys tore his calf muscle, because he was wearing those weird toe shoes that people are using.  So, their whole family had to leave the next morning to the Hospital in Kijabe, Kenya (my Uncle Keith has been there) and got surgery.  But they have a long road to even get to their country and begin work, so that was crazy and a pretty big bummer.  

After church on Sunday, I lost our phone on a taxi ride on Sunday. African lesson learned: always check your pockets right when you get out of a taxi/bus/anything.  

On Sunday night we had a big celebration dinner.  The four of us made guacamole hamburgers and chicken tacos for everyone, then some other folks made some sides.  It was REALLY GOOD and nice break from stew, rice, and potatoes!!   We leave here for Nairobi Tuesday morning, stay at the mayfield guest house for a night, then fly to Uganda at 5:50pm on Wednesday Evening.  We still haven't heard much about housing, so keep praying for that!

ABO Fever

We have about one week left at Africa Based Orientation and we continue to be learning many things. In our down time we play lots of cards and hang out with Trey and Erin. During our hang outs we had the idea to make a video for all of our family and friends...

Erin typed out the lyrics that we wrote on her blog you can check them out here.

 The Internet is not that great here so we had to upload a smaller version for your viewing. It also takes a while to upload pictures, so I apologize for the lack of pictures lately. 

 Thank you so much to many of you who have been praying for us. Kyle was able to preach at a small church in Machacos yesterday. There were about one hundred people in this newer church building. It had tile floor, concrete walls and a metal roof. We sat in plastic chairs with AIC Kisooni on the back of them (which is the name of the church: Africa Inland Church at Kisooni or the "place of water"). Kyle taught out of 1 Cor 15 and reminded the congregation that the gospel is our foundation, it sustains us and unites us even though we are from such different places. There was an older women who greated me with a kiss on the cheek and as she went to give me another kiss on the other cheek and our faces collided and I ended up with a kiss on the lips! 

We are reminded of God's faithfulness to us often, right now the band at the college are practicing "He knows my Name" I can't hear this song with out being reminded of my mom, it is one of here favorites. May you also remember God's faithfulness.

Happy Valentines Day!

We never celebrated Valentine's Day in the states and we don't think we will start celebrating the day in Africa. Not that we have anything against it we just weren't inclined to celebrate it...
Right now it is lunch time for us and we just finished our meal of rice, beef stew, and a pico de gallo type salsa. Our lesson today is about spiritual warfare in Africa, we just finished up discussing the Bible in relation to culture. That is what our Valentine's Day looks like! We are gratefull for the love of Yahweh and how he shows us love through so many friends and family all over the world.


but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Rom.5:8-11

The last few days

We have been at Scott Theological College for about 5 days now. Three of those days we spent in the “classroom” learning. We have just began to scratch the surface of African culture and worldview. Kyle and I have very much enjoyed learning all that our "teachers" have shared with us. The Lord has used these teaching times to further confirm our calling in ways we did not expect (that could be another post). We are thankful for this time of orientation even though we do face some times of discomfort or challenge. 

Yesterday we went on a hike up a nearby mountain, we were both so glad to do something active. We were gone about 4 hours total. Most of the other missionaries that are here went as well so we took a bit longer but we got to stop to take pictures and enjoy great views. We had a lot of fun and it was so beautiful, we hiked through eucalyptus and pine tree groves, through farm land and along roads.

Kyle kept talking about how he would love to mountain bike down this trail

Today all of us missionaries divided up in groups of about four to six then joined two Scott Theological students and went to several local churches around Machakos. Kyle and I went with a family of four from Texas to a church about a fifteen minute drive away. We hired a matatu (said ma-ta-too), which is basically a van smaller than a mini van, that took us to and from church. Sorry I did not take a picture of it, but it was memorable. Kyle and I both have to duck our heads when we sit in them because they were not made for people over 5'5''. It was a good day of fellowship with our Kenyan brothers and sisters. The pastor told us that next week Kyle will preach so that will be fun as he will have a translator. 

We are glad to be learning so much here, and are thankful that both of us have maintained our health. My allergies were very bad the first few days here in Machakos but in the last two days they have been better.  

Thank you so much for your prayers! 

Kyle David Fox

Turns 26 today!

I am so thankful for this man.  This man fears Yahweh, and has a passion to follow him.  Kyle is a blessing to me and to many others. I can not imagine being on this crazy adventure without him.  I could brag about this man all day long.  He makes me laugh and is a joy to live life with.  I am so well taken care of by him.  H buys me mangos from a little old lady that waits at the gate of Scott Theological College. He tries to keep mosquitos from biting me and make me feel more comfortable when my allergies are going crazy. He is the best. 

 Having a birthday will look little different when we are here in Machakos at ABO but our lives will be looking a bit different for the next few years so we better get used to it!

Happy birthday!

Africa Based Orientation

Today we leave Mayfield guesthouse in Nairobi for Scott Theological College in Machakos. It will take us about an hour and a half to get there. There are about 35 missionaries that will load into two busses and  make the trek. We are not sure what type of interment we will have at Scott but we keep you updated as much as we can. Africa Based Orientation, or ABO, is three weeks long and we will spend monday through friday in the classroom. We will be learning things about Africa's history and I think they are going to tell us how to be good missionaries. So we will be sure to take notes. 

We have enjoyed these last few days of rest and relaxation as we have tried to adjust to the change in time zones. Last night was the first night we both slept through the night!

Kisses from Kelly

Meet Kelly.

She has quickly become very dear to both Kyle and me.
Today we got the opportunity to go to the Giraffe Center in Nairobi. Another missionary couple that is going through the same orientation as we are suggested that we go check out the giraffes. There were six of us total that went; Mike and Anna, Erin and Trey, and Kyle and me. It wasn't too far of a drive from where we are staying in Nairobi. The center has nine giraffes total but only Kelly wanted to come and visit with us. Several people had told us to try to get a kiss from a giraffe by putting a pellet between our lips and let the giraffe eat it. I was unsure if I was going to do it, but I just couldn't resist Kelly's soft lips, and neither could Kyle. By the end of our time there I think that Kyle kissed the giraffe three times. I posted all of the photos to Facebook so you can look at the album there but here are a few of my favorites:

Some photos for you!

We arrived last night in Nairobi and all of our bags and bins got here! Only one of the bins that we took was cracked but nothing inside was damaged. For the next few days we will be staying at AIM's guesthouse in Kenya called Mayfeild. They have good internet here so that is nice. The grounds are beautiful and the next few days we just get to hang out here before traveling south to Scott Theological College where we will have three weeks of Africa Based Orientation (ABO). Today we walked to a near by shopping center mall like place, it was called YaYa. Because I haven't been able to upload pictures I thought I would share some that I have taken the last couple of days. Enjoy!

In AZ loading up the van before we drove across the country

Waiting for the bus after we landed in Kenya, yes, the 3 carts are ours

Some other missionaries and a bunch of bags in a bus on the way to Mayfeild

When we were walking around today we found a health shop that sold this! Kyle and Trey were so so happy because they love Dr. Pepper and because you cannot find these anywhere else.

We also bought a phone today! So we can make calls to the states for about 3 cents a minute. So that is awesome! It is really expensive to call us so just be available at every moment of the day in case we call! 

Today is the day....

It is a little bitter sweet. We are getting on the plane today to fly to Nairobi for three weeks of orientation. We are traveling with several other missionaries... There are about 20 of us total... yes it will be quite the sight in the airport. Don't worry, this group of missionaries are all really normal looking so we can actually blend in well with everybody else in the airport. All of our bags are in a Uhaul and we will head to the airport this afternoon at about 2:00, our flight leaves Atlanta at 5:20.
This morning during prayer time with all of the other missionaries someone prayed that the scales at the airport would read lighter then the actual weight, that was followed with several "Amens" and "mmmmms".  So maybe you could pray for that as well! Hopefully we can let you know when we stop in Amsterdam for a bit of a layover.
Erin Allen posted some pictures of our time at AIMs headquarters the last couple days, check it out here.
Because this time of preparation has seemed to drag on so long I think I can say that we feel relatively ready to go.

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