Last Day

When we went for breakfast yesterday at the Tea Hotel, Francis Mbuvi had arrived from Nairobi.  I was so grateful that he came out to join us and drive the rest of the way.  We drove into Nakuru, about 2.5 hours and went to the game park.  It is a large National Park that surrounds Lake Nakuru and contains a number of wild animals.  For a quick day-trip, it can’t be beat.  After a frustrating hour at the gate jumping through the endless hoops the Kenyan Park Service has created to make things more “modern”, we drove in to find the lake at it’s highest level ever.  Half of the park was closed due to flooding.  We were able to see giraffes, baboons, a rhino, and countless impalas, gazelles, and cape buffalo.

On the way out of the park, each vehicle managed to get lost in different ways, making our exit a bit later than we had wanted.  We had to get to Nairobi last night, so there was no option but to drive on.  After a brief stop at the Nakumatt for packing supplies for our souvenirs, we hit the road. 

About an hour out, we encountered one of the many roadblocks the police use to control speed, check for insurance and inspections, and collect bribes.  This time we were chosen for a stop and as we rolled up, Mbuvi told me his license was in Mauryn’s bag in the other truck.  The policeman was not moved by his story and we were calling the other vehicle to come back for us when the policeman stepped around the vehicle to my side.  He asked me where I was from and I replied, “Texas.”  He gave me a quizzical look and I continued, “In the United States.”  He smiled, waited a beat and then said, “Move on.”  We were all relieved and I got credit for saving Francis from the jailhouse.  We got back to Kamulu without incident at around 9:30.

This morning Pam, Taylor, Trina, and Krista who were going on Safari made an early departure to make their flight to the Masaai Mara. The rest of us drove into a market in Nairobi to do last minute shopping and eat lunch.  Arrington drove the travelers who are on Emirates to the airport around 1:30 and the rest of us did some more shopping.  Later we drove over to Sarit Center, where I got another Kenyan Kinyozi (haircut) and we had Java House deserts for the last time this trip.

Now, here I sit again in the BA Galleries Lounge writing my last blog post, and I am reflecting on what I have learned this trip.  The answer is many things.  I learned a few more Swahili words, I got spoken to by Kenyan strangers in Swahili for the first time, (I guess I look part-Kenyan now) and I drove a lot of kilometers in the LandCruiser that I have learned to love.  I saw a lot of orphans, hugged many of them, encouraged our workers in the field, and I got to see many American Christians being the hands and feet of Jesus to these people.  It was very rewarding.

I also learned about myself.  Most importantly that I am only half a man without my wife.  Susie is the best part of me and really fills in my weaknesses when we are on these trips.  She is my conscience, best friend, accountant, the perfect mother to our 2,400 kids, and I miss her terribly.  Only 27 more hours…

I am also reminded that God is strongest in our weakness.  When I was missing Susie’s help on my trip, God supplied others to fill the gaps.  He’s like that, moving where we cannot, doing the unseen work to align our lives with others in ways that fulfill His purposes.  I remember a time when I didn’t believe that, when He seemed so far away from me.  Sometimes he still does, but its usually when I am trying to hard to be all things.  When I am broken, lost, hopeless, homesick, afraid, He is there. 

As song from the orphanage choir recordings we made this year keeps running through my head, kimbilio langu, He is my refuge.  Thanks you for reading all my ramblings this trip.  I’ll return to Kenya in October with new adventures.