I FOUND A COMPUTER!

Hey everyone, sorry i haven't posted lately, i have been busy traveling around Kenya and haven't had a chance to post or if i have, the computer hasn't let me. Wow, lets see, i don't even remember when the last time i posted was... but i'll try and do a quick run through.

I went to Ole and Peter's village for about 5 days. I met many of their friends and family, i was adopted by Peter's mother (so now i have two mothers... which i am finding isn't all that uncommon around here). I celebrated my birthday by buying a goat, slaughtering it, and eating almost every part of it minus the bones, hoofs, and eyes. Everything else was pretty much game.

On my birthday i was dressed up in full Maasai gear and paraded around some of the villages... the people couldn't believe their eyes. There were children running and everyone was laughing... Peter and Ole got a good kick out of it. I decided that i was too white to be Maasai, so i am officially a Waasai (White + Maasai = Waasai). Pretty smart huh! ;)
The next day we drove out to the Maasai Mara to check out some of the scenery and animals and such. I got to drive the Land rover (which was a little weird because it was on the right side of the car) forded a river, saw some wildebeest and ostrich... pretty standard. ;)

After about 3 days of goat meat at every meal, i was happy to get on the road and eat other food. We traveled by Mutatu (the little public buss that resembles a VW bus in which 14 people cram into) to Thompson falls north of Nairobi. While we were there i got to see Hippos in the wild about 20 feet away, kinda sketchy.
The next day Peter and I traveled to Nynuki the city just below Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya peaks out at about 12 thousand feet... not messing around. We did a day trip up to Isiolo which is a Somali town to see the culture. The next day we came back to Nairobi on an 6 hour bus trip that should have taken 3 hours... gotta love Africa.
I am now in a suburb of Nairobi with a pastor named Evans seeing his community and hanging out. I better go he's been waiting for me for a bit... but that's what's going on with me! I will be back in the states Wednesday night the 21st... i'm not gonna lie, i'm counting down! I love you all, thank you for your prayers and comments, i will try and get ahold of you all when i get back. In Him, Nate

Down time...

Today was the first day the team got to relax which was much needed. We got back last night from the last day in the field testing filters at the Masai village. We didn't get as much done as we would have liked, but we learned a lot... and if the team gets far enough along while i'm still here, i may be able to set up a permanent filter for them. On the way out to the village we drove up on some Masai giraffe! We took a lot of pictures and the camera man Brad got some great footage. Yah, we have a camera man... He has been taking HD video of the whole trip... and has some amazing stuff. We were hanging out after dinner (i took the cheap rice and cabbage rout for 60 shillings which is about 90 cents) drinking Tuskars (Kenyan beer) watching some of his footage when he nonchalantly said we had a pretty good chance of having our video on discovery channel. We thought he was joking at first... but he was dead serious. So who knows, you may soon see us on TV. Weird.

Sunday the team leaves back to the US and that's about the time i gotta start figuring out what i am going to do with my remaining 3 weeks in Kenya. I have 4 pastors and a couple brothers that want me to join them, so at least i have options. I would really like to get to see the Indian ocean and Masai Mara while i'm here, but it has been suggested i do not travel alone... so we'll see where i get to go. I know God will use the time for however he sees fit. One of the struggles i have faced is that when you offer friendship or an interest in a persons life, a request for money or some sort of favor is soon to follow. I have also struggled to accept the gifts from numerous people because i know they have very little. And it is probably inevitable, i will be eating goat before i return home. Fun...?!?! For those who have commented and want me to return their notes, make sure to make your account viewable so i can reply. And to all of you who have emailed me and kept in touch... thank you. I better go, we have a meeting in 10 minutes. Until next time... Yours in Him, Nate