By Wes (December 30, 2004 @ 11:09 am)
Well, I just wanted to update you all on a recent trip I took to Maji Moto (look a few updates preceding this one, to Jean’s first trip there, she has good insights and impressions), along with the Beyer’s. Their church back home in Canada was involved in a Christmas Project with the mission at Maji, and so we were going up there to donate seeds to the Massai there for their shambas (garden fields). The trip started out great – a long drive on rough roads through the incredibly diverse Kenyan countryside. From narrow BC – like mountains, surrounded with lush green foliage, to flat Saskatchewan – like plains, dry and covered with fine reddish powder. The Massai lands stretch out as far as you can see (which, from the top of a small volcanic hill near Maji Moto is about 40 kms with the naked eye), and they are dotted very occasionally with some scrub brush, a herd of cattle, or even more sporadically, a massai settlement. The massai are usually very transient, moving their cattle to where the rains have fallen. However, a town has sprung up near the source of a natural hot spring, and so they stay near this water, since it has been and tends to be semi-arid in this part of Kenya, and water wherever you can find it is a hot commodity (pardon the pun). Anyway, it was extremely cool to meet these men and women, wearing all sorts of amazing beadwork, with holes in ears and extremely elongated earlobes, and almost always wearing a red blanket, to serve as many different things. They were so welcoming, so friendly, and had handshakes and greetings of “supa” ( meaning something akin to hello, or how are you, etc in Massai) for even white folks like us. What was great about the trip for me was 2 things: First – the view from the hill behind the village was spectacular – plains stretching out for miles and miles in the late afternoon African sun. It was good to breathe again, and felt like coming home in some respects. Secondly, I was able to be part of a new start for so many of these hard working people, and help give out some quality maize and bean seed so they could diversify their income and food production. It was like giving a man a tool, so he could feed himself, rather than just giving him food. Anyway, the planting is to begin as the long rains come, sometime in maybe late January, or February. For more on the seed project, along with some photos (taken by yours truly), and background info, check out www.journeyofhope.ca, which is Rob and Linda Beyer’s website – the couple who invited me to come along with them to Maji Moto. All in all, a wonderful experience (by the way, the hot springs were very hot, and very welcome!), and I hope to get back there someday.
Not any lower on the importance scale, today is December 30, and therefore is a great day in the Enns family – the anniversary of the date of our firstborn son’s birth! Ezra is six today, and had a great party planned and replanned by Jeannie. He invited 5 of his closest on campus friends (including Zay) to spend some time with him, and so we ended up going to ISK to do some swimming and playing and picnic-ing. We did presents (he got some really great tools and wood and nails to work and create with – I know where to go when I’ve got a project to do!), the kids swam even though it was coolish out, and then we snacked on chips, popcorn, some soda, and an incredible Batcake that Jean whipped up (it was in the shape of a bat – yknow with wings n such). After food, the kids raced off to play on the play structure. All in all, a great day for our six year old boy! What a great kid! He is so proud to now be one of the “bigger” kids – I guess being six qualifies him as big. He is quite a large young guy – he even let us measure him today, and he is almost 4 feet tall. He is sprouting like a weed in Africa – the growing season is longer here 
! Proud parents are we!
Well, I won’t keep you any longer, just thought I’d put up some happenings, so that you keep up to date, and I don’t forget what to tell you. A lot is happening around here! Tune in to our next blog update, it should be a doozy – The Coast! Till then, signing off from East Africa – The Enns’
By Wes (December 26, 2004 @ 8:58 am)
Just wanted to let you all know how we spent Christmas over here in sunny Nairobi (28 deg. C). Christmas Eve day consisted of doing some last minute shopping, and then swimming in the afternoon (what an amazing day, I don’t mean to sound like I’m rubbing it in – sunscreen that is – but we miss the snow a little). After supper, we allowed the boys to open one present from us, because they were so excited by that time they could hardly see straight. They played with their new toy all evening and then, tried to fall asleep (sleep 60 miles an hour boys!). Jean and I settled down to watch “White Christmas” – tradition rules – and eat popcorn till we burst.
Woke up early on Christmas day (6:15 – actually pretty decent, but we got to bed a little late after the movie, so it felt too early). The boys tore into their stockings and presents under our tree (which I MacGyvered out of 4 hangers, some rubber bands, paper clips, and lots of multicolored, insanely hot Christmas lights), and rejoiced in the bounty from Mom and Dad, aunties and uncles, grandmas and grandpas. It was a pleasure to watch the joy and excitement (and exclamations of “cool”, “whoa”, etc) on their faces. We played all morning and into the afternoon, and then drove out with the Beyers to Pan African College to visit with our friends the Kauffeldts. We, along with a few others to total 28, ate an amazing Christmas dinner, and played “Settlers” until 9 (others played longer, but we were cooked, and so were our kids). We stayed the night on campus in a neigbouring house (reserved for guests etc). Woke up (again, good thing), ate some breaky, visited the campus manager for some coffee and tea, and then went to church on campus at the Pan Africa Community Church. It was a service put on by the youth of the church, and experienced some great worship, dancing, sharing and speaking. The boys had had enough by the 2 hour mark, and since the main speaker hadn’t come up yet, we decided they would do better back at the house (Jean stayed for the duration of the 2.75 hour service – this was run by the youth you recall!). I felt like a wimpy North American Christian who can’t sit in a service for any longer than an hour before getting antsy, while the National youth and children sat patiently and happily for the entire thing! Very impressive in many ways. After church, we had leftovers from the night before (just as good – can’t get enough turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce:)), talked and laughed (the kids played their heads off), and generally made merry. It was a great time with friends!
We are so blessed to have made some good friends over here in Africa, and continue to learn more about the Kenyan culture. It doesn’t make up for missing family like 90 bears, but, that’s ok. We miss being at home in the snow and driving hours and hours to see all of our loved ones back home (soon and very soon), but we are also very thankful for the good people out here!
God’s blessings on you and yours this Christmas season, and throughout the new year!
From the Kenyan Enns’.
By Wes (December 12, 2004 @ 7:09 am)
Merry Christmas everyone! Although things are greening up nicely around here with all the rain we’ve been having lately, we ARE drawing closer to Christmas with each day (and Christmas holidays! 
). And with the season comes the parties, concerts and get togethers (and food:0). And here, life in Kenya is no exception. Even Village Market has been outfitted with Christmas decorations since US Thanksgiving in November. On Thursday, we were treated to Ezra’s first school Christmas concert – where he was instrumental in the K/Gr. 1 chorus, as well as the Elementary choir. “The Plane Truth” was performed by students, and they told the Christmas story, with added interest by telling it for an audience that was stranded in a snowed in airport , at Gate 22. It was great, and Ezra was so cute, it was really hard to just sit there quietly, as he snapped his fingers, sang, looked around with his hands in his pockets, mouthed the words to songs he didn’t know – its hard to be such proud parents. (see pictures on blog gallery)
Friday, we had the Rosslyn Staff Christmas Party, and got together for food, fun, fellowship. We sang Christmas songs about snow, and frightful weather (I guess we have to sing about it, just to know that somewhere in the world, weather can be less than ideal every day…. We had an ornament exchange, Santa dropped by for some quick pics (our own Mr. Rob Beyer donned the red), and then “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” followed by “Miracle on 34th Street” were shown in the amphitheatre. It was good to hang out and feel Christmassy for a little while. I just couldn’t (and still can’t) get over the fact that it was so sunny and warm and green outside – this is weird – but it does seem to be getting closer and closer.
We are also looking forward to our first ever vacation (vacation, as in, beach – resort – exotic location ) this Christmas break, as we will be spending our last week of holidays at Turtle Bay, which is located in Malindi (on Kenya’s coast, North of Mombassa on the Indian Ocean). It is going to be amazing – I say this because I’ve heard more than one person remark, “If you can’t have an amazing, relaxing, enjoyable vacation in Turtle Bay, there is really something wrong with you!” Can’t wait. Don’t worry, we’ll give you all the scoop (and pictures) when we get back in January.
One more week of school / exams before the break starts. I am needing a break big time. But, the grading will continue unabated until then (and hopefully not after). So, nose to the grindstone for me (it could use a little grinding, was always a little on the large side). Ezzie has 3 more days left, and both he and Zay are counting down the days until Christmas (and Ez’s 6th birthday). “When will we start getting things in our stockings, dad?” is a regular question. We are hoping to scoop a Christmas tree sometime next week or weekend, and that will help to make the place feel a little more festive. Jean is making Christmas cookies, and so the smells are around, which really helps. For Christmas eve and day, we’ve been invited to stay with some friends in Nairobi (Canadians all), so that’ll be fun – it will be good to mix things up during the break.
Anyway, hope the rush towards Christmas finds you all in the mall less, and in the company of family and friends more. Enjoy the snow (the boys and I actually miss it – I think I’ll look for some wintry computer wallpaper), and experience the True Gift of Christmas this year! God is good!
From Nairobi -
Wes (for Jean and the elves)
