The Joys of African Travel

It's Sunday afternoon, and I'm sitting in an internet cafe in Nairobi, Kenya. Since Friday, I have spent 7 hours in the Chicago airport, 8 hours on a plane to London, and finally 7 1/2 hours on a flight to Nairobi. And to think we are only half way to Nagishot....

While Amie and I made it comfortably here, the other three members of our team from Makarios weren't so lucky. The thing about international travel that your layovers make a big difference. And since their flight out of NY was delayed, that meant they would miss meeting up with us in London and have to arrive in Nairobi a day late. I hate that they aren't here. I hate that their first experience in Nairobi will come in on such an exhausting note. But I trust in the Lord on this, and I am always so awed by his intentionality with even the most frustrating of circumstances. Our last trip to Nagishot in August found 2 of our team members without their bags for the first week. What started as such frustrating circumstances turned into the most beautiful display of God's sovereignty. It just so happened that the lost bag fee came out to be the exact amount of Didinga brother Hector needed for a personal emergency. In the same way the Lord was faithful in all things 5 months ago, I trust he will do the same this time.

This morning Amie and I got to get to know our hostel a little bit. I love hostels, they bring such an array of travelers. In a matter of minute I met Lucia, an Italian traveler, and Brad, a Tanzanian church planter with AIM, the same missions agency that will fly us out of Loki tomorrow. Lucia and I could barely communicate with her broken English, but she tried none-the-less, asking me the few things she knew in English like what month my birthday was. We met up with our Nairobi travel aide, Sammy, and his brother Josphat this morning. Sammy has been the most incredible friend to me in this trip, he got all of our Sudan visas in a matter of 2 short weeks, and paid for our Loki flights as well. It is such a joy to work with such a truly humble servant of the Lord like Sammy.

We spent the rest of our morning hanging around the Sarit Center, a big shopping center in nairobi. We are currently in a cyber-cafe, and loving the cheap rates :). This afternoon, Amie and I will explore Nairobi as much as we can, eating at well-known Indian restaurant for lunch, and then try to meet up with Ruth, who works for Food for the Hungry. It is a beautiful day in in Nairobi, and while Kenyans think it is hot, we think it is just perfect...

I am eagerly awaiting our arrival in Nagishot tomorrow. All throughout our travel, I have barely been able to sleep, thinking and day dreaming about reuniting with my Didinga family soon. I can't wait to be greeted by familiar faces off the plane, and attempt to regurgitate the little Didinga I still remember. Last night as I sat in my hostel room, I wrote in my journal how natural it feels for me to be here. I actually enjoy the travel (easier said for me than our makarios team i'm sure), and love being in new places. I feel comfortable in Nairobi, like it is another city I could call home to one day. Who knows, maybe I will find myself here one day soon...

I believe that is all for now friends. There are so many thoughts and feelings to be written down, but so many of them are to be shared in person with all of you, and many have yet to be processed for myself. To think we aren't even to Nagishot yet! I feel so blessed to be here, to be a part of this trip, to reuinite with a people that have become like family for me. Family, what an interesting concept. Amie asked me of all the places I've lived, where do I feel most home, and to that I didn't have a concrete answer. I believe my family resides in many places. From Kansas City, to Austin, to Nagishot, God has given me a family that is beyond any I could ever deserve. I love that soon enough, two of my closest families will be together, the Ramirez's and the Laku's. The next time I come to Nagishot, it will surely be a family reunion to celebrate.

Please continue to pray for our team from Makarios. Pray that they will rest in the Lord in the midst of their travel troubles and that his grace and mercy would be known to all of us.

Until Nagishot... :)