Day 2 in Nairobi

Greg has made it to Kenya safely, and is adjusting to the time zone better than I have. It is good to have the whole team here at last.

This morning started out with an early trip to International Justice Mission here in Nairobi. The organization has offices all over the world, advocating for victims of various forms of injustice. The Nairobi office focuses its efforts on children who are sexually abused, and people who are illegally detained by police. Check out their website for more info: http://www.ijm.org

Other highlights for today:

• Visit to Nyumbani AIDS Orphanage (http://www.nyumbani.org)
• Visit to Kazuri Bead Factory (http://www.kazuri.com)
• Lunch with Eric Gitonga, former sponsored student who now goes to school and works in Nairobi. More on that visit later...
• Visit with Irene, who Jason & I sponsor through Homeless Children International. What a sweetheart! The last time I saw here she was 10yrs old, very shy and quiet, and not too great at speaking English. Today, I met a confindent 15yr old, who spoke very good English, and told me about her dreams to become a TV newscaster.
• Dinner with Josephine's sisters' families

We almost tried to squeeze a visit to Kibera into the day, but realized we were all too exhausted, and didn't really have enough time to do so today. We'll do that visit when we come back to Nairobi next week.

Off to Meru tomorrow...

Safe in Nairobi

All of us are here in Nairobi except Greg- he arrives tonight. All of our bags AND the wheelchair we brought with us made it safely as well. Praise God!

Weather in Nairobi feels exactly like it did in Tacoma on Saturday when we departed: cool, cloudy, but sun breaks here and there. Very pleasant.

Karen & I are sharing a room at the Methodist Guest House (http://www.methodistguesthouse.org). We slept great last night until about 4:30am, and then proceeded to chuckle about all our tossing and turning and inability to get back to sleep.... We'll get our body clocks straightened out in another day or two.

On the agenda today: get shillings from the bank, get a phone to share amongst the group, and maybe visit some Nairobi attractions (Nyumbani AIDS Orphanage (http://www.nyumbani.org), Giraffe Center (http://www.giraffecenter.org), Nairobi Museum, Bomas of Kenya... we'll see how much time we have). I am also hoping to connect with my dear friend, Lucy Kayiwa today so we can have a good visit. Today or tomorrow we also hope to connect with Eric Gitonga, one of our ministry's original sponsored kids, who is now a college graduate doing an internship here in Nairobi with a travel company.

We are blessed to be here. Thanks for checking in!

Prayers for the Team

From Greg:
My prayer is that this trip would redouble our enthusiasm to joyfully serve this mission in our capacities as leaders and sponsors, and that God grant that we will be able to effectively communicate the spirit of this mission trip to the many sponsors back home that we are representing on this journey.

I would also ask for prayers for my wife Peggy, who has had to withdraw from the trip due to health issues.

From Bob:
My prayer requests...

1. Safe, easy, and uneventful journey for Emily Bosh
2. That the travel team will work together and have no disagreements
3. That we would see God's work in Meru and provide encouragement to the teachers, students, and board members to continue their work
4. Prayers and support for the students
5. Prayers and encouragement for the Board of Hope International Ministry Trust
6. Prayers for Elijah Mwirigi (Board member) and his work

From Karen:
My prayer request would be that we would be able to make meaningful connections with the HOPE team and the children we are sponsoring, from Amalia to Zaleen. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to meet these youngsters and their families. May they feel as blessed as I do.

From Emily:
My main prayer requests...

1. Health and safety for everyone on our team
2. Open hearts, minds, ears for what God has in store for us there
3. For our fellowship as a team to be "sweet incense to the Lord"
4. For our encounters with friends in Kenya to be life-changing; may we be the hands and feet of Jesus to change their lives, and may they do the same for us

Change of Plans

We haven't even left U.S. soil yet, and unexpected changes are already afoot. Peggy Yuckert has decided, due to health concerns, not to travel to Kenya. Impacts of this change:

• A new prayer assignment for you: pray for Peggy, for her health to improve, for her time at home without Greg during the trip; and, pray for Greg on the trip without his bride.


• We are, of course, now a team of 7, which changes roles, budget, accommodations- none of which are a big deals, just different than expected.


• Greg will likely join us for the tail end of our trip (side trip Sep 3-4, Nairobi Sep 5-6), spend a few extra days in Nairobi with Josephine's sister's family, and then join up with his daughter and son-in-law.

I'm sure this won't be the last surprise...

Pregnancy Update

Third trimester began on Saturday, although my belly is so much bigger this time around, I feel as though I'm more like a few weeks from delivery. Everything is healthy and looking fantastic so far. THANK YOU to everyone who has been praying for me & baby.

I have one more midwife appointment this Thursday before I leave; my final chance to ask questions, and her final chance to tell me if there are any contraindications for my departure.

My biggest concerns at this point:
1. That baby would not be affected at all by the malaria medication I take (mefloquine/Larium)
2. That I would make it comfortably (is that too much to ask??) through my flights to Kenya and back.
3. That riding around on the bumpy roads in Kenya would not cause any harm to baby, placenta, etc. The bumps are also a concern for Peggy, who has pretty painful arthritis issues in her back and legs.

Again, thanks for all the support and encouragement out there! God is good...

Trip Itinerary

As with everything in Africa, this "itinerary" is tentative. Everything is subject to change, except our departure and return dates. But, this gives you a general idea of what we will be doing during our time in Kenya:

• Sat, Aug 21 - Depart Seattle, 4hr layover in Amsterdam


• Sun, Aug 22 - Arrive Nairobi in the evening


• Mon-Tue, Aug 23-24 - Visits to International Justice Mission, Homeless Children International, home of Mrs. Lucy Kayiwa (my host mom from when I was a student in 1999); Greg & Peggy arrive Nairobi Monday evening


• Wed, Aug 25 - Travel to Meru, approximately a 5-hour drive


• Thu, Aug 26 - Meet with Hope International board members


• Fri-Sat, Aug 27-28 - Assist with Hope Seminar for sponsored kids and their families


• Sun, Aug 29 - Attend church in Meru, possible visits to sponsored kids


• Mon-Thu, Aug 30-Sep 2 - Visit sponsored children, visit a school, meet again with Hope Board if needed


• Fri-Sat, Sep 3-4 - Possible safari or other trip, Greg & Peggy may part ways (plan to spend additional time with their daughter elsewhere in Kenya later the next week)


• Sun, Sep 5 - Return to Nairobi


• Mon, Sep 6 - Depart Nairobi in the evening


• Tue, Sep 7 - Arrive Seattle late morning

24 Days and Counting

As the day of departure approaches, I thought I would share some details about our trip to Meru.

The team for this trip consists of 8 excited travelers:

Karen Lau, retired, and ever diligently keeping track of all our sponsored kids, their names, their sponsors, their special needs. Because she handles most of the administrative duties of Cherish Ministry, she is very much looking forward to seeing the nuts and bolts of the Kenya side of ministry first-hand. Her big project for this trip is to take notes and pictures from every sponsor to their kids in Kenya, and then retrieve notes and pictures of every kid to take back home to sponsors. With 130 sponsored kids, this is no small task!

Bob Mohr, retired, is a Missions Elder at UPPC, and is circling the globe this summer, participating in several of the UPPC mission trips. Kenya has been on his list for some time, and this year he finally is able to join us. Bob will be our treasurer for the trip, which will simplify purchases of meals, accommodations, and transportation for the team.

Greg & Peggy Yuckert, both retired, are long-time participants of Cherish Ministry, sponsoring several different children. Greg is also a member of the UPPC Kenya Ministry Team. Both have traveled internationally before, but are expecting Kenya to be an eye-opening experience. Greg will be our videographer, and Peggy our team devotions/debriefing facilitator.

Peter, Josephine, & Joy Mburugu are Kenyans who live in Tacoma, are a part of the UPPC family, and are responsible for inspiring the creation of Cherish Ministry (and partner ministry, Hope International, in Kenya). Peter and Josephine believe deeply in caring practically for the poorest and most vulnerable children in their country. Their passion for following Jesus this way has rubbed off on their children, Justin and Joy- two of the most compassionate and caring kids I have ever met. Justin, who just graduated from high school, is unable to join us on our trip this year; but Joy will be with us, leaving a bit early to get back to the States for the start of the school year.

And of course myself, Emily Bosh, mom and dietitian. I will serve as team leader, and hopefully get a chance to be a nutrition speaker at the student seminar we plan to assist with. I am hoping my tidbits of Kiswahili will come in handy, if nothing else than to greet friends, and bless them as we part ways.

Malaria Med Update

Just a quick note to say that I will be able to take Larium as a malaria medication for my trip. Not necessarily 100% safe, but low enough risk given the alternative of possibly contracting malaria. Thanks for prayers, everyone!

Tea & Sympathy

There are many remnants of British colonial rule in Kenya, one of which is the ritual and hospitality of tea. The Kiswahili word is the same used in India and many other parts of the world: chai. Although, chai as we know it here in the US is not necessarily the same thing as Kenyan chai. Chai literally means simply "tea", but in Kenya it is almost assumed that the tea will be brewed in a boiling-hot mixture of equal parts water and milk. Some folks also add spices, as we do for American chai (think Starbucks chai latte, or Oregon Chai concentrate), some add lemongrass, and if sugar is not mixed in for you, it is certainly offered.

But chai is more than just a warm beverage in Kenya. (And the warm part often causes me to involuntarily smile, especially when I am sweating from the African sun while sipping my steaming hot brew). When you enter a home of any sort, you are offered a seat and a cup of chai, and are expected to sit, sip, and visit for awhile. The drink you accept is a sign of hospitality, an extension of friendship, a warm - literally - welcome, and a request for fellowship.

One of my favorite memories of shared cups of chai was as a student in 1999. Upon meeting my host family in a small village in Western Kenya, I was immediately offered chai, which I knew by then to accept. However, milk had not been agreeing with me that spring, perhaps due to lack of pasteurization in rural areas, and so I had been telling folks that I would love some chai, but without the milk, as it made my stomach sick. When I relayed this to my host mother, she gave me a bit of a sideways look (who drinks chai without milk??!!), but headed back to the other side of her tiny two-room hut to fetch me some milkless chai. Several minutes later, I realized she was brewing a whole new batch of chai just for me. It was that important to her that I be able to share a cup with her and her children. For the remainder of my stay in her joyful home (only one week or so), there was always a separate cup of plain black tea waiting for me in the mornings and afternoons, and never a word of questioning or teasing about the milk. Every cup was a humbling and endearing experience I hold dear to this day.

Your First Prayer Assignment

Many of you already know, but for those who do not:

Jason and I recently found out that more than one Bosh will be traveling to Kenya: I will be 28 weeks pregnant when I board my Nairobi-bound flight in August.

No, this was NOT in the plans.

Yes, I will still be traveling.

I have the okay from the midwife to travel, but here's what it means:

• I am researching anti-malaria medications that are safe for pregnancy (I have an appointment with a travel nurse this Wednesday)
• I am also researching effective non-DEET alternative bug sprays
• I will be more susceptible to sicknesses in general
• My flights (8.5 hrs to Amsterdam, then 8.5 hrs to Nairobi, and then back again) will have the potential of being rather uncomfortable; I've requested aisle seats!
• I will not be able to enjoy a full cup of Kenyan chai at every home we visit, as Kenyan tea is quite high in caffeine (as reference, the last time I traveled there, I probably drank between 5 and 10 cups per day)

That last issue is mostly selfish on my part: I love chai and the hospitality it represents. More on that in a future blog entry...

So, your assignment, if you are praying for me on this journey:

• Pray for no mosquito bites
• Pray for protection over my immune system, for no illnesses while I'm there
• Pray for safe and comfortable travel on the airplanes
• Pray for me to let this situation be something that opens up conversation and vulnerability with Kenyan friends; pregnancy is such a universal life event, who knows what God will do with this

I'd also love suggestions from any of you who have traveled while pregnant, or know someone who has -- especially to developing countries, and/or high malaria-risk areas.