Canadian Soil.....

I am home................
I have now been home for 15 hours.........it is early and I am enjoying my morning brew...
freshly ground arabica coffee brewed to the perfect strength. I am sitting in my favourite chair, with my favourite flannel nightie on (unfortunately it is still cool enough here in Ontario for it) enjoying my first coffee of the morning in my favourite mug.........I am enjoying a sense of peace and contentment, surrounded by familiarity and comfort. I am trying to decide if the comfort comes from the 'extras' that we enjoy here that would be considered 'luxuries' by most Kenyans or if the comfort comes from familiarity. I am in my own home with my children still sleeping ( Kristen and Michael are both home for the summer and yes, it is still very early here so they are still in bed), most of my family and friends are close at hand..........
I really am a low maintenance person (aside from a little whining about not having my hair dryer and hair product with me), little things mean a lot! I mean of all the souvenirs that I brought home, the ones that mean the most (aside from the gifts that I was given ) are the heart shaped rocks that I found at the places we visited and a notebook that I almost filled with stories and thoughts. Yes, I brought back many of the beautiful handcrafts and products of Kenya..........a painting, textiles, carvings, Maasai beadwork, pottery, jewellery, macadamia nuts, cashews, tea.............
But what I am returning with and cherish most are the stories that I carry in my heart from the people that we met...........Pastor Rebecca Osiro and her husband Bishop Joash, Millicent, Elizabeth, Waihenya, Enock, Fred, Grace, Jean, Ruth, Kevin, Joshua, Ruth, Maurice, Benta, Emily, Janet, Francis, Patricia, Margaret, Florence and her son Larry, Steven, Patrick, Christine, Antony, Fiona and Marcus, Donald, Willis, Joseph, the Maasai that travelled with us, the thousands of children that we saw, the orphans, the men and women 'living positively', the staff at the Mennonite Guest House, the other MCC staffers that we met and talked with at MGH, the congregation at Eastleigh Mennonite Church, the communities that have been touched by the work of MCC through these people and many more that I haven't listed.
I was touched by their stories and by the way they live their lives..............


The two things that I was most frequently asked for were not 'material gifts'.........they asked us not to forget them and to pray for them! Amazing..........inspiring............heart-warming............simple, yet profound.............
Please join me in praying for the people of Kenya........pray for peace between individuals and ethnic groups, pray for political stability in the days ahead as they look toward elections in the fall of 2012, pray for economic development at all levels, pray for the orphans and those impacted by the effects of HIV/AIDS, pray for those who lack the basic necessities of life, pray for the next generation.........., pray for change! 


In the days ahead I will continue to blog - to write about the experiences I had and the things I have witnessed. There has been too much to do a complete job while still there experiencing more everyday, and quite honestly, this process of blogging has been very helpful for me! Thanks for being part of my journey thus far!  Please feel free to check back often for most stories and thoughts from my heart. 


I am also interested in your thoughts or comments so feel free to leave comments, ask questions or send me an email (pattyjoy1@gmail.com). Writing in a public forum is new to me so your feedback is appreciated and helpful.


Now, I am home and today is the New Hamburg Relief Sale...........I am told we have a replica of the Kenyan Peace Tree from the Lari Peace Museum on display so I am going to shower and go.........I have some stories to share! Besides, there are lots of our Canadian brand of 'Mennonite' things to experience there................


Until later.............