Sorry for the majorly delayed updates but internet access has been pretty hard to come by this month. TIA, haha.
In case you missed the quick updates to facebook at the beginning of this month my team and I are now in Kitale Kenya instead of somewhere in Uganda like we had planned to be. I guess the key word in that last sentence is what “we” planned because God obviously had different plans.
Let me give you a quick rundown of how we ended up here in Kenya…
Shortly before leaving Rwanda Uganda made national news. The news was about a deadly Ebola strain that had been found. At that time there wasn’t much concern for it because it was on the other side of Uganda than where we were traveling to, but of course racers and parents alike kept a close eye on it. We left Rwanda on time and as planned, and we were quickly on our long bus ride to Uganda. If you read my blog just before this one you would remember that it was a pretty special ride home because of some of the things I saw (go read it if you haven’t! ). Once we arrived at the Highway motel in Entebbe Uganda we didn’t even get to go inside before announcements were made. So once everyone got to the steps of the motel one of our squad leaders quickly addressed the issue of Ebola. We were told that we were staying at the motel that night and then the next day as soon as we could get a bus the girls would be on our way to KENYA, and of course the boys would be going to South Sudan for their manistry month. So we all now had even less of an idea of what the coming month would look like. The squad-leaders had already contacted some known hosts in Kenya and had room for three of the girl teams but the other two were still questionable. I thought this was all rather exciting haha. There were a few people on our squad that were legitimately concerned thought, I mean we were running from a deadly hemorrhagingyourbrainkillingyouwithin72hours virus.
Anyways, we ended up leaving the very next night around ten, and traveled on public transport all through the night to a place just across the border. We arrived at this location just across the border around 5AM and met our main contact for Kenya. Three teams, I was included in this group, were quickly crammed in a small bus with all of our crap and headed off for the sunrise and only God and the contact knew where haha. On the way to our surprise location we traveled by several large yelling groups of Kenyans and were very curious about those shenanigans. The guy riding with us shortly after the first few groups that these people were celebrating a teen boy’s circumcision. Apparently this is part of the “right to manhood ritual” that they do here. Boys age 15 and up can and probably will be circumcised before they get married. If I remember right there are over 42 tribes or clans here in Kenya and most of them practice this ritual. Go figure. Kenya was already looking cray cray haha.
So about an hour after leaving we arrive at this large property called Challenge Farm. We roll of the tiny bus freezing our tails off, and being stared at by the students here. We were all exhausted and just wanted a warm bed. Our contact for the month quickly comes over. She, Cheri, looked to be a late middle aged woman with a “pick Jesus” shirt and, praise the Lord, she is an American, woohoo!
I will tell ya’ll more about Challenge Farm and the exciting things happening here in my next blog that is coming soon!
A huge thanks and blessings to all of you who have prayed for the safety and health of my team and I! We are all here safe and healthy (for the most part…a few allergies and a case of malaria).
Also thank you to everyone who has finacianlly supported me up to this point on the race, I know that without the grace and planning of God, and your help I would not be here loving Kenya. I am still in need of a little over $265 to be fully funded, but I know the Lord will provide in some amazing way just at the right time. As always if you feel led to help me reach this last little bit of support funds then just visit my “support me” tab on the left side of the page.
Thanks everyone!!!! 🙂
P.S. Who knew that a deadly virus like Ebola would be a blessing?!
