Getting There...

I mentioned in my last post that my passport went missing before we left. Long story but I'm pretty sure it involved a certain 2 year old I know! Thankfully, the other girls from San Angelo were kind enough to leave at midnight and drive literally all night to Houston so I could go to the passport office on Monday. Two of them crashed at the hotel while one of them was nice enough to come with me and wait it out at the passport office. I have to say the Houston office is MUCH nicer than the DC office and the guy even got a good laugh out of me by the time we were done. It really wasn't that painful of a process. I was exhausted by the time we got on the plane and honestly I think the whole ordeal really kept me from being fearful on the plane. 

We stopped in Detroit, then flew to Amsterdam, and then to Nairobi. We stayed the night in Nairobi at a nice hotel - it was the last hot shower I would have for over a week! :) I met my roommate that night who happens to be one of the coolest people I've ever met. She is from North Carolina, about my age, and is a flight attendant for Southwest. She has been all over the world, and told me some must read books. The first one on my list is Radical - she said it really changed the way she viewed a lot of things, especially being a Christian in America. I'm excited to read it. Anyway, we were the best and worst of roomies because when everyone else was sleeping, we were still talking! It was so fun though and I feel like God really blessed me through her! 

The next day ( I have no idea what day it was - Thursday I think!), we went got on a bus for the loooong ride to Rusinga Island. It's a 10 hour drive in Kenya but it'd probably be about 6-7 here. The roads in Kenya are terrible, the driving is even worse, and there are speed bumps randomly all along the interstate. But there are also baboons which made it totally worth it! The journey there was long but my adrenaline kicked in and I really didn't miss a beat! 

9 Suitcases full of supplies...all ready to go!!! See that backpack next to the zebra bag - it was mine. That was all I packed for myself for the whole trip - I am pretty much a new woman! ;) 

The night we got in - do I look tired? I was literally on cloud 9! I loved everything about Africa as soon as I got there! This was taken in one of the vans we had for the week - do you like the fire extinguisher? :) 

Meet Teddy - he is our in country coordinator - nothing works without him! He is an amazing person!

Our room in Nairobi...it was about 9 hours of sheer bliss while we were there! It was really beautiful! 

Clearly, I'm old and like to take pictures of plants! haha 

I had to take pictures of all of it - it was dark when we got there so I snapped all of these on the way out that morning! I wanted to be sure I could remember actually being there! hah

This was next to our hotel...new construction I think. I thought it was hard to tell there what was new and what was dilapidated and waiting to be torn down. Sad but true. 

We stopped at the rift valley on our way - it was quite breathtaking. Pictures really don't do it justice. 

I thought this village was so neat! They told me the name of the tribe that lives there but I already forgot...

More plant life...

This is so I can remember how close to death I was as our van driver would whip out around people on this two lane road and just honk to let them know we're coming. You can't see around the curves and its just a drop off on the side but that doesn't stop them from passing. CRAZY! 

Sorry its sideways - but these cuties were walking down the road when we stopped and they had no shoes. So we opened up our suitcase and gave them some. Their little faces were priceless! 

BTW - it was rainy season while we were there. They only have two seasons - rainy season and not rainy season(?). Anyway, it was in the 80's I'd guess during the day and many of the people were dressed this way - like ready for snow! I guess thats what living on the equator does to you! I loved it!

All they did was stare at their feet - it was so sweet! Oh, the things we take for granted here...

You know me...had to take one of the pup! I couldn't pet any of them while I was there (rabies) so I had to take pictures!