Pray for George

Wasini Island's 1,500 inhabitants are 99% Muslim! We had the opportunity to meet George, one of only 15 Christians on the island. While chatting with him, he told us about his struggles in such an environment. We encouraged him and prayed with him. He had such a great smile and a very caring and kind attitude as he went about his duties at the lodge.

Ryan and I found ourselves imaging the profile of a single person or a couple that might be called to the island by God to befriend and reach out with the love of Christ to this isolated people group.

Please pray for George

We spent our 3rd day and night on the island at Wasini Mpunguti Lodge. It was a day of doing absolutely nothing... except relaxing. I did wash these few items of clothing (by hand) and also read a book called, "Through the Dark Continent". It's an account by Henry M. Stanley, of his explorations of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda in the quest to find the source of the Nile River. He's famous for finding a "missing" missionary and uttering the line - "David Livingstone, I presume".

The beauty of God's creation!

Marine life is in abundance at Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park - trigger fish, moray eels, angelfish, butterfly fish, groupers, parrotfish, wrasses, scorpionfish, pufferfish, damselfish, rays, snappers, green sea turtles, hawksbill turtles, and dolphins. Humpback whales and whale sharks are seasonal.

We were stranded for 45 minutes when the boat's engine stopped!

Aren't I cute?

Ryan enjoying the spectacular view

I absolutely LOVE snorkeling! And the fish at this park were numerous, varied, and beautiful!

What a fun day! We were miles from any land mass!

Swimming in the ocean is one of my favorite things to do!

We even got to see some dolphins!

I got these photos from the internet so you could see a sampling of what I saw!

Snorkeling at the marine park

Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park is situated on the southern coast of Kenya near Shimoni and 6 miles south of Wasini Island (near the Tanzanian border). The marine park covers 4 square miles and covers an area containing four small islands, all surrounded by coral reef.

Our boat - "Faster" - was owned by one of the Ali's we stayed with

We passed by many mini-islands... called islets.

Chatting with the other Ali

On our way to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park

More sights around Wasini Island

Arab graves from over 200 hundred years ago

Baobab trees are so fascinating

Mkokoteni (carts) for carrying jerry cans of water, etc.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Some sort of wiggly-squiggly creature swimming in the water

A few finished and a few unfinished houses

A fisherman's catch for the morning

Our hosts for two nights and two days

Ali, the owner of the boat we took from Shimoni to Wasini Island (a distance of one mile), also supplements his livelihood by renting out one of the bedrooms in his modest home. And... so does his brother-in-law, also named Ali. Ryan and I made arrangements to stay with both of them and their families. We also took all of our meals with them for the two days. It was truly a great experience to hang out with Muslim families. They were very friendly and accommodating and treated us like family!

Ali's boys going to Saturday Muslim school

Fatma (wife to the Ali whose family I stayed with)

Ali, with some of his family

Ali's mother and brother

Ali (Ryan stayed with) and daughter Hawa

We took all of our meals on the floor (at both houses)

Most of the time we ate our meals, there were many extended family members present. But the day we had lunch at Ryan's Ali's house, it was only he and I there. As Ali's wife, Mariam, served us... Ryan took advantage of it just being the two of us to say a blessing over our meal. We can only hope that Mariam took notice and that it might have had a least a small impact on her.

Small house is Ali's (who I stayed with). Large building is to be a new lodge.

Two of Ali's sons

Shufaa (cousin to Fatma) is from Tanzania

Shufaa is so pretty and has such a great smile...

... that I decided to post all 3 of these pictures of her.

Boats, boats, and more boats

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If you're not sure what is yonder, throw a pebble toward it and see what happens.

-Ethiopian proverb

Ryan and I threw a pebble towards yonder... consulted my 9-year old Kenya Rough Guide.... made sketchy plans.... and waited to see what might happen....

After an interesting train ride to Mombasa and a day of exploring that city... we had an absolutely fantastic weekend on Wasini Island!

Ali (the one whose family I stayed with)

"Mzungu" Mohammed (bailing water)

Ali (the one whose family Ryan stayed with)

Father to the Ali that Ryan stayed with

Arriving at Wasini Island

A dhow

I got up early one morning and got this beautiful shot as the sun rose.