One month…31 days…744 hours…44,640 minutes… time can be measured, but how do you count memories that are absolutely priceless? In the words of the famous Spanish phrase: Yo No Se.
But saying farewell to Siaya would not be complete without at least recounting a few memories. That being said, I will always remember…
· The alleged five hour bus ride from Nairobi (according to Google Maps) that was actually ten hours long, through tea fields and across roads that would make Six Flags patrons jealous.
· The joy I felt when I discovered our host home had a sit-down toilet (having to pour water to “flush” the toilet was a small trade-off indeed).
· The delicious meals cooked by our wonderful friend Mildred Otieno, who spent hours making mandazi (Kenyan donuts), ugali (maize mush), chapatti (Indian bread), green gram samosas, nyoyo (local maize/red bean/potato stew), tilapia soup, and stir-fried cabbage. Mmm, no wonder my pants are tight.
· Visiting Obama’s Grandma Sarah and trying to ask the question everyone has been wondering: Was President Obama really born in the US? (Unfortunately, the answer has yet to be disclosed)
· Running, bathing, doing push-ups, and dancing in the biggest hail storm I have ever seen.
· Teaching Jane Favour, our pastor’s daughter, how to say “Yup” and “Nope,” only to have her create her own language: “Wop” (Excellent), “How Are Youp?”, and “Thank Youp”
· Walking down mud-caked, circuitous paths for miles, hearing children’s voices through the bushes yelling, “Muzungu, how are you?” If I had a penny for every time I responded, “I’m fine, how are you?” over the past month, I could retire when I get home.
· Visiting house after house to pray with people and invite them to our four-day open-air crusade
· Singing “My God is so BIG!” and “Hallelu-, Hallelu-, Hallelu-, Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” again and again…and again…and again… at our week-long children’s program
· Waking up with the rooster, only to discover him on our dinner plate that night…and then waking up the next morning with what seemed to be the rooster reincarnated. Hmm.
· Getting tested for Malaria…and discovering with relief that I didn’t have it.
· Praying for healing at Siaya’s District Hospital, where patients wait two-to-a-bed for surgery that may or may not be scheduled for the next day.
· Spending a day in Kisumu with Team Embers of Hope, going hippo watching on Lake Victoria, and then experiencing culture-shock at a Wal-Mart-sized supermarket with Oreos and Nuttella.
And above all…
· Our incredible family at Deliverance Church, especially Pastor Joseph and Nellyne Osundwa and their family, Pastor Dan, Ezekiel and Dorcas, Mercy and Judith, Mildred and Lucas, Millicent, Mama Mary, and George, who have embraced us with loving arms and shown us the love of Christ through their daily lives.
Tomorrow, we’ll be heading to Busia, Kenya, to meet up with the rest of Y-Squad. I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone and hearing how their month has been. From there, we’ll cross into Uganda and head to Jinja for a day of rest on the Nile River before we head on to our next ministry location: Rukungiri, Uganda.
