Friday Candy Tradition

Every Friday the boys get to buy candy. Inevitably they will pick an "Obama Sucker." As you can see, President Obama's face is on the wrapper of the suckers. As you probably know President Obama's father was Kenyan so the country is VERY proud of President Obama. The candy is intended to be in respect.









Isaiah eating the Obama sucker without the wrapper on. One of his favorites.


















This is Auntie Karen and Uncle Jack (Jack and Karen Mitchell). They are another missionary couple serving here at Scott this year. Jack teaches Bible and Theology. Karen works in the office. They are delightful. They are here for a one year break from the ordinary missionary assignment in Hungary. They serve with "Pioneers." Isaiah and Nathanael LOVE Auntie Karen and Uncle Jack. We do too!

Overwhelmed by the need

As promised, here is an update on the needs of the students and the college. One of the most difficult and surprising aspects of our stay at Scott is the overwhelming need all around us. The drought in Kenya (at least this part of Kenya) is greater than we ever imagined. Most Kenyans are telling us that this drought is the worst they've experienced in 20+ years.

We have experienced tremendous needs on all levels. First of all, the college is in massive need of financial support. The students' fees only cover about 60% of the costs of their education at Scott. The rest is subsidized by giving from African and Western friends of Scott. But with the global recession, the giving to Scott has decreased dramatically leaving the college $60,000 in the red after last year and having to operate this year with a $60,000 budget deficit. The administration made a number of cuts for non-essential programs and services but still can't balance the budget. Right now the principal of Scott, Dr. Jacob Kibor, is traveling in the US in part to raise funds for Scott - we would appreciate prayers for him.

This situation is even more dire at Scott because of the students' inability to cover all of their fees. This is the third or fourth year of drought in Kenya, so many of the students have no way to raise their support. Their crops are dying, their animals are dying, and they have no other income source. The school has sent home more than two dozen students who cannot return this year because they failed to pay their fees (tuition plus room and board). It was painful to see those students leave. Some of the students were hanging around (hiding) the campus because they know while they are here they can get some food. If they go home there is no food.

Another significant percentage of the students have only paid enough in school fees to be around for a portion of the semester and they are hoping they can somehow raise the fees to remain for the rest of the term. It is altogether possible that we will send home another dozen or more students before the end of the term. (FYI a typical student pays about $1200 USD for the semester including room and board.) Many have only raised and paid less than $500. That, of course, puts an even greater strain on the college to raise the money that was budgeted from student fees. The school barely had enough money to pay faculty in August, raised some more to cover September bills, but is still unsure how it will pay all of the bills in November and December. That means the African faculty are suffering and may be forced to go for several weeks or months without pay until the school finds the money to pay them - a very difficult situation for many of these teachers.

But that's not the end of the need. We have learned that some of the married students (who are not on a meal plan) do not have food to eat at home. Their husbands/wives and children are going without food on a periodic basis. We eat three good meals a day and it is hard to live so close to people who are regularly going without. Thankfully the dean of students has started receiving donations for staples like beans, rice, flour, and sugar. He is working with some student representatives to make sure the most needy students get enough food to eat. We are contributing to that as we can.

We have had several students ask us to help them pay school fees - or to find a sponsor in the US who will cover their fees. We've regularly encountered children and widows in town who ask us for money. We've even had a young girl come to the door asking for money so she can buy a pair of glasses. Our house helper, who sees the abundance in our home, has even shared some of her needs with us.

All of this need is very challenging. Of course our heart goes out to all of those who are in need, and we feel a bit guilty for being so well provided for. "Why us Lord?" We want to help everyone but not only is that impossible, it is not good since we don't want to create dependency.

We ask you to pray for the school, for the students who need school fees, for the many others who don't even have food to eat, and for wisdom for us as we try to meet some needs as God leads us.

Why we are here.

It has been far too long since I (Todd) gave a blog update. But today I have time, and this week I have good reason to give an update.

We have chapel four days a week here at Scott. That gives us an opportunity to hear the testimony from all of the new members of the community. As a first year teacher, I gave mine the first full week of class. Anyway, this week several more of the first year students gave their testimonies. One student in particular made me say, "Yes! This is why we are here." This particular student is from the country of Sudan where, as many of you know, Christians are in the minority and can experience severe persecution. At any rate, this student began his testimony by saying, "I do not come from a Christian family, and my life before I met Christ is not something I am going to talk about. But the day I gave my life to Christ I sold my gun!" This young man went on to tell the story of his conversion and ended his testimony by saying, "I know God is calling me to be at Scott so I can learn and go back to Sudan and teach others about Christ. I want to teach the Bible in Sudan."

That is exactly the reason we are here in Kenya teaching at Scott. We cannot travel to the many countries and regions our students are from. We cannot meet all of the need here in Africa, because the need is too great. But we get the privilege of equipping men like this student to travel throughout Africa and train others to be Christ's followers. It is a joy to have that very student in one of my classes and I pray that the Lord will multiply my efforts through this young man when he returns to his homeland to teach others the good news of Jesus Christ.

A few other thoughts that I want to share with you. We attended our first Harambe on Saturday. Harambe's are fund-raisers where the whole community pulls together to support something financially. Scott Theological College is in desperate need for financial support this year (but that's a story for another blog), so they held a Harambe. While we saw the various individuals giving money to Scott, I couldn't help but be thankful for so many of you who have pulled together to support us being here in Kenya. We could not do this without you and I gave a special prayer of thanksgiving for so many of you yesterday and today. I don't have the words to express my thakfulness to all of you for your prayers and financial support. So I'll just say, "Thanks."

Also, I gave my first quiz on Wednesday. I was nervous because I want to challenge the students but I also want to be fair. I'm learning that Scott is serious about preventing grade inflation. The mean grade is supposed to be a B- for every class. Anyway, I was pleased with the results. Although two of the students scored a D or below, I had one A- and at least one student got each question right. The mean grade was a C+. That made me feel fairly good aobut my teaching so far.

Hope you all are well. I will try to post another update (about Scott's financial need) later in the week.

-Todd

Our First Video(s) from the Harambe

Here are the two youngest choir members of Scott Theological Choir! :) They had great fun at the Harambe (fund-raiser). This reminds us of FamJam. Everyone else thought it was great. We were asked, "Why did you make them sit down?" The blazing sun and 85+ degree tempretures and their fair Scandanavian skin had something to do with it. Anyway, enjoy. We sure did.

And by popular demand. Here is a photo of Todd (He's usually behind the camera).

Pregnancy update

We made it safely to Nairobi and back. Yesterday was busy and good. The doctor's appointment went well. Both babies had great heartbeats and as I was assuming, I am growing well. I'm about 4 months along and measuring as if I'm about 5 months along. Dr. Patel was pleased and we are so thankful that everything seems to be progressing well.
After the appointment, we were able to meet with a woman named Jennifer who has been a missionary in Kenya for 25 years. For the past 10 years she has been volunteering as a doula, which is a birth coach or maternity support person. Jennifer was wonderful. She will help me with the cross cultural issues of having an Indian doctor and Kenyan nurses. She has worked with my doctor for a number of years and speaks very highly of him. His wife happens to be the anesthesiologist that will give me the epidural for the c-section that I will need. Jennifer said that Dr. Patel's wife is also a great doctor and that she herself would allow Dr/Mrs Patel be her anesthesiologist any day.
Jennifer had many great suggestions for us. We already need to start making calls and reservations for me and the boys to live in Nairobi closer to delivery time. We can always cancel a reservation, but we may not be able to get one if we try too late. I will also need to hire house help in Nairobi and possibly a nanny. Todd will continue working at the college and we are going to do what we can to help me carry the babies to term (latest c-section date would be February 18). Any and all prayers that I can safely carry these babies till February 18 are appreciated. Anytime in February would probably be fine, but the bigger and stronger that they can get before delivery will hopefully mean fewer complications for them after birth.
I must say that we are really excited to have twins. What an unexpected blessing!! We are sure that we can't imagine the work load or how little sleep we may get, but that is probably a blessing in disguise too. In a little more than a month, I will have another ultrasound and we hope to find out the genders of the babies.
Overall, we are doing well. We will continue to keep you updated. Love from the Hilkemanns.

A variety of new pictures

My house-helper Mbula and I made the largest main dish, pasta casserole, that I've ever made. The dish filled one 9x13 pan and four 8x8 pans. It was for a faculty potluck. The only "unfortunate" part of the dish was that I didn't know that a "casserole" is supposed to be a dish to serve over rice. There was plenty of rice and not enough dishes to serve on top of rice. Oh well, I think, I tried. All I can do is smile and try again next time.






Nate's chin injury a few days into the healing process. It is up for debate whether the drool helps the healing process or not.

















This is the best picture of Isaiah's black eye that I could get. It's all better now. He does have a nice scrape and bruise on the other eye and cheek now. He looks like a happy, healthy, active boy with his multitude of bruises and scrapes.














This event was a staff and student get-together party where everyone got to participate in games. Our team name was pin pop (lollypop). We are passing a very full water balloon over our heads. None of our balloons broke, thankfully.










Nate and I are clapping for another activity. It was a nice side shot that Todd got of me, so I thought I'd add it. I'm already a couple of weeks bigger.


















"Hello everyone"












Todd got to participate in a game where handfuls of water had to be passed to the end of the line then poured into a Coke bottle. This is Happiness explaining how she thought it would be best to pour the water out of his hands into the bottle. The team with the fullest bottle at the end of two minutes won the game. We didn't do so well. Todd had about four other also telling him how to pour and too much advice doesn't always help.

















This is Isaiah "fixing" a vine-like tree off of our porch. He often walks around campus carrying a bag of tools. It has earned him the nickname of Fundi (worker).














Isaiah and Nate being goofy and loving it!

















Nate is trying on a pair of rain boots that were left for him. He was very proud trying to march around the house in them. They are all dusty because Isaiah often wears them around campus. Two pairs of boots were left for them and a pair fits each boy. What fun!!

Time Flies

Hello everyone. I realized it might be time for an update. I have no more exciting chicken stories (yet)! It has been over a week since we updated people. That means we are well and busy with everyday things. The boys love playing outside and have a great amount of freedom (mostly a good thing). Todd's classes are going well. He works diligently to keep up with preparing 10 hours of lecture per week. Last week he also preached in chapel on Tuesday. I teased him about preaching his longest sermon ever because he was expected to preach for 45-50 minutes. He did a great job. I have started to feel better. Yesterday and today I have had bursts of energy that have been very productive. I'm attributing the energy to being fully into the second trimester and with having been at the new altitude for almost exactly 6 weeks. It takes about 6 weeks for peoples' blood to adjust to a higher altitude to provide additional oxygen for the body. I have only had one doctor's appointment for my pregnancy (the one where we found out we are expecting twins), but we hope to drive to Nairobi the end of next week to make sure all is well. I'm doing a great job growing, so we are not concerned at all.
I do have a story about the boys. On Sunday night, we had dinner at a Kenyan's home for the first time. It was very nice. The boys didn't complain about the stew, but ate well. The only glitches of the night were that Isaiah got a black eye and Nate split his chin open. We ate at our neighbor's home. Shadrack and Milka are the parents and Baraka and Nema are the children (Isaiah and Nate's best friends). Isaiah walked behind Nema exactly when she decided to stand up. Nema's head won and Isaiah's right eye lost that contest. He had a great time tipping his head down and telling us that he couldn't see out because of the lump. After the initial outburst, he got along great! At the very end of the night, Nate climbed up on the armrest of the chair that I was sitting in. He turned off the light and it was pitch black for everyone. As I turned to get Nate and to turn the light back on, I knocked Nate off the chair and we think he hit his chin on the armrest. It was beautifully split open. Quite deep too! Thankfully, I brought steri-strips and after washing it out, we closed it. I figure it was good for 2 stitches in the States. He will have the same scar as many little boys in the world. :)
Well Isaiah thinks I'm his personal jungle gym and the timer is going off, so it's time to go. Bye for now.