Mombasa - Missionary Delivery

As you saw in our previous post, we were able to go to the coast and enjoy a couple of days of rest and relaxation. We have shown you some pictures of the rough places we have stayed, so here is a shot of the nicest place we have stayed, the Milele Beach Hotel in Mombasa. It is actually the Presbyterian Guest House and they give missionaries a discounted rate.

There were two pools. This is the one right outside our room. Since we are so close to the equator, the water was on the warm side but still refreshing from the brutal heat.

Jeff did his customary thing of rising early to get pictures of the sun rising on the Indian ocean.

One of our friends in Nairobi had told us about Akamba Handicraft village. As a matter of fact, he had brought us back a couple of wooden carved elephants the last time he was in there. Akamba is a carving village located in Mombasa, so we went there to check it out. The village was started years ago by a missionary who was doing evangelistic contacts through business adventures. They now have an agreement that allows missionaries to shop in their wholesale warehouse. We were overwhelmed by all the carvings and the great workmanship that we saw.

Jeff searched and searched among the carvings and got himself a few more elephants to add to his herd already started at home. We also purchased a carved giraffe with a little baby with her. Jeff particularly like this one because it's head is tilted up like it is eating. He wants to place it next to a plant.

After we made our purchases in the warehouse, we went out back to watch some of the carvers at work.

We also watched as the packers would wrap up these huge carvings that were going to be shipped, literally, all over the world.

Since we do not have air-conditioning in our home, we enjoyed just resting in our air-conditioned room during the heat of the afternoons. Most of our meals were provided with the room so we enjoyed the Kenyan foods without even having to leave the hotel. We did get out and take a couple of walks on the beach. There were no sea shells to be found, but there were several outcropping of rocks. So you know us, we had to collect rocks instead.