The Stuva Family

2007-01-14T05:55:00.000-08:00

While we were gone our roof let in a bunch of water but nothing was damaged. The rains have died down now atleast in this area. Nick is on a trip at the momment and was taking a team on safari. The rivers were so flooded in the park that he had to fly out. Now our car is waiting inbetween two rivers until they die down. It would be nice to have him home on Tuesday but it might be longer if the rains continue and the rivers swell. He was siked to fly over the African plaines! We will know more of his adventures when he returns. Pray for safety. Thanks. K

2007-01-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

After a week of fun in the sun we headed up to Brakenhurst for retreat. We had a wonderful week visiting friends and family. Sadly I do not have any other pictures of this week.

2007-01-14T05:39:00.000-08:00

These two are little artists. It is funny how much a like they are. They had found a headchog and they were going to draw it but before they did that they wanted to pretend to BE the headchog.... so such is their position! They were quiet for so long! Adorable.

2007-01-14T05:37:00.000-08:00

Our walk through the mombasa show grounds to the beach to swim and collect shells. I thought the hat people looked cute!

2007-01-14T05:36:00.000-08:00

THEN... because it is high season, we cant swim at Nyali even though we are card holders. It is void over the holidays. So thankfully my mom has a wonderful friend named Papi who so genenerously allowed us to swim at her hotel. Little did we know the day we chose to go, there was a party for all children!! Face painting, gift bags and balloons. They had a good time. We swam there and that was our little christmas day.

2007-01-14T05:32:00.000-08:00

They followed him all the way to the disco room where they passed out candy, cookies, danced with the stobe light and sang christmas carols!!! hahaha. we didnt stay long but the kids had a great time.

2007-01-14T05:29:00.000-08:00

And soon enough he came... ON a boat. See in America Santa likes sleds but here in Africa he cruzes on a boat! Way to go Santa.

2007-01-14T05:27:00.000-08:00

They played while they waited.... There was a rumor that he was coming from the ocean?!!

2007-01-14T05:26:00.000-08:00

I dont know how it happend but we crashed parties everywhere we went. We went to the Nyali beach hotel for breakfast. Then the kids went down to the water to wait for santa to come.

2007-01-14T05:23:00.000-08:00

The kids got to do many things. For Lexxi's birthday we went to Yuls for lunch and icecream. They got to ride the 4 wheelers. Lexxi was a little frightened but they had fun. Wesley liked it and I think Corri and Ethan drove around maybe 2 times and they were done!

2007-01-14T05:20:00.000-08:00

Corri and Ethan. All the kids did really well playing together. I am glad they got to be together. It will be a while before they see them again.

2007-01-14T05:18:00.000-08:00

Shosho and Babu were not there but we got to meet my (K) brother, Kent and his wife Michelle and two boys, at moms house in mombasa. This is Wesley and Lexxi playing bug bingo.

2007-01-14T05:16:00.000-08:00

Lexxi and Ethan on the top of the ferry.

2007-01-14T05:15:00.000-08:00

We had a good trip to mombasa, we left on the 23rd of december. The trip took longer than it has in the past due to the border crossing and the hour wait at this ferry. We were happy to be in mombasa though! HOME for K.

2006-12-21T00:42:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS... Hope you get what you wished for. In the words of Lexxi.... HOW DID SANTA KNOW?!!!

2006-12-21T00:40:00.000-08:00

We had christmas early...we just couldnt wait! haha just kidding! We are heading off to mombasa for a week to be with my brother and his wife and their two little boys. Then on to Brakenhurst for a mission meeting. We would appreciate your prayers for safety, the roads are not in good condition because of all the rain. We hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!

2006-12-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

On Friday Lexxi was in a Christmas play at school called The Sleepy Shepherd. She was the star sheep! She is quite the entertainer.

2006-12-17T09:35:00.000-08:00

Our shady yard and our love birds. They have been so much fun to have. We have six inside the cage but many come to chat with them from the outside.

2006-12-17T09:28:00.000-08:00

Our yard from the front door looking at the gate... and then a pic of our car with another one we are storing for safe keeping until another missionary gets here this month.

2006-12-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

One likes to make the bed and the other... not so much. I have not done anything with their room this time... maybe next time I will have more umph to do something really cool for them.

2006-12-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

This is our 'not so interesting' kitchen but it does the job ok.

2006-12-14T00:54:00.000-08:00

We got a package today in the mail! Thank you so much Osceola Assembly of God! Our pantry is now full of goodies. We also liked the picture of the whole church... that was special. We are blessed to be working with you and are so thankful for each and everyone of you that is part of OAG family. Merry Christmas to you!

2006-12-13T07:28:00.000-08:00

Batman has his mask inside out. He likes to have it on when we read books. I love how his little mind works. SO adorable.

2006-12-13T02:33:00.000-08:00

These are the faces that watch us eat. I really like masks. Too many of them have meaning so I try to search out the friendly faces. They are above our table.

2006-12-13T02:28:00.000-08:00

White coral in a brown bowl. The beaches are full of coral due to the fishermen blowing up the reefs so the fish die and float to the top. Not a good thing but the coral looks really pretty, its free, and there is so much of it.

2006-12-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

My African cooking pots. I should use them next time we have no electricity and the city runs out of gas! (be a lot cheaper than going out to eat.)lol

2006-12-13T02:16:00.000-08:00

These are the masks that Krista brought me from Senegal. The days of the week. They have meaning. First one is the first day of the week. Second, second day. Third, third day. The forth day they shave their beard, friday they go to the mosk saturday they go out so he has a pick in his hair and then Sunday is the day of rest so his arms are up above him. They are great. Thank you Krista!

2006-12-13T02:10:00.000-08:00

Our living room. Our portable dvd player (which is on the chest) is our tv.

2006-12-12T20:42:00.001-08:00

I love potted plants.

2006-12-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our house. I know there are many of you who have never been.... So I thought I would just give you a few pics over the next few days of our house. This is the patio... first room once you come in.

2006-12-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

This was my first piece that I had made out of dhow wood. Its for candles and it looks really pretty when its lit. The boats belong to our friend David and he so kindly gave me a piece of wood. Hopefully here soon I will be able to create furniture for him to ship back to the states.

2006-12-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

Ethan painting early one morning.

2006-12-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

Lexxi at the beach... Kipopeo.

2006-12-12T20:18:00.000-08:00

hmm, how did you get up there little 3 year old?!! Daddy had to help spiderman down.

2006-12-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

Ethans poor toe. It looks a lot better than it did! He was crying outside and when I asked him what happend he said "I don't want to tell you." He had opened the cement block to the sewer just a little (it is so heavy) and then he SLAMED it back down and it landed on his toe. It isnt broken but it is so blue and it was so swollen. Although he will loose his toe nail for a while he will still have a toe! He learnt not to play with that again! IT BITES!

2006-12-12T20:07:00.000-08:00

Thanks for the shoes mom. They fit. I can't believe how big they are getting. lexxi will be 6 in just 2 weeks!!! They were happy to get NEW shoes so they wear them after bath for a while because I dont want them to wear them outside, until after Brakenhurst.

2006-12-12T20:02:00.000-08:00

Church on Sunday. It was a good but long service, all in Swahili. Nick has been interning at Victory Christian Center for 6 months as the associat pastor. He has preached several times both in English and Swahili. Sunday was pastor appreciation day and they appreciated us as well with gifts and food. We left our house a little after 10 and got home at 3. It was a long but good day.

2006-12-10T06:46:00.000-08:00

HOLD IT. You know I have been noticing a rather disturbing LACK of comments lately. I know that you check this blog and I know that you dont comment! PLEASE comment. It is a form of interacting with us and the kids. We update you with info and we would like the same in return with something as simple as commenting. It's not that it has to be a long comment or a deep one... just a hi, thinking of you... sure do miss you... etc..I am not updating until there is a comment on this. thanks. K

2006-11-27T21:32:00.000-08:00

Maybe after a few touch ups. The one we picked will be sent out in our newsletter. So just know it was made out of pure sacrifice of constant sweat for 30 mins. :)

2006-11-27T21:28:00.000-08:00

Ethan and Sofia taking advantange of the couch outside!

2006-11-27T21:25:00.000-08:00

The first of many pictures of trying to take a family christmas picture. I thought this one was cute. None of us wanted to do this. It was so hot outside and we were all sweating. The timer was as close to a professional photographer as we were going to get!

2006-11-27T21:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was crazy hair day. Lexxi didnt want anything that would look tooo strange or that had to do with hairspray even though mommy had some good ideas. She went with this and looked adorable... crazy not so much but that is what she wanted.

2006-11-27T21:15:00.000-08:00

Nick and David B. putting in something to make the light come on right away instead of 3 times of trying to turn on.... ya it dosent work at all now!!! hahahahhaaa.

2006-11-27T21:11:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was shared with 3 other families at the Hansons house. I forgot to take a picture of the food or even the desert BEFORE we dug into it. However... these are the pies. I made my first turkey and I was so proud of myself! It turned out beautifully. The day consisted of eating, playing Bache ball and watching The Gods much be crazy! It was a good day.

2006-11-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving!

2006-11-26T01:59:00.000-08:00

One that was giving to us.

2006-11-26T01:12:00.000-08:00

sea urchin shells... studded.

2006-11-26T01:11:00.000-08:00

And these are some of its ornaments.

2006-11-26T01:10:00.000-08:00

We did not bring any Christmas stuff out with us due to NO room. So we had to be creative. This is our charlie brown christmas tree!

2006-11-18T23:18:00.000-08:00

Lexxi just loves to dress up. Anything frilly. (SO unlike her mommy) And purses... all kinds of stuff in all kinds of purses. (Now that she does get from her mommy) she is doing so well in school and learning so much about the Bible. What a blessing to have a christian school for her to go to, we are thankful.

2006-11-18T23:10:00.000-08:00

Ethan is always hungry. Always. He was so excited to make his own sandwich one day. It is hard to believe how big they are.

2006-11-18T23:07:00.000-08:00

International day at HOPAC. What a wonderful oportunity to have a school that represents so many nations! I think there was 23 different nationalities recognized. It was a fun day for parents and students with entertainment and food from all the different places around the world. Lexxi holds her flag high.

2006-11-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

Nick preaching in Dodoma

2006-10-19T01:08:00.000-07:00

Lately in the last few weeks the government has taken down all vendors and dukas (little shops) that were on private property. Many have no where to go and many like me have no where to shop that is convienent. I LOVED my dukas and my friends that I would buy from. I feel so sorry for them now and the whole city looks so bare without them. It is just not Africa wihtout these friendly dukas!

2006-10-19T01:00:00.000-07:00

A manual stop light in Dadomma Tanzania! Hey, whatever works! And it did. That red light was on for 5 mins.

2006-10-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hope some of you check this! I don�t know how to upload on the other site yet. The picture was Ethan�s doing. I told him we were going to town one day he didn�t want to go then when I went to find him I saw why. He doesn�t like traffic either!! This is seriously what it looks like at stop lights when the power is out!
Nick has been gone since Sunday to Dadomma to preach at the Bible school all week. He will be coming back Sat night. So it�s just the kids and I. With not much to do, bed time tends to be before nine for me! (I guess I am getting old or I just really need some beauty sleep!) The power still has its issues but it is amazing what you CAN live without! The kids and I have been sick the past few days and have been on meds but are doing much better now.
Lexxi is out of school next week so we are going up to Mombassa to see my mom for a couple of days while she is on the continent. (Mom and dad are itinerating but mom has an amazing ministry going with women of all races and beliefs with her breast cancer awareness operation. She is the chair lady and it is October (BCA month) so she has returned for this month. God is really using her as a tool to further His kingdom!) Will try to post soon�Nick took the camera so no new pics until he returns. K

2006-10-09T03:19:00.000-07:00

In case some of you have not heard we have switched our site to niknk.blogspot.com. If you remember please pray for us... we are without electricity and water. the whole city is out of water. People are everywhere carrying buckets on their heads I will take a picture soon. K

2006-09-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK!! We celebrated his 27th birthday by going to the beach, out to Ethiopian food for dinner then for desert.. the best icecream in the world from switzerland!

2006-09-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

Nicks parents came to visit us and we had a wonderful time showing them Dar es salaam. This is us visiting pastor Luagos house in Iringa.

2006-09-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

Lexxi at her desk.

2006-09-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

Lexxi is off to school. August 29th was her first day. She has a classroom full of new faces which are this time, all the same age! Her days are from 6:30-2:45. About an hour and a half of that is just the bus ride. Poor thing.

2006-08-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

The kids all had a blast with eachother. It was Our kids...their cousins and the Hanson girls. Yes and those are elephants in the back!

2006-08-19T02:48:00.000-07:00

Miriam, my sister in law, and I at the Iringa market... buying baskets and fruit.

2006-08-19T02:47:00.000-07:00

The kids all did super in the cars. They took turns in different cars with different kids. They were great on the trip. Here is Mikenzi and Lexxi stylin in their african Kitanges.

2006-08-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

12 MISSIONARY KIDS AND A MISSIONARY!

2006-08-18T22:25:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, the Hansons, Smiths and the Stuvas went on a 9 day safari through southern Tanzania. 6 adults and 7 kids under the age of 10,12 Missionary Kids and 1 Missionary (Thats Nick, because he grew up in Iowa) 3 cars and 5 coolers of food and drinks traveled over 1200 kilometers to visit and encourage pastors of our 'Tarafa Project.' It was quite an experience and God blessed us with good weather, great attitudes and no flat tires!! It was amazing too see how God is working throughout Tanzania to spread His word and His life. We encourage you to scroll through the next couple of pictures and travel with us through Tanzania!

2006-08-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

We visited our church in Manda, a village right on the coast of Lake Malawi. The chruch was small, but alive in Christ. Their Pastor is an extreamly dedicated man and works tirelessly, even though he only has one leg!!

2006-08-18T21:51:00.000-07:00

This trip was made possible by portable DVD players!

2006-08-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

MKs on safari!! What a great time to travel with your cousins and freinds. We found this huge Baobab in the Ruaha National Park.

2006-08-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

As we travled, we had the opprotunity to stop and encourage our pastors and their families.

2006-08-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

We had to cross the Ruhu River on a hand pulled ferry. Needless to say, it was quite an adventure.

2006-08-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

As we passed by the small town of Tunduru, the countrysdie was scattered with huge rocks. We stopped for a bit to climb one and take a few pitures.

2006-07-15T01:20:00.000-07:00

Let me just tell you about my birthday. All I wanted to do was to go to the beach for the day and then out for Ethiopian food at night. Well that is not how it went. One of our staff fainted and would not wake up so we rushed him to the hospital on Sunday afternoon. Our plans were cancelled and understandably. The next morning the power went off early, the kids were loud. I woke up and made them breakfast. We needed to go run some errands. Our car got towed at the post office. So tracking it down and trying to get it out was a a whole day affair. The kids and I took a taxi home and poor Nick had to do the running around. Just one of those days. So I took a rain check to party. :) This is the car that was towed.

2006-07-15T01:07:00.000-07:00

Ethan being patriotic with his American flags and paraphanilia.

2006-07-15T01:03:00.001-07:00

Lexxi with her daddy.

2006-07-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

a self took picture. Ethan and I.

2006-07-15T00:58:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th. We were at the American Embassy for the food and fireworks. Ethan did not like the fireworks one bit. They were so beautiful and loud that he had his head barried in Nicks shoulder and I had to hold his ears!! Lexxi thought they were beautiful.

2006-07-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

' Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.' Psalm 4:1

2006-07-15T00:37:00.000-07:00

Mike Powell praying for the sick in Mbulu.

2006-07-15T00:33:00.000-07:00

We had our friends (missionaries from South America), Steve and Elizabeth Skipper, Mark Fitzgerald and Mike Powell come and preach an evangelistic crusade. They preached in Karatu and Mbulu. God used them in a powerful way...many people came to know the Lord and many were healed of sicknesses. Praise be to the Lord! It was a blessing to have them here with us. Thank you guys for coming!

2006-06-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

Nick is leaving to go up to Arusha by bus this thursaday to work with a evangelistic team, our wonderful friends the Skippers will be on the team! I will follow with the kids a week and a half later by bus to join them for a short time. Please pray for safety and that the Lord will do a wonderful work through this team.

2006-06-21T04:23:00.000-07:00

Mom came down from msa a week after Krista did and we had a really great time together. They both will join my dad in the states at the end of this month, please pray for safe travels.

2006-06-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

Lexxi and Vanessa in her classroom.

2006-06-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

Aunt Krista came to visit! She was doing her study abroad in Senegal and came to see Dar for 2 weeks. We were at Lexxi's class assembly where they receited 26 scripture verses. This is Krista, lexxi and Mikenzi.

2006-05-20T04:19:00.000-07:00

Lexxi and Ethan before dinner with some visitng missionaries

2006-05-20T04:16:00.000-07:00

Lexxi and Ethan before we went out to dinner with some visiting missionaries. May.

2006-05-10T02:28:00.000-07:00

Ethan just turned three on the 7th of May. He is trying to show how old he is but his pinky finger wont stay back. He was so excited about all his toys. Thank you to all who sent him a card or a gift! He had a great time. We just did presents on his birthday but will have the cake a little later with some of Ethans friends. Will post that later.

2006-05-05T22:52:00.000-07:00

We had frogs in our yard until yesterday. Ethan found these frogs and then held on to one for most of the morning. I convinced him that the frog was not leaving the yard so to just follow it and see where it goes. As soon as he put it down and watched it a crow comes and takes it away. He was devistated and I felt horrible. Later on we found five baby ones but once ethan started playing with them they didnt live very long. He loved them so much he sqeezed them to death. He has to have supervised frog play from now on. K

2006-05-03T03:41:00.000-07:00

Yep�..This is how the past few weeks have felt here in East Africa. CRAZY!!!
We apologize for the long delay in communication. We have been battling sickness, surgery, computer and internet failures. Now that the rains have really started we are fighting a strange and mysterious mold growing over almost everything that we own!!! Life is good though and we praise God for his blessings. We have posted several pictures and captions, so please scroll through and see what we have been up to in the past few weeks!!

2006-05-03T03:37:00.000-07:00

When we first came to Africa, Nick had to have a hernia operation. As it turns out, the surgery wasn't so sucessful. We had to have the surgery done again. Thank God the surgen dissmissed his part of the bill to help us out.

2006-05-03T03:35:00.000-07:00

Kimbra's dad David asked me to go along with him to a nearby village to fix this broken well. The well brings fesh water to the surrounding community and a medical clinic.

2006-05-03T03:23:00.000-07:00

While in Mombassa, a local church offered a free VBS for Lexxi and Ethan. They had a great time playing and learing about Jesus. The final day, Kimbra joined them for lunch.

2006-03-08T01:49:00.000-08:00

lexxi and ethan taken yesterday March 7th. They are glad to have there dad back from almost two weeks of him being gone. The electricity has been off everyday from 7 to 9 and I hear that it will soon change Praise the Lord!

2006-03-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

If you depend on rain for your livilyhood, you understand the struggled when rain dosent come. Here in East Africa, the rain has finnaly come. Not a moment to soon either. The impact of this dorught is far reaching and devestating. There have been many deaths, and many have lost their herds of cattle. We praise God that the rains have finnaly returned. As I saw this rain cloud, I though of how God send this rain on the "just and unjust." Even though I am unworthy of his grace and should be counted on the side of the unjust, he still sends His rain.

A Moments Rest

2006-02-13T03:02:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the long period of silence, but things have been fairly busy here lately. Last week we hosted a team of pastors from Little Rock. We took them all over Tanzania and showed them our heart for Tanzania and our plans to reach all of Tanzania for Christ. Pastors, both Tanzanian and American, were blessed as both renwed their vision for seeing the lost come to salvation.
On Sunday,Nick will help host a building team at the Mbeya Bible school. Nick will be gone for almost two weeks. Please pray for safety for Nick and sanity for Kimbra as two weeks is a very long time with two little ones and no vehicle! Right now we are just resting up for the weeks to come. Lexxi is on a short mid term break. She is loving school and doing really good with her work. Because we are not morning people, it still is hard getting up and out the door by 6:30 a.m. but God is good and is giving us strength. Ethan is slowly adjusting to his older sister leaving everyday.
You can say there is somewhat of a drought going on here in East Africa. The normal short December rains did not come this year. Inturn, they are just not able to produce enough electricity to go around. They have inplemented a rationing schedule. Our turn to be without electritiy falls on Tues morning at 6 to 2 in the afternoon. Then again on Fri from 2 in the afternoon till 11 at night. Well, thats the way it is supposed to work. So far it has been that plus a few hours everyday. On top of that, the water company gets there turn with out electricity, so there are a few days a week we have no water either. Needless to say, all this makes for interesting days, and hot nights.
We thank all of you for your prayers and support. We are able to be here because of you, and we are grateful.

2006-01-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

We got to be together with K's whole family for christams and retreat in Kenya. It was a blessing to be all together. Kevin and Miriam and three kids are missionaries in Obock Djibouti and are stationed in Nairobi for a while. Kent and MIchelle and two boys are in Rwanda. David and Becky (mom and dad) are in Mombasa. Krista is in Senegal for a study abroad at U of Illinois.Then us here in Tanzania. It is a blessing to be serving the Lord with all of us on the same continent.

2006-01-13T01:42:00.000-08:00

Lexxi's first day of school. It was so early in the morning. She has to ride the bus and it leaves at 6:30 and school starts at 7:30. She was so nervous she threw up twice on the bus but she had such a great time there. She is so social we knew she would love it. I on the other hand. (K) cried all morning. I couldnt believe parents could sent there little ones off. A few days past... still sad she has to go, but it sure is a lot more peaceful around here. :) School gives them an independance that I think is healthy but sure can be tough when they come home. We spent some time going over the rules again. (Making cookies by YOURSELF is not allowed when your five and cant read!) We are thankful she can go to school but sad that our little girl is growing up.

On the Road Again: Birthdays...Christmas....Cheetah?!

2006-01-09T23:42:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is always filled with anxiety and commotion. Our first Christmas in Africa was no different. For me (Nick) it was quite unusual to spend the holidays in shorts and a tee shirt, but I survived. For Kimbra, it felt good to be home for the holidays.
We were able to spend Christmas and New years in Mombassa, Kenya. It was especially fun because all of Kimbra's family was able make it. 18 adults and 7 kids is quite a house full!!. We celebrated Lexxi's and cousin Micha's 5th birthday with cakes, balloons and games. On Christmas there was a huge traditional Christmas meal complete with turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie.
After the Holidays, all of the East African missionaries met in Nairobi for a Prayer Retreat. It was a great time of fellowship and spiritual renewal. It felt so good to praise and worship with fellow missionaries as the Lord spoke into our lives to give us strength to finish the task.
We pray the Lord has blessed this holiday season and will continue to bless you throughout this year. We thank you for you support and prayers. Please scroll down for pictures of Holiday adventure through Africa.

2006-01-09T23:29:00.000-08:00

Yep, thats a real Cheetah.

2006-01-09T23:27:00.001-08:00

No trip through Africa is complete without a flat tire.