Sunday.

Sunday at Mattaw has been may favorite day here so far.  Hands down.  It was a day of restful and refreshing celebration.

Church was fantastic.  Chairs were pushed aside to make room for dancing and singing.  It was a different experience from the "church" I know at home.  We danced and sang songs of Jesus.  Most of the time I didn't even know what I was saying, but I knew Who the praise was going to.  It is a beautiful thing to participate in praising God in another tongue.  Bud preached a great word from Matthew about our lives reflecting who we say we believe Jesus to be.  

After lunch we ate lunch together and spent the day relaxing and playing outside with the children. Time spent talking with the children is when I learn the most about life here in Kenya.  Juma and I sat for over an hour and sorted beans and talked about his dreams for the future.  He wants "to be a brave missionary and go the the places where it is dangerous to tell about Jesus."  He is only thirteen, and demonstrates a great understanding of the Gospel.  Juma is proof that children can understand the Gospel, and therefore should be loved on and discipled in the Word.  

Juma sorting beans.

Maureen and me.

Playing with balloons.

Franco and Daniel.

Look who's not scared of white people anymore!!  Way to go, Junior!

Towards the end of the afternoon, we celebrated this month's birthdays at Mattaw.  It was a huge celebration!  Keela and Anna baked tie-dyed cakes, bought gifts for the children, and decorated the church.  Bud reminded us all that we celebrate birthdays because we celebrate life.  We sang to Josephine, Mary, Phillip, and Juma and then watched them open their gifts of new clothes and sweets.  We ended the celebration with a tradition that I'm very glad has made its way to Kenya--cake!!!

Happy Birthday to Josephine, Mary, Phillip, and Juma!