Big Babies

October holds a couple different holidays here in Kenya, so this year on Mashujaa Day (Heroes Day) we took our day off from work and explored a little bit of what greater Nairobi has to offer. Our first stop was The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust which is home to a number of orphaned baby elephants that are being hand-raised and then released back into the wild. For one hour a day, the handlers bring the babies to the swimming hole to eat and play while excited guests hear about the project while being entertained by the immense cuteness of these pint-sized pachyderms!

Follow the leader!
The Sheldrick Trust was the first group to perfect the milk formula for baby elephants. These babies need to be fed every 3 hours at least day and night.

Elephants mature at about the same rate that humans do, so the little ones love to play and wrestle... and mud just makes it more fun!


After a bath it is important to get a good coating of dust to protect them from the hot Kenyan sun.

Ian loves rhinos! This rhino is kept by the Sheldrick Trust because he is completely blind. They feed him and try to make sure he gets exercise.
Of course the rhino does have friends visit from time to time... this warthog was wandering the grounds and decided to pop in to say hello.
And what Kenyan holiday would be complete without meeting a giraffe? Not ours! We of course thought it would only be proper to offer it a snack.
:)
B
PS- we're working on our November newsletter... let us know if there is something you've been curious about that we can fill you in on!

A perfectly good pumpkin

Don't think just because we are in Africa that we are missing out on all of the Autumnal fun! Gary-o-lantern (named after a certain founder of a certain NGO that a certain Kitterman works for) made a return performance this year, although pumpkins are easier to find in Kenya than they were in South Asia... so Gary got to be a pumpkin instead of last year's watermelon incarnation. You work with what you have.

And the reaction from Kenyan friends: "that seems like a waste of a perfectly good pumpkin."

That was a little disappointing, but we will soldier on continuing to bring more American ridiculousness with us to our home away from home. (A just like in the US, our jack-o-lantern is sure to sit on the porch until near rotting state.)
:)
B

Captives will be set free...

Check out IJM's latest fund raising mailer with the story of a client from Ian's office at IJM Kenya! This case touched our hearts and further convinced us that we are here in Kenya for a reason.



(ALSO... we completely admit that we stole this update from the blog of our housemate Betsy, who is the super-star intern in church and community relations. Check her blog out here at http://elizabethfairfield.wordpress.com/ )

Still, it is great to see this story going out to supporters and we hope that it encourages you that justice is being seen by 'the least of these' through your support!

-Kittermans

Dear Jenny Craig...

your help is not wanted here....


We saw these signs around Ian's work as we were appropriately munching an after work snack. :) Unlike in the US, if someone tells you that your wife is very fat you should take it as a compliment and not punch them in the face. *wink*

B

More Cairo

We've posted more Cairo photos on Bekah's facebook, but just to keep our promise that there would be more on the blog... here you go!












B

Egypt memories

It has been almost 2 weeks since returning from Cairo for our visa run, and it is high time you got to see some of our pics! Here is part 1 of our Egyptian adventures.


Ian viewing the Alabaster Sphynx out in Memphis

A man standing in the pathway to Zoser's pyramids and compound.

Happy to be hanging out in ruins again!


What!? Zoser's pyramid is right here! Bekah very excited about seeing one of the first types of pyramids. Gotta love pyramid evolution.
Ian's best impression f an Egyptian statue... wrong leg forward... but would you really have known that if I didn't tell you?

catching the Egyptian breeze


climbing some pyramids!
These bricks are huge.

Getting near the end of the day hanging out at the Great Pyramids of Giza

Riding off to the horizon ;)

B

We're baaaaack

We made it! Successful visa run with lots of fun and new experiences. We'll have a better update complete with pyramids...once our internet decides to be faster than molasses in a snow storm.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!
B