almost a wrap : ) : (

 the days are seriously a blur. like i have to think really hard to keep straight what happened on what day 😉.

i want to record saturday and sunday even though it is monday morning now. we started out at the property where michelle and i did a video plea for donations to finish construction. we sat on the roof of the rescue center, and it felt surreal that it is really happening! 

and talking fundraising, we understand that there are vast needs everywhere. mind-boggling, hard to comprehend how i can impact anything needs. in every corner of the world, there are people in need. in his hands has been called to several places, with the latest being kisii, kenya. if you aren't aligned with a ministry and are feeling led to partner with one, please consider in his hands. i promise your money will make a difference. 

next, we headed to the lutheran bishop's home to visit again. they have thirteen orphans living with them. one in particular became special to me a year ago. not sure what it was about dalton. the beauty of returning to places is that the people see you care. you said, "i will see you again!" and then they do. i planted a seed i think in dalton about possibility of being a nurse. he loves science and is currently learning the circulatory system. he did not know boys could be nurses. he liked that idea very much.

(the children next door to the property)

(dalton and me)

(hilene, the bishop's wife, still recovering from a tibia fracture from a motorbike collision)

(a procession of singing and dancing en route to church)

from the bishop's home,w drove to a 6.2 parcel of land that stephen inherited from his father. he is donating 1-2 acres to in his hands for the next project. first thing will be a bore hole for water. the people and animals need water. desperately. the distance to get unclean water is just insane. i do not know how they survive. they know nothing else is the only reason my mind can begin to comprehend. we brainstormed many ideas of possibilities for this land. water has to come first. everyone is born within a region and tribe, and over and over, we heard stories of the strong cultural custom and expectation that you come back to your tribal region. you start there, you move where work is, but you always come and give back. it is so unlike america in that regard. 

(the road to stephen's parcel of land. a chinese firm is overseeing the construction. rough ride doesn't even touch it 😕)

from there, we drove to the area around lake victoria. it is huge! the smell of fish, pig manure, and poverty collided! we talked with locals and made our way back to kisii to meet with daniel, owner of the soapstone factory, to discuss some new developments with him and his son. both are on the newly formed CBO (community based organization). we bought a few souvenirs after the meeting and were back at itibo by 8:00 p.m. another 12 hour day. every day, we have kept this pace. when you are in country, your to do list is so long that you don't have time to waste. 

sunday morning, we convinced stephen we really needed to buy paint samples in town and go back to the property to see if we loved the colors. in my next post, i will talk about this a bunch more! we hit the road for the seven hour trip to nairobi early afternoon. stephen, michelle, and i have become a really strong team. this man. the humility, skill, knowledge, passion he brings. we will never stop thanking God for bringing stephen to this project. michelle and i joke we don't even know how to introduce him because he was hired as the owner of the construction firm, rubicon and has taken on importance so beyond that scope. the hours spent with him have been such a ginormous gift. every trip, you experience how God has been at work behind the scenes orchestrating soooooooooooo many details. i am in absolute AWE of His Goodness.

it is now monday 11:30 a.m. we are in nairobi. we had an incredible meeting over breakfast with moses. moses is an architect. we met him last year in kisii where he built the most high tech and architectually beautiful hotel and restaurant i have seen. it is named humphey's after his father. again, this is his ancestral region, and he will return here in the years to come. last year, we dined on the rooftop of hit hotel and had the best dance party ever! oh justin, we love you!

at the moment, my mind and heart are about to explode. there is excitement in the air, and i am humbled to think i can be part of it 💚