Fish head = the Engine

Last night we went to the 'Green Garden' in downtown Kisumu with 3 Canadians; Danny, Keattie and Laura, from Chelsea and Montreal QC respectively. I had a fried Tilapia fish with ungali and tomatoe stew and Andrea had this fancy pizza. In weight, I probably had three times the amount of Andreas but her's still cost more because mine was the native dish. Our server todl me I was a true 'Luo' for ordering the Kenyan Lager Tusker *thanks Dave* and that meal. He then came back after I stared the fish and told me I was eating it all wrong. That I need to start with the engine *head* and then eat the spare parts *the rest of the fish*, so I obliged and ate the eyes, the brains and the rest of the meat around the skull. I felt the gag reflex coming on a couple times but I forced myself through it. I also tried the Tanzanian beer 'Serengeti' with the Cheetah on it but I much preferred the Kenyan Tusker. The three others were great company for Andrea and I and we were very thankful for how they always asked the name of the server *who was wearing a white-collared Arby's shirt* and struck up a conversation with them. They have a tuk-tuk *3 wheeled taxi* driver named Bernard that they always call and refer other people to. I really like that. We're not really sure what we're up to today *at an internet cafe right now* other than that we're leaving at 9:00 PM tonight for the night bus to Nairobi and then straight off to Arusha risking the fact that we might need visas to get into the country *and before we get to the border*. God, please grant us favour at the border. And let us be a light for you, somehow humble and loving. And thanks for my beautiful wife who has been such a joy.

Cheers,

Michael.

Thursday... no, Friday October 26th

We met Michael Otieno today, the young man that Andrea has sponsored through Compassion for the last 10 years. What a great experience. The poverty vs. the honour of that young man. He literally lives in a slum and he is in the top of his class. The incredible adversity that this boy, this young man, has come against in order to get to where he is at now, it stuns me. And it's almost like it is better for him, I say that with remorse and guilt, the fact that he works so hard, loves so simply, is so smart, it is almost better that he is poor in Kenya than rich in Canada. This young man is empowered to become something great for the kingdom of God. It was such a pleasure meeting him, his family and the compassion Kenya workers. *God bless him. Get him into university God. Help him and help his family.... What a day.

Kenya, Tanzania, Malawia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, DRC and the Netherlands

OK, here we go.

We're leaving today for East Africa and Nairobi specifically. Andrea and I are apprehensive, nervous and super excited about our upcoming trip. We hope to update this blog often enough to let everyone know that we are still OK, what we're up to and how you can think about/pray for us back home. I guess to begin, please pray that we'll enjoy the flights, and that are time in Kenya is safe. We'll be staying with a UN rep in Nairobi who is a friend of Andrea's grandfather, Gerald VanderWillik. We anticipate meeting Michael Otieno, the young man that Andrea has sponsored through Compassion Canada for the past decade. Those are the first two stops with the possibility of meeting up with James Kirkland while we are there. I'm writing this so I'll take the chance to say how much I admire Andrea and how involved she has become in the planning of this trip. I am so honoured to have found a partner to travel the world with and love so much.

We'll see you all in a couple months,

Michael (and Andrea)