So you’ve waited…and waited…
So without further a due, here it is my newest blog!
Kenya…
How can I begin to tell you about my time in Kenya?
Well, upon arriving In Kitale, Kenya I met my contacts for the month, Ben and Christine. I’ve got to say, those people make one seriously awesome couple. They greeted me and my team with open arms, granting us a free pass to become part of their family. They were very loving and they took excellent care of us, almost like we were their own children.
As the month of May began, I was having a pretty good time. It was day two and we were on our way to a CD release party. The ride took about an hour and a half on through a treacherous road of extreme and sketchy potholes. As the van pulled up to the previously mentioned party, 6 Mzungus (Swahili for white people) spilled out and we made our way to the “special guest tent”. I sat there and looked around and I noticed several thousand people staring at me and the other members of the tent, which included two members of the Kenyan Parliament and various Kenyan singers and celebrities. I continued look around and listen to the various musicians, and I couldn’t help but notice someone approaching Brooks, pulling him aside and both of them disappearing into the crowd. My curiosity began to kick in, especially when I couldn’t see the lone whitey in a sea of 2,000 Africans. Eventually Brooks emerged out of the crowd like a sore thumb and looked at me with a cracked smile. I knew the truth, but I didn’t want to admit it to myself. These professionals to mine and my team’s horror, wanted us to sing as a team.
They, professional singers releasing a CD, wanted the American Mzungus to sing on stage for them. This was not an R.S.V.P. invite, but a command. This was really going to happen. As nervous as I was, I couldn’t help but smirk, swallow my fears and strut up to the stage with as much gust as the Holy Spirit was willing to give me. Team Rush AKA Team Feeny 🙂 made our way onto the stage, in front of all of these people. We were handed 2 microphones while Brooks plugged in his guitar offstage. If this wasn’t spontaneous enough, we realized that none of us no any of the same music. Brooks started to play and I had NO IDEA what song he was playing. I looked at Ashley, panicked and whispered under my breath “What is this?” She stared to laugh and said ” Michael, it’s Mighty to Save”. I responded with a thankful smirk and I started to sing.
We might have started out a little awkward, but we kept singing song after song and had so much fun. Our experience basically turned into a World Race party. We finished our last song, we thanked them for letting us be a part of their celebration and then proceeded off the stage. We made our way back to our seats and enjoyed the show from a comfortable distance, hoping that we would be prepared if we were asked for an encore. As I sat there and watched the rest of the show while drinking an ice-cold (and free) Orange Fanta, I thought to myself “this is going to be a great month”.
