The last time I went to the caves I was praying about some specific things... and God gave me some specific answers. It's hard to explain, but sometimes you just feel when something is right, no matter how hard it is. After 2 years of living in Kenya, it's time for me to go home.
There's all kinds of emotions going on as I transition out of life here.
Joy to see my family and friends that I haven't seen in 2 years! I can't wait to be reintroduced to my niece and nephew and meet all the new babies that have been born since I've been away! I haven't been back to the US since I moved here in 2008.
Relief to be back in my home culture amidst familiar; though I know lots has changed since I've been away. I'm ready for smooth roads, traffic lights, coffee shops and holidays with family.
Excitement as I think about all the possibilities that lie ahead.
Loss of the life I know here. I've spent the past 2 years building relationships and figuring out how life works in Narok and in Masailand. I was just beginning to feel like I was understanding and overall comfortable with the rhythm of life. I just might be over my fear of rats and sleeping in a mud hut. I'm finally comfortable speaking Kiswahili... enough to communicate what I need to anyway... and learning some Kimaasai. The little things weren't stressing me as much. I have a routine and real friends.
Sadness to leave people that I love, people that I've grown really close to. I'm sad that I won't be here for friends who are on their way to be part of the AH team. I'm sad to leave my house that I've settled into and the routine I've found.
My friend Eva (right) and her husband Richard welcome a baby boy in early July. They are some of my closest friends here. If the baby was a girl, she would have been named after me! They gave me the honor of helping choose the baby's name. Davin Metian arrives just weeks after I leave Kenya. Jamie (middle) is also a great friend that I'll miss!
Grief as I mourn the losses. Not being able to meet my friends' baby that I have been praying for since before it was conceived. Saying goodbye to the teachers and students that I've come to know (the ones that scream my name as I drive up to the school). Saying goodbye and not knowing if I'll ever get to say hello again.
Disappointment to leave such a beautiful and exciting place. I won't be able to search for the herd of giraffe on the way to Nairobi; or see zebra, ostrich or wildebeest on the way out to the bush.
What I do know is that God has a plan and holds the future and especially the present. That's what brings me hope and gets me through the emotions, the packing, the goodbyes and all of the unknowns.
Here are a few pictures of recent adventures
Isn't he beautiful?! Our tour agent has become a good friend after working together to plan all the logistics for our short-term visitors. He invited me and some friends for a complimentary weekend in the Mara for my "going away." 8 lions, 4 cheetahs, and a rogue trumpeting/chasing elephant bull were some of the highlights!
And this cobra was also a highlight! Nothing gets a Maasai jumping like an on-coming cobra!
One of the surprising things about living with the Maasai is learning about their connection and understanding of wildlife. My friends tell me about the behavior of lions and how they can sense if you are scared and how to escape the attack of an elephant (get out of his line of smell). Personally I'm scared of a lion or cheetah attack but to me elephants seem gentle and snakes seem small. To a Maasai a lion is predictable and fightable. An elephant and buffalo aren't to be messed with because they are huge and fierce. One bite from a snake and your life is over. Their life and existence depends on their co-existence with wildlife. Amazing.
At one of my favorite schools they had this lion mane hat for one of their dance competitions--of course I had to try it on!
Chasing ostrich. I later learned that they are indeed one of the fastest land animals. I, myself, am not :)
My experience here has been rich. I've learned more about the abundant life--both the depths of suffering and poverty and the heights of beauty and the friendship of God. I couldn't ask for more.
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