Back in Nairobi and getting ready to head home!

Hey Everyone!

We made it safely back to Robyn's today. The past few days have been eye opening and very exhilerating. We have seen so much. Robyn told you about the Baby Center, so I will only add a couple of thoughts. It is amazing how they have built up such an important ministry to care for babies. The new building will be able to meet many needs.

After leaving the Baby Center, we made a 'five-minute' stop at the Mosop Mission School to take a look at the work of the previous Kenya team. Several other buildings have been added since then. We also had some gifts for the kids at the orphanage. We planned on dropping the gifts off at the house and staying for five minutes, but we were invited in for cocoa, coffee, and mandazis. It was all very good, but it ended up being about twenty-five minutes. Kenyan hospitality is amazing.

We still got to Tenwek on time for the mexican carry-in lunch. It was extremely delicious. We met many of the people working at Tenwek, whether permanently or temporarily. We saw two of the guys that were on our flight on the way over here. After lunch, Faith Shingledecker gave us a tour of Tenwek Hospital. It was amazing to see how far the hospital has come from its simple beginnings. God's timing was perfect when Ernie Steury started the hospital, and its growth has been miraculous. We were able to hand out beanie babies to the kids that were patients (and even to some that weren't). Their faces showed their appreciation. We had dinner at Robyn's friend Linner's house (pronounced Leena). She prepared a delicious mixture of Kenyan cuisine. We enjoyed ugali, beef stew, lentels, chapatis, potatoes, rice, matoke, soup, pineapples, and chai. It was all very tasty. After dinner, we got to walk back to our rooms in the dark. It was exciting.

The next day, Wednesday, we were up very early in the morning to head out for our safari. It took a few hours over very bumpy terrain to reach our destination of the Sarova Mara Hotel. The long road trip was tiring. It sort of rocks you to sleep. Before entering the game park, our drivers surrounded a wildebeast and frightened it into running. It kept right up with our van and was determined to run in front of us, which it did. God's creatures are amazing. As we approached the gate to the game drive, we were greeted by maasai women who wanted to sell us many things. We could've even taken their picture, but probably for a price. Upon arrival, we had to wait for our rooms for a long time (about an hour). We were able to eat lunch while we were waiting. The meals were an all-you-can-eat buffet. Wow! There was so much to choose from, and we might have chosen too much. :) Our rooms were tents, but not what you would picture at the mention of staying in a tent. They had hardwood floors, a tiled bathroom, a roof, a porch, electricity, furniture, and very comfortable beds, with hot water bottles at your feet. Now that's a tent.

Our first game drive was at three in the afternoon. The vans we were traveling in had roofs that popped up, so we could stand while enjoying the awesome views. The animals that we saw the most of were zebras, wildebeasts, antelopes, and other various grazing animals. We also saw elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, birds, buffalo, hyenas, lionesses and cubs, a glimpse of a cheetah, and warthogs. The first day was not all that eventful, except that we saw the remains of a fresh kill, and one of our vans got a flat tire. Our drivers got out and had to change it. It was sort of nerve-wracking, because you were to remain in the vehicles at all times, due to being unable to determine what the intentions of a wild animal are. The other van, the one without the flat tire, almost got to see a leopard... almost. We got back and cleaned up for supper, which we had to dress up for. It was, once again, delicious. After supper, we went to Jim's tent, held devotions, and talked about the trip thus far. We had a good discussion. Then we went back to our tents. (Rhea and Allison got stuck in one; the zipper broke; and some of the kids had to go get help.)

In the morning, the early, chilly morning, we set out for another game drive. There did not seem to be quite as many animals about, though there were still a lot of zebras and wildebeast. I don't really know about the other van, but ours had an adrenaline-pumping experience with an elephant. A male elephant came out from behind a bush and onto the very path we were driving on. It began coming toward us with his ears perked in a threatening way. He advanced and we slowly retreated. Bonny, our driver, was about to turn around when the elephant left the road. As we drove past, he turned toward us one last time. Phew!

The highlight of the morning, which both vans had the pleasure of experiencing, was getting to see a lion and a lioness. Last night, we were unable to find a male lion, so this was exciting. Just ask any of us about it. I'm sure there are several great pictures. On the way back to the resort, we got to see a pair of jackals, and also a family of hyenas by their den. We ate breakfast, which was grand, when we got back. Then, we packed up and left for Nairobi, which was a five hour drive.

That pretty much does it; sums up our few days away. When we got back to Robyn's, the power had been out since nine this morning, but it came back on in time to celebrate my 19th birthday.

So, tomorrow we wake up when we want, have lunch at Java House, and do some last minute shopping. Then, we head for the airport at 6:30pm, and begin our journey home. Until then, thank you to everyone that has supported us in any way throughout this Kenyan adventure, and God bless.

This report brought to you by, once again,

Nicole and Jade

See you soon

p.s. - please excuse the length