Final Stages

It has been almost a month since my last blog entry. My excuse is that I have been very busy finishing up work and that for the last two weeks (at least) we have not had internet at the house. Also, since I was on leave and was not at the office, I was completely without internet access.

Since the last blog entry, so much has happened. From June 10th I have been on leave because my friend Priscilla from Vancouver was visiting me. Just this evening we took her to the airport. It has been a special blessing to have someone walking alongside me as I began to take leave from Kenya, Nairobi Chapel and especially the friends I have made here. She also got a taste of Kenyan hospitality and how a one-hour meeting can easily turn into a whole afternoon as we visited some of my friends to say good-bye (she says I have become more patient here... there were indeed a number of times we just had to sit and wait for someone or something, and I guess I have gotten used to it - but don't expect this to necessarily translate to another context!).

Last week, we went on safari together to the Maasai Mara and got to see the beauty of Kenya after experiencing the dust, crowds and traffic of Nairobi.

The last few days have been times of saying good-bye as we had a farewell meal with the staff of Nairobi Chapel (those who could make it - mostly interns), with my discipleship class and with some closer friends. I have been blessed with many gifts and memories to take home. The communal emphasis of this culture becomes very apparent when almost everyone tells me to take greetings to family, friends and people back home - even though they do not know anyone they are sending greetings to. Herewith I am passing the greetings to you, receive the greetings from all the many people here.

In two days it will be my turn to walk through the security check at the airport and check in for my flight. Some of the things I will miss about Kenya: the value that people have here and the time they will take for you, people-watching at a matatu stage, the challenge and experience of understanding what people are saying in Swahili, real African worship and dancing at church, being inspired by the deep faith of people here in God, the aliveness of Africa, having my meals cooked for me and my shoes cleaned ;-) and of course, my friends here.
Favourite disgusting experience: cleaning my nose in the evening and seeing the tissue turn black from all the dirt and dust in my nose! ;-)
What I am looking forward to at home: Being HOME, seeing my friends and family, having dependable internet access and power, having a washing machine, good roads, riding my bike, being able to be out in the evening after dark, not worrying about anything being stolen or picked from your pocket.

All in all it has been a good time here, sometimes challenging, sometimes frustrating, but a time in which I have learned a lot and have been given a bigger and wider perspective of life and faith.

Thanks to Pris I have lots of photos to post on my blog (links will follow on the right).