until next time, kenya 😊

it is tuesday morning. we have had two good nights of sleep, and i am incredibly thankful our minds and bodies had a chance to rest. 

before we left home, fifteen days away from home seemed soooo daunting.  i was questioning if i had the faith and mental fortitude to be strong enough to do it. 

God met me where i was. there was not even once where my heart felt sick from wanting to be back in the comfort and familiarity of home. i could think of home and feel nothing but gratitude for what was both there and here. i brought my sweet spot of where i feel in my element with me! 

and knowing marissa was taking good care of my little patch of land gave me the ability to not worry. i never worried, people! she would send pictures every so often and it looked exactly the same. the fatties are still fat 😁. there were people in and out enjoying all the beauty and blessing it offers. my heart felt happy to know other folks felt at home there. marissa, you were key to my peace here. thank you, responsible one. 

and monster enjoyed an all-inclusive resort stay at noah's, the dog whisperer. he is absolutely loving me being gone. some bestie, huh?!

sunday night when justin and alex dropped us off at the hotel in nairobi, we made them take a day off and go be with their families! they both live in nairobi. side note: i have gone on and on about our drivers. deservedly so. found out that alex, who actually drove the crazy bus, was obama's driver when he was president and came to kenya!!!

so yesterday, we were on our own. now that was interesting. nairobi is ummmm big. we wanted to souvenir shop but had no idea where to go that was safe and we wouldn't stand out. yeah, right. you rarely see white people and asians less than that. we took taxis and ended up in malls. translation pricey. we wanted an outdoor market where locals were selling their things. we lamented all day WE NEED JUSTIN AND ALEX... WAH!!!! so we ate ice cream which helps everything. 

the air quality in nairobi is awful!!! reminded me of addis ababa where your snot is brown at the end of the day. this city is huge. the hustle and bustle is equal to new york and chicago. but what those cities are lacking is the most amped up cra cra driving on the planet 🙃. kisii, we miss you!

our final dinner was at a brazilian steakhouse of all you can eat meat. and we ate it all. tried everything they offered. it was a really really great way to end the trip. so much laughter and comradery. and trevor, i am going to miss you a lot. 

and mary, thank you for doing my eyebrows last night late and showing me i do have them 😆, they are just white 😋. 

what am i going to miss?

1. the kenyans. 2. the team. 3. our drivers. 4. the crazy bus. 5. itibo resort and staff. 6. feeling like we loved on people well. 7. being in an environment where i am always reminded that joy has not one thing to do with material abundance. 8. seeing God at work in me. 9. giving phoebe and esther a gift that can never be taken away. 10. seeing animals living in nature the way God designed. 11. the kids who just want to be seen as an individual. 12. playing beachball with dalton. 

what am i not going to miss?

1. living out of a suitcase. 

what can i do?

1. come back in january to help for the opening of bringing orphans into the completed rescue center. 2. begin to research opening a local thrift shop staffed by volunteers to provide a means for increased monthly support to 'in his hands'. one day on the bus, a casual conversation with michelle turned to fundraising. i was asking about how she has created a self-sustaining organization for such a long period. they have done dozens and dozens of fundraisers for both getting monthly donors and large one-time donations for specific projects. she said the board had discussed numerous times opening thrift shops as a means to fundraise and increase the monthly income base. she asked if i knew anyone who had the ability to possibly pursue it. insert my face! i can at least start asking God for favor and direction on something that makes me excited. will keep you posted 😉 3. pray every single day.

what burdens my heart the most?

1. worrying about the safety of the 87 kids at the deaf school who literally have no voice if a man (or woman) takes advantage of them. 2. widows having no means of providing for themselves because they have brought in so many orphans, they have an extremely limited ability to generate an income. 3. all the kids with bed bugs at jackie and richard's because they are piled into three beds to sleep. a small building is on their property that was once a school. it would be ideal for a boys' room and girls' room. it takes money to acquire it which they don't don't have. 4. knowing so many of us have means and know we are called to be God's hands and feet and just feel overwhelmed by it all. 

if you are reading this, you can make a difference. please don't be fooled by the lie that you can't. 

it's almost a wrap. head to airport in a little while. very much hoping we don't end up on airport floor for the night. but if we do, oh well. we will get home at the appointed time 🩷 whatever that is!

random pictures that somehow got missed 😋 in the gazillion whatsapp exchange of daily photos.