Vivid green fields and hill sides were streaming by a series of cloudy bus windows. Suddenly, a valley opened up to our left, captivating our attention by its beauty sprawling out over the precarious cliff we were driving on. The road was paved, but marked with potholes, giant speed bumps, and more speeding matatu's than I could count. Then excitement broke out as a herd of zebra's were spotted grazing on the side of the road.
Eight hours on an African bus held many wonders along our bumpy trek from Nairobi to Kitale. It was full of good conversation, laughs, flying out of our seats when we hit one of the thousands of bumps along the way, and seeing the country change from busy, crowded city, to huts, villages and markets on the side of the road. It was a great adventure, and amazing way to start our time in Kapenguria.
We arrived here in Kapenguria late Tuesday evening after spending a few days adjusting in Nairobi. I cannot even describe how blessed I felt the minute we met our contact. We were warmly welcomed into their home, taken in as one of their family. They even offered up their beds to us girls so that we could stay inside. It was so humbling and such a beautiful moment to receive.
We were given a tour of their beautiful home and grounds, shown the infamous squatty potty, the bathhouse, and the kitchen outside. They cooked us a delicious meal of rice, potatoes, peas, spinach, and a staple here called ugali. After a long day of traveling, this meal was like coming home. It was delicious. The pastor and his wife prayed over us, and we had the opportunity to pray over them as well.
In the morning we were heading out to the bathrooms, and some kids in the adjacent field were playing and spotted the “mzungus”- a.k.a, us, white people. They flocked to us, and we took them out into the field to play. Kids started coming from everywhere, and were playing with our hair, shaking our hands, the older ones were asking us questions, and the younger ones loved being chased. At one point, a frisbee was brought out, and the kids loved playing with it, most for the first time ever.
I can't describe to you in words how precious their laughter and smiles were. Though there was a language barrier as most of the children only spoke Swahili, that did not deter their hearts and their hands from reaching out and touching our hearts. Their laughter was contagious. It came from the most simplest of things. Like watching Erin and I try to dance, or by us chasing them. It bubbled up from the deepest part of them. It was raw, it was pure. It was powerful and beautiful.
God is moving in big ways here, even in the first full day of being here in Kapenguria. He is moving in each of our lives, breaking us of all we are holding onto but Him, and filling us with His love. We are wrecked with love, and for the first time, I feel like I'm beginning to get the tiniest glimpse of how amazing this year is going to be with these people, at the feet of our Father, serving His children.
We truly are Wrecked With Love.
