New Year, New Life

Exploding firecrackers, claps, and shouts echoed in the darkness of Nairobi at midnight last night, just as we settled into our beds at the Mayfield Guest house. We're back, after a very straightforward and direct trip. Thanks for prayers for that--we all had seats, all our luggage made it, and though most of the guitar-case latches were undone by the time it hit the luggage belt the guitar was still inside, not something one takes for granted here.

First impressions: the quality of the sunlight. Coming from the winter solstice in North America, with its thin cool slanted rays of horizon-hugging sun, to the equator where the brightness is once again a wholesome and welcome surprise, full and intense light. Nairobi is uncharacteristically orderly for the holidays, little traffic. We dragged ourselves out at 10 am to Java House, and met no less than four different RVA/Kijabe-associated families doing the same thing. Nice. Though this does not feel like home the way Uganda does, there is hope. We ordered water with our breakfast, and the waitress asked, do you want that cold? Yes. (Though we would have liked a touch of warmth in our freezing almost-midnight showers last night.) Ahh, we are back in Africa.

Leaving America with a child still there is an excruciating experience, for sure. Strangers and aliens, felt more acutely than ever, in a sun-drenched land with the fragrance of cooking fires and the brilliance of bougainvillea. Heading out now to Kijabe, not sure of our next internet opportunity, but thankful for prayers that have carried us this far.