Subject: Betty Crocker

Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2006 05:28:18 -0700

Seasons Greetings! As I type up my letter I am enjoying a "Celtic Christmas" cd (thanks mama!) in the background. I love the Christmas season as I'm sure all of you do…that joyful feeling that just over takes you…at least I hope it does :o) I imagine what it is like at home…all the beautiful Christmas decorations starting to go up, people running around busy doing their Christmas shopping (unless of course you are that last minute, Christmas Eve shopper), families decorating the tree. 

Just one month to go and Christmas is in the air! It's not quit like that here, at least not so far.I was so happy Wednesday. My friend Nebert (he works for the Niemeyers just next door) took me to get a package at the "Posta." I was supposed to be at CCP that day, but going to pick a package is an all day event! In fact I went one other time just after I had gotten here. I didn't share with you the trouble and inconsistency of the postal system here (or any system of that matter). When receiving a package that goes through customs they tax what's inside. But if they are in a good mood you don't have to pay as much. 

If a bad mood, watch out! It's whatever they decide. And before paying it's wise to check to make sure they didn't jack anything that they decided to keep for themselves! In public transportation ,if it's raining some times they charge us more...just because of the weather! So anyway, half the day was over when we were on our way back Nebert realized he needed to get some things at Yaya. On our way in I saw a Christmas tree in the entrance and as we entered deeper in to the "mall" there was a whole display of Christmas decorations by "Dormans" (that is a coffee place). I was so happy and decided that if Java didn't put up Christmas decorations then Dormans would be my mocha spot!

Thanksgiving dinner was great! Krystle and I have become little Betty Crockers! Who would have thought that we needed to come to Kenya to learn to cook? We worked real well together and Pastor Bob and his fam were very impressed and enjoyed themselves very much. We didn't do a turkey though (a little bit at a time ya know). We did chicken and got it from Kenyatta Market. I already shared about my issues with the meat and chicken here so I didn't have much of it. I tried to make my favorite Green Bean Casserole. Yoland said she really loved it but I had to improvise as they didn't have all the ingredients I needed. I have to brag though. I made a killer pumpkin bread with out a can of pumpkin. I actually had to buy two squash (they were like our pumpkins) and boil them and mash them! Krystle made awesome mashed potatoes too! 

It was so good and very much fun although I really missed my family and friends. I miss all the traditions (and fighting, haha) and my grandmas such good cooking and my grandpa carving the turkey as I don't have to pick around bones and whatever else to get some meat! 

Tonight we are cooking again (but something simple). We are having the TULIP girls over to spend the night since they are leaving us soon :o(

Friday Joyce took me to a place called Amani Ya Ju (something like that, and Amani means

peace, I forget what the whole thing means). Joyce works there twice a week. I'm not sure entirely    what the ministry is, but one of the things is they take women who basically have nothing and help them get on their feet again. It's near Westlands, so it's a pretty nice area (Westlands is where the rich people live and were all the mzungus go to hang out…like for bowling and movies). There is a little gift shop there, where the women sell their products. And they are good! It's mostly things they have sown…blankets, clothes. And then their bead work…all their beautiful jewelry. It's so neat to me because I realized that every woman there was different, therefore all their products were uniquely different and all so good. It was also a very good day for me to go as I was having little pity party in my head, and Joyce brought me to this place and I realized that I don't need to focus on myself, that God is a BIG God and doing BIG things right here in this place.   I like talking to Joyce too because she is so selfless and a good reminder to me that it is helpful to myself to help others.

It's still raining but the last 3 days not as much. I'm hoping this "short rain season" is coming to an end. I'm tired of having muddy shoes and pants and an umbrella always occupying one of my hands! When it's not raining the skies are beautiful. There are always big puffy clouds and a bright blue sky. But I hate getting sunburned when the sun is out because our malaria medicine makes it easy for us to get burned. I always am carrying around sunscreen. 

I will be going to camp on the 3rd – the 8th, please pray for me! So I will not be in contact for about 2 weeks. I’m sure I’ll have some good stories to tell. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with lots of great food and friends and family and laughter. And I hope that as Christmas approaches we are all in "good spirits" and joy would over take our hearts, no matter where we are :o)

Take care and God bless! Megan