It’s so great to experience Danny’s life here in Africa, which so far has involved a LOT of coffee… I'm not complaining! :-)

Source Café.

Enjoyed a wonderful week of physical recovery and reconnecting with the Greenes in Kampala...

 (love this family!!!!)

...and a perfect weekend, together with both the Greenes and the Boones, on an exotic island in the middle of the Nile River. We had to take a canoe to get there. Is this real life?!

Lazy mornings and lingering breakfast conversations...

Danny's other girlfriend... how could I possibly compete with that cuteness?! ;-)

"Supermoon" over the Nile.

What a privilege to be initiated into this special family!

We have been so encouraged by these dear friends and so challenged by their example of surrender, sacrifice, and ultimate satisfaction in following Christ. They have counted the cost, and their lives scream, “HE IS WORTHY!” Truly it is an honor to know them.

On our last morning, Danny and I slipped away to a quiet corner of the island to pray together and, more specifically, to seek God's leading in the looming life decisions only three weeks from now when this trip ends. As we were sitting there, we noticed Jeremy and his daughter, Gloria, hand-in-hand on a great "father-daughter adventure" across the Nile. Danny commented that if 8-year-old Gloria were on her own, she would (and should!) be terrified-- the current is too strong and there are crocodiles lurking nearby. Indeed, how foolish and fearful it would be for Gloria to cross that river alone. And yet, she is safe in the hand of her father. She turns around to wave and flash us a huge smile, with all the confidence of a little girl enjoying a wild adventure with her dad.

We're still not exactly sure what our next step will look like-- where we will live or what we will do just three weeks from now-- but we cast off our anxieties, knowing that we are safe in the hand of our Father. He has led us to this point, and we trust that He will continue to lead us every step of the way. And what a wild adventure it has already been! :-)

Seiberts on Safari!

I’m ashamed to admit how much my view of Africa has been shaped by The Lion King, so that with every similarity I’m saying, “Oh, that’s just like The Lion King!” and with every difference I’m surprised.

Danny and I enjoyed a classic safari experience, greeted by Masai warriors…

 …who led us to our amazing honeymoon suite (probably the nicest place we have or ever will stay!).

Lunch with the hippos…

Game drives in the Masai Mara…

Unfortunately, the sickness of the last month wasn’t quite finished like we’d hoped, and once again we found ourselves plagued by those unwanted Indian “souvenirs.” Thankfully, there were a few kind doctors on our safari from Tenwek Mission Hospital (where Danny had helped with some engineering projects a few years ago). So, on our way out to Uganda, they escorted us to great medical care. We were so impressed by Tenwek’s heart and mission statement, “We treat, Jesus heals."

Four days (and one shared “newlywed” prescription of Flagyl) later, we are finally both feeling well and crossing our fingers that this time it will last.

We are now in Kampala, Uganda, loving our time with Danny’s dear friends, the Greenes. Their kids absolutely adore “Uncle Danny,” and they have all made us feel like part of the family. I am so thankful to finally meet this precious family I have heard so much about!

In Sickness and In Health

We weren’t exactly hoping to put our wedding vows to the test so soon… but what do you expect when you plan a honeymoon around the world?!

For those of you who say you are living vicariously through our blog, let us warn you, you might want to keep your own life for this one…

Don’t be fooled, it’s not all so glamorous as you might think.

Actually, in the two months we’ve been married, we can count on one hand the number of days that both of us have felt well.

We wouldn't trade this season of life for the world, but the fact remains that we are now proficient in Indian and African healthcare, have an arsenal of drugs in hand, and the pharmacist knows us by name.

However, God is our Healer, and brought us to Nairobi, Kenya at just the right time. We had hoped to spend a few days with a Kenyan pastor and his wife, but plans changed as Danny got severely ill and immediate medical attention was necessary. Thankfully, a kind woman at breakfast recommended a world-renown tropical medicine doctor here in town, who diagnosed Danny with a bacterial infection in the blood and also discovered an amoeba in Amanda's intestines that has quite possibly been plaguing her for years. After three days of aggressive treatment, we're already feeling much better.

Our week in Nairobi is not turning out at all how we planned, but we are seeing it to be a time of restoration that we truly needed. In the meantime, as we recover, we've enjoyed exploring a new city...

...drinking the finest African coffee...

... eating avocados as big as our heads...

...and finding some much needed relaxation at our Mennonite Guest House (that one's for you, Grandma Marge!).

Tomorrow it's back to the glamorous as we head off for a real-life, African SAFARI!!! Hakuna Matata!

Holiday Fun!

For two weeks of every year, the boys here at Shishya go home to visit their families. Many of them have living parents/relatives, but due to various circumstances, it is best for them to be raised here. A few of them, however, remain here during the holiday time, and so we have enjoyed being "family" with them this week.

And what a fun week it has been! Danny joined the guys for some "man time" in Mussuori, going zip-lining...

... and hiking. It was such a fun time of good, brotherly bonding.

And yesterday, we loaded up the vehicles for a picnic day all together. 

First stop for a touristy paddle boat ride...

 ...(don't they look so EXCITED?!?)

...and then a perfect afternoon of picnicking and swimming at a secluded river nearby.

Danny stirred up trouble with the big boys...

...while Amanda and Vijay made a sand aligator. 

(Thanks, Dad, for the many years of practice at Little Eden!)

 

We are so thankful for these past 6 weeks at Shishya and all that we have learned and experienced together. We'll be leaving tomorrow morning to begin our travels to AFRICA and can't wait for the adventures that await us!