Clarifications...

It has come to my attention that some of the things I said it my previous few blogs could be taken the wrong way.

First, on the way up to Loiyangalani, I said that we stayed at a mission station while we waited for transportation to Loiyangalani. When I refer to a mission station, I am talking about a compound that houses at least one family of Missionaries, a church, and Bible training center, etc. Benjamin statyed at the training center (about half a mile from the missionary house) and I stayed with the missionaries. The Missionaries are from AIM (African Inland Mission).

Second, I did not explain why I am going all the way to northern Kenya with a man only previously mentioned in this blog. I am in Loiyangalani for vacation. Benjamin grew up in Loiyangalani and his spiritual parents were Master's Mission Missionaries. Every year he returns to Loiyangalani to see his "family" and help out on the compound. Benjamin is a good friend of mine and he invited me to join him on this trip. I had met his "brother" and wife (P.A. and Callie) in Nairobi a few months ago and they had also invited me to come visit sometime. So I accepted Benjamin's invitation. I also wanted to meet Benjamin's family.

Master's Mission was started by P.A.'s grandfather many years ago. It started as a training program in the mountains of NC to train missionaries how to live anywhere in the world. Rural or City. You can read more about it here. They have since commissioned many missionaries to many places around the world.

The missionaries up here work hard all day. Their day starts at 7am with breakfast. Compound devotions start at 7:30 am. At 8, everyone disperses to do their various jobs. P.A. is currently digging to find the source of a thermal water source so he can cap it and provide safe, clean water to a new children's home going up on the compound. Callie spends the morning washing and doing dishes. Another missionary woman stays busy teaching her 8th grade daughter school lessons. At 1pm everyone stops for lunch. This is the biggest meal of the day. almost everyone stays indoors between 1 and 3 pm because of the heat. At 3pm, work starts again, more dishes to do and twice a week a literacy class to teach. The men return outdoors to work until sundown. Everyone retires for bed by 8 or 9pm, so they can be ready for the next day. The extreme heat really takes it out of you.

Benjamin is staying with his foster family in town (long story) and I am staying in a missionary house.

The internet is slow here so I cannot post pictures right now, but I promise I will when I can.

God Bless!

Safe in Loiyangalani!

Well, it was a LONG trip but Benjamin and I are finally in Loiyangalani.The last leg of the trip left late Wednesday morning and arrived at around 5 am Thursday. This was definitely an experience! We rode in the back of a large truck carrying goods up here.

I am learning how hard it is to bring produce up here. Half our bananas didn't make it and we lost some tomatoes and a carton of milk as well.

I will write more later!

Waiting.....

We arrived in Maralal late last night and today we tried to find a ride to Loiyangalani. No success. So we wait. This is not unusual as most transportation relies on trucks along this trade route. Thankfully, there is a Masters Mission Station here where Benjamin and I can wait, and I can work.

 

 I am learning to wait. This is African time, not American. The journey is just as important as the destination.  Benjamin says he does not like to travel, and if this is what he means by traveling, I can understand why. I, on the other hand, love to travel but don't like having to wait around while someone else decides if they want to show up.

After lunch, Benjamin  took a nap.

 

Please pray that we can find a ride tomorrow.  Both Benjamin and I want to get to Loiyangalani as soon as possible. That is his home and, as anyone can tell you, delays during the trip home are never welcome! I think his sleeping pose captures his feelings perfectly!

I'm goin' on an adventure and I don't know whats in store...

View of part of the road

Today, I left comfortable (and cold) Kijabe and headed north toward Loiyangalani. While I had originally planned to leave in the middle to end of next week, but that all changed when we ran into trouble with finding a ride for the last leg of the trip. Therefore, the trip was moved up to Sunday (today). This gave me less than 36 hours to prepare and pack.

So 6am this morning, I was heading out of my house and up the hill to catch a matatu to places unknown with Benjamin. Benjamin is coordinating all the transportation so I don't know the specifics of the route we are taking. This takes a lot of effort on my part because as many of you know, I am a planner. I figure out all the details before I leave and review the plan multiple times.

Anyway, God blessed us with a matatu heading for Nyahururu immediately after being dropped off on the main highway road by the taxi that took us up the hill. Because of the multiple stops to drop-off and pick-up passengers, we did not reach Nyahururu until after 10am. We then had to find a bus headed to Maralal. Benji found one but it didn't end up leaving until after 3pm.

We are now in Maralal and tomorrow we plan to try and get a ride to Loiyangalani.

Your prayers are appreciated!